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  1. #1
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    2019 Japanese GP - Suzuka



    We head to the exotic track of Suzuka in Japan ahead of a controversial race in Sochi Russia. A race that had Ferrari as favorite to win but was won in a Mercedes one-two. Ferrari faltered and the first sign of engine reliability issues creeps in, as Vettels Ferrari was halted due to MG-UK failure. The possibility of winning the championship titles; Constructors and Drivers, now looks slim to impossible for Ferrari. It is kind of an open run to the finish for Mercedes with possibility that they may wrap it up within the next two races.

    I like to remember Bianchi, the promising rookie that died at this track a few years ago.

    For me, Suzuka is one of the highlights of the F1 calendar. The Japanese F1 fans celebrate F1 coming to their country like literally nowhere else on the planet. You have the partisan army of Ferrari fans that make the Italian GP a memorable event. Then there is the rancorous crowd of British fans that make the Silverstone GP a very memorable occasion. The Japanese fans take things to a another level with beautiful well crafted homemade regalia fashioned to highlight aspects of the teams they support.



    Take the pic above for instance that depicts a Ninja gear with Ferrari memorabilia and horse head for hat. What exquisite workmanship. I love the Japanese GP for these colourful attires and diverse support which is unlike Monza for instance.

    The Race this weekend is under threat as Typhoone Hagibis swirls into town. Suzuka has been a wet race for the last few years now, and this weekend is looking like yet another. It is unclear if the race would go ahead or if it would be moved to another venue.



    This venue has been a Mercedes track since the hybrid era commenced, but the characteristics of this track favors the current Ferrari more than it may Mercedes this season. Like the saga of Alonso vs Hamilton at Mclaren in 2007, we are graced with a similar rivalry in Vettel vs Leclerc. The four times world champion finds himself in a battle of will with the young F2, F3 and F4 champion Charles Leclerc, making his debut in Ferrari colours this season.

    Which of these two would come on top. At the beginning of the year, a majority of members of this forum tipped Leclerc to beat Vettel this season and it has gone that way so far. The season is not over, so l ask can Vettel turn his season around and regain the lost ground to Leclerc. A win by Vettel on this track would go a long way to re-establishing his status within the team. Another Leclerc win would be very damaging for the four times world champion.

    This being an engine home race for Redbull, they would be looking to have a great race this weekend. A podium finish would go down well for Honda and the Japanese fans. Can Verstapenn mount an upset this weekend? Can the Redbull get in the thick of the Ferrari/Mercedes tussle?

    The red baron Michael Schumacher is the most successful driver to race this track with six wins. Mclaren is the most successful team to win this race with nine wines. On the current grid, Lewis Hamilton is the most successful driver to race this track with five wins. Sebastien Vettel is the only other driver on the current grid to have won this race with four wins.

    Hamilton is the last winner of this race and Vettel holds the fastest race lap record at 1:32:318. Pole was taken with a time of 1:27:760 by Lewis Hamilton in 2018.

    This race is 53 laps over 5.8km. A full race is 307Km. This is a tricky track that really test the drivers and the car with its fast straight through a stretched out tangential ESS curve which then takes the drivers through a series of short curves that flow from one into another in the second half of the track which also cuts across the first half in a figure if eight layout. It is an exciting track to drive and great to watch in the wet.



    Who is your money on to win this iconic race? Mercedes or Ferrari? Leclerc, Vettel, Hamilton, Bottas or Verstapenn?

    Now check out these adorable Japanese grid girls to get you in the mood for the weekend of racing.

    Last edited by Nitrodaze; 13th October 2019 at 20:41.
    Better a witty fool than a foolish wit.
    William Shakespeare

  2. #2
    Senior Member Tazio's Avatar
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    Here is a live webcam from the Suzuka circuit "Grand Prix Square"

    http://webcam.wni.co.jp/MTK08875/loop.html

    It's looking like Saturday will be a wash out, with quali, and race held on Sunday..... or maybe not!

    F1 organisers are waiting to see whether the storm continues on its current track before deciding whether to cancel qualifying on Saturday.That decision is expected to come before the end of Friday and will primarily be down to Japanese local authorities, whose responsibility it is to decide whether to close the circuit and advise people to stay indoors to reduce the risk to life from the storm.
    If authorities do not take that action, F1 will almost certainly try to run Saturday's programme, which has final practice at 12:00 local time (04:00 BST) and qualifying at 15:00 (07:00 BST).
    May the forza be with you

  3. #3
    Senior Member Tazio's Avatar
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    Saturday is officially cancelled!
    May the forza be with you

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by Nitrodaze View Post

    ... On the current grid, Lewis Hamilton is the most successful driver to race this track with five wins. Sebastien Vettel is the only other driver on the current grid to have won this race with four wins...
    Kimi won too, in 2005. It was quite an entertaining race.

  5. Likes: Mia 01 (12th October 2019)
  6. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by Big Ben View Post
    Kimi won too, in 2005. It was quite an entertaining race.
    And for anyone that wants to watch it , it's streaming right now on the Formula 1 YouTube channel.

    8am US eastern time.

    https://youtu.be/Omtp_x00DNw

  7. #6
    Senior Member Tazio's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by airshifter View Post
    And for anyone that wants to watch it , it's streaming right now on the Formula 1 YouTube channel.

    8am US eastern time.

    https://youtu.be/Omtp_x00DNw
    Sweet!
    May the forza be with you

  8. #7
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    What happen?

  9. #8
    Senior Member Tazio's Avatar
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    Evening boyz! Quali!
    May the forza be with you

  10. #9
    Senior Member Tazio's Avatar
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    Red flag, Kubica bins it on a warm up lap, just as he was on the pit straight getting up to speed to start a hot lap!
    Last edited by Tazio; 13th October 2019 at 02:30.
    May the forza be with you

  11. #10
    Senior Member Tazio's Avatar
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    Smokin' lap by Vettel!
    May the forza be with you

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