FBC Staff Picks: Malaysian GP

In the five seasons in which FBC has held it’s Staff Championship, I can’t recall that I’ve ever seen what I’m seeing for this weekend’s race in Malaysia. Tom and Dave have both picked Sergio Perez to come home in sixth position. But other than those, every single other staffer’s picks are comprised, in some form or another, by Hamilton, Rosberg, Vettel, Raikkonen, Ricciardo and Verstappen. That’s right; only the Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull teams have even made it into anyone’s prediction, apart form a lone Force India. Even odder, Grace, Paul and Johnpierre have all picked the exact same finishing orders!

A Hamilton-Rosberg-Vettel podium figures into six of eight staffers predictions, with four of those being that exact order. Only Tom and Dave, the same two who are hoping for Sergio to finish in the top six, are figuring on Nico to beat his teammate to the checkered flag. All other staffers are going with Hamilton. Poor Jenson Button, on the occasion of his 300th Grand Prix, is getting the Kiss of Death by his very own Grace and Tom is adding the Brit as his hope for First Out, as well. Palmer gets the usual couple of nods, as does Ocon, with Bottas and Ericcson getting one pick apiece to leave the race first. With the Top three in points all picking almost identical podiums, it might be tough for anyone to make up a lot of ground on Tony. But the battle for 2nd through 5th is only separated by a ten point gap and Andrew is just a further six points adrift. With most staffers going with such similar predictions, though, I can’t see much change in the current order following Sunday. We’ll see!

Todd
1. Hamilton
2. Rosberg
3. Vettel
4. Raikkonen
5. Ricciardo
6. Verstappen
FO Palmer

Grace
1. Hamilton
2. Rosberg
3. Vettel
4. Ricciardo
5. Raikkonen
6. Verstappen
FO Button

Paul
1. Hamilton
2. Rosberg
3. Vettel
4. Ricciardo
5. Raikkonen
6. Verstappen
FO Ericcson

Tom
1. Rosberg
2. Hamilton
3. Vettel
4. Verstappen
5. Ricciardo
6. Perez
FO Button

Andrew
1. Hamilton
2. Rosberg
3. Vettel
4. Verstappen
5. Raikkonen
6. Ricciardo
FO Palmer

Tony
1. Hamilton
2. Rosberg
3. Raikkonen
4. Vettel
5. Verstappen
6. Ricciardo
FO Bottas

Dave
1. Rosberg
2. Hamilton
3. Ricciardo
4. Verstappen
5. Raikkonen
6. Perez
FO Ocon

JP
1. Hamilton
2. Rosberg
3. Vettel
4. Ricciardo
5. Raikkonen
6. Verstappen
FO Ocon

Current Standings
1. Tony 117
2. Grace 101
3. Todd 99
4. Dave 97
5. JP 91
6. Andrew 85
7. Tom/Paul 67