09/10/2016
NEWS STORY
Over the years the Suzuka circuit has played host to a number of epic showdowns, not least those bruising bar brawls involving Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost.
How sad therefore that once again the title will probably be decided within the soulless confines of the Yas Marina, rather than a true racing circuit such as this.
And how sad that the Japanese fans, without doubt among the most passionate in the world, are robbed of such a showdown.
While there is passion Italy and Mexico, Britain and Australia, it is here in Japan where fans actually get involved.
Where else do the fans politely present the drivers and mechanics with gifts, make intricate banners, dress up and wear ridiculous hats and outfits, totally immersing themselves in the sport?
And no matter who wins today and who joins him on the podium, there will be no booing, the Japanese don't do booing.
Even though the title will not be decided today, fans may well get the race they deserve however. Though Nico Rosberg starts from pole for the third successive year, Lewis Hamilton has twice won this race (in 2014 and 2015) from the position he starts today, second.
The German has looked in control all weekend, while, it has to be said, Hamilton appears to be going through one of his phases.
Last week's retirement kicked it off, and his behaviour since then, not least yesterday's refusal to talk to the media, suggests a troubled soul. Rosberg will play on this... he has to.
The late decision to change the gearbox on Kimi Raikkonen's car is as good news to the Red Bull duo as it is bad to the Finn, especially with teammate Sebastian Vettel also penalised following his first lap silliness in Sepang.
As in Malaysia, the Red Bulls (and Ferraris) are strong on long runs, while the move to lower the settings on all the Mercedes runners following the Malaysia failure will also play into the hands of Ricciardo and Verstappen.
Grey clouds that surround the circuit following heavy overnight rain mean that the weather gods could play a part again today, and we all know that when it rains here, it rains.
Other than the in-team fight at Mercedes, and the German outfit's battle with Red Bull and Ferrari, this could also bring Force India and Haas into the equation.
The almost perfect symmetry of the grid not only shows the basic team order, it also highlights how close it is between teammates, and the need to secure a seat for 2017 will provide some added spice this afternoon.
Tyre choices are the same as Sepang, hard, medium and soft, the leading ten all starting on the yellow banded rubber. With ever changing temperatures and overnight rain washing away yesterday's rubber, strategy will be everything here, as will the need to make it through a first corner that has seen many come to grief.
Ahead of today's race, Rosberg enjoys a 23-point advantage over his teammate, as the championship continues to swing in one driver's favour then the other. There is no arguing however the Sepang was a milestone in the German's career, for the first time he looked a champion. Meanwhile, not for the first time, Hamilton's demons appear to get the better of him.
As ever we will try to avoid the hyperbole as to what a great race this will be, rather we will hope that our twenty-two heroes can give their gracious hosts the race thy deserve.
The pit lane opens and the drivers begin making their way to the grid.
The air temperature is 21 degrees C, while the track temperature is 24 degrees.
Button glad hands with a number of Honda dignitaries, all putting on a very brave face under the circumstances. The Briton has made no secret of the fact that he hopes for rain today.
Overhead shot during the (haunting) national anthem reveals the numerous wet patches on the grid. Indeed, Hamilton is closely inspecting his grid spot, which is slightly damp. He is not a happy bunny (or fox).
Despite the skies, especially in the distance, race control advises that there is 0% chance of rain. 0%, not even 10 or 20?
Rain or no rain, the damp patches following last night's rain could still play a part, not only in terms of Hamilton's grid spot, but the racing line in T1 and beyond.
All are starting on the soft bar Bottas, Massa, Palmer and Ericsson who are on mediums and Magnussen, Nasr and Button who are on hards.
The field heads off on the warm-up lap, all getting away cleanly.
The grid slowly forms, Rosberg in place long before his rivals, Hamilton, no doubt, playing his part in the delay.
They're away, Rosberg leads but it's a dreadful start for Hamilton who loses place after place as he fails to get away. First Ricciardo the Vettel have to take avoiding action, the German almost colliding with his Ferrari teammate in the process.
As they jockey for position heading towards T1 they are five abreast at one stage, Grosjean having to lock-up heavily to avoid a slow Hulkenberg ahead.
Out of S1 Rosberg heads Verstappen, Perez, Ricciardo, Vettel, Hulkenberg, Raikkonen, Hamilton, Grosjean and Gutierrez. Other than the poor start by Hamilton there are no incidents.
At the end of the first lap, Rosberg already enjoys a 1.5s lead, with Hamilton 7s down on his teammate.
As Ricciardo nips at the heels of Vettel, the German is all over Perez, nailing the Mexican in T1 at the start of lap 3.
Hamilton apologises to his crew. "Sorry guys," he says forlornly. "Don't stress," he is told.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Suzuka, here.
Out front, Rosberg sets a sizzling pace, posting 1:37.331 as he build a 2.1s lead.
Alonso is currently 15th, having run wide in T1 as he battles Massa, while teammate Button is still last behind Wehrlein.
