Poll: Official 2023 Japanese Grand Prix Thread - Suzuka International - Round 17

[Jono8]

Probably figured they'd lose both places if it was George leading the dance

I think they would have. They made the right call to ensure Lewis stayed ahead of Sainz in my opinion.

George gambled on the 1 stop and did well, but there was no tyre left at the end. He dropped 7 seconds behind Sainz in the last few laps. The race was just a few laps too long for his strategy to work.

 

[Mr Jack]

I think they would have. They made the right call to ensure Lewis stayed ahead of Sainz in my opinion.

George gambled on the 1 stop and did well, but there was no tyre left at the end. He dropped 7 seconds behind Sainz in the last few laps. The race was just a few laps too long for his strategy to work.

He'd have been better off if Merc had done the sensible thing and told Hamilton to let him past earlier in the race when he was clearly faster. Probably wouldn't have changed the outcome though.

 

[Stu999]

Watched the replay. Was predictable up front. Perez had an absolute disaster.

Some overtakes on track. Mercedes definitely messed up their strategy / squabbling with each other but I don't think they had the pace anyway regardless of that.

 

[Jono8]

Watched the replay. Was predictable up front. Perez had an absolute disaster.

Some overtakes on track. Mercedes definitely messed up their strategy / squabbling with each other but I don't think they had the pace anyway regardless of that.

Yeh, they didn't even look on par with the Ferraris here. I think the Ferraris were a tad faster.

They were the 4th fastest car here.

 

[Jono8]

He'd have been better off if Merc had done the sensible thing and told Hamilton to let him past earlier in the race when he was clearly faster. Probably wouldn't have changed the outcome though.

To be honest though, Merc are likely favouring Lewis now in terms of getting him the points. Lewis could very well finish third, or even 2nd in the championship now (if Perez's performances continue to spiral) .

I don't know how much the drivers places below 1st really mean to the team, but I guess there is still a certain amount of prestige in getting a driver as high up in the driver's title as possible.

Russell is too far off now, and it's sensible for him to be a team player and try and help Lewis get the best finish possible at this stage

 

[Skyboat]

It looks to me like Pérez needs some mental coaching to get his mindset back. We've seen in the past he can be good enough and relatively consistent but something, or several things, lately has just rattled him. It doesn't appear Red Bull has the culture to help him with that regard. We've seen it before with the likes of Gasly and Albon. I'm guessing the winter break cannot come soon enough for him and hopefully he is able to find a way to hit the reset button for next season.

 

[el_dazza]

6/10 from me. Plenty of action throughout, enough incidents to keep it interesting and a nice result for McLaren. Piastri is really doing a great job there. Shame there's no competition up from as ever.

 

[Ranger]

it wasn't the exit that Perez got the penalty for, there was nothing really wrong with the exit, gave places back. The penalty was for overtaking Alonso when he entered the pit lane

Aha, thanks. I thought no over taking whatsoever under safety car? Why did he get away with it just because he was exiting the pits?

 

[Mesai]

It looks to me like Pérez needs some mental coaching to get his mindset back. We've seen in the past he can be good enough and relatively consistent but something, or several things, lately has just rattled him. It doesn't appear Red Bull has the culture to help him with that regard. We've seen it before with the likes of Gasly and Albon. I'm guessing the winter break cannot come soon enough for him and hopefully he is able to find a way to hit the reset button for next season.

Technically he should have less pressure compared to Gasly and Albon, but obviously still needs to perform to keep his seat.

Still early days but I think Lawson is going to do well with proper management. Who knows, maybe the old McLaren was just garbage and Danny Ric still has it in the RB.

 

[iamtheoneneo]

It looks to me like Pérez needs some mental coaching to get his mindset back. We've seen in the past he can be good enough and relatively consistent but something, or several things, lately has just rattled him. It doesn't appear Red Bull has the culture to help him with that regard. We've seen it before with the likes of Gasly and Albon. I'm guessing the winter break cannot come soon enough for him and hopefully he is able to find a way to hit the reset button for next season.

