Predictions 2010 registration now open

Hello! Long time no see...

The off-season is finally drawing to a close and in less than two weeks the 2010 Formula 1 World Championship will roar into life. This season promises great things, with no refuelling, new teams and drivers and the return of a certain Mr Schumacher.
Naturally, GP Predictions is returning for a ninth successive season.

If you took part in GPP last year, you should have received an invitational email to register for this season. All existing players are of course welcome to return and with the expanded grid this year (quite how expanded remainds to be seen), there are additional spaces available for new players.

How to register

Whether you're an existing or new player, if you would like to play, all you need to do is send me an email with the following details:

- Your username
- A password
- Your choice of team, listed from most preferred to least

Seats will be allocated in order of win tallies, aside from Karan who gets first choice as reigning champion. As things stand, we don't actually know the full 2010 F1 entry list (well done FIA) so use the following list of teams and I'll exclude as necessary:

1. McLaren
2. Mercedes
3. Red Bull
4. Ferrari
5. Williams
6. Renault
7. Force India
8. Toro Rosso
9. Lotus
10. HRT
11. Virgin
12. BMW Sauber

Alternatively, if you finished in the top eight in 2009 or won more than once, you can keep hold of your existing team by stating 'keep seat'. The following players qualify for this:

- Karan (Ferrari)
- Wooze (Mercedes)
- IceMan (SGP)
- Revs (Ferrari)
- Montie (Renault)
- Luigi (Renault)
- Fisichella (BMW Sauber)
- Hollywood (SGP)

And thats it! I'll be updating the blog over the coming week to get it all 2010-ified and hopefully adding a few things to make it easier to keep in touch. I look forward to hearing from you.

Roll on Bahrain!

Image copyright: Davenport / xpb

Abu Dhabi 2009: Round 17 Results

Formula 1 2009 has come to a close and a massive congratulations is in order for new World Champion Karan. The Canadian has become GPP's first ever two-time champion, repeating his success of 2007. I have to admit, I never thought anybody would take the crown twice and it might well never happen again. Very well done mate - I'm seriously impressed!

Congratulations too to IceMan on taking his fifth career victory at the inaugural Abu Dhabi twlight Grand Prix, winning what we now know to be Toyota's last Formula 1 race. The result was also just enough to edge out Ferrari's Revs for third place overall, equalling his best championship result from last season. Its just a shame he'll have to find new employment in 2010!

I'd also like to give a quick nod of approval to GPP veteran Sandeep on a fantastic prediction of the weekend - more like prediction of the year!

Commiserations to my team mate Wooze, who eventually finished 11 points down on Karan after a season-long battle. Second place is his best ever championship finish and although he didn't take the title in the end, he can at least take heart from the fact that he comprehensively blew me away this year 11-6 in the team battles. Nice work.

Another championship finish worthy of mention is that of BMW Sauber's Fisichella. Having spent most of the season stuck in 19th place, he staged an heroic comeback with two wins and climbed up to eighth place by the year's end. He's never missed a round since his debut in 2005 and its great to see his commitment being rewarded with a decent result. He too though will have to find a new berth next year...

In the teams championship Ferrari take their fourth championship thanks to the efforts of Revs and Karan. GPP original Revs has been behind all four of the team's titles and surely both players should be included in any 'greatest ever' debate. Well done guys.

Despite being Toyota's sole entrant in Abu Dhabi, IceMan managed to single-handedly overhaul Renault for third place in the final standings. Force India duo Sandeep and Flutterfly lifted their team from eighth to sixth in the final round.

In the nations championship, with five players (and pretty reliable ones at that) it was always looking like Great Britain's championship and after five wins in 2009, they have taken the honours once again. Canada held USA off for runner-up spot whilst Revs took Germany to fourth place as the best of the 'solo' nations.

So thats it, the chequered flag has fallen on F1 2009. Its been an incredible season of racing and the lower than usual scores tell the tale of just how unpredictable the racing has been. As ever, a huge thank you to everybody that took part. Your continued commitment (and tolerance for my delays!) make this game what it is and I still find it hard to believe just how long some of you have stuck with this. You guys and girls and fantastic and you're all very welcome to come back for another season of F1-based internet time wasting in 2010.

26 seats and a host of new teams... its going to be one hell of an F1 season.

Roll on 2010!

