2016 China GP - Infinite Improbability Drive of the Race

[DemocalypseNow]

based on the assumption that, at any moment in time, there is a non-zero probability that even the slowest, most inexperienced and least reliable of underdogs might win the race. That under every rock, there might be a gold nugget. This is the award for that first podium that we all celebrate, for the overtake no-one was expecting, for Ericsson's first win. This is the award, in short, for the driver or team that makes you go "Woah! Where did THAT come from?!".

Just remember: this is a feel-good award, that will focus on nothing but track action.
Usual rules: everyone gets two votes. First vote is worth 10 points, the second 6.

Post your results until April 19 @ 1800 GMT.

[dr-baker]

1. Wehrlein, for holding onto 5th for three laps after the safety car

2. Kvyat. Wasn't expecting a podium

[Aguaman]

10. Kvyat - 2nd and standing up to Vettel. Not giving a shite about what Seb had to say. "it's racing. You're on the podium, I'm on the podium. It's fine".

6. Daniel Ricciardo - If he didn't have his tire blowup, easy 2nd.

[Bobby Doorknobs]

1. Attrition (or rather, lack thereof) - Seriously, after all that, no one retired...
2. Red Bull - Not bad.

[Miguel98]

1. Red Bull
2. Felipe Massa

[Londoner]

1. Daniil Kvyat - Now that's more like it! Superb race, and his no-selling of Seb post race was hilarious.

2. Car strength - Given all the carnage in this race, that all 22 cars made the chequered flag is nothing short of amazing.

[Aislabie]

10) Reliability - Literally no attrition at all.
6) Rio Haryanto - Not last. Unbelievable scenes.

[Normal32]

1. Pascal Wehrlein
2. Red Bull

[GerhardTalger]

1. Red Bull. Ricciardo was very good again, too bad his tyre blew. Kvyat was also pretty solid. Too bad they went a little conservative on tyres opposed to Ferrari.
2. Max Verstappen, for driving right behind Hamilton on lap whatnot, 10? on P20, and driving right behind Hamilton on lap 56 on P8.

[AxelP800]

1. Everyone. Nobody retired after all of that.
2. Kvyat. That conversation with Vettel

[FullMetalJack]

1. Kvyat
2. Ricciardo

[Meatwad]

1. Daniel Ricciardo: Easily the best driver of the weekend. Shame about the puncture...
2. Daniil Kvyat: Podium!

Honorable mentions: Massa, Manor

[solarcold]

1. Red Bull - awesome show, long-awaited podium for Kvyat and solid recovery for Riccardo.

2. Felipe Massa - pretty solid, gathered up in the second half of the race. Was glad to see that.

[mario]

1. Daniel Ricciardo: Easily the best driver of the weekend. Shame about the puncture...
2. Daniil Kvyat: Podium!

Honorable mentions: Massa, Manor

I would have to go along with that suggestion - Ricciardo did very well at a circuit where you'd have expected Red Bull to struggle a bit with their power deficit, and managed to claw back a very respectable result despite the puncture. As for Kvyat, he also managed to turn around his recent poor form with a very solid podium finish - so first and second in that order seems like the most appropriate award.

[UncreativeUsername37]

1. Red Bull
2. Rio Haryanto

[James1978]

1. Kvyat for totally winding up Vettel

2. Red Bull in general, look forward to seeing how they do on some slower circuits like Monaco and Hungary.

[sswishbone]

1) Kvyat - great performance to get a podium

2) Raikonnen - on pace all weekend, taken out by his team mate and drove steadily to recover

[SeedStriker]

1) Daniil Kvyat: Strong race for a man that needed it. Podium just add the cherry on top

2) Daniel Ricciardo: Drove like a champion.

[novitopoli]

1. Red Bull - they've done a fantastic job with this year's car.
2. The race itself - Showed that a good race is possible even without any attrition.

HM to Honda - This year's engine has done a big leap forward. But this is probably the closest season (apart from the guy on P1) since 2009...

