Aston Martin driver ambassador and former W Series racer Jessica Hawkins has become the first woman in nearly five years to test a Formula 1 car, the Silverstone-based team announced on Tuesday.

Hawkins, a 28-year-old former British karting champion who has also worked as a James Bond movie stunt driver, did 26 laps in Aston’s 2021 car at the Hungaroring outside Budapest last Thursday. She alternated in the car with Brazilian test and reserve Felipe Drugovich.

“It’s taken me every bit of blood, sweat and tears to get here,” said the Briton of what she described as a dream come true.

“Nothing will compare to the acceleration and braking of a Formula One car and, having looked at the data, I’m really proud of my performance,” she added.

“I’ll keep pushing for more and, in the process, I want to inspire other women and let them know they should follow their dream no matter what it is.”

Daughter of an air-conditioning fitter, Hawkins’ racing career stalled for lack of cash until the Formula Three-level W Series, an all-female platform which has since folded, came along in 2019 with all costs paid. She joined Aston Martin as a driver ambassador in 2021.

“We were really impressed by Jessica’s preparation for the test – she worked incredibly hard with our simulator team and that made it an easy decision to put her in the AMR21,” said Aston Martin team boss Mike Krack.

“Jessica approached the opportunity with great maturity; she was up to speed quickly and found a nice rhythm,” Krack added.

F1 has not had a woman driver start a grand prix since Italian Lella Lombardi in 1976 but a number have tested the machinery.

The last female driver to test before Hawkins was Colombia’s Tatiana Calderon with Sauber, now Alfa Romeo, at Mexico City’s Hermanos Rodriguez track in October 2018. (Reporting by Alan Baldwin)

The post Jessica Hawkins tests F1 car for Aston Martin appeared first on GRAND PRIX 247.

Charles Leclerc believed he was heading towards a podium finish at the 2023 Japanese Grand Prix, but realized on the last lap that he was only fourth.

The Ferrari Formula 1 driver started last Sunday’s race from fourth on the grid, and that is where he finished despite believing while still in the car that he was on the podium.

The reason for that is that Leclerc had mistaken Sergio Perez for Max Verstappen during the race, when the Mexican slowed down to retire with a broken suspension after banging wheels with Haas’ Kevin Magnussen.

Leclerc was passing a slowing down Red Bull car on track under the Virtual Safety Car, and he basically thought it was Verstappen – who was leading the race – which meant he would be third behind the two McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

“I saw [Max] stop at the [virtual] safety car, I don’t know what happened then, and I thought he wasn’t in the race anymore,” Leclerc explained. “He was basically stopped on the left and we all overtook him.”

“So, I thought I was doing a podium until the last lap, when I actually looked at the board and I was P4!” he added.

Leclerc was facing the media after the race, and they explained to him it was Perez whom he passed on track; he responded: “Oh right, maybe that was Checo!

“Because I thought Max was out of the race at that moment, it was just confusing for me,” he admitted.

Ferrari had no answer to McLaren’s speed at Suzuka

After being the fastest car on track in Singapore, Ferrari dropped to third fastest behind Red Bull and McLaren, but while Carlos Sainz was faster in Singapore – he won the race – Leclerc had the upper hand over the Spaniard at Suzuka.

But that would not be enough to catch the McLarens, as Leclerc explained: “They [McLaren] were super strong, so there were no surprises. It was the maximum we could do.

“The pace wasn’t as strong as the McLarens and they also had very low tyre degradation,” he added. “But a weekend like this is good in a way, because it confirms exactly what we understood in the last few races.

“Sector one [the twisty Esses] is definitely one of our main weaknesses compared to McLaren. That’s where most of the time is lost and we’ll be working on that for the rest of the season.

“In the last four races we learned a lot about our car, but there’s still characteristics we cannot change until the end of the season.

“I hope we can come back to being the second-strongest team in Qatar,” the Monegasque concluded.

Leclerc currently sits sixth on the 2023 F1 Drivers Championship, 15 points behind teammate Sainz who is fifth. Ferrari on the other hand is third in the Constructors’ Standings, 20 points down on second-placed Mercedes.

The post Leclerc: I thought I was doing a podium until last lap appeared first on GRAND PRIX 247.

Mexican veteran Sergio Perez is going through one of the worst patches of his Formula 1 career, at Suzuka on Sunday “he had a shocker” says Red Bull team boss Christian Horner. Will the keep his seat when contract renewal time comes around?

Perez had a nightmare Japanese Grand Prix with collisions, penalties, retirement and subsequent un-retirement in a race that ended Red Bull’s 100% finishing record for the season. He did nothing to help his team clinch the 2023 F1 Constructors’ title on the day.

Dominant Max Verstappen, the unattainable benchmark Perez is chasing in vain, won the race comfortably and did enough to trigger title-winning celebrations. Red Bull team champions for a second year running.

Notably, Verstappen has scored a massive 400 points so far this season, more than the second-place Mercedes team and their two drivers, whose combined total is 305 points. The Dutch ace has turned RBR into a one-man show.

Perez needs to raise his game to stay in the game so to speak, at least back to the level he was at early in the season when he won two races in Jeddah and Baku fair and square. But after that, he has spiralled out of form alarmingly, in a ‘Daniel Ricciardo at McLaren’ kind of way. Simply destroyed by his younger teammate.

Horner told reporters after the race at Suzuka: “It was a shocker of a race for Perez. He got off to a bad start where he sort of got concertinaed on the run down to turn one and picked up some front wing damage. Then we needed to change the front wing and he overtook Fernando (Alonso) on the way into the pit lane, then picked up a penalty and then he went out and dive-bombed one of the Haases.”

