2019 Japanese GP
#1

This is my second favourite race of the year behind the British GP.

Most seem to have Ferrari as favourites for this race but I am going to go with Mercedes, apart from 150 R there are a lot of twists and turns here and as we saw in Sochi the Ferrari was no match for the Mercedes through the turns.
#2

I don't think anyone has Ferrari down as favourites in Suzuka to be fair. Sure, it has some high seed sections, but the Degnas in particular and the run up the hill in S1 through the esses should all be Merc, Merc, Merc. The hairpin should also favour Meredes. However, it's clear the Ferrari is a much improved car, no question, so what a lot of people are rightly interested in is how well Ferrari go here, because if they're fastest over one lap in Japan then it's fair to say that they'll be finishing the season with the fastest car. Mexico and the CotA will also tell us much about the resurgent Ferrari, and might point towards next years car for them.
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#3

Well, the Sky guys said Ferrari are the favourites at Suzuka, have not really listened to anyone else
#4

(30-09-2019, 12:54 AM)Jody Barton Wrote:  I don't think anyone has Ferrari down as favourites in Suzuka to be fair. Sure, it has some high seed sections, but the Degnas in particular and the run up the hill in S1 through the esses should all be Merc, Merc, Merc. The hairpin should also favour Meredes. However, it's clear the Ferrari is a much improved car, no question, so what a lot of people are rightly interested in is how well Ferrari go here, because if they're fastest over one lap in Japan then it's fair to say that they'll be finishing the season with the fastest car. Mexico and the CotA will also tell us much about the resurgent Ferrari, and might point towards next years car for them.

I'm tipping Merc at Suzuka, not least because even though Ferrari have seemingly made great strides in the low speed the Mercedes have actually been the overall fastest car in race trim in every race since summer (yes I know they lost 3 of them). Even in quali at Sochi Hamilton was fastest in S3. Plus, Suzuka is a circuit Hamilton likes a lot.

Me saying the above probably means RBR are nailed on to win it! Wink

Vettel already mathematically out of the WDC with a 5 races to go. That's a bloody poor performance in a capable car, sorry but it just is.
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#5

On Suzuka I agree Morini, I just look at S1 and question how the hell are Ferrari going to make the time up they will absolutely lose their in S3, I just don't see it. Hell, S2 will favour Mercedes too, and there just doesn't seem to be enough straight stuff around Suzuka for them to make up the inevitable deficit they'll have in S1 and S2 to Mercedes, and possibly Red Bull. Hell, I expect the Mercs to carry more speed out of Spoon as well so Ferrari should be playing catch up there too, sure the prancing horse in the back will give them the grunt to do it, but not overhaul the deficit elsewhere in my opinion.

You never know though. Everyone expected Singapore and Sochi to be a straight fight between Mercedes and Red Bull. So it seems we can't just write Ferrari off, and whatever they do on qualifying, that car is insanely quick. As to Sky's pundits NeilP, I doubt anyone takes what they say seriously, the F1 specialist press were saying they expect Mercedes to be back on top in Japan, but it'll be interesting to see where Ferrari and Red Bull are relative to each other. The Sky TV crew are also trying to "big" up the next race in a season that is now absolutely over. What do we have? 5 races left and Lewis with almost 3 race wins in hand? He wins in Japan he'll clinch the title almost certainly in Mexico.
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#6

(30-09-2019, 07:30 AM)morini Wrote:  Vettel already mathematically out of the WDC with a 5 races to go. That's a bloody poor performance in a capable car, sorry but it just is.

Did you watch the first half of the season M?  Tongue

"You live more for 5 minutes going fast on a bike than other people do in all of their life"....Marco Simoncelli
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#7

   

"You live more for 5 minutes going fast on a bike than other people do in all of their life"....Marco Simoncelli
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#8

Merc with more mediums than anyone else. Seems to be a theme this year.

Looking forward to this race a lot. Still have recordings of every session from last years race - can't bring myself to delete them Wink
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#9

(01-10-2019, 05:54 PM)morini Wrote:  Merc with more mediums than anyone else. Seems to be a theme this year.

Yeah Merc have tended to be a little more conservative than others this year regarding tyre choice

"You live more for 5 minutes going fast on a bike than other people do in all of their life"....Marco Simoncelli
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#10

(01-10-2019, 05:54 PM)morini Wrote:  Merc with more mediums than anyone else. Seems to be a theme this year.

Looking forward to this race a lot. Still have recordings of every session from last years race - can't bring myself to delete them Wink

I have 19/21 full races from 2016, 20/20 full races from 2017, 21/21 full races 2018 and all the races so far this season. All from Sky.

So who is sadder?

P.S.  If anyone ever wants them send me a flash drive and your address and I will gladly send them.
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