[Official] Driver of the Grand Prix: Japanese Grand Prix 2024

[Born Racer]

Who gets your vote?

[bjohnsonsmith]

Yuki Tsunoda, for getting into the points at his home Grand Prix.

[Born Racer]

Sainz was excellent again - saw him make the move on Russell at Spoon (it's funny how much difference in speed you can see in the braking zone in person between two cars) and his move on Leclerc on a big telly on our way back round the circuit. I'm going to go with a bit of sentiment here in Japan, though, for Tsunoda. Excellent comeback and calm drive to get a well-earned point at home.

[E.B]

Yuki for me, with kudos to Leclerc for making a different strategy work, plus of course Carlos had another great race.
Yuki got my vote though..... he had a great weekend, Q3 and then a points finish in his home race and thousands of fans. Oh and some great round the outside passes to boot. Who needs DRS, not Yuki!

[Tourer]

Leclerc for me - making the one-stop strategy (almost) work when others simply couldn't do it was mighty.

Honourable mention to Perez for that pass on Hamilton into 130R - that was full-bore.

[Aysedasi]

Yuki for me. Feisty and determined. Kudos to Carlos, the real Ferrari #1 beats his #2 teammate once again.

[TrapezeArtist]

I can't get why Tsunoda gets so many votes. He came 10th in an almost-Red Bull. Carlos Sainz gets my vote for speed, tyre management and being first non-Red Bull.

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by TrapezeArtist

I can't get why Tsunoda gets so many votes. He came 10th in an almost-Red Bull.l

First Japanese countryman to get points in his home Grand Prix in like forever.
An RB is definitely NOT a Red Bull made by the mafioso..
And Honda is kept sweet, for when Mr Tsunoda takes Mr Stroll’s race seat..

[BertMk2]

Like others here it came down to either Tsunoda or Sainz. Tsunoda got the nod, some great passes and he picked up the only points slot that is up for grabs if everyone stays reliable (Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes and Alonso take up 9 places - leaving one points slot for the others to squabble over).

[S griffin]

Tsunoda made some great passes and deserves the praise. However I'm giving it to Max for his flawless drive

[Super Hans]

I opted for Charles Leclerc for his daring strategy.

[steve_r]

Yuki - for a point in his home GP. But if it was not his home GP, I would have gone for one of the Ferrari drivers probably.

[Dutch chap]

Despite the brave achievement of others, Pole. fastest lap and the win means something. My vote goes to Max. Still looking forward to someone beating him.

[Aysedasi]

Currently the best driver in currently the best car and with a powerful self-belief that he can take pole and win every race. That's a pretty unbeatable combination.

[Oldtony]

Nando, for having the strategic brain and the technical ability to put the Aston in the position it finished.

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by Oldtony

Nando, for having the strategic brain and the technical ability to put the Aston in the position it finished.

To be fair he was helped by Merc cocking up their strategy

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by S griffin

To be fair he was helped by Merc cocking up their strategy

How was he helped by Mercedes cocking up their strategy?

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

How was he helped by Mercedes cocking up their strategy?

Because it made it easier for him, it might have been harder had they gone with the right strategy. It was evident early on Merc had made the wrong choice and had to endure the consequences

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Because it made it easier for him, it might have been harder had they gone with the right strategy. It was evident early on Merc had made the wrong choice and had to endure the consequences

How did it make it easier? He qualified 5th ahead of both Mercs, Hamilton 7th, Russell 9th and got a good start and restart. Mercedes did pick the wring strategy but I don't see how that had any bearing on Alonso.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

How did it make it easier? He qualified 5th ahead of both Mercs, Hamilton 7th, Russell 9th and got a good start and restart. Mercedes did pick the wring strategy but I don't see how that had any bearing on Alonso.

After lap 16, both Mercedes cars were ahead of Alonso.

I think the argument S griffin is making, is that had Mercedes had a better strategy, they may have stayed ahead of Alonso.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

After lap 16, both Mercedes cars were ahead of Alonso.

Alonso, who was on softs, pitted on Lap 13 which is why they got ahead.

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

I think the argument S griffin is making, is that had Mercedes had a better strategy, they may have stayed ahead of Alonso.

Possibly but it all seems to have gone sour for Mercedes after both cars pitted and Russell and Hamilton found themselves behind Piastri, though Russell did get Piastri on the last lap.

[chillibowl]

the tire strategies overall were quite interesting given the track conditions, track temp, and running in spring rather than fall (lack of data perhaps). trying to think of another race where numerous drivers ended up using all three compounds during the race.

add in that Merc had said before hand that their car would struggle here, im surprised that they opted to send both drivers out with basically the same tire strategies (should add thats what i believe they did - hope im right on that otherwise ignore the point im about to make lol).

while that sort of thinking works when you are the top of the field but when you are not, i dont really get the logic of doing the same thing with both cars...Merc have always been way to conservative imo and as a result i sort of think they are always cocking it up.

are they the new keystone cops?

[GT6]

never voted for yuki before but this week he gets my vote

[S griffin]

Merc seem to have forgotten how to run a great strategy. Maybe frustration is clouding their judgement and that's why they are making so many mistakes in strategy

[Guthrie]

Yuki Tsunoda got my vote. He seems to keep getting better with every race.