Hey hey hey...or should I say kon'nichiwa? Welcome either back or to It's a racing thing. Where, this week, I'll be breaking down my highlights from the Japanese Grande Prix.
Starting with the pre-Sunday happenings. The atmosphere of this GP is just great, the Japanese fans really do go all out! Despite friday's rain, the mood was high at the Suzuka circuit. As was the mood in McLaren, as it was Oscar Piastri's birthday (it seems like just yesterday that Lando posted the 22 post. Time flies). Also on a high will be Red Bull, as they, yet again, topped the charts all weekend. Unless we focus on FP2 where Oscar came P1! (the session was cancelled due to rain - only 5 drivers got out on track) but still! Speaking of the Aussi himself, he spent some time with an old colleague and fellow driver, Esteban Ocon. The two racing remote control cars, where who knows, maybe, like always, the Alpine lost or possibly, for the first and only time, an Alpine may have won. Although, there is always the possibility that it was just a friendly game, no competition involved..
And I must mention, it's not just Japan looking beautiful this weekend as some Suzuka special helmets are just as gorgeous. My personal favourite being that of Yuki Tsunoda, but I mustn't discount Leclerc's lid with his tribute to the late Jules Bianchi (I'm not crying...you are). And 3rd place on my personal preference podium is Lando Norris, (the slick look much preferred than the usual neon yellow).
Now, onto the race...must we really talk about it? (Alex fan here). It didn't have the best of starts, a lap one red flag caused by a 'racing incident' with Albon and Ricciardo. (Personally, I believe Daniel Ricciardo was in the wrong, but the FIA deemed the whole thing not worthy of further investigation). Due to this, we had our first red flag of the season. This is a further blow for Williams and their chassis problem, *see the Melbourne post to know more about the ongoing problems at Williams. Speaking of, many team members have commented on the not-so-great atmosphere post Logan Sargeant's replacement in the race two weeks ago.
Throughout the 53 laps of the race, Piastri really got to know the back of that Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso, spending the entire race behind the Spaniard. Nearer the end of the race, George Russel joined the pair. Alonso, taking a page out of Sainz's book (throwback to Singapore '23), keeping Piastri in DRS range to hold Russel abet. However, George was having none of it, taking many attempts on overtaking the McLaren, to which, unfortunately, he did manage to do. The three finishing, Alonso, Russel, Piastri: 6th, 7th, 8th.
I can't go without mentioning the stand out radio messages throughout the race. Lance Stroll had a moment to which he said "It's unbelievable how bad our speed is on the straights, man. Like...it's from a whole different category", which was ironic seeing as his teammate was doing just fine 6 cars in front. Also struggling was Esteban Ocon who replied to the request 'push push' by saying "I am pushing! What are you talking about!?". Silently suffering in the other Alpine was Pierre Gasly, who was running comfortably in last place til Logan Sargeant's inchident on the race where he ran wide onto the gravel, managing to bring it back but only to last place.
Come the end of the race it was a Red Bull 1-2 (here we go again) with Max winning his 57th Grande Prix. Sainz got the final podium place, yet again finishing above his teammate in 4th. After an unlucky race and some questionable strategy, Lando Norris could only make P5, two places down from where he began the race. Then was Fernando Alonso, George Russel and Oscar Piastri. 9th was Lewis Hamilton and in 10th, for the first time ever, achieving points in his home race was home hero, Yuki Tsunoda. 11th was Nico Hulkenburg, followed by Lance Stroll, Kevin Magnussen and Valtteri Bottas. In 15th and 16th were the Alpines of Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, leaving Logan Sargeant last to pass the chequered flag. Zhou Guanyu had retired early in the race due to a gearbox issue and neither Albon nor Ricciardo got a lap in after that lap 1 incident.
As per usual, Verstappen got fastest lap, but Charles Leclerc was given driver of the day.
Next week, we move to China, for the first time in five years! The drivers will drive 56 laps around the Shanghai circuit. It runs for thirty miles, with sixteen corners and a long straight. Lets hope that race is more eventful than todays, see you next week!
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