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Japanese GP - Suzuka - Preview |
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Giancarlo Fisichella is pleased to be in Japan, where he is hugely popular with the local race fans, but it was another drive’s news that was the subject of the first question at his conference in the Suzuka paddock this afternoon: the arrival next season of Fernando Alonso: “I think it is a great decision and Ferrari did something fantastic in getting him to drive for the team next year,” said the Italian. “Fernando is one of the best drivers in the world and I’m sure he will have a good season with such a great team like Ferrari. For my part, I will be happy to be working to support him and Felipe in my role as third driver.” Fisichella is growing in confidence within the team since making his Ferrari debut in Monza and admitted he was really looking forward to this race. “I love Suzuka circuit and I’ve gone quite well here in the past with a couple of podium finishes,” he said. “I have a good feeling for this track, so now I must ensure I also get that good feeling in the Ferrari car. The track here is completely different to Singapore and I feel we have the possibility to go quite well here, so I hope we can have a good weekend and get a good result for the team. If it’s a wet race, anything could happen and I wouldn’t mind. The hard thing for me would be if it rains for free practice but is dry for qualifying, which I would find tough. I feel comfortable now with the team, so it is just a case of getting more comfortable with the car, which especially in Singapore was difficult, in terms of finding the limit. The main area I need to improve is dealing with the car under braking, which makes me not so confident, but I feel it should be better at this circuit. As for the KERS, I think I am using it quite well now. I still lose a couple of tenths because of concentrating on the different ways of operating systems on this car compared to my last one. But overall, this is becoming less of a problem. For sure this weekend will be better and my aim is to get a better result and hopefully score some points.” One of the unique features of racing in Japan, is that the fans are very knowledgeable and extremely passionate about the F1 drivers, with Giancarlo one of the most popular. “I have one of the best and the biggest fan club here in Japan,” said the Ferrari man. “I will meet all of them tomorrow evening at the circuit and I look forward to their support throughout this weekend.”
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n the brand new Suzuka paddock, the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro’s team area was packed out for this afternoon’s press conference with Kimi Raikkonen, following the announcement that next year’s Prancing Horse driver line-up would consist of Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso. “There are many reasons, why this has happened,” said the Finn, who seemed as calm and relaxed as ever. “In F1, even if you have a contract, there can always be different options in life. There is not just one reason why this happened and we all reached the same decision. I’m still happy with what I have done in making this decision and I think I will still have a good future. Usually when you make a contract, you stick with it to the end, but there were reasons why it did not work out, but I’m okay with how things have turned out.” Kimi would not rise to the bait when asked to criticise the team’s decision. “I have nothing bad to say about them as we always had a good relationship,” he insisted. “I don’t think anyone expected Ferrari to have this sort of season, which turned out to be so difficult. But this can happen in F1 sometimes, when you don’t deliver a car capable of always being at the front, but this is just one year and we will wait and see what happens next. I would not have done anything different: of course I would like to win more races, but in terms of decisions about my life, I would not do anything differently to the way I have done it. I am happy with what I have achieved, even if whenever you look back, you think you might have done things differently, but that’s easy to say when you look back. But in terms of contracts and so on, I would not do anything different. With Ferrari, I have achieved what I set out to do in winning the title. We had good times and sometimes more difficult times, but that’s part of this business and you just have to get through those moments. We won many championships, one for me, two for the team and I have happy memories.” Kimi would not give too much away in terms of his plans for next year and beyond. “So far I have not talked too much about what I will do next, as I still have time to make my decision and I will let you know when I have! For the moment, I haven’t decided what I want to do next, whether I want to continue racing or not. I had a contract for next year, but now I don’t, so that changes things. So maybe I race, maybe I do not. Rallying? Yes there’s a chance to do that, but there’s as much of a chance that I continue in Formula 1. I will decide before the start of next year for sure! If I do decide to stay in Formula 1, I wouldn’t go to any of the small teams, where I would not have the chance to fight for the championship. If I race next year, that would be my goal, otherwise there is no reason to be in Formula 1. I achieved what I wanted, but if I race, then of course, I want to win more races and championship titles.”
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PRESS CONFERENCE Q. Adrian, you have had a certain amount of experience at this circuit. Adrian SUTIL: Yes, I know the circuit quite well from my time in Formula Three here. A very nice circuit and in general one of my favourites. Very high speed. You need a lot of grip here, but also with the long straights it is good for racing in general. I have had some good races here and I am really happy to be back. Q. Have you had a look around to see what changes have been made? AS: Yeah, I had a circuit walk today. It is not too much of a difference. Just the first sector. I think the first two or three corners are different. A new surface and a little bit safer in the run-off areas, but I think everything else looks quite similar. Q. Some people are saying Force India will be once again suited to this circuit, but I would have thought it is still quite a high downforce circuit, isn't it? AS: It is high downforce, but also you need a really good engine which is what we have with the Mercedes. There are also two very long straights, so you need some kind of top speed. I would say it is not comparable with Spa, it is more downforce definitely, but I would say a mix of Spa and Silverstone, so it should suit us much better than the last one. Q. So you are quite optimistic? AS: Yes: Q. Kazuki, tell us about the pressure of racing at home. I think you have had quite a busy lead up already to this grand prix. Kazuki NAKAJIMA: Well, actually it is not as busy as last year which was quite nice. I managed to have some time off yesterday and I managed to go back to my home as it was on the way from Tokyo to here. There is a pressure, but this is only the second time for me and the first time to be in Suzuka, so I never know what is going to happen. Last year I really enjoyed the Japanese Grand Prix and I didn't really have too much pressure, so hopefully it is the same for this year. As it is my first time to drive Suzuka with an F1 car I just feel quite excited. Hopefully the weather will be good but it doesn't look like that at the moment. Q. It doesn't look good at the moment. Is that local knowledge? KN: I haven't got any special forecast with me. We will see. Q. How much racing have you done here in other categories? KN: I have done quite a lot with F3 or like GT but it is the first time since 2005, so it is a long time and I will have to dig into my brain to get it back. Q. What are your thoughts on your future in terms of F1? KN: At the moment there is nothing I can say really. I think it is the same for many drivers. I think the situation is really tricky at the moment and we will have to just wait and see. The results have not been there but I think my performance is certainly better than last year. There has been some good races, so I hope that I can do the same job next