Infinite Improbability Drive of the Race - 2014 Oz

[AdrianSutil]

Sorry Pasta, I disagree with the 'best drive from someone not called Sebastian'. I think Webber's Nurburgring 2009 performance beats this mornings drive by Ricky.

[pasta_maldonado]

Sorry Pasta, I disagree with the 'best drive from someone not called Sebastian'. I think Webber's Nurburgring 2009 performance beats this mornings drive by Ricky.

Indeed, one of the best feelgood moments of the 'new' rules era. Hence me saying this:

Best performance from anyone in a Red Bull not called Sebastian since 2010 by far.

Mark had some great drives in 2010 too, after that I believe he'd lost something mentally, and just was never the same again.

[dr-baker]

1. Bottas
2. Magnussen
(3. Max Chilton)

[Klon]

1) Kevin Magnussen - the McLaren is looking like a very good car. Still, a podium on day one of the job is, as far as I am concerned, always IIDOTR.

2) Daniil Kwyat - Ran well enough and managed, unlike Bottas, to keep the car out of the wall.

[Bleu]

1. Magnussen
He was expected to be fast, but still 2nd place, beating Button was something not expected.

2. Vergne
Didn't expect much on Toro Rosso boys. While Kvyat also did a good job, Vergne beat him. Overall through the weekend, Kvyat made still few mistakes.

[jackanderton]

1. Magnussen had the pace
2. Bottas screwed up then redeemed himself awesomely

Ricciardo would've got number 2 (in both senses) as no-one expected Red Bull to both finish and be that quick, and to be driven by the previously erratic/average understudy. Tough break grinning boy.

[takagi_for_the_win]

1) Kevin Magnussen- I thought he was quick, but hanging onto the coattails of Ricciardo in a Red Bull and consistently outpacing Button in identical machinery, all on his debut? Impressive stuff, very impressive. Showed good maturity as well.

2) Tie between Valterri Bottas and Toro Rosso- Bottas for beasting everyone from 5th down, and could've been in the podium fight but for the brush with the wall (which incidentally is why he doesn't get second outright). Toro Rosso for being reliable and surprisingly quick.

[roblo97]

1) Kyvat for getting the Torro Rosso as high as he did on his debut.
2) Magnussen for doing stuff his dad never did.
Honourable mention to Vergne for his qualifying lap and Bottas who will probably get a podium this year.

[watka]

1. Ricciardo - And didn't expect him to be that quick. Or to get the car home. Or to handle the pressure so well after qualifying. He royally shut me up on all 3 points. Shame about the DSQ though, but rules are rules.

2. Magnussen - If he didn't come with so much hype, he'd be number 1 easy. As it is, a podium doesn't seem quite so surprising, but still a brilliant performance and a top talent.

HM - Bottas - he came back so strongly after hitting the wall, very impressive.

[Stareagle]

1 - K-Maggs. Second place on debut. Outstanding.

2 - Bottas. Who says you can't overtake in F1? He had something like 25 passes in one race.

[RAK]

1) Kevin Magnussen: A quick drive, topped off with a professional attitude all weekend. Did not look like the first race of a rookie.

2) Valterri Bottas: Managed to maintain a strong points position even with a mistake that could have resulted in a DNF.

Honourable Mentions: Daniil Kvyat, Daniel Ricciardo - despite fuel-flow disqualification.

[CarlosFerreira]

1st - Kvyat: seriously? Great drive, didn't put a wheel wrong the whole weekend. Watch out, JEV.

2nd - Magnussen: great, great drive and showed everyone the way home. This guy is going to be a winner, and soon.

[IceG]

I nominate whoever chose the drivers for every team this year - except Sauber. All the hangers-on (except Kimi), rookies and promotees outperformed expectations, some to a significant extent; any failures were mechanically related (Caterham and Marussia, I'm looking at you).

Maybe these new rules just let natural talent shone through?

[Vassago]

Daniil Kvyat - you don't beat the youngest points scorer record every other day. And since Vettel is the new Fangio for most of the records this makes it really special. Quite frankly I thought Kvyat will end up in the wall sooner rather than later but he looked suprisingly OK. Yeah, Magnussen's podium was impressive but he was driving a better car and had a better ladder series record than Kvyat so it's not that suprising to see him on the podium given the fact both Vettel and Hamilton retired and Button had to work his way up after a dismal Qual.

