2024 Formula 1 Preview & Review.

[Fortitude]

Rain could affect this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix.
Long-range weather forecasts for the fourth-round of the season had indicated heavy rain-showers for the race, which had been shifted forwards from its traditional October slot to April.
3 April 2024, 8:00PM
RacingNews365 Staff
RacingNews365

On Friday, it will be around 21 degrees, with a chance of showers affecting Friday practice, with not much wind to blow away the weather fronts. Moving onto Saturday and qualifying, it is predicted to overcast, with a maximum temperature of 17 degrees, with a chance of showers in the evening.

For race day, with lights out set for 2pm local time, a westerly wind is forecast to be accompanied by high humidity, but little threat of rain. A westerly wind translates to a tail-wind through 130R and a cross-wind through the Esses of Sector 1.

‘Heavy rain-showers indicated for the race’;

https://racingnews365.com/rain-could...ese-grand-prix


What is the weather forecast for the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix?
15:11 Wed, 03 Apr 2024.
Formula One - Official Site

Formula 1 travels to Japan earlier than usual in 2024 as its traditional late-season slot is swapped for April – but how has this affected the weather forecast at Suzuka?

Given that calendar date change, cooler conditions are expected at the iconic venue over the course of the weekend, with rain – and potentially thunderstorms – also likely to become a feature as race day approaches.

‘Weather forecast’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...e3bU7hcPH5GRmi


First pictures from the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix weekend
Posted on 4th April 2024, 7:08
Written by Keith Collantine
RaceFans

Pictures from the build-up to the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka.

‘First pictures’;

https://www.racefans.net/2024/04/04/...-prix-weekend/


Another McLaren figure confirms shock exit on eve of Japanese Grand Prix
03 Apr 2024 5:37 PM
Jamie Woodhouse
Planetf1.com

Following the surprise reveal that David Sanchez had left McLaren just three months after joining, another recent recruit in the form of driver programme boss Emanuele Pirro has confirmed his departure. In an Instagram post confirming the news, Pirro wrote: “After a year of hard work and satisfaction, I will be leaving the McLaren driver development programme.”

“Together with the Formula 1 team, I was able to put in place a structure to help develop young, talented, and hard-working drivers into future McLaren champions. To the best of my ability, I carried out this task, scouting and signing young stars which I truly feel can carve their names into the history books.”

‘Shock exit’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/emanue...s-mclaren-exit


Max Verstappen puts rivals on notice for Japanese GP after nightmare Melbourne DNF
03 Apr 2024 7:45 PM
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

Max Verstappen saw his winning run come to a dramatic end in Melbourne, but that certainly has not knocked the Red Bull driver off his stride heading into the Japanese Grand Prix.

However, Verstappen is not heading into battle at Suzuka with any question marks in his mind, as he warned Ferrari and all comers that he intends to fight for a third win of the season.

“Suzuka is always a great circuit to go racing at. As a team, we have had a lot of special memories here over the years including winning last year’s Constructors’ Championship as well as winning my second Drivers’ Championship here too,” Verstappen told his personal website ahead of the Japanese GP.

‘Rivals on notice’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/max-ve...ht-win-warning

[Fortitude]

Yuki Tsunoda finally discovers his zen as Red Bull Japanese GP audition awaits.
Yuki Tsunoda heads into his home race at the Formula 1 2024 Japanese Grand Prix brimming with confidence, knowing that he is currently faster than his Visa Cash App RB team-mate Daniel Ricciardo.
April 4, 2024 - 15:01
By Joe Krishnan
Total Motorsport

The 23-year-old arrived at the Suzuka circuit with a sense of calm, aided by his stellar drive in Australia to secure seventh place – his best race finish since the Emilia Romagna GP in 2022. His six-point haul will be crucial for RB as a platform to build on for the rest of the season as it gives a realistic insight into what the team can truly achieve.

“So far it’s [been] very consistent for us. At the last three tracks, we are consistently performing well, around P10 and feeling confident,” Tsunoda said, speaking to the press in Japan.

“We had a bit of an upgrade as well, so hopefully that works well, but these upgrades are probably more towards the other tracks, so I’m not sure it will work massively well. But we’re still feeling optimistic and points will be the main target.”

‘Discovers his zen’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...dition-awaits/


Japanese Grand Prix: FIA Drivers Press Conference
04/04/2024
NEWS STORY
Pitpass

Yuki, please, can we start with you? Home race. Just how special is this one for you?
Yuki Tsunoda: Yeah, very special. I already felt... I saw a lot of fans in front of the traffic lights, in front of my garage. Yeah, it's good to come back here. Very energetic and hopefully I can have a good race in front of them... In front of the cherry blossoms as well, you know, it's very beautiful. So, yeah, so far it's been a very good condition.

And Yuki, what can the fans expect from you and RB this weekend after what was a very strong weekend in Australia for you?
YT: Yeah, so far it's very consistent for us. At the last three tracks, we are consistently performing well, around P10 and feeling confident. We had a bit of upgrades as well, so hopefully that works well, but it's probably more towards the other tracks these upgrades, so I'm not sure it will work massively well, but yeah, still feeling optimistic, and yeah, points will be the main target.

‘Very special’;

https://www.pitpass.com/77344/Japane...ess-Conference


Can Lewis Hamilton find harmony with his Mercedes in Japan?
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton is lacking optimism ahead of the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix after a tough start to the F1 season
April 4, 2024 - 15:25
By John Smith
Total Motorsport

Lewis Hamilton does not envisage any major change in performance for Mercedes at the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix after another tough start to the Formula 1 season. “If the last three races are anything to go by, it’s unlikely, but we are working towards it so if it happens then that will be amazing,” Hamilton told the press ahead of the 2024 Japanese GP.

It was put to Hamilton that a double DNF is a very rare thing for Mercedes considering their recent period of dominance in the sport, but the driver claimed that perspective is needed when analysing the situation.

“I think it’s all about perspective, I think for us of course we’ve not started the season the way we wanted to and we’ve got a long way to go,” Hamilton said. “We’ve seen it after last year for example just how quick things can switch with certain teams, like Aston [Martin] or McLaren last year who started on the back foot or the other way round.”

‘Lacking optimism’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/can...ercedes-japan/


Fernando Alonso fires shots at FIA as F1 lawmakers leave Spaniard 'surprised'
Fernando Alonso isn't moving past the punishment he received from the FIA at the Australian Grand Prix.
11:31, Thu, Apr 4, 2024
By Harry Smith
Daily and Sunday Express

Fernando Alonso has reiterated his frustrations with the FIA after he was hit with a 20-second post-race penalty at the Australian Grand Prix two weeks ago. The experienced Spaniard was still ‘surprised’ by the decision ahead of Sunday’s outing at Suzuka.

Speaking about the penalty ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, Alonso said: “It was clear. And I think it's still clear. It was a little bit surprising, the penalty in Melbourne. There is nothing we can do, we have to accept it and move on and concentrate on here. But I think it will not change much on how we drive and how we approach racing. There is no obligation to drive 57 laps in the same way. Sometimes we get a slower pace, to save fuel, to save tyres, to save battery.”

“And sometimes we go slow into corners, or into some sectors of the track, to give the DRS to the car behind because that will be a useful tool if the second car behind is at a faster pace. All those things are completely normal. And it was, it is and it will be forever in motorsports. So we had one penalty, probably a one-off, that we will never apply ever again.”

