708 replies to this topic

[Marklar]

Its race day already in Suzuka!

Normal service resumed at the Japanese GP: Mercedes front row lock out. Ferrari and Williams in the fight for the best of the rest. Red Bull somewhere behind them. And many penaltys applied again. But wait, one thing has changed....


Nico Rosberg secured with his 17th pole position of his career - his first since the Spanish GP and just his 2nd in this season - the best position on the grid ahead of his team mate Lewis Hamilton, beating him by just 0.076 seconds. Just a few tenths behind them Williams driver Valtteri Bottas qualified with an stellar lap on P3, just ahead of Singapore dominator Sebastian Vettel and team mate Felipe Massa. Daniil Kvyat has to start after his tremendous accident in Q3 from the pitlane after his team changed the completely damaged chassis, the gearbox and the Power Unit. Nico Hulkenberg has after his incident with Massa in Singapore to face a 3 place drop (in the end it is a 2-place drop, yeah I know) from P11 down to P13. Max Verstappen got the same penalty with the same consequences (from P15 to P17) for "stopping the car in an potential dangerous position". A shame that the FOM was not able to show us anything from that....

Ohh, and as we are talking about the FOM: Dont be surprised if you see something like that during the race (if you saw the qualifying than you know what I mean ;)



The Suzuka International Racing Course is one of the most exciting and most difficult racing tracks in the world. As the race is taking place during the typhoon season chances of rain are given. In the following everything you need to know about this years Japanese GP...

Starting Grid

• Rosberg
• Hamilton
• Bottas
• Vettel
• Massa
• Räikkönen
• Ricciardo
• Grosjean
• Perez
• Sainz
• Maldonado
• Alonso
• Hülkenberg
• Button
• Ericsson
• Nasr
• Verstappen
• Stevens
• Rossi
• Kvyat (PIT)

Circuit


Race facts
Track length: 5.807 km
Laps: 53
Total distance: 307.471 km
Corners: 18
Distance pole to turn 1: 550 m
Tyre wear: high
Fuel consumption: medium
Brake wear: low
Downforce: medium
Overtaking possibility: medium
Safety Car probability: 60 %
Pit stop window: 22 seconds
Full throotle: 70 %
Braking: 10 %
Braking zones: 9
Pole conversation: 46.15 %
Wins from: 1st (12), 2nd (10), 6th (2), 5th (1), 17th (1)
Record winner: Schumacher (6)
Winner current drivers: Vettel (4), Raikkonen (1), Alonso (1), Button (1), Hamilton (1)
Winner current constructors: Ferrari (7), McLaren (7), Red Bull (4), Williams (3), Mercedes (1)
Winner current engines: Renault (9), Ferrari (7), Mercedes (5), Honda (2)

Pirelli
- Tyres: hard/medium
- Tyre pressures: 21.5 PSI front/20.5 PSI rear
- Strategy predictor: medium - medium (16-18) - hard (33-35), a 3-stop-strategy is also possible but not as quick, risk of rain is given

Weather forecast (Ubimet): The forecast for Sunday is still affected by a certain grade of uncertainty due to the exact positioning of the waving frontal boundary still active over the ocean southeast of Suzuka. However, it will likely be a mostly cloudy day with only a few brighter spells especially during the afternoon. Some light showers are likely to develop as well during the day, but the probability will again be higher over the mountains west and south of the track. Temperatures peaking at 24 or 25 C with a light southerly breeze.

Top speeds

• Rosberg 316.6
• Hamilton 316.3
• Grosjean 313.9
• Massa 312.7
• Bottas 311.8
• Vettel 311.5
• Raikkonen 311.3
• Maldonado 311.0
• Perez 309.8
• Hulkenberg 309.2
• Verstappen 304.9
• Sainz 304.1
• Ericsson 303.7
• Nasr 303.2
• Ricciardo 301.9
• Alonso 300.8
• Kvyat 300.2
• Stevens 299.5
• Button 299.2

 

Longruns based on FP3

MEDIUM
Raikkonen 39.073 (7 laps)
Vettel 39.379 (7 laps)
Perez 39.505 (8 laps)
Ricciardo 39.911 (8 laps)
Verstappen 40.048 (12 laps)
Sainz 40.237 (13 laps)
Nasr 40.299 (11 laps)
Kvyat 40.328 (4 laps)
Grosjean 41.099 (10 laps)
Rossi 44.351 (14 laps)
Stevens 45.115 (11 laps)