year. Q. With Williams or with another team? KN: No idea. If I could stay with Williams that would be the best but we will see. Q. Nick, obviously a disappointing end to the grand prix in Singapore but Mario Theissen says there is quite a lot more to come from the car. Would you agree with that? Nick HEIDFELD: That is what we hope. We don't have another update here but we had a big package for Singapore. But our feeling is that our car is not the best mechanically and probably it was possible also to see that on the television pictures. We were jumping around quite a bit even though the track was newly resurfaced. Here it should be more of a normal track and we hope our aero package will suit it pretty well, but we will find out. Q. It is very much a favourite track of yours? NH: Yes, it has always been my favourite circuit. Last year actually it was Singapore and it is great now having two of my favourites circuits within a week. Q. What is it about this circuit? NH: I always find it pretty difficult to explain why you like a circuit and why you don't like a circuit. You just drive it and get a special sensation. What is obvious here is that it is a relatively long circuit. Therefore you have a lot of different corners. The circuit has got a nice flow to it and especially the esses are special. Each lap you arrive there, you are looking forward to that. It is medium speed - definitely more than 200kph – and it is just a great feeling if you get them right. Q. And if you get one of them wrong it puts you out for the rest presumably? NH: Well, it is important to get the first one right as it will have a knock-on effect. But that is also part of the fun. It is very difficult to get it perfectly right, so sometimes you mess up the first corner a bit and then you have to get the rest as perfect as possible. Then you look at the split time and know if it worked out or not. Q. How do you accept the engine penalties now that you have gone over the eight engines? NH: Well, I am on my ninth engine now which hasn't done a lot of kilometres in Singapore. Most likely I will use it here and in Brazil and then I will be allowed to use one of the older engines for Abu Dhabi, not before that, but that will not have a lot of mileage on as well. I changed engines at the last race and got a penalty but from now on I think I am in pretty good shape. Q. Jenson, we had a quote from you during the week that you are not pushing to seal the title here. What is the policy? Jenson BUTTON: First of all, good afternoon everyone. I am looking forward to the weekend. This is a circuit that I have enjoyed very much in the past. It is a very fast flowing circuit and I think every driver enjoys racing here. But I don't come into this race thinking I am going to seal the title here. There are so many possibilities this weekend. There are still three people who can still challenge for the championship. I am one of them, and the most important thing for me to do is work as hard as I can on Friday and Saturday to get the car ready for qualifying and the race and have a good race, the same as all of these guys. I shouldn't be thinking about anything else. Q. Do you think you have got the qualifying problems sorted out? You had had a problem with the back end of the car. JB: No, in Singapore it wasn't that at all. It was my mistake but we tried a few different things to help the balance of the car in Q2 which was probably the wrong thing to do. We didn't do two new tyre runs in Q2 which put quite a bit of pressure on the second run and I hit the brakes into turn seven and at about 280kph the front of the car hit the ground and I locked up. With two massive flat spots I couldn't really do a good lap time. Coming here I am in very good shape. I am looking forward to the weekend. Last weekend was a very interesting race. I still have got a few bruises to show after the bumpiness of the circuit. But it was a good weekend. We came back from a very tough Saturday and had a good Sunday, so I was happy. This weekend the weather is looking interesting. I would rather if it was dry all weekend for sure, but it is what it is and we will make the best out of it. As far as I know it should be wet tomorrow and Saturday, and Sunday more likely dry than wet. |
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Q. The weather forecast according to Jenson Button. JB: Yes, 27 degrees, few clouds in the sky and a slight headwind. Q. Timo, are you optimistic when it comes to your future in F1? Obviously a great result last weekend, but all sorts of stories coming out about your future. Would you tell us the real situation? Timo GLOCK: I think the stories after the race on Sunday were the funniest I've ever read on the Internet. And to be fired on Saturday after qualifying is just b***t and it's not correct. The point is that we already had a couple of discussions a couple of weeks ago and we are open with Toyota, Toyota is open to me. We have the possibility to look around and that's it really. There is nothing new, there were no discussions over the weekend about any contract situation or whatever. That's the only thing that I can say. There are rumours going around and I think maybe for some it was a bit boring on Saturday and they had to find a story for Sunday or after the race on Sunday. Q. Obviously a great result on Sunday, can you do it again here? How much pressure have you had from Toyota at their home race? TG: The pressure is normal. I think you have the pressure at every race. Overall, I think we had a good performance in Singapore. Singapore is completely different to Suzuka, for sure, but the improvements that we had in Singapore were already on the positive side. This circuit should suit our car. Spa didn't look too bad for us, and I think Suzuka should be in the right direction but we will see. The others are strong. I think Brawn and Red Bull will be strong here, McLaren as well and we will see what BMW can do. It will be tight but I hope we can just do a good race. It would be great for me to maybe have wet conditions, I like the wet quite a lot. We will see how it goes and I will just try to fight as hard as possible as I did in Singapore and then we will see the result. Q. Obviously you were here in 2004 with Jordan; what other experience do you have of this circuit? TG: I know it. It's positive that I already know it in wet and dry conditions but that's a couple of years ago and it's been resurfaced since then, so we will see how it goes tomorrow. I hope there's not another typhoon like in 2004, otherwise the rest should be fine. QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR Q. (Marco Degli'Innocenti – La Gazzetta dello Sport) For all of you: are you envious of Fernando Alonso at the moment? TG: Why? Q. (Marco Degli'Innocenti – La Gazzetta dello Sport) It was the most kept secret in Formula One but now it's no longer a secret. JB: I'm pretty happy actually where I'm sat right now. I'm good to go. TG: There's nothing to say. I think it was clear for everybody a couple of months ago, so now it's just official. Q. (Marco Degli'Innocenti – La Gazzetta dello Sport) But are you envious of Fernando? TG: No. AS: I think it's good for him but for me nothing has changed. I don't care. KN: Same for me. NH: I think he's one of the few guys who is in a team for next year where he can believe he might have a better chance to fight for the championship than in many other teams. Ferrari has always been one of the strongest teams in the last couple of years, and on top of that, even though I drive for BMW and I'm very happy there, Ferrari has a special name in the sport, so it must be a special thing. It's not only for Italians like you, which is why you asked the question, but I think Ferrari is a great team. Q. (Marc Surer – Sky Germany) Timo, you once said that you never know why you're quick or why you're slow with this car. You were so much faster than Jarno (Trulli) in the last race; do you know why – apart from your talent, of course? TG: I was already quick in Singapore last year. I like street circuits. I don't know if the ChampCar series in 2005 was experience for me which just made it easier in Singapore but overall I like the circuit, and I think you can make a difference as a driver in Singapore. Overall, it was a possibility for me, with my driving style, to set up the car very much more in my