‘Shots at FIA as F1 lawmakers’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...so-FIA-penalty


Gasly says Alpine updates for Japanese Grand Prix are ‘first step in the right direction’
5th April 2024, 14:45.
Formula One - Official Site

Pierre Gasly believes that Alpine have taken the “first step in the right direction” by bringing planned updates to their car for the Japanese Grand Prix, with the team having endured a difficult start to the season.

With upgrades arriving on the A524 at Suzuka, Gasly is hopeful that this is a positive step forwards, though has reiterated that he and the team are not expecting any great leaps just yet. “It was planned already before the season started, so it’s following the development plan that we had already in place,” the Frenchman explained of the update.

“We don’t expect it to be major – we know it’s not going to bring us where we want to be but it’s a first step in the right direction, so definitely looking forward to see what it brings.” Asked if he has hopes of reaching Q2 in Saturday’s qualifying, Gasly responded: “I don’t want to give any specific targets. We know it should be a small step of performance on the car, which we obviously need from where we are today.”

‘First step in the right direction’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...oI3YeAvcS1DNR7


Race guide for the Japanese Grand Prix
5th April 2024, 08:01
By Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical

Following Carlos Sainz's sensational return and Ferrari's double victory in Melbourne, this weekend sees Formula One drivers and teams head east once again to Japan with the Land of the Rising Sun set to host Round 4 of the 2024 FIA Formula One World Championship, the Japanese Grand Prix. F1Technical's senior writer Balázs Szabó delivers some key stats and trivia for the 38th Japanese Grand Prix.

Schumacher reigns in Japan: Michael Schumacher holds the record for most wins in the history of the Japanese Grand Prix. The German scored a total of six victories, one for Benetton and five more for Ferrari.

Real test for the aerodynamics of the car: The Suzuka circuit challenges every aspect of F1 car design and set-up, and exposes any weaknesses. Aerodynamic efficiency is crucial in the first half of lap, while the second half puts more emphasis on horsepower. The narrow ribbon of asphalt contains an unusually even distribution of corner types, from very low- to very high-speed turns.

‘Race guide’;

https://www.f1technical.net/news/24468


Japanese GP 2024: Schedule and F1 Start Times
Find out when the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix takes place, including the F1 session times for practice, qualifying and Sunday's race
20:41 Wed, 03 Apr 2024.
By John Smith
Total Motorsport

For F1 enthusiasts, here are the 2024 Japanese GP start times converted for viewers in the UK, USA (ET / PT), and Australia (AEDT).
Session UK (BST) USA (ET) USA (PT) Aus. (AEST)
Friday, April 5
Practice 1 02:00 21:00 (Apr 4) 18:00 (Apr 4) 12:00
Practice 2 06:00 01:00 22:00 (Apr 4) 16:00
Saturday, April 6
Practice 3 03:00 22:00 (Apr 5) 19:00 (Apr 5) 13:00
Qualifying 06:00 01:00 22:00 (Apr 5) 16:00
Sunday, April 7
Race 06:00 01:00 22:00 (Apr 6) 15:00

‘Schedule and F1 Start Times’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...e-start-times/

[Fortitude]

Verstappen quickest as Sargeant crashes in opening practice session.
Red Bull set the pace in the opening practice session for the Japanese Grand Prix, while Logan Sargeant suffered a big crash in his Williams.
5th April 2024, 4:53
Written by Will Wood
RaceFans

Max Verstappen produced the quickest time in a disrupted opening hour of running with 1’30.056. That left him just under two tenths of a second faster than team mate Sergio Perez with Carlos Sainz Jnr third for Ferrari.

But the session was marred by another crash for Williams when Sargeant ran wide and onto the grass at the Dunlop Curve, resulting in him spinning into the barriers. He damaged the front and rear of his FW46, giving his team another headache as they remain without a spare chassis following Alexander Albon’s crash in Australia two weeks ago.

‘Verstappen quickest’;

https://www.racefans.net/2024/04/05/...ctice-session/


Japanese GP: Free Practice 1 Results
Full results from Free Practice 1 from the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka.
5 April 2024
Speedcafe.com

Pos Num Driver Team Laps Best Diff
1 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing 18 1:30.056
2 11 Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing 18 1:30.237 0.181
3 55 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 20 1:30.269 0.213
4 63 George Russell Mercedes 18 1:30.530 0.474
5 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 23 1:30.543 0.487
6 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 18 1:30.558 0.502
7 14 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin 20 1:30.599 0.543
8 81 Oscar Piastri McLaren 23 1:31.165 1.109
9 22 Yuki Tsunoda RB 20 1:31.230 1.174
10 4 Lando Norris McLaren 22 1:31.240 1.184

‘Free Practice 1 Results’;

https://speedcafe.com/japanese-gp-fr...ice-1-results/


Another Williams crash - All that happened in FP1 at F1's Japanese GP
Apr 5, 2024
by Edd Straw
The Race

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen topped the opening free practice session for the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka driving the upgraded RB20 in the second consecutive FP1 session interrupted by a red flag caused by a Williams driver crashing.

RED BULL SUPREMACY: As expected, Verstappen bounced back from his failure to win the Australian GP thanks to retiring with a brake problem, by hitting the top of the timesheets in the first part of the session despite Red Bull, along with Ferrari, opting to use hard tyres rather than mediums for its early FP1 work.

Perez backed him up with a lap 0.181s slower having also set his best time after the red flag as Red Bull made an encouraging start after introducing floor and sidepod inlet upgrades.

‘All that happened in FP1’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/w...-practice-one/


Japanese GP: Max Verstappen goes P1 as Williams face anxious wait after Sargeant crash
05 Apr 2024 4:37 AM
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

Max Verstappen set the pace in Friday’s opening practice for the Japanese GP ahead of Sergio Perez, but for Williams it was another FP1 with another crash.

Logan Sargeant brought out the red flags when he lost it at Dunlop, leaving Williams with an anxious wait for the car to be brought back to the garage to check the chassis as they still don’t have a spare.

The American caught the end of the grass, sending his Williams spinning into the barrier nose-first at Turn 7 in a hard hit before the car spun around for a secondary hit with the rear. “I’m sorry, man,” the Williams driver said to his team.

“I’m sorry, man”;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/japane...024-fp1-report


Max fastest in FP1 of Japanese Grand Prix
05 April 2024
Misha van der Kroon
Verstappen.nl

Both Red Bulls are on the soft tyres when the lights go green again. Max sets two purple sectors and takes over P1 from Hamilton. Perez joins in P2 ahead of Carlos Sainz. Verstappen then returns to the pits. Iwasa’s debut in F1 is going well so far. The Japanese driver is currently fourteenth, just behind Bottas and ahead of the Alpines.

With seven minutes to go, Max takes to the track again, He has put the hard tyres back on his RB20, which indicates that he won’t aim for an improvement of his time. The other drivers also do not improve their times, and with Max on top of the timesheets, the first free practice session comes to an end.

‘Max fastest in FP1’;

https://news.verstappen.com/en/article/5421/


2024 Japanese GP FP1: Impatient Hulkenberg shown black and white flag in first practice
05 Apr 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)

Haas’s Nico Hulkenberg was clearly in a hurry to get going in FP1 at Suzuka, as he crossed the white line at the pit exit to pass a slow RB car ahead – with the stewards showing him the black and white warning flag in response.

