24/09/2023
NEWS STORY
Heading into the weekend, Lewis Hamilton said that unless the RB was "phenomenal" he would be suspicious that the recent technical directive from the FIA had impacted the Austrian team.
Yesterday he got his answer, for that lap, as far as Max Verstappen and the RB19 was concerned, was just that, phenomenal.
Leaving poor old Oscar Piastri - who is no slouch himself - 0.581s in his wake, Verstappen sent the message loud and clear... Singapore was a one-off.
Consequently, heading into today's Grand Prix the opposition has only two hopes, strategy or reliability.
Of course, with the Red Bull pair having completed all but 2 (count 'em, two) of this year's racing laps, reliability appears to be out of the question, which leaves strategy as the only alternative.
On that score Pirelli is as much in the dark as the rest of us, unclear whether today will be a one, two or even three stopper.
Tyre degradation has been high all weekend, much higher than usual, hence the confusion.
A two-stopper is likely to be the most popular option, especially as temperatures are much the same as Saturday. However, it will be interesting to see what combinations of compounds will be chosen, given that all three of them have shown themselves capable of playing a part.
The hard is probably the favourite, with eight drivers having saved the two sets of C1 supplied, while the other twelve have one new set. Furthermore, the soft, which has shown the greatest signs of thermal degradation, could be useful for the first stint for those looking to make up places at the start, or also towards the end of the race, when with less fuel on board, a driver could try and exploit the performance difference compared to those who might possibly be running a slower and more used compound.
McLaren's best hope of getting one over Red Bull and Verstappen will come at the start, and with Perez starting from fifth the Dutchman will have to be on guard from the outset as Piastri and his teammate will be all over him.
Both Ferraris and Mercedes are in the leading pack but neither looks suited to this track - unlike Singapore - and are therefore likely to be battling for points rather than podium positions.
Indeed, a number of teams have struggled here, and even Alex Albon has admitted that his chances would be better if it was "ten degrees cooler".
Talking of Williams, following his crash in Q1, Logan Sargeant has a whole new chassis and will consequently start from the pitlane. To add to his pain the American has a 10s time penalty for making changes to the car under parc ferme condiotons.
While Aston Martin's slump continues, Tsunoda should be worth a watch today, as should AlphaTauri teammate Liam Lawson, while our money is on Albon and the Alpines to battle for the last of the points.
We are not expecting a thriller like Singapore, but the sheer nature of the Suzuka track, not to mention those crazy fans, always makes this even a little special.
As the pitlane opens the air temperature is 28 degrees C and the track temperature 47 degrees, around the same temperatures witnessed in FP3, which should add to the degradation and strategy conundrum. It is bright and sunny and, as on previous days, it is pretty windy. There is 0% chance of rain.
Verstappen is already waiting at the end of the pitlane, the Dutchman clearly very keen to get on with it.
All are starting on the mediums bar Tsunoda, Alonso, Lawson, Bottas, Stroll, Hulkenberg and Zhou who are softs. Tsunoda and Alonso both on used tyres, fresh rubber for the rest.
They head off on the formation lap, once again Verstappen is clearly eager to get on with it.
Indeed, he is warned that the rest of the field is taking its time and should therefore ease off.
The grid forms.
They're away! Verstappen moves to his right to cover Piastri before moving back across the track to fend off the other McLaren. Norris is alongside the Red Bull in Turn 1 but Verstappen edges ahead.
However, off the line the two Ferraris were side by side with Perez and as the Mexican moved to his left he hit Hamilton (twice) causing him to go on to the grass.
"I've been hit by Perez," says the Mercedes driver.
As the two AlphaTauris battle, replay reveals another incident in which a number of drivers sustained damage. Indeed, the Safety Car is deployed following the clash involving Bottas and Ocon, while Zhou also has damage. All three pit, as do Perez and Albon.
"I've got a puncture," reports Bottas who has also incurred front wing damage.
Behind the Perez/Hamilton incident, Bottas hit Albon on the run to Turn 1 after being forced wide by Ocon, while Zhou appeared to run over the resultant debris, which in turn led to the decision to deploy the Safety Car.
Adding to his misery, it's a bad stop for Bottas.
Behind the Safety Cat it's: Verstappen, Norris, Piastri, Leclerc, Sainz, Alonso, Perez, Hamilton, Russell and Lawson.
Ocon has rejoined in 15th, ahead of Zhou, Albon, Perez, Sargeant and Bottas.
The Safety Car is withdrawn at the end of Lap 4, as Perez is noted for a Safety Car infringement.