direction. Jarno took over the set-up on Saturday morning and it didn't work for him, so I just like to drive on circuits like this. You can just go high risk, you can't make any mistakes. That's the reason why I was quick in Singapore. I like the circuit quite a lot, it's good fun, and I think everything came together. Q. (Jerome Bourret – L'Equipe) Jenson, you're known as a pretty relaxed and cool guy, but how stressful has this season been? How do you deal with all these ups and downs? And was Singapore really a race for you or not? JB: It has been a pretty hectic season, obviously with a fantastic start. Then there were a few races when the car wasn't as good as we had hoped and then there were a couple of races where I didn't really get the best out of the car. So yeah, the last two races have been good for me. I've been happy with my performance, I've been very happy with the team's performance. It sounds silly but it is a bit of a rollercoaster when you're fighting for a championship, and it's been a long time since I've been fighting for a championship, so you do forget. But if it was easy we'd all be doing it. It's part of the challenge, it's a sport that is very emotional for me. I've always loved motor racing since I was very, very young and being in the position that I'm in, I'm certainly very privileged and very lucky to be fighting for a championship, so I will never forget that. And I also have some great people around me who keep me grounded and focussed. It's obviously tough but it's also very exciting and I wouldn't change it for the world, for sure. Q. Jenson, I understand that you're not trying too hard to win the Japanese Grand Prix here on Sunday. For you, obviously, winning the championship is more important but remembering what happened in Brazil last year, Lewis Hamilton said finishing fifth was actually more difficult than winning some races. What's your opinion there? JB: I've never said that I don't want to win this race, for sure. We go to every race to win it. I think you're getting it confused with... for me the most important thing is to win the World Championship. It's not when or where, that's exactly what I said. For sure, I would love to win in Suzuka, it's a circuit that I love. I've got a lot of connections with Japan from the past and from the present. So for sure I'm here to win this weekend and that's my aim. So the second part of the question is irrelevant. Q. (Marco Degli'Innocenti – La Gazzetta dello Sport) I have a question for Adrian: if you can tell us something about your future. Maybe you are going to drive another Mercedes engine somewhere else? AS: Well, right now I've got a real good offer, driving in a winning team&ldots; in GP2! I'm going to try to go there! Q. (Ralf Bach - R & B) Question to Nick and Adrian: did you speak about your accident in the last race or not? NH: Yeah, I think the first time we spoke about it was when I came out of the stewards' room. I asked him what went on. He explained. He said he was sorry and for me that was OK. JB: That was a big fine! AS: Yes, big enough. NH: Just a big verbal fine, but nothing with the hands. AS: I've explained it several times and I think there's nothing more to say. We saw all the pictures and that's it. We spoke to each other, twenty thousand is enough. NH: I didn't receive it yet. AS: It's not for you. |
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Hiroshi Yasukawa - Director of Bridgestone Motorsport: Bridgestone is a Japanese company so our home grand prix has special importance for us. It is also good to return to Suzuka as this venue has been the scene of so many great battles over the years. We will have many special guests and staff from our company attending this event so we are hopeful of an exciting race. Hirohide Hamashima - Bridgestone Director of Motorsport Tyre Development: We last visited Suzuka in 2006 and a lot has changed in Formula One since then, so teams will have to work hard to understand the circuit with the latest specification cars and tyres. For the younger drivers this will be the first time they visit this circuit so they are set for a delight. The configuration is unique as it is a figure of eight and there are several high speed corners as well as a hairpin, so there is a lot to consider for car set-up and in the race. Interestingly, around half of the track has been resurfaced. The new surface on the east side is very smooth and gives good grip. The older surface on the west side gives less grip than the newer surface on the east side. We will not know exactly how this will affect performance until the cars are running, but it certainly will be a consideration. The circuit layout tests all four corners of the car so a good all-round set-up will need to be found. The best set-up will be the one which allows the best traction, grip and enable quick change of direction from the tyres.
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Just one week after racing around the floodlit streets of Singapore, Round 15 of the 2009 Formula One World Championship takes the Brawn GP team over 5000kms north-east to Suzuka for the Japanese Grand Prix. Situated on Honshu, the largest of the Japanese islands, the 5.897km track is owned by the Honda Motor Company and was built in 1962 as a test circuit before hosting its first Formula One race in 1987. The circuit was designed by John Hugenholtz and the 18-turn figure-of-eight layout is unique in the sport and a great favourite amongst the drivers. Despite various modifications since 2002, Suzuka has retained much of its challenging layout with famous corners including the Spoon Curve and the high-speed 130R. After a three year absence, this weekend’s race will be Suzuka’s 21st Grand Prix. ROSS BRAWN, TEAM PRINCIPAL Q. What are your thoughts ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix? “Suzuka is a fantastic racing circuit and a classic drivers’ track so we are delighted to be returning there this weekend. The venue has played host to some great races over the years and with all the hard work that has been undertaken recently to improve the facilities, it should prove to be an even better venue for the Japanese Grand Prix after the three-year break. From Brawn GP’s perspective, I was very pleased with how the team recovered well from a problematic qualifying session in Singapore and came away with further valuable points for the championship challenge. We will learn from those experiences and put the lessons in good practice for the final important three races of the season. We were pleased with the performance of the upgrades that we took to Singapore and expect to continue to see the benefits of this package in Suzuka this weekend.” JENSON BUTTON Q. Are you looking forward to returning to Suzuka this weekend? “Suzuka is such a fun circuit and I have lots of good memories from racing there over the years. It’s a very fast-flowing lap and a real drivers’ circuit just like Silverstone and Spa. I think everyone has missed having it on the calendar for the last few years. 130R is one of the fastest corners in Formula One and you really have to think about how you approach it. We might not be flat through there this year but it is still a real buzz to take the corner carrying speeds of 300kph. I’ve had some moments there in the past! I’ve always enjoyed great support at Suzuka in the past from the Japanese fans who are so enthusiastic about the sport so we’ll be hoping for more of the same this weekend and I can’t wait to race there again and put on a great show.” RUBENS BARRICHELLO Q. What makes Suzuka such a favourite amongst the drivers? “Suzuka is a great race track and we are all really pleased to be returning there for the Japanese Grand Prix this year. Besides being a challenging circuit, Suzuka holds some particularly special memories for me from my win from pole position in 2003. It’s a tough circuit because of the corners and the track layout and you have to be precise, consistent and get the balance of the car absolutely right to have a good weekend. Spoon and 130R are the undoubted highlights of the lap. Both turns are part of what makes Suzuka so demanding and such a great challenge for the drivers. Overtaking can be tough and generally happens into the slowest corner on the track, the Casio Triangle, into the fast fifth-gear First Curve or occasionally at the Turn 11 hairpin.”