Raikkonen nails Hulkenberg in T1 to take 6th as Hamilton closes on the Force India. The Briton is currently lapping 2s slower than his teammate.
Hamilton makes a move on Hulkenberg at 130R but the German slams the door. On the pit straight however, the Mercedes driver moves ahead with ease to take seventh.
Raikkonen runs a little wide in the first Degner as he closes on Ricciardo, allowing Hamilton to close in at the same time.
"Going to be interesting now to see what Mercedes can do with strategy to help Hamilton move up the field," says Pirelli.
Hamilton is told that he must make his tyres last, or rather keep them "alive", suggesting he could be switching to a one-stop strategy. "Okay Lewis, this is looking up," he is told.
Perez, in fourth, has Ricciardo, Raikkonen and Hamilton on his tail.
At the end of lap 10, both Red Bulls pit, Grosjean and Kvyat also.
Verstappen rejoins in 7th and Ricciardo 14th, both now on hards.
Ericsson moves aside to allow Ricciardo through.
Next time around Hulkenberg and Gutierrez pit, the German clouting the front jack.
Rosberg pits at the end of lap 12, as do Vettel, Perez and Raikkonen, all switching to hards.
Consequently, Hamilton leads, but has yet to stop, ahead of Rosberg, Verstappen, Vettel, Sainz, Bottas, Massa, Palmer, Ricciardo and Perez.
Heart in mouth time as Ricciardo gets by Palmer.
Hamilton pits at the end of lap 13, rejoining in 7th ahead of the battling Raikkonen and Perez. Clever strategy from Mercedes.
Great move by Hamilton who nails Ricciardo in 130R to take 6th, subsequently passing Massa on the pit straight to move up to 5th.
As Hamilton passes Bottas for fourth, Ricciardo is all over Massa with Raikkonen in hot pursuit. Both pass the Williams as though joined together.
Phew!
So, after 15 laps, Rosberg leads Verstappen by 2.4s with Vettel a further 5.8s down the road, 19.6s ahead of Hamilton.
Perez and Massa battle for 8th as Ricciardo and Raikkonen close on Bottas.
Ricciardo nails Bottas in T1, going around the outside to take 5th, leaving Raikkonen behind. Shortly after, Perez follows suit, going around the outside of Massa in T1.
Raikkonen finally passes Bottas but has lost ground to Ricciardo, he is now 2s adrift of the Red Bull.
Perez passes the Williams driver to move up to seventh, teammate Hulkenberg currently battling Bottas as the fight for fourth in the team standings continues.
Out front, a new fastest lap from Rosberg (36.753) as he extends his lead to 3.921.
Button pits at the end of lap 19, the Briton switching to the softs.
The Williams duo, along with Palmer, Ericsson, Magnussen and Nasr have yet to stop.
As he battles Alonso for 16th, Kvyat is unimpressed when told to change his engine settings in order to keep charge in his battery.
Brilliant move by Hulkenberg on Bottas in the chicane, the German, going around the outside, emerging in 8th. "See ya later..." says the Force India driver as he leaves the Wiliams for dust.
"We're seeing a soft-hard pattern of tyre usage for top eight so far, who seem to be on course for a two-stop strategy," says Pirelli.
Though 18.7s down on his teammate, Hamilton is currently the fastest man out there.
"I'm starting to lose the rears a little," warns Verstappen.
Kvyat, under pressure from Alonso and Sainz, pits at the end of lap 23. He rejoins in 21st on the hards.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Suzuka, here.
Grosjean passes Palmer after the Briton had been warned about his blocking tactics.
Massa pits at the end of lap 24, the Brazilian rejoining in 17th on the hards.
Verstappen is told that Massa managed 24 laps on the mediums with reasonably low deg.
Meanwhile, Alonso passes Nasr after the Brazilian has a major lock-up in 130R.
Raikkonen pits at the end of lap 26, as does Bottas, the Ferrari rejoining in 8th.
Palmer and Magnussen both pit... lots of stacking today.
"We need to push now," the Spaniard had just been told. "I wish!" he replies. "Which tyres do we push on!?"
Sainz runs wide in T1 as he battles Alonso, the McLaren driver subsequently pitting.
Sainz now finds himself under attack from Massa as Verstappen pits, the Red Bull driver rejoining in 4th. Hulkenberg also pits.
As Rosberg pits, at the end of lap 29, Sainz is passed in quick succession by Massa and then Bottas.
Perez pits as Raikkonen posts a new fastest lap (36.018).
"I wouldn't go too much longer on these tyres," warns Ricciardo, "they're starting to drop."
Meanwhile, Vettel, now leading, is livid at Wehrlein. "It's ridiculous, I mean it's ridiculous, I lost a second for nothing. ****!" shouts the Ferrari driver who is now 4.3s ahead of Hamilton.
Perez queries why his teammate was pitted first.
Ricciardo pits at the end of lap 32, but there's a problem with the right-front. He rejoins in sixth on the hards.