‘Impatient Hulkenberg shown black and white flag’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...008643874.html


Red Bull’s Japanese Grand Prix upgrades revealed amidst intense zero-pod speculation
05 Apr 2024 2:29 AM
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

It may not be the extreme zero-pods that were predicted, but Red Bull have brought new sidepod inlets for the RB20 to the Suzuka circuit that include changes in the cooling and in the inlet of the sidepod’s scoop.

Putting a radical RB20 on the track as they moved away from last year’s design philosophy and adopted parts from the previous years’ Mercedes ground-effect aerodynamic cars, it was reported that Red Bull could go full zero-pod. Japan, cooler than the first three races on the calendar, was touted as the first race for the new design.

But while Red Bull have not gone down that path, the RB20 is sporting new sidepod inlets. Redistributing the inlet areas for the sidepod-mounted primary heat exchangers, Red Bull have, according to the FIA notes, sought “the most efficient locations in terms of pressure inlet for the area” with the intent of needing “less exit area which is beneficial downstream.”

‘Upgrades revealed’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/red-bu...od-speculation

[Fortitude]

Japanese GP: Oscar Piastri breaks local hearts as he pips Yuki Tsunoda to P1.
Oscar Piastri put in a late run in what could only be called a damp squib of a practice session to break the hearts of the Japanese fans as he snatched Yuki Tsunoda’s P1.
05 Apr 2024 8:10 AM
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

With 33 minutes left on the clock, Oscar Piastri left the pits on the full wets but radioed back to McLaren that it was not that wet. That saw others leaving the pits with Yuki Tsunoda told “no more rain expected”.

But with the conditions not optimal for the intermediate tyres and not wet enough for the full wets, only the RB team-mates of Ricciardo and Tsunoda entertained the fans as they stayed out. The Japanese driver lowered the benchmark to a 1:40.9 to sit P1 to his team-mate’s P2 before they too pitted.

A few drivers, including Oscar Piastri, opted for a late lap or three with the McLaren driver up into P1 with a 1:36.862. He took two seconds out of his time on his second flying lap to end on a 1:34. Lewis Hamilton was another late-runner, finishing second ahead of Tsunoda with just five drivers setting proper lap times. The others were only out to test the conditions or do a practice start at the end of the sessions.

‘Breaks local hearts’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/japane...024-fp2-report


Japanese GP: Free Practice 2 Results
Full results from Free Practice 2 from the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka.
5 April 2024
Speedcafe.com

Pos Num Driver Team Laps Best Diff
1 81 Oscar Piastri McLaren 6 1:34.725
2 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 5 1:35.226 0.501
3 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 3 1:38.760 4.035
4 22 Yuki Tsunoda RB 7 1:40.946 6.221
5 3 Daniel Ricciardo RB 8 1:41.913 7.188
6 4 Lando Norris McLaren 3 1:44.977 10.252
7 55 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 3 1:52.579 17.854
8 24 Zhou Guanyu Sauber 6
9 77 Valtteri Bottas Sauber 6
10 23 Alex Albon Williams 4

‘Free Practice 2 Results’;

https://speedcafe.com/japanese-gp-fr...ice-2-results/


Piastri hits the front late to top rain-affected Japanese GP FP2 ahead of Hamilton
A rain-affected session yielded precious little running in FP2 for the 2024 Japanese GP
April 5, 2024 - 08:18
Adam Dickinson
Total Motorsport

Oscar Piastri topped the timesheets in FP2 at the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix but it was a somewhat hollow victory as only six other drivers set times – with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc completing the podium.

Rain meant most drivers spent the hour safely in their garages, though Yuki Tsunoda held top for much of the session as RB were one of the few teams to venture out on intermediate rubber.

However, Piastri hit the track on the soft tyres to steal it away at the death with Hamilton five-tenths away. Despite running on slicks, Lando Norris, Carlos Sainz couldn’t topple the two RBs and enter the top five, only heading out on track to get a practice start.

‘Precious little running in FP2’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...ewis-hamilton/


Verstappen sits in the garage, Piastri quickest as rain wrecks Japanese GP FP2
The second practice session was ruined by rain, leading to six drivers failing to take to the track.
5 April 9:06AM
Ian Parkes
RacingNews365

Rain wrecked the second practice session for the Japanese Grand Prix as six drivers did not even take to the Suzuka circuit given the conditions. The hour was hit-and-miss with the weather. Sadly, rain had passed over the track around half an hour beforehand, resulting in the teams opting not to run until the track began to dry given the forecast for the remainder of the weekend is for fine weather.

Six drivers opted not to emerge from the garage at all in Verstappen, Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez, along with Alpine's Pierre Gasly, Aston Martin duo Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, and George Russell in his Mercedes.

Surprisingly, given the circumstances, Williams allowed Alex Albon to hit the track, despite being down to one car again after Logan Sargeant's crash in FP1. Minutes before the second session started, the team announced the American would not participate due to damage sustained.

‘Six drivers did not even take to the Suzuka circuit’;

https://racingnews365.com/verstappen...apanese-gp-fp2


Japanese GP practice two washout leaves F1 guessing
Apr 5, 2024
by Josh Suttill
The Race

McLaren's Oscar Piastri ended Friday practice day on top at Formula 1's Japanese Grand Prix as rain limited running in FP2.

Key moments:
• Mileage minimal
• Piastri fastest with late lap
• Sargeant misses FP2 after FP1 crash

Six drivers - including both Red Bulls - didn't even go out on track during FP2. Logan Sargeant was always going to sit out the session after his FP1 crash caused significant damage to his car, including cracking his gearbox. His chassis remains intact, meaning a spare-less Williams avoids a repeat of its Australian GP nightmare (for now).

‘F1 guessing’;

https://www.the-race.com/all/japanes...s-f1-guessing/


Lewis Hamilton suffers blow at Japanese Grand Prix as F1 penalty looms after Mercedes discovery
Lewis Hamilton retired from the Australian Grand Prix after just 17 laps due to an engine problem and now Mercedes have finally decided whether that power unit can be revived
5th April 2024, 08:10
By Daniel Moxon Senior F1 Writer
The Mirror

Mercedes have confirmed Lewis Hamilton's engine that failed at the Australian Grand Prix has been scrapped. Hamilton's Melbourne race ended after just 17 laps when he was forced to pull over at the side of the track with a power unit issue. Mercedes transported the engine back to its Brixworth facility to assess what exactly had gone wrong with it.

It was hoped that they would be able to diagnose the problem and fix it so that it could be used again this year. However, it was not immediately obvious what the issue was which led to delays. And Mercedes have now discovered that they cannot salvage the engine. It means Hamilton is already on his second power unit of the season - far from ideal considering just three races have been held so far.

Should he be forced to take a fifth ICE this year, as now seems likely, it would incur an automatic grid penalty. Fortunately, Mercedes' diagnosis work has also produced some positive news for the team. Their engineers believe the problem with that engine was a bottom end failure which was caused by an issue in quality control, and that it was not caused by a problem with the design of the engine. As a result, it has been deemed unlikely that it will be a persistent issue.

Formula 1 drivers are allowed to use only four internal combustion engines over the course of the 24-race season’;

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...ourne-32516374

[Fortitude]

Verstappen and Perez top final Japanese GP practice.
Red Bull will head into Saturday’s Japanese GP qualifying as clear favourites for pole after Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez topped the third and final practice in Suzuka.
6th April 2024, 05:08
F1i.com

The drama-free session saw Verstappen edge his teammate by 0.269s, the pair overhauling in the closing minutes of running the Mercedes’ duo of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.

