Official F1 2009 Round 15 - 年日本グランプリ (XXXV Japanese GP), Suzuka

duke_toaster · 30 Sep 2009, 16:01 (Ref:2551330)

The week after the Singapore Grand Prix, the 60th season of Formula One continues at one of the world's greatest race tracks. Suzuka in the Mie Prefecture of Japan, as designed by John Hugenholtz in 1962 is a rare beast in motor racing - a circuit with not only a selection of challenging fast corners and figure-of-eight layout.

There is another key factor at this circuit. The weather here is unpredictable. Autosport claim that there is a realistic chance of all of Friday's three hour of free practice being a washout, in which case drivers will be challenged to set up their cars with only sixty minutes of dry weather running. If more rain comes on Saturday or Sunday we could be about to bear witness to a classic motor race.

On last Sunday in Singapore, Lewis Hamilton won his first Singapore Grand Prix and his second of the season in the rapidly improving MP4-24. However, he has not raced at Suzuka before. Could Hamilton win his third race of the year on Grand Prix motor racing's only figure of eight?

Also, could Jenson Button win the title here? He has a fifteen point lead over Brawn team-mate Rubens Barrichello. The Brazilian neds to make up five points per race on Button. A non-finish here could be catastrophic for either driver. Anything is possible at Suzuka.

JAPANESE GRAND PRIX - STATISTICS

All Formula 1 graphics courtesy of Andy Blackmore Design.

Formula 1 World Drivers Championship Standings

Pos.	Driver	Constructor	Points
1.	Jenson Button	Brawn-Mercedes	84
2.	Rubens Barrichello	Brawn-Mercedes	69
3.	Sebastian Vettel	RBR-Renault	59
4.	Mark Webber	RBR-Renault	51.5
5.	Kimi Räikkönen	Ferrari	37
6.	Lewis Hamilton	McLaren-Mercedes	19
7.	Nico Rosberg	Williams-Toyota	30.5
8.	Fernando Alonso	Renault	26
9.	Timo Glock	Toyota	24
10.	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	22.5
11.	Felipe Massa	Ferrari	22 (3rd)
12.	Heikki Kovalainen	McLaren-Mercedes	22 (4th)
13.	Nick Heidfeld	BMW Sauber	12
14.	Robert Kubica	BMW Sauber	9
15.	Giancarlo Fisichella	Ferrari	8
16.	Adrian Sutil	Force India-Mercedes	5
17.	Sebastien Buemi	STR-Ferrari	3
18.	Sebastian Bourdais	STR-Ferrari	2
19.	Kazuki Nakajima	Williams-Toyota	0 (9th)
20.	Nelson Piquet Jr	Renault	0 (10th)
21.	Luca Badoer	Ferrari	0 (14th, 17th)
22.	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Force India-Mercedes	0 (14th, DNF)
23	Romain Grosjean	Renault	0 (15th, 15th)
24.	Jaime Alguersuari	STR-Ferrari	0 (15th, 16th)

Formula 1 World Constructors Championship Standings

Pos.	Constructor	Points
1.	BrawnGP	153
2.	Red Bull-Renault	110.5
3.	Ferrari	62
4.	McLaren-Mercedes	59
5.	Toyota	46.5
6.	Williams-Toyota	30.5
7.	Renault	26
8.	BMW Sauber	21
10.	Force India-Mercedes	13
9.	Toro Rosso-Ferrari	5

