Poll: Official Japanese Grand Prix 2025 Thread - Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka - Race 3/24

[Mr Jack]

Just seems that hoping the other team will have a slow pitstop isn't a stratergy - it's just hoping. If they had undercut, maybe they get some quick laps in clear air - or overcut and get some tyre delta at the end.

Piastri was pulled in to try for the undercut, but Max didn't stay out long enough for it work. Yes, the pit stop is a punt but McLaren have the best pit location for it (they drive straight out) saving them a fraction of a second. The overcut just wasn't on; literally the only way it works is if there is a safety car - which doesn't seem any less of a wild punt and with a much bigger downside. They didn't have big margins to play with here.

I do worry for Oscar, Lando and Mclaren that they are so busy watching each other that they are going to forget Max - who will always be there waiting to pick up the points - a repeat of 2007 with Lewis and Fernando, letting kimi take the championship.

It could be. Let's hope they don't bungle it in the same way they did in 2007. It was only utter stupidity on their part that meant Lewis didn't win.

 

[Jono8]

Kimi was pretty impressive today.

Although im not sure that was mainly because the tyres are total ****, and the medium could easily go much longer/there wasnt really much if any difference between the medium and hard.

 

[Paxton81]

Kimi was pretty impressive today.

Although im not sure that was mainly because the tyres are total ****, and the medium could easily go much longer/there wasnt really much if any difference between the medium and hard.

He has impressed everyone this season with his strong performances.

 

[Merlin5]

Lewis was interviewed and said they found something that they're fixing which was holding him back in the last three races by about a tenth of a second. He didn't say what it was but hopefully we'll see better results from the next race.

 

[Tigget]

The Race’s graphical summary (F1 Visualised) of todays race on X really hammers home just how bad it was.

Can’t believe I stayed awake for the whole thing.

 

[koolpc]

Lewis was interviewed and said they found something that they're fixing which was holding him back in the last three races by about a tenth of a second. He didn't say what it was but hopefully we'll see better results from the next race.

It was his jewellery.

 

[Mr Jack]

Sainz has been fined $20k ($10k suspended) for missing the anthem due to a stomach issue. That's an expensive poo. But, come on, the Stewards accepted the medical evidence, surely there should be leniency here?

 

[KiNgPiN83]

Sainz has been fined $20k ($10k suspended) for missing the anthem due to a stomach issue. That's an expensive poo. But, come on, the Stewards accepted the medical evidence, surely there should be leniency here?

From watching the highlights a 10k poo was probably the most exciting part of the race.

 

[Glanza]

You know it's bad when all the drivers say it's a boring race too.

 

[Mr Jack]

In a final twist to the ditching Doohan in FP1 thing, Ryo Hirakawa leaves Alpine for Haas and will get a further four practice outings with them this season.

 

[413x]

That may be the most boring f1 race I've ever seen

Even worse than Monaco. At least Monaco you "could" get a crash.

Watched about 25 percent of it. Kept skipping forward and noting same positions.

 

[t2na]

I'm genuinely not sure what was more boring, this race or watching Utd and City draw 0-0 with 2 shots all game.

 

[weta]

Can't believe McLaren didn't allow Piastri to have a go at Verstappen, he was clearly quicker than Norris and could have handed the place back if he was unsuccessful.

That was one of the most boring races I can remember, most of the overtaking was as a result of Lawson working his way backwards.

 

[weta]

In a final twist to the ditching Doohan in FP1 thing, Ryo Hirakawa leaves Alpine for Haas and will get a further four practice outings with them this season.

I guess Hirakawa's move was orchestrated by Toyota, they'll be keen to get their own Japanese driver a fulltime seat in F1.

 

[Mr Jack]

I guess Hirakawa's move was orchestrated by Toyota, they'll be keen to get their own Japanese driver a fulltime seat in F1.

Maybe so, but getting a 31 year old in seems a stretch.

 

[413x]

Can't believe McLaren didn't allow Piastri to have a go at Verstappen, he was clearly quicker than Norris and could have handed the place back if he was unsuccessful.

That was one of the most boring races I can remember, most of the overtaking was as a result of Lawson working his way backwards.

I think it was quite clear no one was gonna overtake in this race. Not even a sniff really.

 

[Scam]

I think it was quite clear no one was gonna overtake in this race. Not even a sniff really.

Apparently there was 15, down from 48 last year The only one I remember was Hamilton on Hadjar and I think a Sainz one.

Weird how everyone complains about being in dirty air this year/last year. I thought that was the whole point of these stupid ground effect cars - stopping dirty air and making it easier to follow closely unlike previous regs. Why are they all complaining about it again?

 

[Armageus]

Weird how everyone complains about being in dirty air this year/last year. I thought that was the whole point of these stupid ground effect cars - stopping dirty air and making it easier to follow closely unlike previous regs. Why are they all complaining about it again?

Who was complaining about dirty air (As I genuinely don't remember seeing/hearing anything)?

Piastri was able to follow for a good number of laps, so can't see that there is a problem - certainly it's much better than the previous regs.

 

[t2na]

Who was complaining about dirty air (As I genuinely don't remember seeing/hearing anything)?

Piastri was able to follow for a good number of laps, so can't see that there is a problem - certainly it's much better than the previous regs.

It's got worse each year since 2022 tbf though as teams have found ways within the rules to increase downforce and make following another car even harder than before.

There was definitely a fair bit of chat over the radio about it - and you could see through sector 1 that the 'following' car would just lose 2/3 tenths in the Esses alone.

I think it was Spa last year where Piastri said 'clean air is king' when no matter how much quicker Lewis and him were, they couldn't pass Russell on 400 lap old tyres.

 

[Scam]

Who was complaining about dirty air (As I genuinely don't remember seeing/hearing anything)?

To be fair it’s probably more the commentators pointing it out rather than drivers complaining. But as above there have been quite a few comments about how good it is to be in clean air, but mainly from commentators and team principals.