Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix: 30 September 2007
-
Track: Fuji Speedway
Circuit length: 4.563 km
Laps: 67
Race distance: 305.721 km
Lap record: N.A.
Formula 1 returns to Fuji for the first time since 1977. It will alternate with Suzuka as the venue for the Japanese Grand Prix in the coming years, with the latter returning in 2009.
The track is no longer the high-speed terror that it used to be, having undergone major revisions at the hands of Hermann Tilke. However it still has the longest straight on the calendar at 1.5 km - that is almost one-third of the length of the circuit!
The cars are expected to run in a low downforce trim, and the challenge is going to be finding the right compromise between the technical and fast sectors of the lap. The weather is also a huge unknown, with rain showers expected in this mountainous region this week.
All the drivers will be on an equal footing in terms of experience, which will come as a relief for championship leader Lewis Hamilton. His lead has been cut to just 2 points over the last 3 races. With rumours surrounding his teammate Fernando Alonso's fate for next season and McLaren's disqualification from the constructor's championship, the rookie is the team's last hope of retaining the Number 1 badge for next season.
He will have to look over his shoulder for the Ferraris of Kimi Räikkönen and Felipe Massa, which were in crushing form at similar circuits like Istanbul and Spa. In the midfield, look to the home teams (Honda, Super Aguri and Toyota) to try something adventurous in search of glory, especially Toyota as they own this circuit.
Remember that this will be an early Sunday afternoon affair. Don't miss the drama as the championship heads to a spectacular close! -
The word from the grapevine is that Räikkönen has been accorded Numero Uno status within the Ferrari team for the last 3 races of the season, even though Massa denies it and believes that he still has a realistic shot at the driver's title.
Other highlights from today's press conference:
- Barrichello says that Honda don't have any special plans for this home race
- Sato is hoping for rain during the race, which may play into Super Aguri's hands
- Alonso plays down the speculation about his drive for season -
Japanese GP free practice session 1 times
1. RAIKKONEN Ferrari 1m19.119s
2. MASSA Ferrari 1m19.498s
3. ALONSO McLaren 1m19.667s
4. HAMILTON McLaren 1m19.807s
5. ROSBERG Williams 1m20.058s
6. KUBICA BMW 1m20.297s
7. WURZ Williams 1m20.411s
8. TRULLI Toyota 1m20.483s
9. SUTIL Spyker 1m20.516s
10. DAVIDSON Super Aguri 1m20.601s
11. BARRICHELLO Honda 1m20.686s
12. KOVALAINEN Renault 1m20.718s
13. HEIDFELD BMW 1m20.728s
14. LIUZZI Toro Rosso 1m20.808s
15. SCHUMACHER Toyota 1m20.828s
16. FISICHELLA Renault 1m20.851s
17. SATO Super Aguri 1m21.186s
18. WEBBER Red Bull 1m21.437s
19. BUTTON Honda 1m21.541s
20. VETTEL Toro Rosso 1m21.854s
21. COULTHARD Red Bull 1m22.436s
22. YAMAMOTO Spyker 1m22.902s
Japanese GP free practice session 2 times
1. HAMILTON McLaren 1m18.734s
2. ALONSO McLaren 1m18.948s
3. MASSA Ferrari 1m19.483s
4. TRULLI Toyota 1m19.711s
5. RAIKKONEN Ferrari 1m19.714s
6. KOVALAINEN Renault 1m19.799s
7. FISICHELLA Renault 1m19.926s
8. COULTHARD Red Bull 1m19.949s
9. SCHUMACHER Toyota 1m19.969s
10. KUBICA BMW 1m20.069s
11. WEBBER Red Bull 1m20.069s
12. WURZ Williams 1m20.263s
13. ROSBERG Williams 1m20.270s
14. BUTTON Honda 1m20.336s
15. HEIDFELD BMW 1m20.462s
16. SUTIL Spyker 1m20.736s
17. BARRICHELLO Honda 1m20.869s
18. LIUZZI Toro Rosso 1m20.985s
19. VETTEL Toro Rosso 1m20.997s
20. DAVIDSON Super Aguri 1m21.007s
21. YAMAMOTO Spyker 1m21.305s
22. SATO Super Aguri 1m21.352s -
Rosberg will get a 10-place penalty on the grid as his original race engine for this weekend needed to be changed.
-
Final practice at Fuji abandoned
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=40837 -
Japanese GP grid
1. HAMILTON McLaren
2. ALONSO McLaren
3. RAIKKONEN Ferrari
4. MASSA Ferrari
5. HEIDFELD BMW
6. BUTTON Honda
7. WEBBER Red Bull
8. VETTEL Toro Rosso
9. KUBICA BMW
10. FISICHELLA Renault
11. KOVALAINEN Renault
12. COULTHARD Red Bull
13. TRULLI Toyota
14. LIUZZI Toro Rosso
15. SCHUMACHER Toyota
16. ROSBERG Williams*
17. BARRICHELLO Honda
18. WURZ Williams
19. DAVIDSON Super Aguri
20. SUTIL Spyker
21. SATO Super Aguri
22. YAMAMOTO Spyker
* after 10-place engine change penalty -
That was some qualifying session.
More rain is expected for tomorrow's race as well. -
Amazing race! Drama all the way save for the lengthy safety car period at the start.
Highlight for the spoilers:
Hamilton wins in dominant fashion, Kovaleinen takes second and steps onto the podium for the first time, holding off Räikkönen who fights back to third. The latter made a stunning pass on Coulthard on the way there.
Alonso crashes into the wall while running in second place, and Vettel takes himself and Webber out of the race while both Red Bulls were running third and second respectively.
Massa and Kubica battled wheel-to-wheel for sixth, all the way to the last corner of the race and the run-off area. -
Japanese Grand Prix, Fuji Speedway - 67 laps
1. HAMILTON McLaren
2. KOVALAINEN Renault +8.3s
3. RAIKKONEN Ferrari +9.4s
4. COULTHARD Red Bull +20.2s
5. FISICHELLA Renault +38.8s
6. MASSA Ferrari +49.0s
7. KUBICA BMW +49.2
8. LIUZZI Toro Rosso +55.6s
9. SUTIL Spyker +60.1s
10. BARRICHELLO Honda +88.3s
11. BUTTON Honda +1 lap
12. YAMAMOTO Spyker +1 lap
13. TRULLI Toyota +1 lap
14. HEIDFELD BMW +2 laps
15. SATO Super Aguri +2 laps
R. SCHUMACHER Toyota +12 laps
R. DAVIDSON Super Aguri +13 laps
R. ROSBERG Williams +18 laps
R. VETTEL Toro Rosso +21 laps
R. WEBBER Red Bull +22 laps
R. ALONSO McLaren +25 laps
R. WURZ Williams +48 laps -
i dont understand why kimi and massa went into the pit lane twice while they were just behind the mcclarens.
-
They'd started the race on the 'lighter' wet weather tyres and not the storm wets.Originally posted by dragg:i dont understand why kimi and massa went into the pit lane twice while they were just behind the mcclarens. -
Liuzzi has had 25 seconds added to his race time for passing Sutil under yellow flags on lap 55. That means the latter and the Spyker team score their first point of the season!
-
Hamilton is currently under investigation for precipitating the accident between Vettel and Webber at the Japanese Grand Prix.
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=40921
Video of Hamilton just before the said accident