Fernando Alonso put his freshly updated Aston Martin AMR24 to good use, the Spaniard setting the fifth fastest lap ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris, while Ferrari were conspicuously absent from the group of frontrunners.

Red Bull holds a clear advantage heading into qualifying while Mercedes has staked its claim as best of the rest, but Ferrari, McLaren and Aston Martin will be ready to pounce.

‘Red Bull clear favourites for pole’;

https://f1i.com/news/504441-verstapp...-practice.html


Japanese GP: Free Practice 3 Results
Full results from Free Practice 3 from the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka.
6 April 2024
by Mat Coch
Speedcafe

Pos Num Driver Team Laps Best Diff
1 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing 23 1:29.563
2 11 Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing 24 1:29.832 0.269
3 63 George Russell Mercedes 23 1:29.918 0.355
4 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 20 1:30.037 0.474
5 14 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin 24 1:30.082 0.519
6 4 Lando Norris McLaren 13 1:30.137 0.574
7 55 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 26 1:30.171 0.608
8 81 Oscar Piastri McLaren 18 1:30.226 0.663
9 22 Yuki Tsunoda RB 20 1:30.341 0.778
10 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 25 1:30.383 0.820

‘Free Practice 3 Results’;

https://speedcafe.com/japanese-gp-fr...ice-3-results/


Japanese GP: Max Verstappen hits the front despite ‘lot worse’ complaint
06 Apr 2024 4:35 AM
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

Max Verstappen may not have been happy with his “ride” late in FP3 but that didn’t stop the reigning World Champion from clocking the fastest time to lead a Red Bull 1-2. The Dutchman clocked a 1:29.563 to finish 0.2s ahead of Sergio Perez with George Russell up into third place.

Verstappen laid down a 1:30.265 as Kevin Magnussen went spinning into the grass at the hairpin, Perez up to second ahead of Charles Leclerc. The trio, all on medium tyres, dropped one place as Lewis Hamilton, out on the softs, went quickest with a 1:30.0.

Russell went from slowest of all to P1 with a 1:29.9. He, though, wasn’t there for long with Verstappen going three-tenths quicker. And yet he reported that he wasn’t happy with his car. “The ride of the car is suddenly a lot worse,” he told Red Bull. Perez slotted into second place.

“The ride of the car is suddenly a lot worse”;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/japane...024-fp3-report


2024 Japanese GP FP3: Early spin for Magnussen in final practice at Suzuka
06 Apr 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)

Kevin Magnussen was off track early on in final practice at Suzuka after the Haas driver spun at the hairpin in the opening minutes of the session and had a trip to the gravel trap.

‘Early spin’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...334722649.html


F1 LIVE: Chaotic qualifying session looms as Ricciardo out to make statement in Japan
Piastri rips fastest time in P2 in Japan | 01:05
April 6th, 2024 3:03 pm
Fox Motorsport from Fox Sports
Fox Sports (Australia)

A chaotic qualifying session at Suzuka looms as Red Bull’s Max Verstappen looks to put his Melbourne woes behind him with a strong performance at the Japanese Grand Prix. Yet there’s a sense of unpredictability surrounding qualifying in Japan given the lack of track time drivers were able to log in the first two practice sessions.

The weather in Suzuka left the track too dry for wet tyres to be used, but it was also too wet for teams to send their drivers out with slicks. It means teams didn’t obtain as much data as they’d have hoped for during practice, lending itself to a potentially unpredictable qualifying session.

One man who could be swept up in the qualifying chaos is Daniel Ricciardo as the Aussie didn’t spend a second inside his car during FP1 or FP2, meaning he’ll have just FP3 before going straight into qualifying.

‘Chaotic qualifying session looms’;

https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsp...f8a540e0dfd745


2024 Japanese GP FP3: Ricciardo takes to the grass after double spin in third practice
06 Apr 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)

Daniel Ricciardo missed FP1 with Super Formula driver Ayumu Iwasa taking his car, and then FP2 was essentially rained off meaning FP3 was the Australian’s first real running this weekend – and it showed when he spun at the final corner.

‘Ricciardo takes to the grass’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...395258783.html


Lewis Hamilton warns Mercedes as Toto Wolff explains Japanese GP plan reversal – F1 news round-up
05 Apr 2024 10:00 PM
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

While the ultimate pace was set by Max Verstappen, Hamilton felt the best he has yet in the W15 during FP1 at Suzuka, leading him to warn Mercedes regarding where they go from here, as team boss Wolff explained why he is at the venue after all.

Lewis Hamilton tells Mercedes ‘don’t mess it up’. F1 2024 has been a frustrating experience for seven-time World Champion Hamilton so far, this his final season with Mercedes, though he greatly enjoyed his time at the wheel of the W15 during FP1, that his “best session” yet with the challenger.

However, inconsistency has been a major criticism of the W15 for Hamilton, so he understandably is extremely wary of where Mercedes could look to go from here as they tackle the remainder of the race weekend.

‘Lewis Hamilton warns Mercedes’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/lewis-...-plan-reversal

[Fortitude]

Verstappen narrowly beats Perez to maintain perfect 2024 pole record at Suzuka.
Max Verstappen secured pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix, only just beating Red Bull team mate Sergio Perez at the end of qualifying.
6th April 2024, 8:15
Written by Will Wood
RaceFans

As the final minutes ticked down, all bar Leclerc headed out for a final run. Perez was the first over the line and improved to second only two hundredths of a second behind his team mate, before Verstappen shaved four hundredths off his own best time to go even quicker with a 1’28.197.

That proved good enough to secure the world champion his fourth consecutive pole to start the 2024 season, with Perez taking a front row start alongside his team mate in second. Norris failed to improve on his final run but still took third on the grid, with Sainz the highest placed Ferrari in fourth, also having not improved with his last run.

Alonso took fifth on the grid ahead of Piastri in the second McLaren, while Hamilton out-qualified Mercedes team mate Russell for the first time in 2024 with seventh on the grid as Leclerc split the two Mercedes in eighth. Tsunoda will start his home grand prix from 10th having been the slowest of the Q3 runners.

‘Verstappen narrowly beats Perez’;

https://www.racefans.net/2024/04/06/...ord-at-suzuka/


Japanese GP: Qualifying Results
Full results from Qualifying from the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka.
6 April 2024
Speedcafe.com
Speedcafe

Pos Num Driver Team Q1 Q2 Q3 Diff
1 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing 1:28.866 1:28.740 1:28.197
2 11 Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing 1:29.303 1:28.752 1:28.263 0.066
3 4 Lando Norris McLaren 1:29.536 1:28.940 1:28.489 0.292
4 55 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 1:29.513 1:29.099 1:28.682 0.485
5 14 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin 1:29.254 1:29.082 1:28.686 0.489
6 81 Oscar Piastri McLaren 1:29.425 1:29.148 1:28.760 0.563
7 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:29.661 1:28.887 1:28.766 0.569
8 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:29.338 1:29.196 1:28.786 0.589
9 63 George Russell Mercedes 1:29.799 1:29.140 1:29.008 0.811
10 22 Yuki Tsunoda RB 1:29.775 1:29.417 1:29.413 1.216

‘Qualifying Results’;

https://speedcafe.com/japanese-gp-qualifying-results/


Verstappen on Japanese GP pole after rare intra-Red Bull fight
Apr 6, 2024
by Josh Suttill
The Race

Max Verstappen took pole position for the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix but faced close pressure from his Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez. Perez hadn't qualified on the front row since he took pole position for the Miami GP last May but looked to be on Verstappen's pace right from FP1 on Friday where he'd already got it into a "really nice window".