Glock: He no longer has a chance against Verstappen

German ex-F1 driver turned Sky Germany pundit Timo Glock, is wary of what future lies in store for Perez after such a performance: “Sergio Perez has fallen off dramatically after a good start to the season. He no longer has a chance against Verstappen and little by little his limits have been shown to him, which is why he is probably pretty mentally down.

“Some of the mistakes that Perez makes are simply incomprehensible given his experience and put him in a difficult position,” argued Glock.

He also believes 33-year-old Perez could be replaced or even demoted if he does not find his mojo versus his teammate: “Nevertheless, Red Bull has said clearly that Perez will continue to share a garage alongside Verstappen next year.

“But of course, you bring in certain drivers like Daniel Ricciardo, Liam Lawson or Yuki Tsunoda who could take over if Perez doesn’t do a good job next year either. Which probably means he won’t be in a good position when his contract is due to be extended,” ventured Glock.

As for the team’s stance on the matter, Horner revealed to reporters in Japan: “At Red Bull Racing we want the best two drivers that are available. We’ve got a long-term contract with Max. Checo is out of contract at the end of 2o24. So you want to explore and see all of those options.

“Checo is in the hot seat at the moment and will obviously be keen to extend. We’ll see how Daniel does, we’ll see how Yuki does and, in the background, we’ll see what Liam is capable of in the test and reserve role,” Horner explained.

Marko: Perez is second in the championship. Why take action?

In July, Marko said this of Perez: “He has now woken up from his world championship dream. Maybe that will help him to focus again on delivering the best possible performance. We have a contract with Perez until the end of 2024. He is second in the world championship. What need do we have to take action?”

After Perez’s Suzuka shenanigans, Marko observed: “He had an unfortunate day which originated in the free practice sessions. He couldn’t match Max’s speed and today just everything went wrong, but we are confident of a strong comeback from him.”

While no pundits are advocating Perez be ditched before he sees his contract out at the end of next year, however, another ex-F1 driver turned Sky Germany pundit, six-time GP winner Ralf Schumacher is convinced RBR won’t extend the deal.

He commented on the Perez saga: “I think the answer is relatively clear. For me, the issue of Perez at the end of the season is solved. I think he knows that himself, the simplest and most logical solution for me is Ricciardo being at Red Bull next year.”

Perez has time on his side to raise his game to a level he is capable of as we saw earlier in the year. But will know that with Verstappen in the other car, the benchmark can be raised at any time. If anything, that’s been his harshest lesson this year.

The post Perez future at Red Bull beyond 2024 in jeopardy appeared first on GRAND PRIX 247.

A worker who died during the weekend of an injury received at a temporary Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix grandstand construction site at the Bellagio resort fountains was identified Monday by authorities.

The death of Tizoc Antonio, 37, of Las Vegas, was accidental, the Clark County coroner´s office said.

Nevada Occupational Safety and Health Administration spokeswoman Teri Williams said the agency was investigating.

Las Vegas police reported Saturday the worker was pronounced dead at University Medical Center after receiving what was described as a “severe laceration” on his neck.

Workers are building a massive spectator area in front of the Bellagio resort, where trees were removed in recent weeks and road surfaces are being repaved for the inaugural Formula 1 Las Vegas race – scheduled Nov. 16-18 on a 3.8-mile (6.1 kilometer) road course that includes parts of the Las Vegas Strip.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that tickets were priced at more than $11,000 per person for the spectator space in front of the Bellagio.

Representatives with Bellagio casino operator MGM Resorts International and the Las Vegas Grand Prix did not respond Monday to email and telephone requests for comment.

The inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix is scheduled for November 18 at 22:00 local time, the first F1 race to be held on a Saturday evening. (Report by the Associated Press)

The post A worker on Las Vegas GP construction site dies appeared first on GRAND PRIX 247.

Red Bull celebrated their second Formula 1 title in a row at the Japanese Grand Prix this weekend, now Max Verstappen must wait until October to be confirmed as a triple champion. [Editor’s Note: GRANDPRIX247 were first to bestow him the accolade after the Canadian GP ;-)]

The team’s sixth F1 constructor’s championship in their 19-year existence was secured at Suzuka, despite Sergio Perez failing to finish, after Verstappen dominated from pole position.

The fact that Perez is now the only driver who can mathematically beat Verstappen to the title meant Red Bull had done the double for a sixth time.

“We can’t lose it now,” said team boss Christian Horner. “Only a Red Bull driver can win the championship which is a great way to go into the next few races.”

Realistically, Perez has no chance and any sense of suspense disappeared long ago. Verstappen, who turns 26 on Saturday, will not need to do even one more lap if Perez, who started the campaign strongly with two wins in four races, continues his current form.

The 33-year-old Mexican had a nightmare Grand Prix at Suzuka on Sunday with collisions, penalties, a retirement and subsequent un-retirement in a race that ended Red Bull’s 100% finishing record for the season.

Horner: Suzuka was a shocker of a race for Perez

Reflecting on Perez’s escapades, Horner said: “He got off to a bad start where he sort of got concertinaed on the run down to turn one and picked up some front wing damage. Then we needed to change the front wing and he overtook Fernando (Alonso) on the way in to the pit lane, then picked up a penalty and then he went out and dive-bombed one of the Haases,” lamented Horner.

Perez retired but returned towards the end of the race to serve a penalty and avoid it being carried over to Qatar as a grid drop. Even if he suddenly achieves perfection he is now too far behind for it to make a difference against the winner of 13 of 16 races.