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Just one week after the Singapore round of the FIA Formula One World Championship the Force India Formula One Team will be back in action, this time at the Japanese Grand Prix, held from 2 – 4 October at the legendary Suzuka track. The circuit, close to the fourth largest city in Japan, Nagoya, is almost 6km and features just about every type of corner, from slow chicanes to the awesome 130R – a sweeping left hander where cars reach up to 300kph in seventh gear while pulling 4 g. Since the track demands a medium to low downforce aero configuration, Force India is hopeful of a return to the strong form shown in the Belgian and Italian Grands Prix that required a similar set-up. Team Q&A Dr Vijay Mallya, chairman and team principal How would you review the Singapore race – was it as expected? We knew that after the results of Spa and Monza we had set a high expectation for ourselves, but we were realistic that we would find it more difficult at this circuit. I was nevertheless a little disappointed that we struggled quite as much as we did and we didn’t get into Q2 as expected. That said, we do understand the reasons why – Singapore is an exceptionally high downforce track and we have found this configuration difficult. Singapore is however the only type of track in the second half of the season so we had to make a decision to focus on the events where we could be competitive rather than putting resources towards just one event. With this in mind, are you expecting a more competitive showing in Suzuka? Yes, definitely. Suzuka is more low downforce and should suit the car well. Plus both drivers know and enjoy the circuit so their confidence will be high. Tonio is now fully up to speed and has completed perhaps the most physical event of the year in Singapore. Adrian too has driven the circuit extensively so I would say we are feeling positive. I’d hope to see another Q2 and then let’s see about points in the race. That’s got to be our goal going forward for the rest of the season now. Driver Q&A Adrian Sutil (car 20, VJM02/01) The next race on the calendar will be the Japanese Grand Prix. What are your thoughts ahead of this race? I’m really looking forward to this race. I lived in Japan for a year in 2006 when I was competing in Japanese F3 and I know the track very well as we often raced there. It’s a brilliant drivers’ track, quite difficult to learn, but very rewarding when you get it right. I think our car will perform well there as well – as we’ve seen, we are very strong on the low and medium downforce tracks and Suzuka should suit us well. I feel very confident on the track and in the car and I am positive this combination will bring us some good results. Were you disappointed with the performance over Singapore? We knew Singapore would be difficult but we struggled a little more than we expected as we just couldn’t find a set-up that worked well enough with the tyres. We didn’t qualify as well as wanted and that really just compromised the race. I was very heavy at the start, trying to take any opportunity that came about, whether a safety car or rain, but then I got caught behind Alguersuari. He was very slow and I guess I just got frustrated and tried to find a way through. I’m sorry that Nick got caught up in the accident as well. Tonio Liuzzi (car 21, VJM02/04) It was always going to hard for the team to follow Spa and Monza, but were you surprised how hard Singapore was? It was a really tough weekend for us. We could aim for a top position in Monza, and in Singapore we had to wake up, and there was no passing into Q3 with both cars. I had a lot of problem with oversteer in qualifying and I lost a lot in the last four corners, otherwise I should have been really close to Adrian. We’ve struggled with such high downforce levels since the beginning of the year, and a lot of teams brought big updates for this configuration. That’s why we had a lot of problems, and we were never so competitive, but for us it was good to finish the race. For sure it’s the most physical race of the year, so it was good for me to complete 61 laps. It was important to get myself back to speed and back to physical condition.’ Do you think you are now back up to speed personally? I think for Suzuka we will be in better shape. Singapore was a circuit where it’s difficult to get the feeling back, because the concentration is so high, and you have to try and stay away from the walls. It’s not a normal situation. But doing the whole race helped me a lot. I think we are getting close to my optimum speed. Now I think we are ready for Suzuka. I’ve been there once in 2006 and it’s a circuit I like. I’m more optimistic for there, because the configuration for our car is somewhere in between Spa and Singapore, so we should be more competitive. This year has been a bit of a crazy year but we cannot complain because we had two good races, Spa and Monza, and there are tracks coming up that will suit us more as well. Force India Japanese Grand Prix points of note: Although Adrian has never raced an F1 car in Suzuka, he has a lot of experience at the Japanese track after having raced four times at Suzuka in 2006 while competing in the Japanese F3 championship, which he later won with five victories. That same year he also made three appearances as Midland F1’s third driver, one of which came at Suzuka. Singapore was Tonio Liuzzi’s first race finish for the team. He raced from 19th on the grid to 14th overall following a tough battle with Giancarlo Fisichella for the majority of the race. Tonio Liuzzi has raced at Suzuka once in F1, in 2006 with Toro Rosso. He finished the race in 14th position overall. Between the Singapore and Japanese Grands Prix both Adrian and Tonio visited Tokyo, Japan, before heading up to Suzuka on Wednesday. The team arrived in Japan on the Tuesday after Singapore to turn the cars round, rebuild the garage and prepare for the Japanese Grand Prix. The turnaround will be a challenging one – after working on European time throughout Singapore the team will now have to switch to Japanese time, with only one day in between to acclimatise. Dominic Harlow, chief engineer : A welcome return of possibly the best ‘drivers’ circuit’ in F1. The Suzuka layout is unique in that it is a figure of eight, and the Esses and Dunlop corners as well as the awesome 130R give a real roller coaster lap. It’s been partially re-surfaced since we last raced there, so it will be interesting to see how the tyres behave in what has traditionally been a challenging event for them. It’s important to have good aerodynamic efficiency and a stable platform to get the best of this track but, we expect it to suit our package and drivers well.