RB have been more than kind to Perez given the lack of performance he is giving at the moment. He has his seat for next year and they didn't mess about with that.

It's all on him.

 

[turbot1984]

Japan GP and no rain? Shame really but not the worst race this season so just squeaked a 6 here.

 

[Jono8]

Bemused as to why Perez did such a crazy and late lunge on a Haas. He was in the fastest car (and clearly by some margin today) so moves like that are entirely unnecessary.

It's astonishing that there is even an outside chance he might lose 2nd place in the championship to Lewis in that car.

I feel like almost any other driver on the grid, (apart from maybe Stroll or Sargent) would have 2nd place wrapped up by now in that RB.

 

[Terminal_Boy]

Fairly dull, even with Perez playing bumper cars. Twice.

 

[Mr Jack]

I feel like almost any other driver on the grid, (apart from maybe Stroll or Sargent) would have 2nd place wrapped up by now in that RB.

We've already seen how Albon and Gasly failed in that seat. I'm not so sure that drivers like Hülk or KMag would be doing any better.

 

[Skyboat]

RB have been more than kind to Perez given the lack of performance he is giving at the moment. He has his seat for next year and they didn't mess about with that.

It's all on him.

Kind or patient? Also, wasn't his contract extended after his Monaco win last year? That is a long time ago and things have clearly shifted about since then.

 

[jaybee]

I gave it a 5. Not much more to say. Pretty dull.

 

[Scam]

I watched the highlights and fell asleep Although I did spend all morning knocking through a bedroom fireplace by hand and finally got my fryup right before. So it was bound to happen.

Question re Perez. So they un-retired the car to serve his penalty, because they might have been given a grid drop next race instead? So why on earth if the FIA can give grid drops in the following race if a penalty is not served, did they not give Verstappen the appropriate penalties/grid drop this race seen as they admitted he should have had the penalties for impeding in Singapore?

Also, a very real chance for Hamilton to get P2 in the drivers championship, in what the fourth fastest car? Now that’s class.

 

[chrismscotland]

I watched the highlights and fell asleep Although I did spend all morning knocking through a bedroom fireplace by hand and finally got my fryup right before. So it was bound to happen.

Question re Perez. So they un-retired the car to serve his penalty, because they might have been given a grid drop next race instead? So why on earth if the FIA can give grid drops in the following race if a penalty is not served, did they not give Verstappen the appropriate penalties/grid drop this race seen as they admitted he should have had the penalties for impeding in Singapore?

Also, a very real chance for Hamilton to get P2 in the drivers championship, in what the fourth fastest car? Now that’s class.

I don't think I've ever seen a penalty that wasn't handed out for a race then carried forward to the next weekend so I can't imagine that it was an option.
Also the steward/stewards admitted they made a mistake long after the weekend was done, there probably was zero they could do to apply a penalty anyway.

 

[AlphariusOmegan]

Question re Perez. So they un-retired the car to serve his penalty, because they might have been given a grid drop next race instead? So why on earth if the FIA can give grid drops in the following race if a penalty is not served, did they not give Verstappen the appropriate penalties/grid drop this race seen as they admitted he should have had the penalties for impeding in Singapore?

because Perez was given a penalty but Verstappen only got a reprimand, there is no rule that says a reprimand not served carries a grid penalty the next race because it's not a penalty.

 

[chrismscotland]

Feels like unless there's another "Singapore" that the Red Bull (Max anyway) will continue to scamper off into the lead while McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes battle over the podium places, with some tracks suiting one of the teams better.

Red Bull still appear too fast to be caught for the win unless something happens, if Perez can find some from I've expect him to get 2nd but thats a big if as he just looks out of talent and or luck at the moment on a track. 2nd coud easily go to Hamilton or potentially Sainz with some good results - discounting Alonso, he's closest to Hamilton just now but Aston look spent this year now.