[rachel1990]

1- Red Bull- A much more likeable team these days and another good result.
2- Rakkionen- Would had been challenging for the win if not for Vettel! and a good recovery drive as well.

[andrew]

1. Riccardo
2.'kvyat

[Dj_bereta]

1. Kvyat: Aggressiveness worked and he got a well deserved podium.

2. Wehrlein: Hold off his position pretty well for some time in a bathpluging manor.

[Row Man Gross-Gene]

1. Kvyat: Aggressiveness worked and he got a well deserved podium.

2. Wehrlein: Hold off his position pretty well for some time in a bathpluging manor.

Same for me.

[FMecha]

1. Kvyat - based on what everyone said.
2. Haryanto - for having a brief glimpse of in points position during that safety car period.

[Aerond]

1. Vettel; Yeah, he drives a Ferrari. Yeah, he ended up where he was supposed to. But, that pass at pitlane entrance... a true great driver move.

2. Kvyat; Absolutely solid. Stunning drive.

[Fetzie]

Vettel,for that two-car overtake that nobody saw coming.

Wehrlein, for competing for position in a bleeping Manor and completely embarrassing Renault. That guy will score at least one point this season. I'm thinking monza, maybe.

[LovelyFondmetal]

1. Felipe Massa - wounded car or not, Hamilton was unable to pass him. 2008-spec Felipe is hopefully back for good.

2. Daniil Kvyat - Superb move at the start (the clash was caused by Vettel overreacting IMO) and a podium, I thought his job was gonna go to Verstappen before the end of the year but now I doubt it.

HM: Recovery drives: Ricciardo & Raikkonen especially, although Hamilton was also decent as was Seb (although not inconvenienced as much as the others)

[Samster]

1. Daniel Ricciardo Embarrassed the Ferraris in qualifying and had the best recovery drive to finish 4th.

2. Daniil Kvyat Now that is more like it.

Honorable mention to Red Bull in general, they are definitely back in the top three teams again and might give Ferrari trouble for 2nd if they continue to throw points away.

Pascal Wehrlein too for holding his own for a while in the points.

[CoopsII]

1 - Rio Haryanto - Looked quite racey. Why aren't more of you guys getting behind him?
2 - Danny Kvyat - Dealt with Vettel admirably both on track and after

[dinizintheoven]

All right, I'll actually throw in Pascal Wehrlein as well, even though he has a very silly haircut. What I saw from him in the Manor in both China and Bahrain - i.e. finding himself up the field but not being dropped to the back within a single lap - was what I thought we'd all be seeing from Fondmetal Team Malaysia in 2011. But that was not to be, nor was it the year after that... and so on...

The six-pointer is, I suppose, Daniil Kvyat for telling Seb to get knotted after the race. When he's back home in Ufa polishing his trophy I doubt he'll care too much what the Finger had to say about him.

[golic_2004]

1. Red Bull: Both drivers showing pace. Kvyat: wonderful podium. Ricciardo: From 1st to 17th to 4th. What could have been had he not cut a tyre.

2. The whole field finished the race and last place was only 1 lap down.

[watka]

1. Daniel Ricciardo - pure pace when no one expected it. In his own words, it was as good a performance as his wins
2. Daniil Kvyat - very quick also, opportunistic at the start and unapologetic for it, but in a mature way

[DanielPT]

I will go with Kvyat (10) for the nice podium and Haryanto (6) for not finishing last!

[Rob Dylan]

1. Rio Haryanto - I mean, look at the guy!

[RonDenisDeletraz]

1. Ricciardo
2. Kvyat

Nationalism, what is that?

[DemocalypseNow]

Daniil Kvyat tops Red Bull's most positive weekend in some time with IIDOTR for China.

[DOSBoot]

Kind of late to the party, but:

1. Wehrlein: Just for hanging in there that long in a Manor.

2. Red Bull: 3rd, and 4th is a breath of fresh air for the team after a few sluggish races.

Honorable Mentions:

Reliability: After that chaotic first quarter, all the cars finished?!

Massa: You shall not pass Hamilton!