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The Renault F1 Team prepares for this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix at the classic Suzuka circuit. Fernando Alonso: “The team can be very proud of this result” Fernando, you had your first podium finish of the year in Singapore. Talk us through your emotions after the race... To finish on the podium was a great feeling. It was the result that we have been pushing for and the team really deserved this because we have been unlucky this year and lost many opportunities. Everybody in the team can be very proud as they did a great job all weekend and this was the perfect moment to get this result. It’s a great reward for all the hard work at the track and back in the factories in Enstone and Viry. We now head to Suzuka in Japan - are you looking forward to going back there for the first time in three years? Yes, I’m really excited to be returning to this amazing track which is one of my favourites. I have some great memories from Suzuka as I won the race there in 2006, which was a very important result for the championship. Also my battle with Michael Schumacher in 2005 is something that I will always remember. Japan is certainly one of the most enjoyable races of the season because there is a special atmosphere and the fans always show their enthusiasm in a respectful way. Talk us through the technical challenge of the circuit... I think all the drivers enjoy the high-speed corners of Suzuka, but it’s also a technical track which gives the engineers a big challenge. In terms of set-up, you have to work hard to make sure you have a car with a good front end for the changes of direction, and a stable rear so you have the confidence to attack the high-speed corners. The Esses section is an important part of the lap as you have to cope with fifteen seconds of continuously changing direction, so it’s very demanding physically. You also need to keep your concentration as there is only one line through the corners and any mistakes cost you a lot of time. Romain Grosjean: “Racing at Suzuka will be very special” Romain, your race in Singapore was short-lived. A disappointing end to a tough weekend for you... Yes, it was probably the most difficult weekend I can remember in my career. I had to learn the circuit, which was not easy, especially as I had some issues in practice which limited my running. As a result I never really felt confident on this circuit. Then in qualifying I had some braking issues, which we thought we had solved for the race, but in the end the team asked me to retire the car as the brake problems returned. So it was not a weekend to remember for me and I now have to look forward to Japan. Suzuka will be another new experience for you. Is it a circuit that inspires you? It’s a circuit that I’ve never been to, but I have always dreamed of racing there as it’s one of the special circuits of the world. I have seen the track on television many times so I know the layout and cannot wait to drive the quick corners like 130R. How are you approaching the end of the season? All the tracks will be new for me so I know that I have a big challenge ahead. I hope that my luck will change in the races as I have yet to have a normal race without any problems. If I can have some trouble-free races then hopefully I can help the team score some important points, which is what we need for the fight in the constructors’ championship. Bob Bell: “The team heads to Japan in high spirits” Bob, what does the podium in Singapore mean for the team ahead of this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix? This result obviously lifts the spirits of the whole team enormously and will be fresh in everyone’s mind as we have back-to-back races this weekend. The team will therefore arrive in Japan feeling very upbeat. The race in Japan might not be the easiest for us, but I think the level of motivation will be much higher. Romain had a tough weekend in Singapore – can he bounce back in Japan? I have no doubt that he can bounce back: he is young, very confident and has a lot of ability. The problems he had in Singapore were related to his brakes so we need to make sure that we do all we can in Suzuka to make sure he has no repeat of this. However, we should remember that Suzuka is a very different circuit and I think it will be a lot easier for him there. Talk us through the technical challenge of this classic circuit... It’s an interesting venue and it’s quite challenging for an older circuit. It requires a good balance and a medium to high downforce set-up, but braking performance is less important there, which will assist with the problems Romain had. It has some corners that are very challenging for the drivers that require a lot of commitment and are rewarding to drive. Overall, it’s a circuit were we have done well in the past and Fernando particularly likes Suzuka so he will relish the challenge this weekend.