He kept Verstappen within touching distance through Q1 and Q2 but after the first runs of Q3, he was over three tenths off Verstappen and was behind McLaren's Lando Norris. Around half of that time loss stemmed from the final chicane with Perez struggling with rear instability in Suzuka's few slower corners.

Perez found some time on his final run and only ended up 0.023s short of Verstappen's initial banker. "We've been really close all weekend. When you're in that little margin, anything can make a difference. I didn't have a great exit opening up the last [corner]," Perez explained after qualifying.

‘Rare intra-Red Bull fight’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/w...ax-verstappen/


‘We’ve got to look into it’ - Charles Leclerc confused by loss of qualifying pace
Charles Leclerc has been left perplexed by his poor performance in qualifying at the Japanese Grand Prix.
06 Apr 2024
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net

Charles Leclerc says Ferrari need to “look into” the reasons for their mysterious loss of qualifying pace after a disappointing performance at the F1 Japanese Grand Prix. Leclerc ran out of sync to his rivals in Q3 and completed just a single lap due to quickly burning through his soft tyres, but struggled for pace and could only qualify eighth on the grid at Suzuka.

“I think from Q1 to Q2 it hasn’t been a strong session,” Leclerc said. “Already the first lap in Q1, I was [thinking] okay, the feeling is quite okay. Normally when it is the case, the time comes with it. Today it has been completely the opposite. So we’ve got to look into it.”

Leclerc suspects the performance drop-off is tyre-related. “It’s one of those sessions maybe you get it once in a season. It’s definitely not a good feeling,” he explained. “Everything feels okay, the balance is not way off – we can always improve, but in a bit, like every qualifying. If I rely on the feeling at the end of the lap, I’m like, okay, this is quite a good lap and this is a good lap. Then you look at the board and you are a second off.”

‘We’ve got to look into it’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/104649...ualifying-pace


Toto Wolff critical in Mercedes statement despite Lewis Hamilton joy at Japanese GP
Lewis Hamilton was smiling and gave a positive response to qualifying seventh for the Japanese Grand Prix, but boss Toto Wolff was not satisfied with that result
6th April 2024, 10:47
By Daniel Moxon Senior F1 Writer
The Mirror

Toto Wolff reminded Lewis Hamilton that qualifying on the fourth row for the Japanese Grand Prix is "not great" despite the Briton's positive outlook. "It's actually the first weekend I've not gone crazy with set-up and not tested a bunch of things, so a bit more normal. I think we got the car into a much nicer working window, so every lap has been more enjoyable to drive. The other guys are just a little bit faster. We were just over a second off the Red Bull last year and seven-tenths [this time] is better.”

"With something different we could have been another tenth faster, maybe, but other than that, that was everything. What it's given us is, I know exactly where the car is not strong enough. I can feel it in the car and I know now I'm able to tell them to push in a particular area. I'm hoping the race will be stronger and I've really enjoyed driving so far this weekend."

Be that as it may, team principal Wolff made it clear he was not pleased with the outcome of the session. In a Mercedes release after qualifying, the Austrian said: "The headline result of P7 and P9 is not great."

‘Toto Wolff critical in Mercedes statement’;

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...japan-32525498


Red Bull are on a different level at Japan GP, says Ferrari's Sainz
Apr 6, 2024, 05:08 AM ET
• Reuters
ESPN.com

Red Bull's dominant display in Saturday's qualifying sessions at the Japanese Grand Prix proved they are in a different league, Ferrari's Carlos Sainz said as he vowed to fight for a spot on the podium in Sunday's race.

"I hope we can fight with them in the race because in the qualifying it was impossible. In the race it would be nice to have a fight for the podium. I think it should be an interesting battle for the podium," Sainz told Sky Sports.

"I think the Red Bulls are, unfortunately, in a different league around rougher tarmacs, medium, high speed -- they are just ahead on downforce."

‘Different level’;

https://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/3...-ferrari-sainz


Lando Norris is dreaming of a first Grand Prix win in Japan after becoming the best of the rest - but admits McLaren are still 'too far away' to challenge Red Bull in Suzuka
• The McLaren ace is still waiting for a first Grand Prix victory ahead of Sunday
• Lando Norris is making a theme of being the best driver behind Red Bull's duo
• But breaking his duck at the Suzuka GP looks an improbable outcome
11:21, 6 April 2024
By Henry Clark
MailOnline

Lando Norris is becoming used to being the best of the rest. Probably a little too much for his own liking. A fortnight ago in Melbourne, the Brit became the unfortunate holder of a dubious honour, that being the driver with the most podium finishes without a single race win to their name.

This is a track the McLaren driver has experienced success at before having claimed second place behind Verstappen at last year's race. ‘I'd say yes,’ said the 24-year-old when asked whether Sunday was his best chance to shoe-horn his way in-between the Red Bulls in recent memory. ‘It's so tricky, Sergio is doing a good job. So there's one much harder car to keep up with.’

‘But we proved last year when we were further away from them that we could keep in touch and not be miles behind. So that'll be our target. But I think realistically, we're still too far away to challenge them they are too quick for us. Yes, we are quicker in qualifying. But in the race normally they pull away a bit more. Our competition is with the guys behind and at same time, I'll do my best to push forward.’

‘Dreaming of a first Grand Prix win’;

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...-F1-Japan.html

[Fortitude]

Max Verstappen cruises to Japanese GP win as Lewis Hamilton expresses Mercedes anger.
Max Verstappen returned to winning ways in an action-packed Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday, seeing off the threat of team-mate Sergio Perez. For Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton, there was far less to celebrate at Suzuka.
07:59, Sun, Apr 7, 2024
By Harry Smith
Daily and Sunday Express

While Verstappen's afternoon was relatively straightforward from that point on, there was no further participation for Alex Albon and Daniel Ricciardo, who collided at Turn Three to bring out the red flag.

The seven-time world champion vented his frustrations on the team radio, demanding: "Change my strategy!" and then again expressing his anger after losing time to Russell on his final stop.

Behind Verstappen, team-mate Sergio Perez secured a relatively comfortable P2 finish, while Carlos Sainz rounded off the podium ahead of his colleague Charles Leclerc, who ran an outstanding race from P9 on the one-stop strategy.

‘Max Verstappen cruises to Japanese GP win’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...on-Japanese-GP


Japanese GP: Race Results
Full results from the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka.
7 April 2024
Mat Coch
Speedcafe

Pos Num Driver Team Laps/Diff Pts
1 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing 53 26
2 11 Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing 12.535 18
3 55 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 20.866 15
4 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 26.522 12
5 4 Lando Norris McLaren 29.7 10
6 14 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin 44.272 8
7 63 George Russell Mercedes 45.951 6
8 81 Oscar Piastri McLaren 47.525 4
9 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 48.626 2
10 22 Yuki Tsunoda RB 1L 1

‘Japanese GP: Race Results’;

https://speedcafe.com/japanese-gp-race-results/


Max Verstappen WINS Japanese Grand Prix as Red Bull secure one-two finish after lengthy red flag delay following opening-lap crash as Mercedes endure another day to forget
Published: 08:01, 7 April 2024
By Dominic Hogan
MailOnline

Max Verstappen has continued his seemingly inexorable push for a fourth straight Formula One championship with victory at the Japanese Grand Prix. The Red Bull star cruised to another race win at Suzuka on Sunday morning, ahead of team-mate Sergio Perez, as the reigning constructors champions dominated the paddock once again.

