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[zurich_allan]

Okay, so I did this last year and thought it was quite interesting, so thought I'd give it another go this year. With a lot of talk about whether people are or aren't still in the title hunt, if the title is already decided, how much better or worse some drivers or teams are, it's always good to look at things from a different perspective.

I'm sure that many still aren't used to the large points hauls being given these days, and still (if you're like me) try to equate it to roughly 10 points for a win and differences in the table accordingly. So below I've noted the current table, along with how many points those drivers / teams would have under both the old 10 - 1 points sytem down to 8th place, and indeed going back further to the old 10 - 1 points down to 6th place. I've not gone any further than that as I think going back to when it was 9 points for a win would begin to muddy the waters just a little too far.

WDC

Current - Points to 8th - Points to 6th

Vettel 172 - 70 - 60
Kimi 134 - 56 - 42
Alonso 133 - 54 - 41
Hamilton 124 - 50 - 34
Webber 105 - 43 - 25
Rosberg 84 - 32 - 26
Massa 61 - 23 - 11
Grosjean 49 - 18 - 10
Button 39 - 13 - 4
di Resta 36 - 11 - 3
Sutil 23 - 8 - 2
Perez 18 - 4 - 1
Vergne 13 - 4 - 1
Ricciardo 11 - 3 - 0
Hulkenberg 7 - 1 - 0
Maldonado 1 - 0 - 0


WCC

Current - Points to 8th - Points to 6th

Red Bull 277 - 113 - 85
Mercedes 208 - 82 - 60
Ferrari 194 - 77 - 52
Lotus 183 - 74 - 52
Force India 59 - 19 - 5
McLaren 57 - 17 - 5
Toro Rosso 24 - 7 - 1
Sauber 7 - 1 - 0
Williams 1 - 0 - 0


My own thoughts after looking at things from this perspective:

- The WDC is by no means over. Realistically anyone down to Hamilton still has a very good chance. Webber still has an outside chance. I think Nico is likely out of things unless he can pick up two or three consecutive wins and Vettel has at least one DNF during that run. Very unlikely.

- In comparison to their team-mates, Massa and Grosjean, in spite of both being on the podium this year are really doing very badly considering how relatively competetive their cars are. The current points system masks that somewhat by still having both with a decent points haul.

- In spite of Ricciardo and Vergne both impressing us this season I wonder if we'd be taking so much notice had this been back in say 2000, the conversion to old points really shows that currently Toro Rosso are no further ahead than they were back when they were Minardi a decade ago, in spite of the rhetoric often presented to the contrary. This saddens me.

- Under the old points system several teams are really shown up by looking under the old points system for a true comparison to how they performed in the past. McLaren look to be in the worst shape I can EVER remember - were this, say 1996, they would be on five points, yes FIVE points. This is abysmal. For both them and Williams, there is calming talk about it not being a crisis - but I can 100% guarantee that if this were 15 years ago there wouldn't even be a question - it would have been a crisis. Again, this is masked by the large distribution of points now. Both look similar in performance to the sad downfall of the original Team Lotus from 1988 - 1994 in terms of race performance, though both of these companies are currently financially sound. However neither can afford to continue their diabolical slumps for too long.

- I can't see any team overhauling Red Bull in the WCC, even after looking at the comparisons.

[CookinFlat6]

In the 10 points system, Merc would have 12 times as much points as Mclaren (1200%), whereas with the current system its only 3 times. That in itself would be confirmation of a crisis as I dont think there has ever been such a %deficit from the top teams

[Ferrari man 009]

I think the top 4 are in contention. Remember that last season, Alonso arrived at Spa with a 40 point lead and didnt win the championship. Only takes 1 Vettel DNF for the championship to be blown wide open.

Another factor later in the season could be (should any of the chasers catch Vettel) is that Hamilton, Alonso and Raikkonen will have team mates that will help them. Vettel on the other hand does not!

[Zekenwolf]

I think the top 4 are in contention. Remember that last season, Alonso arrived at Spa with a 40 point lead and didnt win the championship. Only takes 1 Vettel DNF for the championship to be blown wide open.

Another factor later in the season could be (should any of the chasers catch Vettel) is that Hamilton, Alonso and Raikkonen will have team mates that will help them. Vettel on the other hand does not!

As far as teammates are concerned, it is debatable whether they will go out a limb to help. Massa might be blackmailed into doing so by Ferrari if the situation arises but I am more sceptical about others. Rosberg may not be Vettel's bosom pal but I doubt if he could be persuaded to trip-up a fellow German against a Brit. As for Grosjean, doubt if he thinks of anyone but himself and would not consider helping his own mother if she was driving the other Lotus. In any case, I don't think Raikkonen would expect to win in any other way than fair and square.

