I'm thinking that, in keeping with how other games are run, the top 5 should PM their votes for Abu Dhabi to me rather than posting them publicly. I dare say anyone out of the top 5 after next weekend likely won't have a run at the crown.
It's bold to say I have a run at the crown where I am, 200 points back, but I appreciate the confidence!
PICK 10 COMPETITION (6 wins, 18 podiums):3rd in 2016 TOP THREE CHAMPIONSHIP (No Limit Excedrin Racing):Champions in 2015 & 2018 | 2nd in 2017 & 2019 AUTOSPORT GP PREDICTOR: 2017 USA & P-F1 Champion
It's never been more than 75, and that's an outlier. 50-60 is about standard.
In that case, my personal opinion is that unless I take points out of JN23's advantage over me at the Sakhir GP, there is no point anyone other than the top 2 submitting their choices privately. Even if by some miracle I manage to outscore JN23 by nearly 100 points, if the top 2 have done their predictions privately then I wouldn't know it anyway!
Haha true. I'll see where we're at after Sakhir. The thing is, mathematically it's possible to gain 400 points over any other player so it's a matter of balancing that out. I think within 75 points is a reasonable requirement though.
Sakhir Grand Prix In which I finally realize that I should have been predicting each place all along rather than groups for the first two...
Out in Q1
20. Nicholas Latifi
19. Pietro Fittipaldi
18. Jack Aitken
17. Kevin Magnussen
16. Antonio Giovinazzi
Out in Q2
15. Kimi Raikkonen
14. Daniil Kvyat
13. Sebastian Vettel
12. Esteban Ocon
11. Charles Leclerc
Top Ten
10. Pierre Gasly
9. Daniel Ricciardo
8. Lando Norris
7. Lance Stroll
6. Alex Albon
5. Carlos Sainz
4. Sergio Perez
3. Max Verstappen
2. Valtteri Bottas
1. George Russell
+ 2020 Qualifying Prediction 2019 Champion [8 wins] Top Three 2019 Third,Team First [Drive Sauber] Top Three 2020 First, Team First [Drive Sauber] Group Pick 'Em 2020 Second Place [2 wins]
PICK 10 COMPETITION (6 wins, 18 podiums):3rd in 2016 TOP THREE CHAMPIONSHIP (No Limit Excedrin Racing):Champions in 2015 & 2018 | 2nd in 2017 & 2019 AUTOSPORT GP PREDICTOR: 2017 USA & P-F1 Champion
Out in Q1:
20. Pietro Fittipaldi
19. Jack Aitken
18. Nicolas Latifi
17. Kevin Magnussen
16. Antonio Giovinazzi
Out in Q2:
15. Kimi Raikkonen
14. Sebastian Vettel
13. Esteban Ocon
12. Daniil Kvyat
11. Charles Leclerc
Q3:
10. Pierre Gasly
9. Daniel Ricciardo
8. Lance Stroll
7. Lando Norris
6. Alexander Albon
5. Carlos Sainz
4. Sergio Perez
3. George Russell
2. Max Verstappen
1. Valtteri Bottas
I know I said 75 points would likely be the limit but with 76 points splitting the top 3 I'm going to say JN23, Icemanjee1 and Jenson's Understeer are to submit their predictions via PM please. Given it's my last weekend as a mod, your challenge between the 3 of you is to make your submission title the best roast of me you can think of (and fit in the title bar). No points are on offer but you're also competing with the Pick 10 entrants next week for that, assuming I drop out of the top 10 again. So it's a matter of pride
I really really hope that JN23 outscores me in Abu Dhabi. 229 points gap and 230 points lost for that late prediction in Belgium... I'm gonna be really tiddled if that's the reason i lost the championship.
Unless fresh picks are chosen Fountoukos, I'll swap Lewis for Russell and George will have Aitken's predicted position now Lewis is confirmed back in the seat.