While there were few surprises on the podium, with Carlos Sainz coming home in third for Ferrari, the race got off to a dramatic start. Alex Albon and Danny Ricciardo were involved in a big crash in the opening lap that saw the race delayed by a lengthy red flag.

‘Red Bull secure one-two finish’;

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...rand-Prix.html


2024 Japanese Grand Prix: Ride onboard with Ricciardo and Albon for their Lap 1 crash at Suzuka
07 Apr 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)

Jump onboard with both Daniel Ricciardo and Alex Albon to see their perspectives of their Turn 3 opening lap crash at Suzuka.

‘Lap 1 crash’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...255764855.html


Japanese GP: Max Verstappen back in cruise control as Daniel Ricciardo’s nightmare continues
07 Apr 2024 8:00 AM
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

Max Verstappen shrugged off Red Bull’s race pace concerns as he cruised to the victory at the Japanese Grand Prix ahead of his team-mate Sergio Perez in Red Bull’s third 1-2 of the season. Such was Verstappen’s start he went unchallenged into Turn 1, putting metres between himself and Sergio Perez with Lando Norris holding onto third ahead of Carlos Sainz and Alonso.

In a tale of threes, Verstappen romped to the win, his third of this season, ahead of Perez in what was Red Bull’s third 1-2 of the championship. Sainz, for the third time, was on the podium in third place. Leclerc was fourth ahead of Norris and Alonso with Russell’s last lap pass on Piastri giving him seventh place. Piastri was eighth with Hamilton P9.

On a day when Ricciardo blotted his copybook, Tsunoda added to his points haul as he brought his RB01 home in tenth place to the delight of the Japanese fans.

‘Max Verstappen back in cruise control’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/japane...24-race-report


Verstappen leads Red Bull 1-2 at Japanese GP as Sainz snags podium in fascinating battle
Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez secured a Red Bull 1-2 at the 2024 Japanese GP ahead of Carlos Sainz
April 7, 2024 - 08:13
By Adam Dickinson
Total Motorsport

Max Verstappen returned to the top step of the podium in a 2024 Japanese Grand Prix that came alive in the final stages with Sergio Perez second and Carlos Sainz triumphing in the intriguing battle for third.

Having been axed by Ferrari for 2025 in favour of Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, Sainz has been on the podium every race that he’s taken part in this season and remains 50% of the grand prix winners so far in 2024.

In stark contrast to Leclerc, Mercedes haemorrhaged time as their stints on the hards progressed and they actually switched to an effective two-stop late in the day. However, that finally worked out with George Russell chasing down Oscar Piastri and Fernando Alonso who’d been locked in their own battle at the end of the race.

‘Verstappen leads Red Bull 1-2’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...nating-battle/


24-year-old’s team made a ‘huge error’ with his strategy during the Japanese Grand Prix
Sun 7 April 2024 08:15
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer

The Japanese Grand Prix ended up being a battle between the team strategists as well as the drivers on track. Max Verstappen’s latest victory was effortless and he may as well not have been racing given his lack of on-screen time. Covering the Grand Prix for The Race, journalist Scott Mitchell-Malm was left very unimpressed by one team’s calls at Suzuka.

McLaren strategy error costs Lando Norris in Japan. After Ferrari’s victory in Australia, it appeared that they were the closest rivals to Red Bull heading to Suzuka. However, Lando Norris showed his one-lap pace on Saturday and was only a couple of tenths behind Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.

He held off Carlos Sainz during both race starts on Sunday but it was clear that Ferrari had more race pace. Norris was pitted onto hard tyres that briefly saw him undercut Sergio Perez but the Red Bull didn’t take too long to get past him again. Then McLaren made a strategy call that proved to be an error and gave Norris no chance of challenging for a podium. Instead, was left racing on his own for the final laps much to his disappointment.

‘Huge error’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/24-...se-grand-prix/

[Fortitude]

Lewis Hamilton storms out of Japanese GP interview and slams reporter's Ferrari question.
Lewis Hamilton was furious with a reporter's question following the Japanese Grand Prix and cut short his print media session as a result, after finishing the race ninth
7th April 2024, 12:53
By Daniel Moxon Senior F1 Writer
The Mirror

Lewis Hamilton snapped at a reporter before walking out if his post-race interview after a Japanese Grand Prix to forget. He was first asked how his race had been, to which Hamilton bluntly replied: "It was okay." He took exception to the next question, from the same reporter, who asked: "Are you a little bit jealous of the Ferraris at the moment? Because they are faster?"

Hamilton retorted: "Do you have any better questions?" The reporter apologised but before anyone else could ask, the Mercedes racer walked away and his press officer simply said: "Thank you." Hamilton was, at least, a little more talkative when speaking in the TV pen.

Speaking about his Mercedes W15 machine, he told F1 TV: "The car is never what I hoped it would be. It's never what we hoped it would be. I got some damage I think in the first stint at the restart with Charles [Leclerc] and I had massive understeer, like huge, huge understeer. So that's why I decided to let George [Russell] by, because he seemed quicker and I just couldn't turn the car.”

"Do you have any better questions?";

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...japan-32530634


Lewis Hamilton snaps at reporter before storming out of interview following Japanese Grand Prix
Apr 7, 2024, 12:30pm
Callum McAvoy
Metro.co.uk

A fuming Sir Lewis Hamilton stormed out an interview following the Japanese Grand Prix after taking issue with a reporter’s question. Speaking to the various members of the media, the 39-year-old was first asked: ‘How was it for you today?’ to which he bluntly replied: ‘It was okay.’

He was the asked: ‘Are you looking forward to being with them [Ferrari]? Because they’re faster?’ Hamilton hit back with: ‘Do you have any better questions?’ before swiftly walking away.

‘Storming out of interview’;

https://metro.co.uk/2024/04/07/lewis...o=newsnow-feed


Sulky Lewis Hamilton snaps at Japanese GP reporter over Ferrari question
Lewis Hamilton limped to ninth in the 2024 Japanese GP as he was outshone by Ferrari and Mercedes teammate George Russell
April 7, 2024 - 09:49
Adam Dickinson
Total Motorsport

Lewis Hamilton shut down a journalist after the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix, challenging whether he had anything better to ask with the seven-time champion unimpressed by a line of questioning around Ferrari.

He also gave a curt ‘ok’ to the question “How was it for you today?”, but finally snapped when asked “Are you looking forward to being with them? Because they’re faster?”, hitting back: “Do you have any better questions?”.

‘Shut down a journalist’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...-over-ferrari/


Lewis Hamilton hits out at Mercedes strategy after ‘challenging’ Japanese Grand Prix
Apr 7, 2024, 9:50am
Callum McAvoy
Metro.co.uk

Sir Lewis Hamilton was left infuriated with his Mercedes team after a dismal performance at the Japanese Grand Prix. Throughout the race, the 39-year-old questioned Mercedes’ tyre strategy and at one stage bluntly told his team to ‘change this strategy!’