Verstappen is 177 points clear with 180 available to be won from the remaining six rounds — 25 per grand prix win plus a total of six for fastest laps and three Saturday sprints paying out a maximum eight additional points to the winner of each.

After Qatar, the first of the remaining sprint weekends, there will be only 146 available. That means Verstappen needs only three points to be champion even if the Mexican bags a maximum score at Lusail.

Perez won the Saturday sprint and Sunday race in Azerbaijan this year for a haul of 33 points, but Verstappen took 24 points from the same weekend and won the subsequent sprint races in Austria and Belgium.

It has been 36 races since Verstappen last came away from a weekend without scoring at least three points. Perez, on the other hand, has made it to the podium in only half the races this season.

If Verstappen clinches the title in the Saturday sprint in Qatar it would be the first time since the 1983 South African Grand Prix that the championship has not been won on a Sunday. (Reporting by Alan Baldwin)

The post Only a Red Bull driver can win 2023 F1 title… Guess who? appeared first on GRAND PRIX 247.

Lewis Hamilton wrestled his Mercedes to P5 at the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday, afterwards, he warned that his team faced their biggest Formula 1 development challenge ever in the coming months.

The seven-time F1 world champion, who has not won a race since 2021 and is now 38, said he was fighting hard for the team to finish second overall but major improvements had to come next season.

After a race of attrition at Suzuka, exhausted Hamilton told Sky F1: “It’s tough on weekends like this, particularly when the car is such a handful. The car felt just the same as last year, it’s bouncing and sliding.”

Hamilton managed to finish ahead of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz but was beaten by the Italian team’s Charles Leclerc and both McLarens. Teammate George Russell finished seventh.

He said Mercedes had taken the drivers’ opinions on board: “I think all the points that George and I give have been fully listened to. I have no idea where the car is going to be next year but we are a long, long way away.”

“The next six months has to be the greatest six months of development that we’ve ever, ever had to close that gap, to be really banging on the door,” declared the Briton.

With Mercedes-powered McLaren finishing P2 and P3 with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, Hamilton said his team needed to take a good look: “We can’t turn a blind eye to that. We’ve got to look at what they’ve done and go in that direction. That is the direction. But I truly believe my team can do it.

“We’ve always been great at putting downforce on the car, it’s just that with the way our car currently works, adding downforce isn’t working — it just makes it bounce more.

“Hopefully with the change in philosophy we will be back to where the team deserve because this is a world championship team,” added Hamilton, third in the 2023 F1 drivers’ standings behind the Red Bull duo. Mercedes are second in the Constructors’ table with six races remaining. (Reporting by Alan Baldwin)

The post Hamilton: We need the greatest six months of development ever appeared first on GRAND PRIX 247.

Oscar Piastri outqualified teammate Lando Norris for the 2023 Japanese Grand Prix, but admitted he still needed to work on improving his race pace.

In just his 16th Formula 1 race, Piastri managed to put his McLaren on the front row of the starting grid for the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday, outqualifying his highly-rated teammate Lando Norris.

But in the race, Norris had the upper hand, overtaking the rookie on the first lap and they both fought with Max Verstappen for the lead, after which Piastri did not have the pace to regain his second place despite trying to do so through the pit stops.

In the end, Piastri cut a calm figure after finishing the race third, achieving his first ever F1 career podium, and admitted his race was not the best.

But that doesn’t mean the podium is not important for him, he said: “It’s definitely significant, you know. You never forget your first podium regardless of whether it’s been a strong performance or not.

Good to tick off the first podium, but still work to be done

“So, it’ll be a special day and I won’t forget it and also ticking the first podium off the list is always a nice achievement to have. So, definitely some things I want to try and improve on and still work on but yeah, for now I’ll enjoy the trophy.

“I’ve been drowned by Lando in champagne which is a nice problem to have,” Piastri joked.  “And, try and work out how I can do better next time.”

Asked what he thinks he should be doing better, the Australian responded: “I think the tyre management and just pace at certain points of the race was not as strong as I would have liked.

“The first stint it felt like everyone was driving extremely slowly and then when I tried to push a bit more the tyres didn’t really let me go much faster. So a few things to work on there and yeah, just pace overall in the races.

“In these kinds of races there’s no easy way to learn apart from just going through the races and having an experience where it’s good or bad. So, I think pace, I think the one lap pace especially in last few weekends has been a good improvement from the start of the year,” he explained.

“But definitely, in these kinds of races, the race pace is still an area to improve,” Piastri concluded.

Piastri had the updated McLaren MCL60 at his disposal at Suzuka, an upgrade which was given to Norris one race earlier in Singapore.

Andrea isn’t alone… we’re all so happy for you, @OscarPiastri! 🧡#JapaneseGP 🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/0Usb7qe7m1

— McLaren (@McLarenF1) September 24, 2023

The post Piastri: Race pace is still an area to improve appeared first on GRAND PRIX 247.

Fernando Alonso gave one of the best soundbites during the 2023 Japanese Grand Prix, at one point complaining about the strategy telling his team they threw him to the lions by stopping early.

The double Formula 1 Champion started the race from tenth on the grid on Soft tyres in order to make up some places on the start, and indeed he was sixth by the end of Lap 1 wen the Safety Car came out to clear up the car parts that were all over the track after the first-lap mess.

But with the highly abrasive surface of the Suzuka track, that meant an early pitstop for Alonso (Lap 11) after which he had to make his tyres survive for a long stint and he was eaten up by cars.

Alonso has always been positive since he started driving for Aston Martin, as he racked up seven podium finishes with them in 2023, but at Suzuka he gave us a hint of the old Fernando.

He said: “You’ve thrown me to the lions by stopping that early mate, unbelievable.”

