Yes, folks, it’s the grand comeback of the predicament predictions, hosted by your favourite garlic enthusiast, Rob Dylan. And for those of you who don’t know how predicament predictions work, well here’s all you need to know:
Before each race weekend we place predictions as to the top ten at the end of the race, alongside the pole sitter, fastest lap holder, who retires first, the Reject of the Race™, the Infinite Improbability Drive of the Race™, the Deadbeat Teammate of the Race, who will be the best of the débutantes, and who will not qualify. You have until the conclusion of the final practice session of the weekend to submit your predictions without penalty (see below).
So for this week I will predict:
1. Valtteri Bottas
2. Kimi Räikönnen
3. Daniel Ricciardo
4. Lewis Hamilton
5. Sebastian Vettel
6. Nico Hülkenberg
7. Sergio Pérez
8. Felipe Massa
9. Lance Stroll
10. Carlos Sainz Jr.
Pole: Daniel Ricciardo
Fastest Lap: Kimi Räikkönen
First retirement: Max Verstappen
Reject of the Race: Max Verstappen
Infinite Improbability Drive of the Race: Valtteri Bottas
Deadbeat Teammate of the Race: Jolyon Palmer
Minor League Premiership (Rookies): Lance Stroll
And if you’re feeling naughty
DNQ: Both McLaren drivers
And to buck up interest, the top three in the predictions championship by the end of the year will each receive a prize from moi*
*prizes as of yet unknown
The points system (I’ll count it as the season goes by, so you don’t need to worry about it, but here it is anyway) for correct predictions is:
- Race winner: 5 points
- Other podium scorers: 3 points each
- Other points scorers: 2 points each
- Right driver, wrong position: 1 point each
- Pole position: 2 points
- Fastest lap: 1 point
- First retirement: 1 point
- Reject of the Race: 3 points
- Infinite Improbability Drive of the Race: 3 points
- Deadbeat Teammate of the Race: 2 points
- Minor League Premiership (as of Australia, the options are Vandoorne, Ocon and Stroll): 2 points
- Non-qualifiers: 1 point each
- Funniest alternative race title: 1 point
And something people always forget: you may announce double points for one race weekend, where your predictions will be worth double. Just say so on your predictions post.
The only penalties are:
- 2 points for every name changed in predictions after the deadline (the conclusion of Free Practice 3 of that weekend). Though exceptions will be made for force majeure incidents like drivers dropping out of a race weekend, etc.
- 10 points for a submission made after the deadline
Any questions for those who don’t understand something? Just ask!