On the flipside, I would not be surprised if the outgoing Webber helped one or more of his teammate's opponents to try and deny Vettel the WDC.

But you forget one thing. Long before it comes to the stage of Alonso, Hamilton or Raikkonen needing their teammates' help to catch Vettel, they will be too busy fighting among themselves in the next few races. That could easily turn out to Vettel's advantage. He would he had a quiet smile at Hamilton's announcement after Spa that he (Hamilton) and not Alonso had the best chance of catching Vettel.

And you can forget about any conspiracy theories of the three working together. If either Alonso or Hamilton approached Raikkonen asking for "co-operation", he'll give them a piece of his ice cream.

[sagi58]

...As far as teammates are concerned, it is debatable whether they will go out a limb to help. Massa might be blackmailed into doing so by Ferrari if the situation arises...

First of all, it is NOT blackmail IF, like Massa, you've agreed to Ferrari's 1-2 philosophy!
Secondly, are you sure you're a Ferrari fan as your profile states??

[Zekenwolf]

...As far as teammates are concerned, it is debatable whether they will go out a limb to help. Massa might be blackmailed into doing so by Ferrari if the situation arises...

First of all, it is NOT blackmail IF, like Massa, you've agreed to Ferrari's 1-2 philosophy!
Secondly, are you sure you're a Ferrari fan as your profile states??

That sort of thing goes on in all teams, except that Ferrari are more open about it.

Tis the Scarlet colour (although I am not certain that the present red is truly the original Ferrari scarlet) and the prancing horse that sets me off. I would like to see Vettel drive it one day.

[LewEngBridewell]

Tis the Scarlet colour (although I am not certain that the present red is truly the original Ferrari scarlet) and the prancing horse that sets me off. I would like to see Vettel drive it one day.

I think I said it once before, but Seb would look pretty stunning in red overalls

It would go beautifully with those blonde locks

[Zekenwolf]

I was thinking more of the car. And scarlet please, not just plain red.

[andrew]

Tis the Scarlet colour (although I am not certain that the present red is truly the original Ferrari scarlet) and the prancing horse that sets me off. I would like to see Vettel drive it one day.

I think I said it once before, but Seb would look pretty stunning in red overalls

It would go beautifully with those blonde locks

I dread the day he joins the dark side.

I was thinking more of the car. And scarlet please, not just plain red.

Is scarlet not a shade of red?

[sagi58]

I was thinking more of the car. And scarlet please, not just plain red.

Is scarlet not a shade of red?

I'm betting you've never had your hair coloured!! Or ever paid attention when a woman told you what colour her hair was!!

[spankyham]

Tis the Scarlet colour (although I am not certain that the present red is truly the original Ferrari scarlet) and the prancing horse that sets me off. I would like to see Vettel drive it one day.

The original/real color of Ferrari is yellow (as in the background color on the badge with the prancing horse). Ferrari cars are red because, in early GP races, teams bore the color assigned to their nation. French cars were blue, British were green German were silver etc.

[Zekenwolf]

Is scarlet not a shade of red?

Yes, but there is a difference. Scarlet has a very slight touch of orange in it (much less than Vermillion) compared with 'pure' red. This makes the colour appear brighter and more eye-catching. According to a comment by Murray Walker in the late 80s, the traditional 'red' of Ferrari is really scarlet.....and so it should be.

Also, saying "the scarlet Ferrari" has more oomph to it than the rather common sounding 'red'.

[andrew]

I was thinking more of the car. And scarlet please, not just plain red.

Is scarlet not a shade of red?

I'm betting you've never had your hair coloured!! Or ever paid attention when a woman told you what colour her hair was!!

I asked for it to be coloured scarlet once but the hairdresser just looked blankly at me. It wasn't until I described it as the same colour as Ferrari that they realised I meant red.

[Hammer278]

Is scarlet not a shade of red?

Yes, but there is a difference. Scarlet has a very slight touch of orange in it (much less than Vermillion) compared with 'pure' red. This makes the colour appear brighter and more eye-catching. According to a comment by Murray Walker in the late 80s, the traditional 'red' of Ferrari is really scarlet.....and so it should be.

Also, saying "the scarlet Ferrari" has more oomph to it than the rather common sounding 'red'.

Hmm then how do you define 'crimson'?

[sagi58]

I was thinking more of the car. And scarlet please, not just plain red.

Is scarlet not a shade of red?

I'm betting you've never had your hair coloured!! Or ever paid attention when a woman told you what colour her hair was!!

I asked for it to be coloured scarlet once but the hairdresser just looked blankly at me. It wasn't until I described it as the same colour as Ferrari that they realised I meant red.

Maybe she didn't understand your accent?