However, after the race, Alonso played down those comments insisting they were taken out of context, he told Motorsport.com: “I think it’s the same classic theme, the classic FOM radio, completely out of context.

“I’m not sure exactly what other drivers say when they are behind a car that is slower and on the straight, they are pulling away even when you open the DRS.

“Maybe they say, ‘I’m okay, I’m happy to stay here and to stay behind’,” he quipped. “But I prefer to be motivated, to overtake them. On track, as I said, I was slower even with the DRS open.

“So I called for a different strategy, we stopped, we beat them. So that’s the way we do it. We beat everyone on track, even if the radio is the highlight,” he maintained.

Alonso insisted eighth was the best result possible for Aston Martin in Japan, as the team continued to struggle to keep up with their rivals development pace, despite starting the season as second best behind Red Bull.

Aston Martin were better in the race

“I think we were fast today, faster than what we thought, in terms of pace,” he pointed out. “I was behind the Ferraris, in front of [Lewis] Hamilton with not too much pressure. I think in lap 12 we stopped. And I think it was to cover [Yuki] Tsunoda, which was a bit of a surprise there.

“After that stop, obviously, the race is very long from that moment onwards,” the Spaniard added. “Maybe that was a mistake. But easy to say now. I think arguably the final result would be P8, after the top teams. So it didn’t change much in our race.

“I was upset because the first stop I think it was too early. I didn’t argue. I knew that we stopped too early. And it’s not a problem. Sometimes we benefit,” he reckoned.

As to whether he is questioning the team strategy more, he said: “Sure. I think we had two hard tyres, and the Ferraris they had only one.

“We tried to anticipate the first stint, the first stop, you have to force them as well to go early. So I understand the strategy. So there is nothing wrong with it.

“But when you have a very slow car on the straights and you are into traffic, it can be that there are moments of rage that you lose momentum. It happened today, but I’m perfectly fine,” Alonso concluded.

Alonso is now fourth in the 2023 F1 Drivers’ Championship, 33 points down on Lewis Hamilton in third. Aston Martin are also fourth in the Constructors’ Standings, 74 points down on Ferrari in third.

The post Alonso: You’ve thrown me to the lions appeared first on GRAND PRIX 247.

Full transcript from the FIA hosted top three press conference after the Japanese Grand Prix, Round 16 of the 2023 Formula 1 World Championship.

Featuring race winner Max Verstappen (Red Bull), second-placed Lando Norris (McLaren) and third-placed Oscar Piastri (McLaren).

Track interviews conducted by Damon Hill

Q: Oscar Piastri, congratulations, your first ever Formula 1 podium. You put yourself, Melbourne and Australia up there. What have you got to say?

Oscar Piastri: Yeah, thank you very much. It feels pretty special. Definitely. I’ll remember it for a very, very long time. So, I can’t thank the team enough for giving me this opportunity. There’s not many people in the world that get this opportunity in their whole life and I’ve managed to have it in my first season, so thank you very much to the team. It wasn’t my best race ever but it was enough to get a trophy at the end. So, super-happy.

Q: A little bit disappointed perhaps to come second to your team-mate but some tight racing there. It was exciting for us, anyway. Any moments of concern during that?

OP: The move on George. I knew I had to try to get past, otherwise I was going to get stuck for a while. So, yeah, that one was a bit close – but our pace after that was very strong and I think in the second half of the race I got more into a groove, more into a rhythm and the pace was a bit better. So yeah, very, very happy, and excited to try to get some more.

Q: Well done Lando, you managed to pip your team-mate and very nearly Max Verstappen at the start there. Some tight moments but some great racing – and it worked out tactically as well for you.

Lando Norris: Yeah, another amazing day for us. A P2 and a P3, couldn’t have asked for any more, the team did an amazing job. My start was very good, I almost had Max – but Max is Max as well, so I didn’t have a lot of chance into Turn Two. I tried, but the pace was extremely strong today, comparing to everyone. We’re not close to Max but we’re not miles away either, so it was a very good day, I’m very happy. Also for Oscar, his first podium in Formula 1, so congrats to him.

Q: You’re getting closer all the time so maybe the next one is going to be one better than that position you got there.

LN: We’re pushing. We’re getting there. The progress we’ve made is pretty outstanding. Like I said, I’m very proud of the team, the steps forward we’re making every weekend. I’m sure there’s going to be some tough times to come but we’re getting there step-by-step and our first double podium together with Oscar, so yeah, a good moment for us.

Q: Max, back to winning ways. Absolutely superb performance all weekend, totally dominant, emphatic, and also, you’ve helped your team secure its sixth Constructors’ title. Congratulations.

Max Verstappen: Thank you very much. I mean, unbelievable weekend, of course. To win here was great. I think the car was working really well on every compound, but of course the most important was also to win the Constructors’. So, very proud of everyone working at the track but also back at the factory. I mean, we are having an incredible year and I’m very proud of everyone.

Q: It looked very smooth. Were there any moments of concern? You had a bit of a tight one at the start there going into Turn 1.

MV: Yeah. Only the start probably. A bit too much wheelspin but after that, it was quite a straightforward race, luckily.

Press Conference

Q: Max, you’ve won a lot of races this year, you’ve dominated a lot of races this year. How sweet was this one?

MV: Yeah, I think it was a good race. Of course, the start was a bit tight in the first two corners, but after that, yeah, the car was very nice to drive again. I could really look after the tyres well, the degradation was quite in control. Of course, I knew that our strategy was going to be a little bit different with the Medium tyres, compared to two times Hard for some others but it was still OK, I think. The balance was still quite OK, traction and stuff for the whole stint. So, yeah, honestly, like no real issues throughout the race, and I think that just sums up the weekend as well. It’s been an incredible weekend to drive the car.