Post-race, Hamilton doubled down on his opinion that the Silver Arrows had messed up again, though added that his W15 car was so slow that the right strategy probably wouldn’t have improved matters.

‘Change this strategy!’;

https://metro.co.uk/2024/04/07/lewis...o=newsnow-feed


Mercedes explain Japanese Grand Prix strategy after Lewis Hamilton’s ‘change it!’ command
07 Apr 2024 9:20 AM
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

Spoilt for choice with two sets of hard tyres, Mercedes have downplayed Lewis Hamilton’s strategy complaints as they tried for what would’ve effectively been a one-stop strategy excluding the red flag.

But overtaken by Lando Norris, Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz pretty much in formation, Hamilton wasn’t happy with the call.

Hamilton: “Change the strategy!”
Bono: “Copy Lewis. We’re just waiting for the window to clear.”

“Copy Lewis”;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/merced...achieved-japan


How worried should Mercedes be? Our Japanese GP verdict
Apr 7, 2024
The Race

Failing to make progress on Sunday. But was that because of an ill-advised strategy or evidence of how much trouble the team is in this year? And just how worried should Mercedes be by its current predicament? Our writers give their verdict:

“There's a baseline - but a lot to prove” Scott Mitchell-Malm.
“Some positive signs” Edd Straw.
“Simply not good enough” Glenn Freeman.

“An all too familiar tale of woe” Gary Anderson.
“Hamilton won't be worried” Josh Suttill.
“Hard tyre gamble was never going to pay off” Jack Benyon.

‘Change it command!’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/h...se-gp-verdict/


Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff agree as 'atrocious' Mercedes issue derails Japanese GP
Lewis Hamilton finished just ninth at the Japanese Grand Prix while George Russell was only two places ahead as Mercedes suffered another difficult day at Suzuka
7th April 2024, 10:01
By Daniel Moxon Senior F1 Writer
The Mirror

Lewis Hamilton lamented his "terrible" hard tyres as a Mercedes strategy gamble failed to deliver at the Japanese Grand Prix. Boss Toto Wolff felt it was those early laps which completely derailed his team's chances of scoring big points at Suzuka. He said: "The second and third stints were super quick - we would have been racing for a podium, but for an atrocious first stint. We need to find out what it was."

Hamilton finished a lowly ninth at Suzuka, while George Russell fared only slightly better to cross the line seventh. Mercedes gambled on the hard tyres when the race was stopped after a first-lap smash involving Daniel Ricciardo and Alex Albon.

Sainz began the race fourth behind Briton Lando Norris and was always in the hunt for a third-successive podium. Norris tried his best but admitted after the race that his McLaren car simply doesn't have the pace right now to go toe-to-toe with the Ferraris.

'Atrocious';

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...cedes-32529775

[Fortitude]

Max Verstappen cheered on by Kelly Piquet and her daughter after win at Japanese Grand Prix.
The heartwarming video of Max Verstappen’s partner Kelly Piquet and her daughter, Penelope, was shared by the official Instagram handle of F1.
Apr 07, 2024 04:52 PM IST

Hindustan Times

A heartwarming video of Max Verstappen’s partner Kelly Piquet and her daughter Penelope, was shared by the official Instagram handle of F1. In the video, Kelly can be seen asking Penelope to wave at Max, who is standing on the podium. Penelope excitedly shouts his name and flashes a big, beaming smile.

“A wholesome moment on the podium”, wrote F1 as they shared the heartening video.

‘Max Verstappen cheered’;

https://www.hindustantimes.com/trend...488375301.html


World champion Max Verstappen back with a bang at Japanese Formula One Grand Prix
08.04.24, 10:51 AM
The Telegraph, Calcutta

World champion Max Verstappen got back to winning ways on Sunday with a third straight pole-to-flag victory at the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix, leading teammate Sergio Perez across the line for a Red Bull 1-2 at Suzuka.

“You know it was a little hiccup, of course, the last race, but very happy that we are here back on top,” said Dutchman Verstappen, who finished 12.535 seconds clear of his teammate and also had the fastest lap.

Red Bull lead the constructor standings on 141 points ahead of Ferrari (120) and McLaren (69). “I think we have good momentum,” said Perez, who jumped ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in the driver standings. “I think if we are strong in places like this with a lot of high speed corners ... we can be strong anywhere else.”

‘Back with a bang’;

https://www.telegraphindia.com/sport...ix/cid/2011890


Nobody will catch Max Verstappen this year - Mercedes boss Toto Wolff
7 Apr 2024 14:45
RTE

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff insists Max Verstappen's fourth consecutive title is already a foregone conclusion after the Red Bull driver cruised to victory at the Japanese Grand Prix.

"No one is going to catch Max this year," he said. "His driving and the car are just spectacular. You can see the way he manages the tyres and basically this season now is best of the rest.”

‘Nobody will catch Max’;

https://www.rte.ie/sport/motorsport/...is-year-wolff/


‘No one is going to catch Max’: Wolff says F1 title is already Verstappen’s to lose
7 April 2024 at 0:34 pm
Giles Richards at Suzuka
Yahoo! Sport

The Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff, has conceded Max Verstappen is already world champion elect, declaring the Red Bull driver cannot be caught this season after a third dominant win from four races. Even achieving second place looks a big ask for Mercedes and Wolff admitted that was not an edifying position for the team that won eight consecutive constructors’ championships from 2014.

“If I was to look from a pure sporting point of view it is P1 which matters, not P2, P3 or P4, but this is the reality that we are facing at the moment,” he said. “We’re trying to do the best out of this new reality and that is to beat our competitors whilst acknowledging that somebody is just doing a better job and setting the benchmark that we eventually need to set ourselves again.”

‘Max Verstappen is already world champion elect’;

https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/no-...5ysMvZ97MStft-


Horner after one-two at Suzuka: 'Brilliant race from all the team'
07 April 2024
Coen Versteeg
Verstappen.nl

Christian Horner, CEO and team boss of Red Bull, expressed his satisfaction with how the race went: “It was a great team performance today; fastest lap, a one-two finish, fastest pit stop and leading first and second in the championship. So yeah, it's an amazing performance here, and one we are very proud of, particularly in Japan at the home of our engine partner, Honda.”

“Max managed to control the race beautifully. He was away from the beginning and really looked after the tyres. But Checo has had a very strong agenda here. His qualifying yesterday was good. Better than he has managed in his career. And then his racing was fantastic. He came through the field and was very strong and maintained his pace. A brilliant race across the board, from all the team. It is great to see.”

'Brilliant race from all the team';

https://news.verstappen.com/en/article/5427/


“Totally flawless” Max Verstappen “could have gone faster” in Japanese Grand Prix
Max Verstappen delivered another "flawless" display at the Japanese Grand Prix.
07 Apr 2024
Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net

Max Verstappen has been described as “totally flawless” following his third victory of the season at this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix. After the race at Suzuka, Sky Sports pundits Bernie Collins and Damon Hill heaped praise on Verstappen.

Collins labelled Verstappen’s display as “totally flawless. To have a faultless weekend… we’ve seen it time and time again,” Collins said. “He put the laps in where it matters, with very little knowledge of this race.”

“Wind conditions changed during the race, temperature changed during the race. He seems to be totally flawless. To win by such a margin again? Fantastic.”

