2012 Japanese GP - Suzuka

[Nando]

Its true that is a drivers track but not as much as Monaco is. If you dont have a car with great downforce you will suffer a lot, , even if your Alonso, Shumi or Lewis.

Same can be said with Monaco and mechanical grip.
Monaco, SPA and Suzuka, Singapore allows the driver to put more of his final touches then most other tracks.

-

1. BUT
2. HAM
3. VET
4. PER
5. WEB

1. HAM
2. BUT
3. PER
4. VET
5. WEB

[adam2003]

Is the ferrari good on the hard and soft tires in the past?

[beelsebob]

Is the ferrari good on the hard and soft tires in the past?

They seem much of a muchness on all of them – it's not tyres differentiating this season particularly, it's that they're good at high speed, circuits. So far they've shown that they're there on the low downforce ones, Japan needs significantly more downforce though so it's not certain.

It's a shame that Britain was wet, that would be the best indicator of success in japan (although it also happened before everyone's big updates).

[lukeaar]

I'm predicting another Perez podium.

[kooleracer]

This will be a Lotus win for Raikonnen. Button 2nd and Webber 3rd.

[Kaneda]

Yes! I'm getting so excited. I'll go to Suzuka.

The best "drivers" track in F1 calender. Always fantastic atmosphere.

The west part of the track has been resurfaced since the last year, so it means "more grip", I guess. The kerbs has also been replaced with new ones, if I'm not mistaken. I wonder, they changed the "high" kerb on the Degner 1? (I walked on the track in 2010, Degner is really an awesome corner )

Kobayashi says Sauber cars will be "very quick" in Suzuka. I really hope so. I think a big pressure is on his shoulders at this moment because he's had a pretty tough season so far, and hasn't secured his seat for 2013 yet. Good luck, Kamui!

[raymondu999]

Which part is "west?" I'm not too sure in terms of the track!

[Kaneda]

Which part is "west?" I'm not too sure in terms of the track!

Degner 1 to the chicane.
Resurfacing (reconstruction of pavement) to the east part (T1 to Dunlop) was done in 2009, by the way.

[Nando]

Here´s the layouts,

[Nando]

Spoon 2 is probably the hardest one to nail because of it´s off-camber and the way you really only use the brakes from Spoon 1.
Crucial to nail it because of the long straight afterwards. Very easy to run off the track there.

[beelsebob]

Spoon 2 is probably the hardest one to nail because of it´s off-camber and the way you really only use the brakes from Spoon 1.
Crucial to nail it because of the long straight afterwards. Very easy to run off the track there.

To be honest, I'd say degner 1 and 2 are the hardest ones, they're by far the most common place to see people going off.

[raymondu999]

I agree with Dengner 1 - not with Dengner 2. I'd say the primary difficult corners where a driver makes laptime around here is how they tackle the double right of T1-2, and Dengner 1.

[Nando]

degner 2 is easy peasy compared to the rest.

Degner 1 is a hard one but it´s relatively straight forward still. Spoon 2 you are on the edge of keeping the rear end stick as it drops and is off camber.
then you need to get on the power in all of that as well.

T1-2 is also pretty straight forward, the esses after is much more time giving/loosing.
From T2 to Degner 1 is where you really can win/loose time around here. Mess one up and you have messed up several more.

[raymondu999]

Degner 1 is a hard one but it´s relatively straight forward still.

Disagree. The issue is Dengner 1 is actually also off-camber, and it is downhill, which adds understeer to the mix. Also, the astro right outside of the red-white kerb is extremely slippery. It's a corner where backing off costs you quite a bit of time, but overstepping the limit even slightly will mean you're in the gravel.

T1-2 is also pretty straight forward

Disagree. The way you blend the braking and turning can win you a lot of time there, as it will directly affect your approach and speed into the Esses. Don't forget you're always turning with lateral whilst having to brake.

[Nando]

I doubt Degner 1 is off camber. More like an elevation drop at another direction.

You have to back off slightly, impossible to take it flat.
And because you still have to brake hard for degner 2 you don´t loose that much time.

For T1-2 all you need to focus on is T2, T1 is not that important and you can take several lines through T1.
Tight or a wide one.
But again you are met with a braking zone shortly after so you don´t really loose that much time.
Not anywhere near the importance of getting the esses just right.