HARD
Rosberg 39.110 (6 laps)
Hulkenberg 39.156 (8 laps)
Hamilton 39.203 (7 laps)
Ericsson 39.866 (5 laps)

Alonso 40.864 (6 laps)
Maldonado 40.993 (10 laps)

Button 41.536 (3 laps)

Schedule (Local)
08:45 1 Parade Lap
09:40 - 10:50 Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk
10:00 - 10:30 Super FJ
11:15 - 11:50 Porsche Carrera Cup Japan
12:00 - 12:10 F1 Legends Demonstration Lap
12:00 - 13:00 Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk
12:30 Drivers Track Parade
12:45 - 13:15 Starting Grid Presentation
13:46 National Anthem
14:00 Race

Race starting time per time zones


MDT = 23:00
CDT = 0:00
EDT = 1:00
GMT = 5:00
BST = 6:00
CEST = 7:00
MSK = 9:00
CST = 13:00
AEST = 15:00
https://www.f1calendar.com/

Live timing
http://www.formula1....tml#leaderboard

 

Live chat

https://kiwiirc.com/...rt.com/atlasf1/

Edited by Marklar, 27 September 2015 - 04:49.

[Nonesuch]

GMT = 6:00
CEST = 7:00

 
Just for our Icelandic friends: UTC/GMT is two hours behind CEST, not one.
 
The race starts at 07:00 CEST, 06:00 BST and 05:00 UTC/GMT.

Edited by Nonesuch, 26 September 2015 - 15:20.

[Marklar]

Just for our Icelandic friends: UTC/GMT is two hours behind CEST, not one. The race starts at 07:00 CEST, 06:00 BST and 05:00 UTC/GMT.

I was already on the standard time, oops.

[RedOne]

It's rain dance time

[CPR]

It's rain dance time

 

Looking like there'll be some rain over night but should clear away before the race...

[Mercstar]

Just checked up on the latest weather forecast, it seems there will be some pretty significant rain overnight which will carry on till around 9-10am (local time), from then on in there will be some patchy light rain showers before things start easing up late afternoon. 

 

In any case, I there's a high chance the race will start wet. 

[Cig35]

Interesting to look at the teams who split their longrun tests between hard and medium tires, Force India, Lotus and Sauber. For all three the car with  hard tires had better lap times, indicating that they were carrying clearly less fuel. So at least those teams probably plan the strategy to be Medium-Medium-Hard.   

[Exb]

Just for our Icelandic friends: UTC/GMT is two hours behind CEST, not one.
 
The race starts at 07:00 CEST, 06:00 BST and 05:00 UTC/GMT.

I'm so glad you put the times up - I wasn't confused by Marklars post as I figured I already knew the race was starting at 07.00 BST I'd have been very upset if I'd have turned the TV on ready for the build up (probably around 06.30) only to see them already 20 laps into the race

[noikeee]

Good luck to everyone waking up early.. It's one for the cable box recorder function for me.

[Kalmake]

Tire trouble expected because of the pressure limits: http://www.autosport...t.php/id/121016

 

Button: "It's going to be tough for everyone because the pressures are so high, the tires are just going to be overheating after one lap. They end up being like balloons because the pressures get so high."

 

Grosjean: "The pressures are massively higher than what we would normally run."

 

 

[Kalmake]

I'm so glad you put the times up - I wasn't confused by Marklars post as I figured I already knew the race was starting at 07.00 BST I'd have been very upset if I'd have turned the TV on ready for the build up (probably around 06.30) only to see them already 20 laps into the race

This site has all session times converted to your local time and you can add it all to your calendar, mobile etc... https://www.f1calendar.com/

[Samhain]

Tire trouble expected because of the pressure limits: http://www.autosport...t.php/id/121016

 

Button: "It's going to be tough for everyone because the pressures are so high, the tires are just going to be overheating after one lap. They end up being like balloons because the pressures get so high."

 

Grosjean: "The pressures are massively higher than what we would normally run."

Pirelli are an embarrassment to this sport. 

[Marklar]

This site has all session times converted to your local time and you can add it all to your calendar, mobile etc... https://www.f1calendar.com/

Thanks, will add this to the OP

[TomNokoe]

Hamilton will be in front by T1

[jonpollak]

Nice OP MarkyMark

[Hellenic tifosi]

The start should be interesting, as conditions could be very tricky after overnight rain.

[HeadFirst]

Looking forward to a dry race. Aside from what I imagine will be a fitting tribute to Bianchi, I need no reminders of what transpired last year.