Verstappen leads the pack into the chicane... before going for it. Alonso is all over Sainz.
Bottas' day goes from bad to worse as he spins at the Hairpin. "What the ****," he cries as replay suggests contact with Sargeant who subsequently pits.
Russell makes a move on his teammate at the chicane, they appear to touch as the youngster gets ahead. However, Hamilton fights back and retakes the position on the subsequent straight as Lawson closes in.
Bottas pits and following a close inspection of the front of the car he continues.
Perez passes Zhou for 16th.
Out front, Verstappen leads Norris by 2.5s with Piastri a further 2.8s behind.
The Perez incident involving the Safety Car is under investigation as is the Bottas/Sargeant clash.
Sargeant gets a 5s penalty as Bottas finally calls it a day.
Perez is given a 5s time penalty for his Safety Car infringement.
Tsunoda pits at the end of Lap 9, rejoining in 17th.
"It's literally undriveable," says Albon, "but whatever we need to do, just sacrifice my race, whatever we need to do."
Lawson pits at the end of Lap 10, rejoining in 16th, behind his teammate, as Zhou also stops.
Norris is already being told to manage his tyres as he falls 4.2s behind the leader.
Alonso pits at the end of Lap 11, avoiding a potential undercut from Hamilton.
"Deg is as expected," Sainz is told, "we are looking at Plan A and B."
Meanwhile Magnussen spins at the Hairpin following a late move by Perez. "I have front wing damage again," reports the Mexican, another driver having a nightmare afternoon.
Perez and Magnussen both pit as the incident is noted.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Suzuka here.
As the VSC is deployed Piastri pits, the Australian stopping in the seconds just before. He rejoins in ninth. Albon also pits.
"The car doesn't feel right," reports Perez, which is understandable under the circumstances.
The VSC is withdrawn before anyone else can pit, which is great news for Piastri.
Stroll pits at the end of Lap 14, Perez is told to retire and Norris slips to 9.7s down on the leader.
The Mexican is also handed a 5s time penalty for the clash with Magnussen.
Replay reveals that Leclerc was told to "box opposite of McLaren".
Russell is all over Hamilton again, the seven-time world champion forcing his teammate off track in the process.
Verstappen pits at the end of Lap 16, as Hamilton also stops.
Verstappen rejoins in 5th while Hamilton is tenth.
"Who do we want to fight here, each other or the others," asks Russell.
Next time around Norris and Leclerc both pit, promoting Sainz into the lead ahead of Russell and Verstappen.
Norris rejoins in 7th ahead of Alonso, while Leclerc is now ninth.
Sainz pits at the end of Lap 18, as does Gasly.
Leclerc passes Alonso for sixth as they head into Turn 1.
Verstappen (hards) passes Russell for the lead, while Piastri (hards) is third, ahead of Norris (hard), Leclerc (medium), Ocon (hard) and Alonso (hard). Sainz is eighth on the mediums, ahead of Hamilton (hards).
As Norris posts a new fastest lap (36.689), as Sainz passes Alonso for seventh, Verstappen is told that Russell has been advised not to fight him.
As Sainz passes Ocon for sixth, Russell urges his team to consider Plan B.
"You've thrown me to the lions by stopping me that early," says Alonso as he comes under intense pressure from Hamilton.
Meanwhile, Stroll becomes the third retirement of the afternoon.
A bold, bold move sees Hamilton pass Alonso on the inside at 130R. The Briton subsequently makes short work of Ocon also.
Russell, second, 8.5s down on Verstappen is the only driver that hasn't stopped. Norris is warned that the Mercedes driver I probably on a one-stopper.
"He's only a threat if we abuse out tyres," the McLaren driver is warned.
"He's pulling away on the straight, mate, so think of something," warns Alonso of Ocon.
Russell pits at the end of Lap 24, rejoining in ninth on hards, just behind the Ocon/Alonso scrap.
When Russell makes his move on Alonso the Spaniard doesn't make it easy for the youngster.
Out front, Norris is all over his McLaren teammate.
Alonso pits at the end of Lap 25.
"What's he doing," asks Norris of his teammate. "The longer I stay behind, the worse you're going to make the race for me."
Piastri subsequently pulls aside for his teammate.
As Albon pits at the end of Lap 27, Perez climbs back into his car. The Williams driver is the fifth retirement of the afternoon.
Ocon pits at the end of Lap 28, rejoining in 12th.
Tsunoda and Alonso having a great scrap for 9th.