Q: Is this the best that the car has been all season?

MV: Difficult to say. It’s been a really good weekend but I’ve had some other weekends I think also where the car has been really nice to drive. I mean, sometimes it’s not only your car but it also depends on the competition of course, how big of a gap it is.

Q: You referenced the start there. Can you just talk us through it. At one point I think you were three wide going into Turn 1.

MV: Yeah, I saw on the right mirror that of course Oscar had a little bit of a jump on me but at the same time I saw in my left mirror that Lando had a real jump on me and then I tried to, of course, close off Oscar but then, I mean, he was still there and I saw on the left-side Lando coming with a lot more speed. He then moved a bit to the right and I was, like, I can’t go more to the right! So I was, like, trying to get straight and yeah, luckily of course, nothing happened. It all got quite close but that’s racing. That’s how it goes at the start, and then, of course, we had a good battle also into Turn 1, into Turn 2. I was lucky, I think, that there was a bit more grip, I think, there was a bit more grip in Turn 2, just on the normal line, instead of trying to go around the outside.

Q: And what about this Constructors’ Championship Max. The team has won it with six races to go. Does this title feel different to last year?

MV: It’s better, for sure. The car has been more dominant this year, apart from Singapore – but all the races we’ve had a really, really good car. It’s just an incredible season for everyone involved within the team and yeah, just very proud to be a part of it but also very proud to be working with all of these amazing people here at the track but also especially back at the factory as well. These people you might not see at the track but they are doing also a lot of hard work to make sure that our cars are always in the best shape, get developed throughout the year, and also be best prepared for the year after.

Q: What’s been the team’s greatest strength this year?

MV: I think just everyone knowing their role very well and, of course, being good at what they do. But yeah, just communication and people working together to achieve a result like this.

Q: Lando, coming to you now. Another fantastic race for you and McLaren. How does this week’s second place compared to last week’s?

LN: A lot less stressful. Especially the last five or 10 laps. But just I’d say better, because we have two cars on the podium. So from a team side of things, yes, I’m much happier. You know, our first one since Monza a couple of years ago, a few years ago, but probably, in a way, our most deserved in terms of we’re there on pure pace. Nothing had to go our way. We’re just where we deserve to be, so yeah, an incredible day for everyone but also for myself. Things went, maybe not always to plan, but the pace was extremely strong. Couldn’t challenge Max. Maybe for half a car I actually got into lead for maybe half a second so I’ll take that. But, yeah, in a way, it feels better, because the pace was stronger. I could push and we were where we deserve to be, so a good job by the whole team to execute a perfect race.

Q: You say you’re where you deserve to be. Was the 19-second gap to Max what you were expecting pre-race?

LN: No, I was I was expecting him to probably lap us two or three times! And he didn’t, so… I mean, I was expecting probably a bigger gap. I think we all were, as a team. And I think it would have been a lot closer, I lost eight or 10 seconds behind Pérez under the VSC. I don’t know how hard Max was really pushing. I’m sure he could have gone a bit quicker if he wanted to. But to be only 19 seconds behind, he didn’t get a free pit-stop, which was lovely. And, yeah, I think it’s just signs of our progress. It’s a track which has suited the car very well. I’ve been very comfortable since Friday to push and get in a good rhythm. And I think that’s probably one of the most important things here, to feel comfortable with the car, get in a good rhythm. And I could do that yesterday. And I could do it today. And that shows with our speed we were able to perform. So yeah, another podium for us. Great result, load of points. So very good.

Q: Now, you mentioned points. Let’s look ahead. McLaren is 49 points behind Aston Martin in the Constructors’ Championship with six races to go.

LN: How many?

Q: Forty-nine. Can you beat them?

LN: Yes. I didn’t think it was that close. But yeah, if it’s 49, then I definitely think so. There’s not many races left. I’m sure there’s going to be a couple where Aston are going to be a bit stronger. But I think our advantage at the minute comparing to almost every team, bar a couple, is we have two drivers who are up there fighting for these positions and fighting for this points. And not every team has that at the minute. So I think that’s helping us. We can help one another, we can use one another, and I think that’s a good advantage we have over a lot of other teams at the minute. So we’re on an upward trend. We’re making good progress and days like today prove exactly that. Even though I know there’s going to be maybe some tougher races coming up at times and maybe not as straightforward as today but the progress we’ve made this season has been pretty incredible from my eyes and from where we were, to finishing 18 seconds behind the lead or 19 seconds is I think evidence of exactly that. So I’m proud of everyone and we’ll keep pushing.

Q: Thank you, Lando. Oscar, coming to you. What a weekend it’s been for you. You re-sign for McLaren. You start on the front row for the first time and you get your first Formula 1 podium. Can you sum it up for us?

OP: Yeah, it’s definitely been a pretty special week. Yeah, obviously with the announcement of the extension and then, yeah, qualifying on the front row yesterday. First podium today. It’s been a very fun week. So I’ll enjoy it. There’s still a lot to learn and try and improve on but yeah, I’ll enjoy the moment for now.

Q: Oscar, is it sweeter somehow to get that first front row, to get that first podium here at Suzuka, a real driver’s track?

OP: Yes, and no. I mean, it’s special wherever you get a podium, I think. To get the first one, I don’t think it really matters where, it’s always going to be special. You know, I think for myself, it probably wasn’t my strongest Sunday. So you know, from that side of things, there’s still a few things I want to work on. But no, to get the first podium, like Lando said, on pace as well is a very exciting moment.