Out in Q1
20. Pietro Fittipaldi
19. Nicholas Latifi
18. Kevin Magnussen
17. Antonio Giovinazzi
16. Kimi Raikkonen
Out in Q2
16. George Russell
15. Daniil Kvyat
14. Sebastian Vettel
13. Pierre Gasly
12. Alex Albon
Top Ten
10. Esteban Ocon
9. Lance Stroll
8. Lando Norris
7. Daniel Ricciardo
6. Charles Leclerc
5. Carlos Sainz
4. Sergio Perez
3. Max Verstappen
2. Valtteri Bottas
1. Lewis Hamilton
+ 2020 Qualifying Prediction 2019 Champion [8 wins] Top Three 2019 Third,Team First [Drive Sauber] Top Three 2020 First, Team First [Drive Sauber] Group Pick 'Em 2020 Second Place [2 wins]
PICK 10 COMPETITION (6 wins, 18 podiums):3rd in 2016 TOP THREE CHAMPIONSHIP (No Limit Excedrin Racing):Champions in 2015 & 2018 | 2nd in 2017 & 2019 AUTOSPORT GP PREDICTOR: 2017 USA & P-F1 Champion
Out in Q1:
20. Pietro Fittipaldi
19. Nicolas Latifi
18. Kevin Magnussen
17. Kimi Raikkonen
16. Antonio Giovinazzi
Out in Q2:
15. George Russell
14. Sebastian Vettel
13. Esteban Ocon
12. Daniil Kvyat
11. Charles Leclerc
Q3:
10. Pierre Gasly
9. Daniel Ricciardo
8. Lance Stroll
7. Alexander Albon
6. Lando Norris
5. Carlos Sainz
4. Sergio Perez
3. Max Verstappen
2. Valtteri Bottas
1. Lewis Hamilton
We all made one crucial mistake, calling Perez top 10 with the grid penalty. In the end there was about 50 points between first and last today. I'll post the predictions from PM here and then post the results from today and the season after
The only pole position that didn't go to a Mercedes powered car in 2020 caught us all off guard. Everyone expected a Mercedes 1-2, and Verstappen cost all of us some points there. Today's winner actually failed to finish first in any single part of qualifying, but the standings bounced about all over the place over the last hour.
This result leaves Icemanjee1, Fountoukos13 and JN23 all level on wins with 4 apiece. I'm alone 4th with 3, then Jenson's Understeer and UnlikeUday (who missed the opening race) took the remaining 2 between them.
We all made one crucial mistake, calling Perez top 10 with the grid penalty. In the end there was about 50 points between first and last today. I'll post the predictions from PM here and then post the results from today and the season after
I literally came on here Friday morning to check if the deadline was FP1 or later, as I'd intended to change my prediction and have Perez going out in Q2. Ah well, wouldn't have made any difference...
And now for the results you've all been waiting for, the final standings.
9th: Having missed the first race, UnlikeUday was always going to be on the back foot. However, when he joined us in Styria he instantly took the win in one of the closest rounds of the season. Had he entered the Austrian Grand Prix as well he could have comfortably made the midfield this year.
8th: Having told me himself that he was struggling to string together a good prediction each weekend for this competition, it's perhaps no surprise to see Herb here. Struggling here doesn't necessarily mean a bad year for him though, with other competitions seeing a stronger performance.
7th: Our reigning champion no more! The second of the 3 players not to take a single win this year, Remmirath was brought down to earth with a bump. Styria alone cost him at least one position, if not more, but overall a fairly anonymous season there.
6th: The final time I can guarantee this name entering the championship, a missed race in Tuscany perhaps cost a title shot. A rule change next year would have reduced that loss a lot but it's too late for that now for P-F1 Mod. If my replacement chooses to keep the name playing next year I'll take great pleasure in schooling the rookie though!
5th: As with me, a missed race cost a reasonable chance of the title for Fountoukos13. The first of our 4-time winners, more perhaps should have been achieved this year but for the missed deadline. A title challenge is surely on the cards for 2021. One consolation is the highest score of the year from Spain with 260 points.
4th: The highest placed player not to win a race this year, Exediron continues his curse of P3 from the Pick 3 tournament by falling short of the podium with a remarkably high scoring run for a non-winner. It's a strong advert for consistency in these types of competitions.
3rd: Sitting midfield in Pick 10 and missing out on the Joker bonus points in Group Pick this year looks bad for Jenson's Understeer, but taking a podium here makes up for it. More than 100 points clear of Exediron and the rest of the trailing field shows how strong a year it has been, with a win to show for a solid season.
2nd: 43 points ahead of Jenson's Understeer and only 39 off our champion, Icemanjee1 put up an excellent fight as he picked up 4 wins through the year. To miss out on the title by such a narrow margin will likely sting a little, especially considering 50% of that gap was lost just today. It really did come down to the finest of margins.
1st: Our new champion, taking the title away from Remmirath in the competition's sophomore year, is the last of the 3 4-time winners this year. I was going to write that the champion also had the highest 1-race score of the season but he missed that accolade by just 2 points. JN23 has always been there or thereabouts, the back to back wins in Hungary and Britain laying the foundations for a brilliant year.
Thank you to all our players, It's been a fun season. Looking forward to the race tomorrow, and renewing my efforts to beat you all next year! Merry Christmas from the Qualifying Prediction Game everyone.