“Totally flawless”;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/104657...ese-grand-prix


Marko heaps praise on Verstappen and issues warning to F1 rivals
Red Bull claimed a dominant 1-2 at the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix with Max Verstappen claiming his third win of the F1 season
April 7, 2024 - 11:06
John Smith

At the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix, Red Bull‘s strategy and Max Verstappen’s skill proved unbeatable, securing a dominant victory for the Dutchman with Helmut Marko giving Verstappen the highest praise.

“We dominated from the first lap,” Marko told the press. “This was one of the best races this season. The pit stops were super fast (2.1 seconds) and the strategy perfect. Furthermore, we adjusted the wing setup before the race. We reacted, very well to the changed conditions.”

Marko added: “Nobody can beat Verstappen.” And when asked about the possibility of the Dutchman winning the next 20 races, all Marko could do was laugh. “I don’t want to think about that at all yet. But Max is in total control.”

‘Max Verstappen’s skill proved unbeatable’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/red...ing-f1-rivals/


‘Everything just went really well’ Max Verstappen after Suzuka win
Max Verstappen now leads the Formula One drivers’ standings on 77 points, followed by his teammate Checo Perez on 64
07-04-2024 20:33
By Eliot Mahlase
The South African

Max Verstappen was satisfied following his dominant win in Suzuka, Japan on Sunday. “It was very nice,” Max Verstappen reflected after the race in Suzuka.

“I don’t know if it had to do with the clouds coming in, but yeah, [it was] very nice. Everything just went really well, the pit stops went well, the strategy I think worked out well, so it couldn’t have been any better.”

“It was very nice”;

https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news...er-suzuka-win/


Verstappen matches Schumacher feat – RacingNews365 Review
7 April 10:00PM
RacingNews365 Staff
RacingNews365

Verstappen relieved to overcome 'hiccup' with Japan victory. Max Verstappen has insisted that the “hiccup” from the round in Australia is behind him after his victory at the Japanese Grand Prix.

The reigning world champion became the first driver since seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher to win three consecutive races at Suzuka.

‘Verstappen matches Schumacher feat’;

https://racingnews365.com/hamilton-w...news365-review

[Fortitude]

Tsunoda becomes first Japanese F1 driver to score a point at home since 2012.
Yuki Tsunoda finished 10th to become the first homegrown driver to score a point at the Japanese Grand Prix since 2012.
Apr 7, 2024
By Joel Tansey
Staff writer
The Japan Times

The Kanagawa Prefecture native’s deep knowledge of the Mie Prefecture track paid off as he thrilled the home fans by working his way back through the midfield after a difficult start to earn a single point.

“It feels amazing,” the RB driver said after the race. “After a long two years of being unable to score points (in Japan) it’s a very happy feeling.”

“It feels amazing”;

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/...x-formula-one/


‘Relieved’ Tsunoda hails 'insane' RB pit stop as he nets a point on home soil
07 April 2024
Formula One - Official Site

Yuki Tsunoda was full of relief after scoring a point on home soil in Japan for the very first time. With back-to-back top-10 finishes now, the RB driver is enjoying a rich run of form.

While his race ended on a high, his start from P10 proved to be a challenge, with Tsunoda losing out off the line and falling down the order as a result. He took the restart in P12, with the team making the bold call to swap him onto some used soft tyres. He used those to good effect to climb back into the points, but that wasn’t the end of his dramas.

“[I’m] relieved,” joked Tsunoda afterwards. “I would say after I lost a couple of positions in the first start, yeah I felt a bit of disappointment for sure but at the same time I had a great start after that and I think one of the big highlights was the pit stop.”

‘Relieved’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...hF3TJgOMCobN8z


YUKI TSUNODA: ‘VERY SPECIAL’ DEBUT POINTS IN JAPAN FELT LIKE P1
After a hard-fought Japanese Grand Prix, where he finished P10 and brought home one point, Yuki Tsunoda currently stands P11 in the drivers' championship with 7 points scored
April 8, 2024
Rhiannon Temporal
FormulaNerds

Yuki Tsunoda’s P10 finish was also the Japanese driver’s first points finish at his home Grand Prix. Previously, Tsunoda had finished in P12 (2023) and P13 (2022). Following the race, the 23-year-old was extremely happy with his performance. Discussing his emotions following his debut points finish in Japan, Tsunoda said:

“Even P10, I feel like – I mean, it’s too big a thing to say, but I feel like I scored P1. At the same time, big credit to the team. The team was able to have a very fast pit stop and [I was] able to re-join the track in front of the Aston [Martin]. Without that work, I wasn’t able to score points today.”

‘VERY SPECIAL’;

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/yu...-felt-like-p1/


Beaming Tsunoda credits pit crew for points finish after he jumped two cars in one stop
07 Apr 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)

Yuki Tsunoda pulled off s number of brilliant overtakes in front of his home fans – but credited his pit crew as being perhaps the most crucial factor in his points finish at Suzuka.

‘Beaming Tsunoda’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...192029724.html


Tsunoda feels ‘amazing’ after ending unwanted track record
Yuki Tsunoda crossed the line in 10th place at the Japanese Grand Prix to score his first Formula 1 points on home soil.
7 April 2024, 7:00PM
Fergal Walsh & Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365

Tsunoda credited the RB pit stop crew for his result as they managed to leap Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll in the pit lane when called in for his final pit stop on lap 22.

“[I’m] feeling amazing, after such a long two years that I've been unable to score points,” Tsunoda told media including RacingNews365. “It’s a very happy feeling and a big credit to the team who did a fantastic job in the pitstops to be able to rejoin the track in front of the Aston Martin.”

“Without that, I wouldn’t be able to score points. Big credit to the teams and also the Japanese fans. I feel more support every year. It's a good thing and I just have to keep matching the expectation.”

‘Amazing’;

https://racingnews365.com/tsunoda-fe...nwanted-streak


Helmut Marko heaps praise on Yuki Tsunoda: “Mistakes are a thing of the past”
Helmut Marko is impressed with Yuki Tsunoda's run of form in 2024.
08 Apr 2024
Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has heaped praise on Yuki Tsunoda after his impressive start to the 2024 F1 season. “There are four races and Yuki has brought the car into Q3 three times,” he told Sky Deutschland. “He is consistent and the mistakes are a thing of the past.”

“His lack of control on the radio is also gone. He’s really blossomed. But it’s April and we still have a lot of races left. We’ll look at the driver situation when the summer break comes. We want to watch it closely and make the right decision. That will certainly take until the summer.”

“He is consistent”;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/104659...are-thing-past


Tsunoda credits “supermen” pit crew for point in home race
7th April 2024, 17:42
Written by Keith Collantine
RaceFans

“Good job guys, well done,” said Tsunoda on the radio as he left the pits. “Thank you.”

Tsunoda went on to score the final point available, the first time he has ever finished in the top 10 at Suzuka. He said it felt “very special. Even P10, I feel like – I mean, it’s too big a thing to say, but I feel like I scored P1,” he told the official F1 channel.

“At the same time, big credit to the team that the team was able to have a very fast pit stop and [I was] able to rejoin the track in front of the Aston. Without that work, I wasn’t able to score points today. So big credit to the team and obviously also the Japanese fans who support me all the week this week. The amount of energy I’ve got every lap from them was definitely a special feeling.”

“Japanese fans who support me all the week this week”;

https://www.racefans.net/2024/04/07/...-in-home-race/