Suzuka (Japan), March 27: The Japanese Grand Prix is only the third race of the new Formula 1 season, but it will be last one for five weeks with events in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia called off because of the war in Iran.
The next F1 race is not until May 3 in Miami. Here’s what we’ve learned so far from races in Australia and China with the Japanese GP set for Sunday: Mercedes and Ferrari have adapted best to Formula’s 1 most radical change in power and chassis in more than a decade.
George Russell and Kimi Antonelli have won each of the first two races, and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have flip-flopped finishing third and fourth. Mercedes and Ferrari are the favorites on Suzuka’s figure-eight circuit, located in central Japan and among F1’s most storied venues.
Suzuka is a vastly different circuit from Australia – a street course in Melbourne – and Shanghai, which resembles many of the newer Formula 1 venues.
Suzuka is old-school – narrow, twisting with only one major straightaway for passing.
Hamilton has won the Japanese GP five times, four times at Suzuka as he surges back near the top of the standings after two races.
McLaren’s woes
McLaren has struggled after winning last season’s drivers’ championship with Lando Norris, and adding the constructors’ title for good measure. But McLaren failed to even start the race two weeks ago in China with engine and electrical faults.
Asked on Thursday if the problem had been resolved, Norris replied: “I think it took a little bit of time to figure things out, but yes. Of course it hurt us as a team, certainly didn’t make us look good to have two cars not starting a race.”
Red Bull struggles, too
Then there’s Red Bull and four-time champion Max Verstappen, who had to retire in China. Verstappen has probably been the most vocal in criticising this season’s radical makeover of F1 racing, calling it “yo-yo racing” as top drivers surge to the front and just as quickly fall off the lead.
He’s already looking ahead to the five-week break.
“We just need to keep working, keep trying to put more performance on the car,” he said. (AP)