Q: Oscar, can we just delve a little bit deeper into you saying it was not your strongest Sunday? Were there any particular issues that you can tell us about?

OP: I just wasn’t quick enough at certain points of the race, I think. You know, these high-deg races are probably the biggest thing I need to try and work on at the moment. I think it’s still quite fresh for me, obviously. In all the junior racing before this there are no races like this. So the only way you can learn from it is by just doing the races. So, definitely a few things, had I had this race again, that I would have done a bit different. But that’s all part of the learning. So, yeah, exciting to know that we can finish on the podium, even if I feel like there’s more to come.

Q: And would you have done anything differently at the start? Can you just talk us through what happened?

OP: Well, looking back on it now I was in the perfect position to emulate Senna and Prost, like, literally perfect. It’s true. But no, I saw I got a good launch, got a bit too excited on the throttle pedal in the second part of the start and at that point I knew I wasn’t far enough alongside Max. I could see Lando was coming around the outside. So yeah, I think settling for third was definitely the safest… and just the safest option at that point.

Questions from the floor

Q: (Jake Boxall-Legge – Autosport) Lando, you mentioned that you lost time behind Perez in the VSC and we did see it on the TV broadcast. Can you just explain what happened because it looked a little bit bizarre from our standpoint?

LN: I have no idea. I don’t know what… he must have had a problem, right? But the thing is you can’t overtake under the VSC unless it’s obvious the guy has a problem and I don’t know what was going on, I didn’t know if he had a problem, whether he was just backing me up. I didn’t know and I couldn’t take the risk of just overtaking him. He was going so slowly and then when we get the flashing dash for the VSC ending, he went into first gear and then I was on the outside of him because he was going so slowly, and then he almost crashed into me. So I honestly have no idea. I was shouting in my helmet. I was swearing quite a bit, but just got… I was so confused, I didn’t know what I could do. I’m losing time to Max. The Ferrari guys were, I think, 1.4 seconds behind me after being I think 12s or 13s, so I lost 10 seconds. And I didn’t know what I could do at the time. If he has a problem, he should pull over and make it obvious that he has a problem. So he didn’t and therefore I couldn’t take the risk of passing under a VSC so no idea. I don’t think it would have changed the world, just made me stress for a little bit more. But it would have been maybe just a bit better to put Max under a little bit of pressure at least, after that. I don’t think we would have been quite as far behind. So yeah, a frustrating time, maybe I’ll ask next time what you’re allowed to do but I think I did the right thing so all okay.

Q: (Luke Smith – The Athletic) Max, you said about this year being a step up from last year in terms of the Constructors’ title win. Have you felt internally within the team any big changes, any big shifts, because operationally, Red Bull doesn’t seem to have put a foot wrong this season either? It does seem like everything’s gone up a level.

MV: I think the car’s just better this year. I think the people are pretty much in the same spot and we know that they’re good. So it’s about just working with an even better car, I think, this year, a bit more predictable, I think as well. Except Singapore, but like all the other races it’s been very predictable and just nicer to drive, I think.

Q: (Mat Coch – Speedcafe.com) Oscar, you said this wasn’t your best race but is the podium significant to you, or how significant is it to you?

OP: Yeah, it’s definitely significant, you know. You never forget your first podium regardless of whether it’s been a strong performance or not. So yeah, it’ll be a special day and I won’t forget it and also ticking the first podium off the list is always a nice achievement to have. So yeah, definitely some things I want to try and improve on and still work on but yeah, for now I’ll enjoy the trophy. I’ve been drowned by Lando in champagne which is a nice problem to have. And yeah, try and work out how I can do better next time.

Q: (Mat Coch – Speedcafe.com) Oscar, just to follow up on that one: you said there’s bits that you want to improve; are you able to put some meat on those bones for us?

OP: Yeah, just I think the tyre management and just pace at certain points of the race was not as strong as I would have liked. The first stint it felt like everyone was driving extremely slowly and then when I tried to push a bit more the tyres didn’t really let me go much faster. So a few things to work on there and yeah, just pace overall in the races. And like I said, in these kinds of races there’s no easy way to learn apart from just going through the races and having an experience where it’s good or bad. So yeah, I think pace, I think the one lap pace especially in last few weekends has been a good improvement from the start of the year but definitely, in these kinds of races, the race pace is still an area to improve.

Q: (Luke Smith – The Athletic) Max, I’d like to ask you about the Max Verstappen podcast. He seems to be hosting up after every race now. How do you find those moments in the cooldown room, the three of you all together? Is it a nice chance to talk about what’s happened? How do you find the emotions in that moment? And do you really not like podcasts?

MV: Yeah, I don’t even know who came up with that because I don’t even like podcasts, they make me fall asleep. So I don’t know. Maybe we can call it something different. Or come up with something a bit more fun.

OP: Yeah, I don’t know, I was just happy to be a guest.

MV: You can be a guest of anything. Yeah, it’s nice. I think it’s natural, right, when you see some footage of the race and you talk about it as drivers too quickly when you see some shots. Nowadays everything gets recorded. Fortunately when the camera’s there can’t say everything you want to say.

The post Japanese Grand Prix: Top Three Press Conference appeared first on GRAND PRIX 247.

Max Verstappen finally said what everyone has been trumpeting so far this Formula 1 season, that he and Red Bull are utterly dominating the sport.

Verstappen’s and Red Bull’s rivals are hopeless trying to find a way to close the gap to them, not even daring to dream they could beat them, not on a regular basis that is.

As while the 2023 F1 Constructors’ Champions and their soon to be triple F1 Champion driver tripped quite badly in Singapore, that turned out to be a track-specific blip.