[HuddersfieldTerrier1986]

Ian Fergusson ‏@fergieweather 3 mins3 minutes ago

#F1 #BBCF1 #JAPANESEGP There's been some showery rain at times overnight at #Suzuka, but it'll clear SE thro Sun morning. Dry race expected.

[Jimisgod]

oh no the Mercedes have collided and both are out and Bottas wins!

[jonpollak]

Dream on Jimmy

[RubalSher]

Lewis

[Radion]

Lewis

Did he wake up earlier than Nico?

[Sheepmachine]

Lewis

Has thumbs?

[Marklar]

#LewisThumbsUpPostsOnAutosportBoardGate

We discussed that countless times...

[Atreiu]

Tire trouble expected because of the pressure limits: http://www.autosport...t.php/id/121016

 

Button: "It's going to be tough for everyone because the pressures are so high, the tires are just going to be overheating after one lap. They end up being like balloons because the pressures get so high."

 

Grosjean: "The pressures are massively higher than what we would normally run."

 

 

 

Why don't Pirelli just supply tyres and recomendations? "We recomend this, but if you do anything else it's up to you."

 

 

 

Lewis 

[RealRacing]

Kvyat's accident in qualy: are these guys getting too used to asphalt runoffs?

[Laura23]

So much fuss being made over tyre pressures right now that I don't expect them to be an issue during race. Mercedes certainly don't seem all that fussed by the tyres this weekend and you'd think they'd be first to complain after Singapore.

 

easy Merc 1-2, Lewis jumping Nico at T1 and staying ahead all race, Vettel fights his way to 3rd ahead of Bottas.

[Kelateboy]

It would be a boring race with Mercedes locking up the first 2 podiums in dry condition. Hoping for some rain to spice up the procession.

[OO7]

Hamilton will be in front by T1

I doubt that.

[TF110]

DRS battle for the lead! Thats how itll happen unless Rosberg is luckier faster.

[Whatisvalis]

Hoping Nico keeps first with Lewis 2nd by first corner then maybe we're finally get a race between the two.

[Imperial]

Looking forward to a dry race. Aside from what I imagine will be a fitting tribute to Bianchi, I need no reminders of what transpired last year.

So far this weekend there have been no reminders...almost as if someone in charge issued a memo strongly advising for it not to be mentioned.

[CoolBreeze]

Hoping for a wet/damp conditions

[RealRacing]

Driver's parade. Nice classic cars.

[Atreiu]

Tire trouble expected because of the pressure limits: http://www.autosport...t.php/id/121016

 

Button: "It's going to be tough for everyone because the pressures are so high, the tires are just going to be overheating after one lap. They end up being like balloons because the pressures get so high."

 

Grosjean: "The pressures are massively higher than what we would normally run."

 

Does this mean it'll be 3 stops for everyone?

[Imperial]

Ok they just mentioned Bianchi on Sky, although I got the impression Brundle really had nothing to add. Perhaps he's not a great believer in anniversaries (not a criticism) and didn't want to rake the coals indepth yet again.

[STRFerrari4Ever]

Morning all, barely just got up but hoping for a chaotic race.

[Kvothe]

I'm not really fussed about the result, but let it be a good race   

[thegamer23]

Good morning!
Hoping for a nice event!

Weather looks good isn't it?

Edited by thegamer23, 27 September 2015 - 04:30.

[STRFerrari4Ever]

Haha Toto got handed that Mercedes Strikes Back poster, didn't someone on here make it?

[Marklar]

Nasr just said that after two laps on the way to the grid the rear tyres started to drop off, that will be very funny...

[RubalSher]

Headwind in sector 1, should aid DRS.

[peroa]

Do we have #irc coverage like last week?

[Spillage]

Brundle taking no **** as usual

[Marklar]

Do we have #irc coverage like last week?

Yeah

 

https://kiwiirc.com/...rt.com/atlasf1/

 

I'm adding it to the OP

[Nigol]

Disrespectful Japaneses, not taking off their hats for the Japanese anthem. Even Hamilton did that. Smh.

Edit: I'm outrageous.

Edited by Nigol, 27 September 2015 - 04:48.

[kosmos]

Looking forward to see Rosberg, if he wants to challenge Lewis for the title, he should win this race.

[RubalSher]

ROS has a headache and bad neck!

[FrontWing]

ROS has a headache and bad neck!

He'll be fine once the adrenaline kicks in, or he might have a Webber moment....

[SilverArrow31]

I know how he feels, mind you it is that time in morning, swear my pillow just talked to me....