[DOSBoot]

1. Valterri Bottas: Everything that could have gone wrong for him, did go wrong, and yet he still managed to finish ahead of Kimi Raikkonen.

2. Kevin Magnussen: To boldly go where his father has never gone before.

Honorable Mentions: Daniel Riccardo, and Daniil Kvyat.

[Sunshine_Baby_[IT]]

1. Magnussen
2. Bottas

[Waris]

1. Magnussen - what a thrilling rookie drive.
2. Bottas - if he hadn't had that incident with the wall, I would've put him first.

[UncreativeUsername37]

1. Magnussen! Second on debut!
2. Marussia! Actually classified!

[watka]

Daniil Kvyat - you don't beat the youngest points scorer record every other day. And since Vettel is the new Fangio for most of the records this makes it really special. Quite frankly I thought Kvyat will end up in the wall sooner rather than later but he looked suprisingly OK. Yeah, Magnussen's podium was impressive but he was driving a better car and had a better ladder series record than Kvyat so it's not that suprising to see him on the podium given the fact both Vettel and Hamilton retired and Button had to work his way up after a dismal Qual.

Bare in mind though that Vettel scored his points when points were only awarded up to 8th, not 10th, and also did so in a season where every team was capable of scoring points (no duds like Marussia or Caterham). Good performance from Daniil, especially for someone so young. Worthy of an IIDOTR nomination but too early to call him a world beater.

[go_Rubens]

Daniil Kvyat - you don't beat the youngest points scorer record every other day. And since Vettel is the new Fangio for most of the records this makes it really special. Quite frankly I thought Kvyat will end up in the wall sooner rather than later but he looked suprisingly OK. Yeah, Magnussen's podium was impressive but he was driving a better car and had a better ladder series record than Kvyat so it's not that suprising to see him on the podium given the fact both Vettel and Hamilton retired and Button had to work his way up after a dismal Qual.

Bare in mind though that Vettel scored his points when points were only awarded up to 8th, not 10th, and also did so in a season where every team was capable of scoring points (no duds like Marussia or Caterham). Good performance from Daniil, especially for someone so young. Worthy of an IIDOTR nomination but too early to call him a world beater.

That said, I'd like to see him get a top 8 finish in the next 3 races, which I think is his remaining window to truly say he equalled or beat Vettel's record. It's just that, with the next 3 races hotter races, I struggle to see many Renault cars finishing.

[Waris]

1. Bottas
2. Magnussen

So, same as my best driver nominations, but in reverse.

[Shizuka]

1. Kevin Magnussen - 418
2. Valtteri Bottas - 179
3. Daniel Ricciardo - 120
4. Daniil Kvyat - 42
= Jenson Button - 42
6. Lotus - 10
= McLaren - 10
= Whoever chose the drivers for every team this year - except Sauber - 10
9. Red Bull - 6
= Button's castrated nose - 6
= Jean-Eric Vergne - 6
= Marussia - 6
13. Toro Rosso - 3

(added eagleash's past deadline nominations - they did not change the results)

[CarlosFerreira]

1. Kevin Magnussen - 408
2. Valtteri Bottas - 173
3. Daniel Ricciardo - 120
4. Daniil Kvyat - 42
= Jenson Button - 42
6. Lotus - 10
= McLaren - 10
= Whoever chose the drivers for every team this year - except Sauber - 10
9. Red Bull - 6
= Button's castrated nose - 6
= Jean-Eric Vergne - 6
= Marussia - 6
13. Toro Rosso - 3

Kvyat in 4th. Hilarious.

[DanielPT]

1. Kevin Magnussen - 408
2. Valtteri Bottas - 173
3. Daniel Ricciardo - 120
4. Daniil Kvyat - 42
= Jenson Button - 42
6. Lotus - 10
= McLaren - 10
= Whoever chose the drivers for every team this year - except Sauber - 10
9. Red Bull - 6
= Button's castrated nose - 6
= Jean-Eric Vergne - 6
= Marussia - 6
13. Toro Rosso - 3

Kvyat in 4th. Hilarious.

Yep. After all, who could have guessed that Kvyat could finish in the points ahead of slower or trouble hit cars?

[eagleash]

Magnussen

Bottas

Hon. mentions Kvyat, Ricciardo (though I kind of expected that) & poss. Red Bull for not being as far out of contention as was thought.