Verstappen’s dominant pole at Suzuka followed by a win by almost 20 seconds was a rude awakening to Red Bull’s rivals who were miserably dreaming that their reign could be coming to an end following Singapore.

As a result Verstappen was clearly on mission in Japan to reinforce his authority over the grid, and he did so in style.

Speaking in Red Bull’s Japanese Grand Prix debrief, Verstappen said: “What an incredible weekend! It’s been a massive Team effort, there are a lot of people involved in getting us to where we are today.

“You only really see very few people here at track, there are lots of people working tirelessly at the factory to make sure we are always performing at our highest.

“What we are showing this year is pure dominance, we can all be extremely proud,” the Dutchman declared. “It was an amazing feeling to see the Team celebrating in the garage on the track TVs during my in-lap.

“We’re definitely enjoying it but we won’t take anything for granted,” he concluded.

A different story in the #11 Red Bull RB19

On the other hand, and in the sister Red Bull, Sergio Perez had another nightmare of a race, in the thick of carbon fiber shattering fights, going through a couple of front wings and slapped with two penalties until he ended his race with a clumsy move on Kevin Magnussen, damaging his front suspension.

He only returned to the track in the final few laps to serve the second penalty  (he retired before he did) to avoid serving it in the next race in Qatar, a shrewd move by Red Bull.

In the end the Mexican had to go through the humiliation of his team clinching their sixth F1 Constructors’ Title without him even contributing in the points.

He said: “It would have been nice to clinch the Championship in a different way but it has been an incredible year and I am so happy for the Team today.

“My race ended up not being straightforward at all; we had a poor start and everything went downhill from there unfortunately. The collisions caused too much damage so we brought the car in to assess.

“After fixing the car we then had a penalty to serve, which we did, and then brought the car in. Despite this, it has been a really great day for the whole team and to finally get that title is really special.

“I am proud of each and every single one of the team; they have done a really tremendous job,” Perez concluded.

Six times. 👑👑👑👑👑👑 #GivesYouWings pic.twitter.com/20vTYsKaQx

— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) September 24, 2023

The post Verstappen: What we are showing this year is pure dominance appeared first on GRAND PRIX 247.

Lando Norris may have finished almost 20 seconds behind Max Verstappen in the Japanese Grand Prix, but insists McLaren are edging closer to the top.

There was no answer for Verstappen at Suzuka, and apart from a brief challenge at the start, in the first couple of corners from Norris, the Dutchman otherwise was smooth sailing to the win.

The Red Bull ace finished just under twenty seconds ahead of Norris, but the latter insists the gap wouldn’t have been so big had it not been to a Virtual Safety Car, but then who said Verstappen was pushing?

Nevertheless, McLaren had a strong race to take a double podium finish, with Piastri finishing third behind Norris, as the Woking squad are steadily improving with every race and every car upgrade.

“The pace was so good today after losing 10 seconds under the VSC, to only be 19 seconds behind Max it shows how good of a day it’s been,” Norris told Sky Sports F1 after the race. “I’m just very happy for everyone, Oscar as well with his first podium.

“I’ve not been that strong at starts today but I got a great one. So I worked hard on that with my start engineer,” he revealed.

“I almost had Max but I had so much understeer in Turns 1 and 2. But I tried, gave it a shot, just not enough today,” he admitted.

Later in McLaren’s post race report, Norris added: “Another amazing day for us. A P2 and a P3, the team did an amazing job and I’m very proud of the steps forward we’re making every weekend.

“We’re getting there,” he claimed. “The pace was extremely strong today. We’re not close to Max but we’re not miles away either, so it was a very good day and I’m very happy.

“Congratulations to Oscar, his first podium in Formula 1, our first double podium together. A good moment for us,” Norris concluded.

McLaren achieved an important milestone in Japan

McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella summed up his team’s grand prix in Japan, he said: “This week in Japan we’ve reached an important milestone in our journey at McLaren.

“For the first time this season, we finished with both cars on the podium. It’s also the first podium for Oscar in Formula 1. That’s a phenomenal achievement in his rookie season. We’re delighted for him and so pleased as a team that we’ve been able to make it possible.

“The remarkable job done by the whole team trackside and factory side is what has made the difference; I want to thank all of the team once more.

“We look forward to the remainder of the season with optimism. It will be tough to repeat this kind of result, but we’ll give it our best shot and hope we can take that final step in performance,” Stella concluded.

As for McLaren CEO Zak Brown, he was clearly elated after his team’s double podium, he told Sky Sports F1: “The team is just doing such a fantastic job, executing week in, week out.

“I think we will be strong at the next race, so we will keep pushing, that’s all we can do,” the American vowed.

Two trophies. One team. 🧡#JapaneseGP 🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/zJlVLG1j8T

— McLaren (@McLarenF1) September 24, 2023

The post Norris: We’re getting there appeared first on GRAND PRIX 247.

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri was happy to be a new addition to what has jokingly been dubbed the Max Verstappen podcast after taking his first Formula 1 podium in Japan on Sunday.

Red Bull’s Championship leader Verstappen has appeared in the cool-down room – where cameras and microphones catch the gestures and comments of the top three drivers – after all but one of 16 races this season.

On social media the pre-podium moment has been likened to a recording studio with Verstappen as host.

Red Bull have seen the funny side, advising on social media when Verstappen finished fifth in Singapore last weekend that “The Cool-down Room podcast with Max will return at a later date”.

The Cool-down Room podcast with Max will return at a later date 😅

— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) September 17, 2023

“It’s back,” they declared on Sunday after Verstappen romped to his 13th victory of the season ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris and Australian rookie Piastri. Norris alluded to “Max’s podcast” while waiting.

