2014 Japanese Grand Prix - Suzuka

[Caerdroia]

Updated track for the typhoon. Red dot is suzuka, final circle is 1200 UTC Sunday, Race is 0600 UTC.

[mikeerfol]

So apparently it will arrive too late for the race?

[gray41]

So it might be wet?

[mbchc]

If it's not wet condition , that would be moody as freak.... I hope the race will not ruined by the typhoon

[godlameroso]

Typhoons usually suck up all moisture around the area if they're strengthening, hence the usual calm before the storm. In case of a dry race, a 53 lap race can be broken down into a comfortable two stopper, the trick is finding how to space your stints, do you want to do a long first stint, a long second stint or a long third stint. All stints will be variations of a 17 lap run which can be easily reached by the compounds provided. Doing three stops is not a good strategy in my eyes you're removing four laps from each stint, which in my opinion is not enough to degrade the tires a significant amount. Significant being the time you lose from degrading rubber is not enough to justify the extra time lost in the pits.

It would work to extend the second stint if possible, and gain on the first stint with a slight undercut, that would give you a short final stint which will let you defend any positions you might have earned in the first two stints. The two compounds won't be significantly different and the hard compound will be the tire to use for the final stint, although the hard could prove advantageous to extending the second stint. This could be good for cars with a straight line speed advantage, as aside from sector 1 engine power is very important around Suzuka. From the hairpin down to the final chicane is all about engine power. The main straight is on a downhill and even with DRS it's difficult to pass especially since turn 1 requires such a precise line.

There is one tricky heavy braking zone, approaching the hair pin, aside from that it's a very heavy aero track, the tightest corner in the essess the right hander right before the uphill left is still taken at over 140 kph, I don't think there's another track on the calendar that has as many turns with apex speeds at or over 160kph.

[bonjon1979]

Looks like the worst of it will arrive on Monday now. A little bit of rain for the race might be fun though!

http://www.wunderground.com/weather-for ... uzuka.html

[mikeerfol]

Looks like everyone is against the Japanese GP this year

http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/volca ... t/?v=2&s=1

[bonjon1979]

Looks like everyone is against the Japanese GP this year

http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/volca ... t/?v=2&s=1

Just looking for a story. International flights in have been unaffected thus far.

[zioture]

F1 2014 Japanese Grand Prix Preview: Suzuka, 2-5 October 2014

[SamH123]

This track has some similar characteristics to Barcelona?

Maybe Lotus have chance of points. It's strange how Grosjean looked like he was driving a decent car (Spain quali) for 1 weekend only, and Spain isn't a really weird/different track

[Kingshark]

Grosjean's drive in Barcelona was the work of a magician. Right up there with his drive at Suzuka 2013, when he was challenging the dominant Red Bulls in a race where no one else even came within 45 seconds (including his own teammate).

[FW17]

If there is a typhoon on Monday, will it affect the cargo going to Sochi?

[search]

Well, Marko has often said that Toro Rosso is not there to let good racers race, not even very good ones. They are only interested in a future world champion, since they have a current one. And the second it looks like you are not WC material you are out. It is brutal, but at least it is done openly. Respect or gratitude debts do not come into it.

How much time will Verstappen get then? 2 years as well? Could very well mean his career is over at age 19 - young enough to still find a proper job at least

[search]

This track has some similar characteristics to Barcelona?

Maybe Lotus have chance of points. It's strange how Grosjean looked like he was driving a decent car (Spain quali) for 1 weekend only, and Spain isn't a really weird/different track

yeh, Lotus weak point are slow corners and top speed. Monza was there worst race, after that Permane said Singapore should be a step forward compared to that at least - and that they were slightly optimistic about Suzuka.

Barcelona is quite a long time ago, so another top ~6 performance (which it actually was, he lost 2 or 3 places because of mechanical problems in the end) is probably too much to ask for, but fighting for a point or two should be possible if Grosjean can repeat his performance from last year

edit: in qualifying they (relatively to the competition) should also benefit a bit from the fact that there is only one DRS zone (I think so at least?!) as their DRS apparently is one of the least effective ones

[godlameroso]

Engine power matters a lot from the end of the first sector until the end of the lap, the main straight is on a downhill and the turns in the first sector are all about aero and throttle control. The two degners will be very tricky this year, as the first apex is hidden by a slight slope and you have to be dead accurate to be fast there, with reduced downforce the driver can make a difference. The two spoon turns are pretty safe due to runoff but it's still a huge challenge particularly the exit of the second part as putting down power there is already difficult enough. Going to be crazy if it rains.