2017 Japanese Grand Prix - Suzuka, 6-8 October

[TAG]

If it was temp alone Merc race pace would have been poor in Hungary and Baku but it wasn't at all.

You know how the bitumen holding together the asphalt and aggregate tends to sort of seep to the surface when it's too hot ? You might be right that it's not just the track temperature itself but the type of materials used to build it, it's age etc.

It's a number of things and the adhesion and aggregate of the track certainly factor as well but the biggest issue is track temperature, that's the starting point and everything else builds from there.

[TAG]

Watching both laps side to side Seb drove every bit ad good its just that car was constantly tiny bit less stable then Merc in Hamilton hands that decided this one.

I said Friday night in FP1 when Seb put in that monster lap, that the car looked a bit of a handful to handle. The speed it there, but even in and F1 car, smooth is fast.

[PlatinumZealot]

Strategy for Hamilton hinges on Kimi the number 2 at Ferrari. Kimi WILL stay out to block Hamilton, it's a no brainer. What mercedes has to do is use Bottas to block both kimi and vettel and run Hamilton on an extended first stint. It will be difficult because the Merc eats the supersofts at this track and that fact that kimi is on softs which are barely slower in race trim. Will be an intriguing battle.

[drunkf1fan]

If Lewis has a decent start and is P1 after lap 1, I think the race is his. He'll control the race up front and react what's happening behind him.

There are potential pitfalls for the race, mostly strategy I think. If Merc think they need a two stop and pit when there is a gap to get into then either Vettel could choose to 1 stop or if he gets caught behind someone he could be screwed that way. On pure pace without major strategy issues I really can't see anything but a Merc win. I think they are flat out faster than everyone else and unless he ends up like 5th after the first corner, he'll get Vettel via going longer or undercutting the same way he did to Rosberg in 14 and 15.

[FrukostScones]

There are potential pitfalls for the race, mostly strategy I think. If Merc think they need a two stop and pit when there is a gap to get into then either Vettel could choose to 1 stop or if he gets caught behind someone he could be screwed that way. On pure pace without major strategy issues I really can't see anything but a Merc win. I think they are flat out faster than everyone else and unless he ends up like 5th after the first corner, he'll get Vettel via going longer or undercutting the same way he did to Rosberg in 14 and 15.

I hope Ferrari won't try a one stopper.

weather forecast, sunny 29 C.
http://www.myweather2.com/Motor-Racing/ ... rcuit.aspx

[GPR-A duplicate2]

Strategy for Hamilton hinges on Kimi the number 2 at Ferrari. Kimi WILL stay out to block Hamilton

Kimi stays out to block Hamilton, is a situation where Hamilton has new tyres and Kimi on old ones. With the current pace advantage that Lewis has, he looks more likely to overtake Kimi, either at back straight or on start straight, EVEN on tyres of same life. We are talking about a situation where Lewis on new tyres and Kimi on old. Kimi would be a sitting duck.

[WaikeCU]

If Lewis has a decent start and is P1 after lap 1, I think the race is his. He'll control the race up front and react what's happening behind him.

There are potential pitfalls for the race, mostly strategy I think. If Merc think they need a two stop and pit when there is a gap to get into then either Vettel could choose to 1 stop or if he gets caught behind someone he could be screwed that way. On pure pace without major strategy issues I really can't see anything but a Merc win. I think they are flat out faster than everyone else and unless he ends up like 5th after the first corner, he'll get Vettel via going longer or undercutting the same way he did to Rosberg in 14 and 15.

Yes, I think track position is still key. Overtaking won't be easy and following cars around won't be easy either. I think if Lewis is in front, he'll pull a gap and manage it. Then it's all about tire management and react on what Seb does strategy wise. If Seb pits, then Lewis will pit in a lap or 2. I think that should be the plan to defend the Championship lead.

[Shakeman]

Yeh, my reaction to watching these cars at Suzuka was "HOLY --- this years cars are FAST here". The speed of change of direction through the Ses, and the fact that they visually barely seem to slow at all to enter Spoon is just crazy.

The TV director should have some credit, the choice of cuts and timing to different camera angles really did give a real sense of speed through those Ses. Some of the best F1 TV direction I've seen in a long time.

[i70q7m7ghw]

If Lewis has a decent start and is P1 after lap 1, I think the race is his. He'll control the race up front and react what's happening behind him.

Agreed, but Vettel will be thinking the same so is probably going to go for broke at the start. Bottas is going to be key at the start, if he can jump the Red Bulls he should keep the busy in the opening laps allowing the front 2 cars to get away. If he doesn't, Verstappen could be in the mix going in to T1.

[Phil]

Strategy for Hamilton hinges on Kimi the number 2 at Ferrari. Kimi WILL stay out to block Hamilton

Kimi stays out to block Hamilton, is a situation where Hamilton has new tyres and Kimi on old ones. With the current pace advantage that Lewis has, he looks more likely to overtake Kimi, either at back straight or on start straight, EVEN on tyres of same life. We are talking about a situation where Lewis on new tyres and Kimi on old. Kimi would be a sitting duck.

My guess is that Kimi will be too far back to be a problem. Pit stop takes 18 seconds in Suzuka, so its relatively quick. By the time the front runners pit, i expect Kimi to be further back than 18 seconds. Bottas might be a key player though starting from 6th.

[muramasa]

Gro crash jean






































Lewis was stunning at S today, almost Formula Hamilton there
last year he was class above field as well, altho this year is his first Suzuka pole
You just have to see Lewis at Suzuka S, just different from others

What I noticed was that in FP3 and even Quali he was often attacking in Esses in cool down lap, quite often he was even going faster than anyone else at outlap as well
He was the only driver I noticed who was doing this alot.
Maybe he was trying to compensate the lost time in Friday due to rain?, to trial many possibilities.
LH rather come across as "casual" but this man must be intelligent and committed at extremely high level.



Off topic photos removed

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[AMG.Tzan]

I've been waiting for this race since the new aero rules were announced! Wow just stunning speed...lovely! On the race front i think even if Lewis is not first after lap 1 i think Mercedes can turn it around if they stay close and perform an undercut...softs work really well for them i think! Let's see...so excited to wake up early for this race!

[SectorOne]

Camera-man at T1-2 will probably retire after this race, he could not keep up with the cars

[ringo]

I remember that famous shot of Nicos tyre compressing last year in T1. With more downforce on the cars now, would be interesting to see a shot like that again.

As for the camera work, the F1 media people need more outside of the car views, i find you get a better sense of the speed with those angles. Take for instance the Qualy highlights:

I Enjoy the on track views more than the car's carmera.

[garyjpaterson]

I remember that famous shot of Nicos tyre compressing last year in T1. With more downforce on the cars now, would be interesting to see a shot like that again.

Was that T1? Always thought it was Degner 1. But I agree, I hope to see more like it this year, and I expect we will since everyone saw how popular that photo got last year, every photographer and their mother will be trying to replicate it this year.