Analysis: Key battles ahead of Abu Dhabi

Its hard to believe there's only one round left of Formula 1 2009. As ever the season has flown by and we've had another great year of close-fought predictions. But while the championships might have been decided in the real world, there's still plenty to fight for in GPP09. Here's a look at some of the key battles ahead of the first ever Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Karan vs Wooze

All season long the battle for the championship has been between these two men. Ever since Wooze took the opening round in Australia, the two have lead the championship largely unchallenged, swapping the lead several times. Karan goes into the final round as firm favourite, holding a five point lead. Whilst Wooze can afford to tie on points, he'll need a big result and a little luck to stand a chance of becoming the game's third British champion. Karan meanwhile is looking to become the first ever two-time champion. Whoever winds up on top after Sunday will be a deserving champion.

Revs vs IceMan vs Atomic
Toyota's IceMan finds himself in a battle with two former champions for third place. Ferrari's Revs has a three point advantage and should be able to seal his top three position with a solid score, but a bum result could easily drop him two places. I'll be entering my last round as champion looking to steal fourth - overhauling Revs at this stage would take a small miracle.

Montie vs Luigi

Renault team mates Montie and Luigi find themselves level on 94 points in their first year together. 2008 runner-up Montie has beaten his Belgian team mate 10-6 so far this year and is the only one of the two to have taken the French marque to victory this year. But whoever bags a higher score in Abu Dhabi will earn the higher final championship position and, more importantly, bragging rights.

ForeverR5 vs Good Ol' JR vs Fisichella
A genuine good news story: just a few weeks ago, twice runner-up Fisichella found himself 19th in the championship seemingly unable to get his season started. Cue late season victories in Belgium and Singapore. He now sits 10th, just three points behind my missus Good Ol' JR. If eighth-placed ForeverR5 once again misses a round, Fisichella could well find himself ending the year in the top eight. Williams' Good Ol' JR needs just two points more than ForeverR5 in Abu Dhabi to secure her Williams seat for 2010.

Ducks to Break
Two of the twenty players remain winless in their predictions careers. Both Good Ol' JR and Luigi debuted late in the 2007 season and both are yet to take the top spot at a Grand Prix. Veteran Badboy had to wait quite some time for his debut win, finally sealing the deal in the final round of 2004. Luigi and JR will need similar luck if either is to avoid entering a fourth season empty handed.

Renault vs Toyota
Just three points separate these two teams in the battle for third place in the teams championship. Toyota's Hollywood has missed two of the last three rounds, but if he enters the season finale, the Japanese team could well retake the top three spot they held for much of the season.

Canada vs USA
The nations championship looks to be foregone conclusion, but there's a close battle for second place between these two great sister nations. Canada have taken an impressive four wins in 2009, but a four point cushion over the USA is by no means enough to guarantee their runner-up spot.

The very best of luck to everybody ahead of the last round of the season and as always, thanks for your continued commitment throughout 2009.

Brazil 2009: Round 16 Results

Congratulations to Montie on taking his sixth career win, making him one of the most prolific winners in the series. Its Renault's first win of the season and indeed, Montie's first for his new team. He has won for every team he has competed with.

The fight for 2009 championship honours took a decisive swing in Brazil. The Ferraris and Renaults dominated the top scorers whilst the Brawn duo struggled. Number one contender Wooze came away with the lowest score, leaving him five points down on leader Karan going into the final round. While its not impossible that he will still take the title in Abu Dhabi, he'll need some good fortune to prevent Karan from becoming GPP's first ever two-time world champion. One small factor in Wooze's favour is that he can afford to tie on points - Karan needs to be at least a point clear.

Its a similar tale in the teams championship - Karan and Revs' performance in Brazil looks strong enough to have all but secured the title, leaving Brawn ten points down. Renault have jumped Toyota for third.

Great Britain can pretty much start uncorking the champagne in the nations championship.

Just one more to go folks - stay tuned this weekend for some additional analysis and information on the upcoming 2009 Race of Champions...

Roll on Abu Dhabi!

Japan 2009: Round 15 Results

The return to Suzuka marked a return to the top spot for GPP veteran ForeverR5 - his first victory in over two years. This win is the third of his career and his first for McLaren. It lifts him to sixth overall - not bad for somebody with two DNEs on the 2009 scoreboard. Grats mate.

There's a change at the top of the championship standings as Karan once again takes the lead, two points clear of Wooze. With two rounds to go, its a two horse race, but the battle for third place is a close run thing, with just three points covering IceMan, Revs and me.

In the teams championship, Brawn refuse to give up on their championship challenge and have reduce the gap to leaders Ferrari from ten points to four. McLaren and Force India both climb a place at the expense of the two Red Bull teams.

Great Britain have moved well clear of their rivals and look to have an almost unassailable lead going into Brazil. ForeverR5's victory in Japan is USA's second of the season and closes the gap to Canada to just three points. The fight for second place is well and truly on for these neighbouring nations.

The season is drawing to a close, folks... Roll on Brazil!