The 2017 Season

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Force India to have aero upgrades and latest-spec Merc engines for Malaysia: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/132026/force-india-set-for-aero-and-engine-upgrades

[Chrill]

Aaand it's confirmed. Gasly for Toro Rosso for "the next Grands Prix"

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2017/09/26/kvyat-loses-seat-gasly-malaysian-grand-prix/

[Chrill]

Also announced Gasly has decided on a permanent number, 10, to be his. This was most recently used by Kobayashi 3 years ago which means it was now vacated.

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Seems it will be the next two races for Gassy with Kvyat back in place for the U.S. GP: http://en.f1i.com/news/280746-sponsor-insists-kvyat-benched-two-races.html

[Chrill]

Quite likely yes. USA clashes with Super Formula finale.

[Chrill]

Well Ferrari is really trying hard to make sure Lewis Hamilton is crowned champion before Abu Dhabi. Hmm.

A DNS for Raikkonen and a P20 on the grid for Vettel. Not nice.

Verstappen dominated Hamilton. Ferrari had dominated Red Bull all weekend. This would have been the most certain 1-2 Ferrari finish of the year (except Singapore, which also should have been a Ferrari 1-2). Instead, the total points haul over these 2 races is 12 points. Shite.

Also, Stroll and Vettel colliding after the race. I could see that leading to a gearbox change, for which Vettel would indeed be demoted on the grid for Japan too.

The only encouragement is that, even though Hamilton has finished 1st and 2nd in these two races, he hasn't REALLY had the pace to do so. The Mercedes has looked weak in Singapore and in Malaysia.

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I'm keeping everything crossed that Ferrari & Red Bull can have them at Suzuka; I'll also take a Mercedes mechanical failure as a means to narrowing Hammy's lead.

[Chrill]

Well, Vettel is likely to gain a 5-place grid drop after that Stroll shunt. FIA has ruled that the gearbox change is not caused by unforeseen circumstances and will therefore not grant Ferrari a free switch.

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Have I mentioned lately how much I despise these tight limits on the no. of penalty-free engines/gearboxes etc that can be used?  What a way to (potentially) have a title decided....

[Chrill]

Your opinion on this matter might have come up once or twice.

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Steel yourself for more of the same next year....

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Vettel's Malaysia gearbox probably okay for Japan; team will know for certain once it's run in Friday practice: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/41489132

[Matt]

Got my Minardi book signed by Fisichella, Bruni, and Christian Fittipaldi. Bruni and Fittipaldi both looked through it for a few minutes.

I hope to get it signed by more people, but it's hard to find most of them these days. Many are retired or racing in Europe.

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Nice.  Where were those guys found lurking?

Grid penalties for Suzuka:

Kimi - 5
Bottas - 5
Palmer - 20
Sainz - 20
Alonso - 35