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Back on the calendar for the first time since 2006, Suzuka will henceforth share the Japanese Grand Prix with Fuji Speedway. The circuit features many quick corners and sudden directional changes, which place a significant load on tyres, but the figure-of-eight configuration balances the load over the course of a lap so the wear rate is not as significant as the cornering speeds might suggest. Two-stop strategies are the norm, although that depends on local weather patterns: the region is prone to occasional typhoons. Talking technical Car dynamics Average turn angle indicates the average angle of a circuit’s corners expressed in degrees. The higher the average turn angle, the more acute the corners in the circuit’s configuration and the greater propensity for understeer to compromise lap time. Average turn angle at Suzuka is 990 - which is below the average for the Championship. Suzuka is the only circuit on the Formula One calendar to feature a figure-of-eight configuration. The end of straight (EOS) speed at Suzuka was 311kp/h in 2006. The Japanese track ranks as having the 4th highest EOS speed on the 2009 calendar, and this is one indicator of the wing level typically selected to optimise the downforce/drag ratio. Meanwhile, Suzuka also has the 3rd highest average lap speed of any of the tracks on the calendar. Pitlane & refuelling strategy The pitlane length and profile contribute to the determination of the optimum fuel strategy. The pitlane loss at Suzuka is approximately 19.9 seconds, which is the 10th most penalising pitlane in the Championship. To complete a normalised distance of 5km around Suzuka requires 2.37kg of fuel against an average of 2.42kg per 5km across all circuits this season, ranking the circuit as the 5th least demanding in terms of fuel consumption. Safety car Another key contributor to the determination of race strategy is the likelihood of safety car deployments, which are influenced by weather considerations, the availability of clear run-off areas that allow racing to continue while recovery takes place and the circuit profile, especially the character of the entry and exit into turn one at the start of the race. There has been only one safety car deployment during the five previous races at Suzuka which means the circuit’s character is unlikely to induce a safety car period. Temperature, pressure & humidity As an example, it is a long observed tradition that drivers arriving at Interlagos complain about a lack of grip and an absence of engine power. Having become acquainted with a baseline of engine and aerodynamic performance during the season, the climb to 750 metres above sea level for one of the final races can, courtesy of the reduction in air density, rob a Formula One car of engine power, aerodynamic performance and cooling. The losses can come close to double digit percentages and thus have a very real impact on car performance. Air density is a factor of the prevailing ambient temperature, which varies most significantly by season, air pressure which is closely linked to altitude and, to a much smaller degree, by humidity. Thus if races are run at the same time each year, the factor that tends to have the greatest bearing on air density is elevation. Suzuka is 50m above sea level and has the 6th highest average pressure (1,009 mbar) of any race venue in the 2009 championship. As a consequence, the circuit’s ambient characteristics will have little effect on engine power. What the drivers say Thoughts on the Singapore Grand Prix Nico “Singapore was good and bad. On the one hand, it was impressive to see how much the team has developed the car which allowed us to be right up there with the quickest teams. On the other hand, I robbed us of a very likely second place with a silly mistake.” Kazuki “For me, the Singapore Grand Prix was a solid but flat race, I didn’t really have any bad moments, but there weren’t any highlights either. We were strong all weekend, and consistent too, but at the end of the day I didn’t manage to make up enough places during the race to get into a points-scoring position. I am now just hoping that it will happen at my home race later this week.” What we’ll be doing between Singapore and Japan Kazuki “I am flying to Tokyo on Monday morning for a sponsor day on Tuesday. I will then head out to Suzuka on Wednesday. My work won’t be done after the race weekend though as I have two more sponsor days on the Monday and Tuesday after the race! It sounds very busy, but this year’s schedule is better for me than the one I had last year when all the events were packed into the week before the race.” Nico ”I am travelling to Hong Kong after Singapore for a day with RBS on Tuesday. I’ll then make my way over to Japan on Wednesday.” About Japan Kazuki “I kind of grew up around Suzuka. I have been to the circuit many, many times and it’s the place where I started karting. I’ve also watched countless races there, not just Formula One races, but many other forms of Japanese motorsport, so going to Suzuka feels like going home. Apart from a short trip last April, I haven’t been there for the past four years so it will be almost like a new experience. Overall, it’s just a very nice place and I can’t wait to get there.” Nico “I am now looking forward to Suzuka because I think we can do well there. Personally, I think the track is one of the best on the calendar, up there with Spa. It’s also a good venue for Formula One because the fans are so enthusiastic which is always great.” Suzuka from a technical perspective Kazuki “Suzuka has a very technically challenging layout. It’s designed in a figure of eight shape, which has a mix of 16 slow and fast corners around the lap. One of my favourites is the famous 130R which is really unforgiving. It’s a really quick circuit so you have to make sure you have a well balanced set-up or you’re just punished the whole way round. The one thing you have to be careful of in Japan at this time of year is the weather which can be really variable, but that could just make it more exciting!” Nico “I haven't been to Suzuka for three years now but I felt really comfortable on the track the last time that I raced there I am looking forward to driving it again.”
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Interview with Bob Bell - Renault |
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The interim Team Principal reflects on an eventful week for the team. Bob, you have stepped up to become Team Principal in difficult circumstances – how are you approaching this role? I am taking a very pragmatic and realistic approach to it. The team needed somebody to step in and see through the rest of the season. I have agreed to do that and I am very happy to do it. My motivation, as ever, is to see that the team continues and continues successfully – and I am very proud that I have been asked to do it and I relish the challenge. Do you feel that the team has put the events from the past weeks behind it? Definitely. From the outside, I think temporarily the team is perhaps not going to look in the greatest of light. But I saw this weekend that the team has put itself out of this unfortunate situation and worked, as ever, hard all weekend. We will demonstrate what it does on the track, and in the factories, and show people once again that we deserve the high reputation that we have always held. How tough have the past few weeks been on all the people back at the factories in Enstone and Viry? I think for all of us, myself included, were genuinely concerned that we could potentially lose our jobs over this. There were very deep and heartfelt feelings in the factory of sadness that we would find ourselves in the situation in the first place and then, of course, the potential consequence that we could have gone out of business. How much of a shock was it to lose the backing of title partner ING? To some extent it wasn't unexpected as they were due to finish with us at the end of the year anyway. They chose for their own reasons to terminate earlier than that, which was a disappointment but we will move on from it.