Japanese Grand Prix Roll of honour

Year	Driver	Car	Location
1963*	Peter Warr	Lotus-Cosworth	Suzuka
1964*	Soukichi Shikiba	Porsche	Suzuka
1966*	Yoshikazu Sunako	Prince	Fuji
1967*	Tetsu Ikuzawa	Porsche	Fuji
1968*	Moto Kitano	Nissan	Fuji
1969*	Motoharu Kurosawa	Nissan	Fuji
1971*	Kuniomi Nagamatsu	Mitsubishi	Fuji
1972*	John Surtees	Surtees	Fuji
1973*	Motoharu Kurosawa	March	Fuji
1975*	Masahiro Hasemi	March	Fuji
1976*	Jacques Laffite	BMW	Fuji
1976	Mario Andretti	Lotus-Ford	Fuji
1977	James Hunt	McLaren-Ford	Fuji
1987	Gerhard Berger	Ferrari	Suzuka
1988	Ayrton Senna	McLaren-Honda	Suzuka
1989	Allesandro Nannini	Benetton-Ford	Suzuka
1990	Nelson Piquet Sr	Benetton-Ford	Suzuka
1991	Gerhard Berger	McLaren-Honda	Suzuka
1992	Riccardo Patrese	Williams-Renault	Suzuka
1993	Ayrton Senna	McLaren-Ford	Suzuka
1994	Damon Hill	McLaren-Ford	Suzuka
1995	Michael Schumacher	Benetton-Renault	Suzuka
1996	Damon Hill	Williams-Renault	Suzuka
1997	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	Suzuka
1998	Mika Hakkinen	McLaren-Mercedes	Suzuka
1999	Mika Hakkinen	McLaren-Mercedes	Suzuka
2000	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	Suzuka
2001	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	Suzuka
2002	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	Suzuka
2003	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	Suzuka
2004	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	Suzuka
2005	Kimi Raikkonen	McLaren-Mercedes	Suzuka
2006	Fernando Alonso	Renault	Suzuka
2007	Lewis Hamilton	McLaren-Mercedes	Fuji
2008	Fernando Alonso	Renault	Fuji

* Non-championship race to non-F1 technical regulations. There were two Japanese Grands Prix in 1976, a F1 World Championship race and a Japanese Formula 2000 championship race. Both are listed as both races were referred to as the Japanese Grand Prix - however within Japan the 1976 races was known as the "Formula One World Championship in Japan".

External Links
Local Clock - 95km away so don't use for weather
Circuit Diagram
Event Timetable

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Marbot · 30 Sep 2009, 18:15 (Ref:2551429)

Nice intro.

The BBC weather forecast.A bit of a mixed bag really (Rain Friday,Saturday.Dry on Sunday).

http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/forecast/5007?count=10

JB could tie it all up this weekend.Although I think that we'd all prefer it if Rubens stood half a chance of staying in the championship at his home GP.

Fox89 · 30 Sep 2009, 18:26 (Ref:2551437)

Lewis Hamilton's first race at one of my very favourite race circuits, Suzuka. Oh I am looking forward to this weekend!!

elspethhardie · 30 Sep 2009, 18:30 (Ref:2551439)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marbot

Nice intro.

JB could tie it all up this weekend.Although I think that we'd all prefer it if Rubens stood half a chance of staying in the championship at his home GP.

I would love the fight to go to the end but the thought of JB / BRawn tying up both championships in Japan - home to Honda is just a little bit too tempting to want to see!

duke_toaster · 30 Sep 2009, 18:31 (Ref:2551442)

Japan, home of Honda? Not just that Elspeth, it's Suzuka, home of Honda

**touringlegend** · 30 Sep 2009, 19:12 (Ref:2551466)

If the weather turns bad you can see it all going wrong for Button. A non finish and it's all to play for for Barrichello / Vettel! It usually happens when the media start talking of drivers wrapping up titles.

Pleasure to be back racing at Suzuka again. Fuji just isn't the same.

Satorian · 30 Sep 2009, 21:14 (Ref:2551508)

I expect Vettel to fly here. Still remember his Friday testing for BMW when he blitzed the field and showed some of his early potential. Additionally, the circuit should suit the RB5 more than Singapore did, so Vettel will probably be running at the very top end of the field.

Beyond that I'm wondering how the BMWs will fare. Their upgrade should be dialed in now, again the track suiting the care more than Singapore, and both drivers love Suzuka.

ASCII Man · 30 Sep 2009, 22:56 (Ref:2551574)

Hmm, don't think Damon Hill won the 1994 Japanese GP in a Mclaren Ford.

