What are we expecting in China on Sunday??

[cosworth151]

Too bad that the two most influential people in the race were the rear wheel guys for Schumi and Button. A fine case of "what if...."

[Cam]

So how'd I go . . . .

One thing Schumi has been doing well in his comeback has been starting, although it has usually been from dismal starting positions.  Rosberg is taking a while to adjust to the concept of being a contender, this was the first Q3 hot lap he hasn't stuffed up this year, so I expect him to get the yips and schumi to beat him to turn one.

Wrong: Schumi lost ground to Rosberg at the start, and nearly got swallowed by the others. Score 0/1

In the race, on form, you would expect it to be a Macca to take the flag

Wrong: Score 0/2

Red Bull don't have the pace

Right: Score 1/3

and Mercedes cant maintain their race pace

Wrong: Score 1/4

Even if they are in front with DRS the options for using strategy to keep someone behind are much more limited now.

Wrong: They all but neutered the DRS by shortening the zone, as evidenced by the Massa and Raikkonnen conga lines. Towards the end of the race it occasionally became effective, fuel loads perhaps? Score 1/5

So which Macca will it be, I'm favouring Hamilton, when there's cars to be passed his form is better, Jenson is imperious when he has no-one in front of him, but can lose his way when there is.  When Lewis has slower cars in front of him, you wont die wondering 

Wrong: Score 1/6

Off to place my bets now . . . . . .

Score 1/7

Much has been made of the non-appearance of the expected Mercedes tyre wear.  Whilst they are clearly learning how to manage the situation, I think the nature of the race flattered them a little, tyre degradation is much higher when following other cars due to sliding (quote Martin Brundle) resulting from downforce loss and fluctuations from the wake of the car in front and having to push harder to try and get past.  The aforementioned conga lines not only held various contenders (primarily the Maccas) up, it wore away their tyres as well just as fast as the Mercs were.

If Button had not had his pit mishap and had clear air between him and Rosberg for the last third of the race he would have come very very close.  A lot closer than the race would suggest.

And finally, the way Raikkonen went from 2nd to 14th in the blink of an eye was possibly the most stunning part of the whole race.  I don't blame them for leaving Kimi out though, if he had pitted he would have ended up back there anyway.

[Scott]

I agree.  Button's pace until the pit stop would have given him 3-4 laps within passing distance.  I would bet on Button over Rosberg in that scenario.