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A worthwhile goal The fifteenth round of the World Championship sees Formula 1 make a welcome return to Suzuka Circuit after a two year hiatus spent in the shadow of Mount Fuji. This year’s race will be the twenty fifth running of the Japanese Grand Prix and Suzuka has been its home for all but four races. Owned by Honda, who built it as a test track in 1962, it is now considered to be one of the all time classic circuits, up there with Spa in the F1 drivers’ affections. It is also the only circuit on the calendar to feature a figure of eight layout. There are eighteen turns, beginning with a very fast downhill run past the pits to a quick right, followed by the famous “Esses” before the Spoon Curve and the legendary 130R, one of the most daunting corners on the F1 calendar. Despite its fast and flowing nature, overtaking is not that straightforward here, with the best opportunities coming at the final chicane, although if conditions are right, a move is possible at the first corner and at the hairpin. While all the familiar landmarks, such as the giant wheel in the Suzuka Circuitland Amusement Park will be there, along with the politest fans in the world, sitting late into the night in the main grandstand across from the pits, there will be many new features this year, with a rebuilt paddock, replacing the rather antiquated facilities of the past. Several sections of the track have been resurfaced. As this work was carried out two years ago, there should be none of the problems usually associated with a brand new surface. Ferrari won the first ever Japanese Grand Prix to be run at this track, back in 1987, courtesy of Gerhard Berger, but the Scuderia then had to wait a decade until Michael Schumacher stood on the top step of the podium in 1997. The German went on to win it a further four times at the wheel of a Prancing Horse and thanks to a further victory for Rubens Barrichello, Ferrari had an unprecedented run of five wins between 2000 and 2004. As for our current drivers, Kimi won with McLaren in 2005, visiting the Suzuka podium on three other occasions. Giancarlo has also finished in the top three here, coming second in 2005 (standing alongside Kimi) and third in 2006. However, the past is soon forgotten in Formula 1 and this year, the Scuderia will struggle to get a driver onto the podium. As the drivers and team principal said after last Sunday’s race in Singapore, with every passing race in this final stage of the season, the F60, with a specification that has remained unchanged for several races now, is no match for cars that other teams are continuing to develop race by race. The Prancing Horse races to win world championships and, when it became clear that this would not be an option for 2009, all efforts were switched to ensuring that the 2010 car will be truly competitive at the highest level. Looking at the positive side of the F60 package, it tends to perform much better with a race level of fuel on board than it does on the low fuel required to do well in the first two parts of Qualifying on Saturday afternoon. While the grid will be very close in terms of lap times at Suzuka, at least unlike the twisty Singapore track, overtaking is possible here and so Kimi and Giancarlo should at least be able to count on the advantage of KERS to make up places at the start, possibly boost their overtaking opportunities during the race and definitely help them defend position from other drivers’ attacking moves. The deficiencies in the car package certainly do not translate into any deficiency in the Scuderia’s approach to the final three races of the season and everyone will be doing their utmost to give the drivers the best possible chance of scoring points. The battle for third place is one of the closest in the series and the final step on the “championship podium” is definitely worth fighting for. Even if the technical odds are stacked against them, both our drivers can be relied on to be a force to be reckoned with at Suzuka. The Japanese track is usually mentioned in the same breath as Spa-Francorchamps, as being a true test of driver ability. Only a few weeks ago, Kimi defied the odds to win the Belgian Grand Prix and if he did not have an easy time of it, that was down to the fact he was pushed hard all the way to the flag by Giancarlo Fisichella, who finished second for his previous team, before joining the Scuderia. “Suzuka is a very demanding track, from a technical point of view, especially in terms of aerodynamics,” reckons the Finn. “You need a lot of downforce and honestly, we do not have enough to fight for the top places. All the same, we will do everything we can to get the most out of the potential at our disposal.” Giancarlo is also hoping that the driver’s ability could make up for deficiencies in the F60 package. “I have not lost heart and I am looking forward to putting on a good show in front of the enthusiastic crowd, including members of my Japanese fan club,” commented the Italian. “I’ve only been with Ferrari for a few weeks, but I’ve found out that this team is made up of people who never give up and I am sure that, thanks to everyone’s hard work, we will once again be able to secure some good results in these final three races, starting in Suzuka.” *Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 2008 Qualifying - 2nd, 2008 Race - 3rd “Suzuka is a very demanding track, from a technical point of view, especially in terms of aerodynamics. You need a lot of downforce and honestly, we do not have enough to fight for the top places. All the same, we will do everything we can to get the most out of the potential at our disposal.” *Giancarlo Fisichella, Ferrari 2008 Qualifying - 20th, 2008 Race - DNF “I have not lost heart and I am looking forward to putting on a good show in front of the enthusiastic crowd, including members of my Japanese fan club. I’ve only been with Ferrari for a few weeks, but I’ve found out that this team is made up of people who never give up and I am sure that, thanks to everyone’s hard work, we will once again be able to secure some good results in these final three races, starting in Suzuka.”
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Jaime Alguersuari , Toro Rosso 2008 Qualifying - N/A, 2008 Race - N/A “I have been to Suzuka before, back in 2005 for a karting race, the Asia-Pacific World Cup, although of course we weren’t racing on the F1 track! I was leading the race on the final lap, but I crashed with Kazuki Nakajima at the last corner and ended second. Being in Japan for the first time was an amazing experience and it felt like another world to me. It’s a dream to now be able to drive on the real circuit, after having seen it while I was there. I’ve driven it on the simulator and also on a computer game. I hope we can have a successful weekend.” Sebastien Buemi, Toro Rosso 2008 Qualifying - N/A, 2008 Race - N/A “I’ve been to Japan, as I drove the Medical Car last year in Fuji, but I’ve never been to Suzuka. I’ve been on the simulator to practice the track, which looks great, so I’m very much looking forward to driving it for real. I’ve heard that they have resurfaced the track and got brand new facilities in the paddock with new pits. I think it is one of the best circuits in the world, so I can’t wait to get there. Japan is very strange and completely different to what we are used to in Europe. I’ve been to Tokyo, which is fantastically modern, although the people wear some rather funny clothes! I got a good impression while I was there, in that the people treat one another with a lot of respect and everything is very clean. As for the race, I think we can do well, as we will have a new update on the car. In Singapore, we were a bit more competitive than in past races and I think we could be even better in Japan.”
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Sebastian Vettel , Red Bull 2008 Qualifying - 9th, 2008 Race - 6th “Suzuka is the best track in the world. I drove the two hours of Friday free practice here at the 2006 Japanese Grand Prix. The first hour was wet, which was pretty scary as I didn’t know where the track went. I’m looking forward to racing there as it’s one of the most challenging circuits with a lot of high speed corners. It’s enjoyable and I think it should suit our car. I like the culture and the people in Japan. Last year, I climbed Mount Fuji and I’ve also spent time in Tokyo. The food is great, although maybe not all of it! Everything about the place is very disciplined and ordered, which I like.” Mark Webber , Red Bull 2008 Qualifying - 13th, 2008 Race - 8th “Fourth is my best result here, for Williams in 2005, the penultimate time we raced at Suzuka. It was a bit of a classic with Raikkonen and Alonso coming through from the back. Kimi took the lead on the last lap and I had a good battle with Fernando in the middle of the race. It’s a sensational circuit and I’ve even got good memories of watching the 8 Hours motorcycle race on TV, as a lot of Australians ride in that race. The crowd are pretty close to the Italians in terms of how knowledgeable and passionate they are, although they’re also very reserved. When I walk into the track, going through the amusement park, you can really feel that Suzuka has got something about it that makes it special.”