Gasly leads Norris by 13.9s with Piastri a further 4s behind. The Australian is 3.7s clear of Leclerc, who is 2.2s ahead of Sainz. Hamilton is sixth, ahead of Russell, Gasly, Alonso and Tsunoda.
Tsunoda pits at the end of Lap 30, the Japanese rejoining in 14th ass Red Bull confirms that Perez will return to the race mainly to serve his time penalty today rather than in Qatar.
Alonso is told to "minimise kerbs where possible" after his teammate suffered a rear wing failure.
"Current models have us under pressure at end of race," Russell is advised. "If there is any more pace in that it would be helpful."
Leclerc, Hamilton and Gasly all pit at the end of Lap 34. Leclerc rejoins in 6th on hards, Hamilton in 7th on hards and Gasly 11th on hards.
Next time around Piastri pits, the Australian rejoining in 5th on the white-banded rubber.
Leclerc and Hamilton trade fastest sector times as Gasly passes Hulkenberg for tenth.
"How many more laps can you do at this pace?" Sainz is asked. "Three more," he replies.
Norris pits at the end of Lap 36, the Briton rejoining in 4th, 5.5s ahead of his McLaren teammate.
Hamilton posts a new fastest lap (35.611) as he hunts down Leclerc who is 3.8s ahead.
Verstappen pits at the end of Lap 37, rejoining still leading, 8.4s clear of Sainz who has yet to stop.
Passing Russell for third, Norris gives himself some much needed breathing space in the battle with his McLaren teammate.
Sainz pits at the end of Lap 38, the Spaniard rejoining in 7th, 7.3s down on Hamilton.
As Verstappen posts a new fastest lap (34.183), Perez is released, rejoining the race 6 laps down on his teammate.
Piastri closes to within 0.491s of Russell.
Perez (softs) pits to serve his penalty.
At the start of Lap 42, Piastri goes around the outside of Russell in Turn 1 to take third. Next up is his McLaren teammate who is 10.6s up the road.
As Perez is pushed back into his garage, Leclerc and Hamilton line up the struggling Russell.
"With this straight-line speed it's going to be a nightmare," complains Alonso as Leclerc closes on Russell.
"If there was a Safety Car we'd go soft but lose three positions," Piastri is told. "That would fit," replies the youngster.
In a repeat of the Piastri move, Leclerc goes around the outside of Russell to take fourth. Hamilton is just 2.1s behind.
The stewards have noted that Leclerc may have left the track and gained an advantage in that battle with Russell.
"Make sure you give each other plenty of room," the Mercedes pair are told as Hamilton gets within DRS range of his teammate.
Lawson and Tsunoda continue to battle for eleventh.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Suzuka here.
"We're going to lose both these positions," warns Hamilton as Sainz closes in on the Mercedes pair.
"Invert positions and be careful of Sainz," Russell is told. He isn't happy but is told. "Why don't we wait for the last lap," he says. "This is an instruction, George," he is firmly told.
Russell allows his teammate through without losing to Sainz.
Hamilton is told to give Russell DRS, but the Mercedes pair are unable to do what the Spaniard did in Singapore due to tyre wear and the second Mercedes falls victim to the Spaniard.
"I'm going to go get him," says Sainz of Hamilton, the Spaniard laughing: "They used my old trick against me!"
As Verstappen begins his final lap he is 18.9s clear of Norris.
The Dutchman takes the flag and in doing so secures Red Bull's sixth title.
Norris finishes second, ahead of Piastri, Leclerc, Hamilton, Sainz, Russell, Alonso, Gasly and Ocon.
Lawson is eleventh, ahead of Tsunoda, Zhou, Hulkenberg and Magnussen.
Not a classic, but then again Singapore spoiled us.
"It feels pretty special, definitely," says Piastri who claims his first ever F1 podium finish. "I'll remember it for a long time.
"I can't thank the team enough for this opportunity," he adds, "it wasn't my best race ever but it was enough to get a trophy.
"The move on George, I knew I had to get past or I'd get stuck, and that one was a bit close. I'm excited to try and get some more."
"Another amazing day for us, P2 and P3, couldn't ask for any more," grins Norris. "My start was very good, I almost got Max, but Max was Max, he was away in Turn 2.
"We weren't close to Max but we weren't miles away either. I'm very proud of the team and the steps we are making."
"An unbelievable weekend," adds Verstappen, "and to win here was great. The car was working well on every compound. But the most important was to win the constructors' so well done to everyone back at the factory. We are having an incredible year."
Check out our Sunday gallery from Suzuka here.