Next time around it is Hamilton who pits, sticking to the hards he rejoins in fourth just ahead of Raikkonen who has just posted a new fastest lap (35.990).
Vettel pits at the end of lap 34, rejoining in fourth on the softs, behind Hamilton.
New fastest lap from Ricciardo who stops the clock at 35.596.
After 35 laps, it's: Rosberg, Verstappen (+ 5.1), Hamilton (+ 13.7), Vettel (+ 14.2), Raikkonen (+ 19.3) and Ricciardo (+ 36.2).
He might have lost out to Hamilton in the pit stops but Vettel hasn't given up, he is all over the rear of the Mercedes which in turn is hunting down Verstappen.
Button makes his second stop of the afternoon, rejoining in 20th still on the softs.
"He's puling away, he's pulling away on the straights," sighs Vettel. "Keep your head down," comes the weary reply, "the race is not over."
Hamilton and Vettel weave their way through the backmarkers.
Ricciardo is advised of the Hamilton/Vettel battle. "Might get interesting later," he is told.
After a few easy laps, Rosberg turns up the wick again, extending his lead to 6.4s. Or is Verstappen losing pace, the Red Bull driver is now only 2.5s ahead of Hamilton.
Vettel continues to vent his frustration at the backmarkers.
Verstappen shares Vettel's frustration, "they're not listening," he says.
The Dutch driver is keen to extend the gap to Hamilton while Vettel is equally keen to close it down.
"Be aware," Rosberg is told, "front tyres are now dropping to the front of the window."
Meanwhile, a PB from Verstappen (36.386) as Hamilton closes to within 1.5s.
Verstappen gets a similar warning to Rosberg, tyre temps are down and he can increase his pace.
Hamilton continues to reel in Verstappen, the Briton now less than a second behind, in DRS range.
"Come on! Move out of the way," shouts Raikkonen. "They're seriously slowing me down now!"
Rosberg is appraised of the Verstappen/Hamilton battle raging behind. "Be aware," the German is told.
Other than Verstappen and Hamilton, the only other close battle at present is between the Williams drivers for 9th, Massa currently leading Bottas. That said, Sainz is hard on the heels of Alonso in 16th.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Suzuka, here.
Try as he might, Hamilton is not making an impression on young Max, the Dutch youngster appears to have it all under control. Meanwhile, the gap to leader Rosberg remains around 5.5s.
A bold move from Hamilton at the final chicane at the end of lap 52 sees Hamilton have to take to the escape road, having passed the Red Bull he has to hand the position back. However, did Verstappen move under braking, Hamilton thinks so. "Max moved under braking," he says.
Whatever, there is nothing Hamilton can do now, though even third is a lot better than it looked ninety minutes ago.
Rosberg takes the flag, ahead of Verstappen, Hamilton, Vettel, Raikkonen, Ricciardo, Perez, Hulkenberg, Massa and Bottas.
Palmer is eleventh, ahead of Kvyat, Magnussen, Ericsson, Alonso, Sainz, Button, Nasr, Gutierrez, Ocon and Wehrlein... not a single retirement.
A half-hearted "hoooo" from the race winner, who congratulates his team on winning the constructors' title.
As they climb from their cars, one would almost think that Verstappen had won, such is his delight at holding off the world champion.
"You were cruising at the end, no?" says Verstappen to Rosberg in the ante-room as Hamilton keeps to himself in the corner. "Especially at the end, you could relax.
Not for the first time, the atmosphere between the Mercedes drivers is as frosty as the drinks they take huge gulps from, both have their back to one another. It seems wholly wrong to call them team 'mates'.
"What an awesome weekend," says Rosberg on the podium, "it felt great from the word go. Congrats to all my team for the third constructors' title. Let's celebrate hard."
"To come home in second, big thanks for that," adds Verstappen. "Lewis was pushing hard and we had a moment in the chicane, but very happy to finish second."
"A big thanks for everyone coming out today," adds a disconsolate Hamilton, "and congratulations to the team for all their success."
Asked about the title fight, he replies: "I'll give it everything I've got, as I did in the race, we'll see what happens!"
He did indeed give it everything, but not for the first time a fluffed start cost him dear. Nonetheless, to finish third, almost stealing second at the end, was an epic performance.
Another great driver from young Max, while Ricciardo was MIA.
Strong performances from both Ferraris but clearly Mercedes, and to a lesser extent Red Bull, is out of the Italian team's league.
Force India once again had the edge over rivals Williams, while Haas failed to capitalise on its amazing qualifying performance.
And as for McLaren, a race to forget.
Now time to catch your breath as we have a week off before the double header in Austin and Mexico.
If Sepang, as we believe, was a turning point in Rosberg's championship (career) today he took another giant step towards that title.
Despite a great fight back, the messed up start combined with some of his comments over the weekend suggest that Hamilton is indeed going through one of his phases. Perhaps like the rest of us, he should put next week's break to good use.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Suzuka, here.