F1 travels to the Land of the Rising Sun this weekend for the Japanese Grand Prix; one of the most historic on the calendar, having witnessed everything from champions being crowned to life-ending accidents. It is also one of F1’s most iconic tracks with turns like 130R, the 'S curves’, and featuring the only crossover on the F1 calendar.
Toro Rosso Honda enter the weekend buoyed by last week’s debut of Honda’s 2018 Spec. 3 engine. The latest version of the RA618H added genuine pace to the cars before it was removed for the race; however, there’s even more upside as the pace the team experienced in Russia was pre-optimization. If the power is sustainable along with good reliability, we can expect one if not both cars to enter the points at Honda’s home race.
Elsewhere on the grid, Ferrari’s woes continued in Russia while Mercedes capitalized on the poor form of the Prancing Horse. Unless Ferrari can somehow regain the pace it had earlier in the season, we should expect the same to occur in Japan. The technical nature of Suzuka should make Red Bull a genuine contender for a podium finish. From there we should expect a Haas and a Force India mixing it up for 'best of the rest’. Following that battle it would be reasonable to expect a Sauber and a Renault duking it out for the lower points-paying positions. McLaren will look to be an interrupter and seize the final point on offer. As has become normal in 2018, Williams will bring up the back of the order.
US TV SCHEDULE:
Practice 1 – Thursday, Oct. 4, 8:55 PM – ESPN2
Practice 2 – Friday, Oct. 5, 12:55 AM – ESPN2
Practice 3 – Friday, Oct. 5 ,10:55 PM –
ESPNEWS
Qualifying – Saturday, Oct. 6, 1:55 AM – ESPN2
On The Grid – Sunday, Oct. 7, 12:30 AM – ESPN2
Race – Sunday, Oct. 7, 1:05 AM – ESPN2
Encore – Sunday, Oct. 7, 1:00 PM –
ESPNEWS
Encore – Sunday, Oct. 7, 3:30 PM –
ESPN
CIRCUIT INFORMATION
Lap data
Lap length: 5.807km (3.608 miles)
Race laps: 53
Race distance: 307.471km (191.054 miles)
Pole position: Left-hand side of the track
Lap record: 1’27.319 by Lewis Hamilton, 2017
Fastest lap*: 1’28.954 (235.011 kph) by Michael Schumacher, 2006
Maximum speed: 314kph (195.11 mph)
DRS
zone/s (race): Pit straight
Distance from grid to turn one: 545m
Car performance
Full throttle: 66%
Longest flat-out section: 994m
Downforce level: High
Gear changes per lap: 48
Fuel use per lap: 1.8kg
Time penalty per lap of fuel: 0.054s
Strategy
Quickest complete pit stop in 2013: 22.551s by Mercedes (see full list)
2018 tyre choices: Medium, Soft, Supersoft
*Fastest lap set during a Grand Prix
Data sources:
FIA
, Williams, Mercedes
2017 RESULTS
Stats
Pole position: Lewis Hamilton, 1:27.319
Race laps: 53
Fast race lap: Valtteri Bottas, 1:33.144
Podium
1. Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes
2. Max Verstappen – Red Bull
3. Daniel Ricciardo – Red Bull
CURRENT STANDINGS
Drivers
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
AMG
Petronas, 306
2. Sebastian Vettel, Scuderia Ferrari, 256
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes
AMG
Petronas, 189
4. Kimi Raikkonen, Scuderia Ferrari, 186
5. Max Verstappen, Aston Martin Red Bull Racing, 158
6. Daniel Ricciardo, Aston Martin Red Bull Racing, 134
7. Nico Hulkenberg, Renault Sport F1, 53
8. Kevin Magnussen, Haas, 53
9. Fernando Alonso, McLaren Renault, 50
10. Sergio Perez, Force India, 47
Constructors
1. Mercedes
AMG
Petronas, 495
2. Scuderia Ferrari, 442
3. Aston Martin Red Bull Racing, 292
4. Renault Sport F1, 91
5. Haas, 80
6. McLaren Renault, 58
7. Racing Point Force India, 35
8. Toro Rosso, 30
9. Alfa Romeo Sauber, 27
10. Williams Martini Racing, 7
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