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Lewis Hamilton, McLaren 2008 Qualifying - 1st, 2008 Race - 12th “It feels like I’ve been waiting my whole life to race at Suzuka - so, as you can imagine, I’ll be really excited when practice starts there on Friday morning. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve raced Suzuka on computer games - and while it kind of gives you an idea of how the circuit goes, nothing can beat the real thing. It looks like a real driver’s circuit - the first sector esses look very demanding and the higher speed corners towards the end of the lap will probably require real precision and a good car set-up. I’m also really looking forward to returning to Japan - it’s one of my favourite countries and I love racing in front of the Japanese fans. It should be a great weekend.” Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren 2008 Qualifying - 3rd, 2008 Race - DNF “I had one of my greatest Formula One drives in Japan, in the wet race at Fuji in 2007 when I finished second behind Lewis, so I have some fantastic memories of the country. While I’m really looking forward to racing at a classic racetrack like Suzuka for the first time, I don’t think the circuit will be ideal for our package: it’s a bit of a mix of places like Silverstone and Istanbul, with high speed corners, and will require a car with good downforce and mechanical and aero balance. But, that doesn’t put us off: the improvements we’ve made to the car over the course of the season have been genuinely remarkable and I think we still go to Japan confident that we can do a very good job.” Martin Whitmarsh, McLaren team principal “Along with Spa-Francorchamps, Suzuka is one of Formula One’s greatest circuits, and one that every driver relishes. Certainly, McLaren has had more than its fair share of spectacular moments there - we’ve won at Suzuka on six occasions, and I vividly remember the 2005 race, when Kimi (Raikkonen) took the lead on the final lap of one of the most spectacular Grand Prix I have ever witnessed. For 2009, we go to Japan knowing that overall victory will not be easy to achieve - but the improvements we evaluated in Singapore, particularly some useful changes to the floor, should give us a competitive boost and it will be interesting to see how our pace translates against that of our rivals.” Norbert Haug, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport Vice-President “From a teams and drivers’ perspective, the Japanese Grand Prix is one of the biggest challenges of all 17 races this year. The track layout offers everything from the ultra-fast 130R corner to a slow hairpin. With Kimi Räikkönen we won there in 2005. With two race wins and 45 points from the last five races, the final one being last Sunday in Singapore, our team has continued this upwards trend. I don’t think we’ll be among the favourites for victory at Suzuka; however, everybody in the team is working hard to conclude the season with further good results in Japan and the following races in Brazil and Abu Dhabi.”
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Robert Kubica: "I am really looking forward to going racing in Suzuka again. The circuit is one of the most exciting tracks to drive on - for me it is one of the best circuits in the world. There are a lot of really challenging high-speed corners, especially the 130R which is really fast. The fans there are fantastic. In 2006 a lot of them in the grandstands stayed at the circuit until very late in the night. They are really passionate and enjoy Formula One a lot." Nick Heidfeld: "I'm thrilled that my favourite Formula One circuit is back on the calendar. It will be interesting to see what changes it has in store for us. I know the track has been partly resurfaced, and there's always the possibility of the forces of nature intervening - we've already had an earthquake and a close call with a typhoon. The weather is always an issue and there's been torrential rain often enough in Suzuka. It's quite a long circuit, very varied, and it flows beautifully. The first section with its double-apex right-hander and sequence of esses is really superb. But you have to get into the flow properly; if you make a mistake in one turn, you'll mess up all the rest. "I really enjoy going to Japan. The first time round I didn't immediately take to it, but since then I've become a great fan. I just love the food and the unique atmosphere. I'll be spending a few days in Tokyo ahead of the race in Suzuka." Mario Theissen, BMW Motorsport Director: "It's one race chasing the next on the home straight of the 2009 Formula One season. Seven days after the night race in Singapore we've got the next round in Suzuka, Japan, which completes the back-to-backs in a region that is extremely important for the BMW Group. "This circuit is one of the most challenging for the drivers, making it a real favourite among them and the fans. A well-balanced car is a must in Suzuka. But it's a tough track for the engine experts as well: in the ultra-fast 130R turn you get lateral acceleration forces of up to 6g and it's essential the oil keeps flowing."
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Jarno Trulli: "I am excited to be returning to Suzuka because it is a very technical and challenging circuit which I like very much. There are a lot of high-speed corners and quick changes of direction so it is a bit like Spa in that sense and it is one of my favourite circuits. I am particularly looking forward to seeing what changes have been made to the facilities; although I am pleased the lay-out is the same with just resurfacing. "Japan is the home Grand Prix for the team so I will give my all to get the best result for Toyota and our Japanese supporters. I have a special relationship with the Japanese fans so I really enjoy visiting the country; they are always so supportive and enthusiastic. It is a special atmosphere. I had a disappointing weekend in Singapore but Suzuka is a totally different track and we should be competitive there; we hope to be very strong so I hope to race well and get a result to match." Timo Glock: "Suzuka is a really special circuit. It is very fast and the first sector is just unbelievable in a Formula 1 car; a really enjoyable experience. It is five years since I drove a Formula 1 car at Suzuka but the lay-out hasn't changed and I'm sure the fans will still make it a pleasure to race there. It's a really good fun circuit to race at because not only is the lay-out so fantastic, the fans make it feel special too, especially when you are a Toyota driver. "It's not an easy track to drive and you really have to be completely concentrated to get the best lap time but this makes it so much fun. It was fantastic to finish on the podium in Singapore. I would love to be challenging for the podium again in Toyota's home race to give something back to our team's; that would be a great result. Standing on the podium for Toyota in Japan would be perfect." Tadashi Yamashina, Team Principal: "We are very much looking forward to our home Grand Prix. After two great years at Fuji Speedway the race returns to Suzuka this season but despite the change of venue we are equally determined to achieve a positive result. We will have a lot of encouragement from our fans, our partners and Toyota employees at this race which is very motivating for the whole team. "This creates some positive pressure because we know our supporters are hoping for a strong result and we are determined to meet their expectations. Everyone back in Cologne has worked extremely hard to develop the new package we saw in Singapore and will use again in Japan. This shows we are fighting for every 10th of a second right to the end of the season."
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