2023 Japanese Grand Prix - Suzuka, Sep 22 - 24

[Espresso]

https://press.pirelli.com/busy-busy-in-suzuka--/

According to pirelli the c2 test tyre didn't work as hoped

Over 1300 kilometres was completed on this prototype C2 and from the initial feedback it seems it is not delivering the potential for improvement in terms of the grip we wanted to achieve, but obviously, now all this information will have to be analysed carefully before reaching a final decision.

According to Peter Windsor.....Max had a blast of a long run on the c2 m test tyre.....


I think Pirelli was shocked how good the tires held up....

[AR3-GP]

One tricky thing about this place is that if you take a pit stop and come out behind traffic, you will be stuck behind for the entire lap more or less. There's really not many places to overtake.

[Sieper]

Verstappen has 3 new mediums compared to everyone else 2.

Could be a M-H-M for him yet others would have to run a used medium if 2 stopping

What makes you think so? A M-H-M strategy requires only two sets of mediums.

Max will use one set of mediums and 1 soft in FP3 still. He will have 2x M and 1x H left for the race.

[basti313]

Verstappen has 3 new mediums compared to everyone else 2.

Could be a M-H-M for him yet others would have to run a used medium if 2 stopping

What makes you think so? A M-H-M strategy requires only two sets of mediums.

Max will use one set of mediums and 1 soft in FP3 still. He will have 2x M and 1x H left for the race.

That is what I think too.

Now assuming he starts from pole, he will simply do a S-M-M and dust off into distance. No risk at the start with a Medium.
If he gets a 10 place grid penalty of course starting on the M is the risk management to win with M-H.

But I see no reason why anyone besides Merc would start on the Medium and go for Hard if they do not have to on this track.

[Juzh]

yeah, it's the same.

No idea how much of an advantage it came with, but AmuS mentioned that Verstappen "violated" tomorrow's minimum lap time rule by 50s ahead of his quickest attempt in FP2. So having to do a significantly faster outlap could change things a bit, at least.

Do we know what minimum laptime rule is? as in how many seconds?

1:54 between the two SC lines:

https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files ... 20Time.pdf

But 50s is too long to discuss a slow outlap. Furthermore I think RB goes usually a quite fast outlap. I do not think you can read anything into this.

I just re-watched Verstappen's FP2 outlap on F1TV, and it just was deliberately slow indeed. Nothing else to report.

I don't understand the logic, it's know this will not be allowed in quali, so why not stick to procedures entire time? I bet there's some juicy team radio coming up, I guarantee it. All the more strange as tyre preparation on outlap seems as important as ever. Just last year verstappen mucked up final prep lap and voila, sector 1 is ruined.
Same situation as track limits on some tracks, disregard them right up until Q1, then act surprised when laptime is deleted.

[AR3-GP]

yeah, it's the same.

No idea how much of an advantage it came with, but AmuS mentioned that Verstappen "violated" tomorrow's minimum lap time rule by 50s ahead of his quickest attempt in FP2. So having to do a significantly faster outlap could change things a bit, at least.

Do we know what minimum laptime rule is? as in how many seconds?

1:54 between the two SC lines:

https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files ... 20Time.pdf

But 50s is too long to discuss a slow outlap. Furthermore I think RB goes usually a quite fast outlap. I do not think you can read anything into this.

I just re-watched Verstappen's FP2 outlap on F1TV, and it just was deliberately slow indeed. Nothing else to report.

As long as the team can show that the driver was getting out of the way for other cars, there won't be any penalty. Ferrari was able to avoid penalties in Monza in this fashion. Qualifying will be very busy. I expect teams to exploit what we saw at Monza to get slower out laps.

[dialtone]

Love that Ferrari is both incompetent and cunning depending on what is the argument to prove.

[scuderiabrandon]

https://press.pirelli.com/busy-busy-in-suzuka--/

According to pirelli the c2 test tyre didn't work as hoped

Over 1300 kilometres was completed on this prototype C2 and from the initial feedback it seems it is not delivering the potential for improvement in terms of the grip we wanted to achieve, but obviously, now all this information will have to be analysed carefully before reaching a final decision.

shock, pirelli fail to hit there targets. tell me something I don't know

[AR3-GP]

Why does the new C2 need to have more grip than the old C2? I don't get it.

[scuderiabrandon]

Why does the new C2 need to have more grip than the old C2? I don't get it.

To better fit between C1-C3 according to Pirelli

[chrisc90]

They want the tyres to be bigger offset between them - that way strategy comes into it and makes it more exciting

[Bill_Kar]

What makes you think so? A M-H-M strategy requires only two sets of mediums.

Max will use one set of mediums and 1 soft in FP3 still. He will have 2x M and 1x H left for the race.

That is what I think too.

Now assuming he starts from pole, he will simply do a S-M-M and dust off into distance. No risk at the start with a Medium.
If he gets a 10 place grid penalty of course starting on the M is the risk management to win with M-H.

But I see no reason why anyone besides Merc would start on the Medium and go for Hard if they do not have to on this track.

Why would he get a 10-place grid drop? Did I miss on something?

[search]

Verstappen has 3 new mediums compared to everyone else 2.

Could be a M-H-M for him yet others would have to run a used medium if 2 stopping

What makes you think so? A M-H-M strategy requires only two sets of mediums.

Max will use one set of mediums and 1 soft in FP3 still. He will have 2x M and 1x H left for the race.

probably, but it's unusual to approach the weekend this way. Maybe Red Bull just wanted to get a better idea of the 2024 tyre to get prepared for next season.

[AR3-GP]

What makes you think so? A M-H-M strategy requires only two sets of mediums.

Max will use one set of mediums and 1 soft in FP3 still. He will have 2x M and 1x H left for the race.

probably, but it's unusual to approach the weekend this way. Maybe Red Bull just wanted to get a better idea of the 2024 tyre to get prepared for next season.

It speaks to their comfort level with the setup that they would waste prime race simulation time on a tire that they have no intention of using on Sunday (or rather, will not be available). Horner said after FP1 that the car is working well on all compounds. RB essentially just have the luxury of not having too much to sort out with the car here, so they can do these experiments for next year.

[Krakenn]

One tricky thing about this place is that if you take a pit stop and come out behind traffic, you will be stuck behind for the entire lap more or less. There's really not many places to overtake.

Clearly, they'll have to take advantage of this.
Edit: and it was confirmed on the track!
Although they were in Japan, they didn't take the opportunity to dress in Japanese streetwear, with cool jackets or hoodies.