**Bononi** · 30 Sep 2009, 23:32 (Ref:2551582)

So here comes Japan... it's Button time.

RotorFan · 1 Oct 2009, 00:40 (Ref:2551605)

Who thinks Trulli will get pole? I think it is likely

My pick for the win is Vettel or Barrichello, with a BMW on the podium.

I think that if Friday and Saturday are rained out, the new drivers will be nowhere with a dry race.

Sodemo · 1 Oct 2009, 11:50 (Ref:2551832)

The rain is going to fall 2 days too early it seems.

F.O.F. · 1 Oct 2009, 12:17 (Ref:2551853)

Quote:

Originally Posted by duke_toaster

Japan, home of Honda? Not just that Elspeth, it's Suzuka, home of Honda

Ooh! I hadn't thought of that! What a kick in the teeth for Honda.I might just be cheering for Jense then this weekend.It would be even better if they had some Honda exec handing over the winners trophy on the podium

Maybe next year we'll see Timo Glock wrapping up a WDC for Cologne F1 Mercedes at Fuji

Marbot · 1 Oct 2009, 14:33 (Ref:2551967)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sodemo

The rain is going to fall 2 days too early it seems.

A 'mixed-up' qualifying is just as good as a 'mixed-up' race.

Marbot · 1 Oct 2009, 15:59 (Ref:2552016)

Word is that for Friday practice it will rain...and rain...and rain and then rain some more.Saturday practice may also be wet with a dry qualifying,which should make things rather interesting from then on.

**Born Racer** · 1 Oct 2009, 17:52 (Ref:2552106)

If I were being really picky (and if I could control the weather, which would be ridiculous), one dry session to enjoy the cars at full pelt would be appreciated, with perhaps a dry race not making things too nuts, but a wet qualifying maybe shaking up the field a bit. I just wrote that and realised, what would count as a shook-up field in 2009? A Force India at the front? Nup.

So, what are your plans for your viewing then? I might be up until 2, as I've just got back from the States and am on a bit of an odd internal time-zone. So, I'll probably see a bit of FP1, whilst taping (or hard disking with this Sony recording device I have) it on the Red Button. I'll probably grab the end of FP2 live.

Qually and the race must be live. It's the way I always have to have it.

ljakse · 1 Oct 2009, 20:09 (Ref:2552235)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ASCII Man

Hmm, don't think Damon Hill won the 1994 Japanese GP in a Mclaren Ford.

And, I'd say McLaren had Peugeot engines that year.

duke_toaster · 1 Oct 2009, 20:11 (Ref:2552238)

D'oh.

Bodysnatcher · 1 Oct 2009, 20:18 (Ref:2552245)

Autosport's as bad, in it's preview has corners Degna 1 and Degna 2.
Ernst Degner is spinning in his grave.

**Born Racer** · 1 Oct 2009, 20:57 (Ref:2552274)

I enjoy the Esses at this circuit. They have a rollercoaster-esque feel.

Cougar · 1 Oct 2009, 22:05 (Ref:2552315)

3hrs to FP1

Anyone staying up for this one?

F.O.F. · 1 Oct 2009, 22:55 (Ref:2552342)

Hmm...Two hours...Can I waste that much time on the internet? I think so.

Marbot · 2 Oct 2009, 00:13 (Ref:2552371)

Vettel will be particularly pleased that Friday will be 'wet' because it means that he doesn't have to venture out on to the track at all.But then we probably will not be seeing too much action from any of the teams if the forecast for heavy rain is correct.

jab · 2 Oct 2009, 00:15 (Ref:2552372)

It has been raining heavily at the circuit:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Autosport Live

The Friday rain arrived with a vengeance in the form of showers, soaking the track from three o'clock local time this morning. Through the early daylight hours, conditions have remained very dull indeed.

**Bononi** · 2 Oct 2009, 00:29 (Ref:2552379)

RAIN : Here we go again !!!

jab · 2 Oct 2009, 00:37 (Ref:2552383)

Kobayashi is filling in for Glock in FP1 and 2 as Timo is "unwell"

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