It’s back. https://t.co/qH0qIuc818

— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) September 24, 2023

Asked about it afterwards, Verstappen himself seemed less impressed: “I don’t even know who came up with that because I don’t even like podcasts, they make me fall asleep.

“Maybe we can call it something different. Or come up with something a bit more fun,” he suggested.

Piastri told reporters he was “just happy to be a guest”. After starting a grand prix on the front row for the first time, the 22-year-old lost out to Norris at the start but said third still felt pretty special.

Piastri: It wasn’t my best race

“There’s not many people in the world that get this opportunity in their whole life and I’ve managed to have it in my first season, so thank you very much to the team,” he said. “It wasn’t my best race ever but it was enough to get a trophy at the end. So, super-happy.”

Piastri, whose contract extension to the end of 2026 was announced earlier in the week, recognized he still had a lot to learn.

“I just wasn’t quick enough at certain points of the race, I think,” he said. “In all the junior racing before this there are no races like this. So the only way you can learn from it is by just doing the races.

“Definitely a few things, had I had this race again, that I would have done a bit different. But that’s all part of the learning,” Piastri concluded.

McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella spoke of Piastri’s maiden F1 podium, he said: “That’s a phenomenal achievement in his rookie season.

“We’re delighted for him and so pleased as a team that we’ve been able to make it possible,” the Italian added. (Reporting by Alan Baldwin, Additional reporting by GrandPrix247)

Best episode of the max verstappen podcast pic.twitter.com/6lFKZCTMJ1

— Lando Norris (@LandoNorris) September 24, 2023

The post Piastri: Happy to be a guest on the Verstappen podcast appeared first on GRAND PRIX 247.

Christian Horner, just after Red Bull secured their sixth Formula 1 Constructors’ Title at Suzuka, hailed the job Max Verstappen has done motivating the team.

The F1 Constructors’ World Championship is by definition a team effort but rarely has one driver played such a dominant role in securing it as Red Bull’s Verstappen in 2023.

The Dutch driver’s comfortable victory from pole position in Japan on Sunday made sure of the team Title with six races to spare.

Suzuka, the home track of engine partners Honda in their 75th anniversary year, was an entirely fitting place to celebrate. It surprised nobody to see that the team had their title T-shirts ready to wear immediately after the chequered flag.

Red Bull are going through a golden moment, operating on a higher plane than ever and enjoying a new level of success. Their sixth F1 Constructor’s Title was one all rivals had given up on long ago.

It was Verstappen’s 13th win of a season spent rewriting records, with the F1 Champion taking an unprecedented ten in a row until the stumble in Singapore last weekend, and Red Bull’s 15th in 16 races. It was also Red Bull’s 25th win out of 27 and Verstappen’s 28th from 38 races since the start of last season.

Looking at it differently, Red Bull have been beaten only twice in the last 12 months.

This season the Dutch driver has added 400 points to Red Bull’s tally of 623 – a personal score 95 more than second-placed Mercedes have managed with two drivers and also more than the total of the bottom six teams.

An amazing year

“It’s been the most amazing race for us, the most amazing year,” said team boss Christian Horner, whose team won four F1 Title doubles in a row between 2010 and 2013 and another last season – 2022.

“The kind of season that we have had is just testimony to all the effort that goes in behind the scenes, from all the different departments and the crazy hours that they work,” he added. “There’s just so many people that form what is the best team that we’ve ever had.

“Without them we wouldn’t be able to produce a car like we’ve done and then obviously Max has just taken that and destroyed the rest of the field with it,” Horner pointed out.

Red Bull are sure to take another title double this year, with only Perez remaining in contention but now 177 points adrift after failing to finish on Sunday. The pair have finished first and second on six occasions this year.

“I don’t think any of us could have ever envisaged (in 2005) what lay ahead of us,” Horner told reporters earlier in the week.

“Within 19 seasons to have achieved what we have has been a phenomenal journey so far. But it’s never a question about looking back. It’s always a question of looking forward.”

For the team that means preparing for a new engine era, with Red Bull building their own powertrain from 2026 in a technical partnership with Ford.

“It’s been quite a journey, and hopefully a few more chapters to go,” said Horner. “I think success only spurs all aspects of the business to do better.

“And of course, when you’ve got a driver like Max Verstappen, that just adds that added motivation that nobody wants to let the team down,” the Red Bull boss concluded. (Reporting by Alan Baldwin)

The post Horner: A driver like Verstappen just adds motivation appeared first on GRAND PRIX 247.

Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz finished the Japanese Grand Prix fourth and sixth respectively, and Team Principal Frederic Vasseur claims the team have made the best out of the situation.

After the highs of Singapore, Ferrari got a reality check at Suzuka, only the third fastest team this weekend, with Leclerc and Sainz finishing the race from where they started – fourth and sixth respectively.

But the Reds were able to mix it up with the McLarens on Sunday with decent race execution, and while they could not reach the podium with any of their cars, team boss Fred Vasseur insists they have maximized their potential.

Speaking in Ferrari‘s post race report, Vasseur did not miss to congratulate rivals Red Bull on winning their sixth Formula 1 Constructors’ Title.

“First of all, congratulations to Red Bull for winning the Constructors’ title,” he said. “They have done a great job this season.

“As for our race, I think we did the most we could have done today, making up another four points on Mercedes,” the Frenchman added.

“At a track we knew would be difficult for our car, we always had our situation under control: Charles did well to manage his tyres, while after Carlos was undercut by Lewis (Hamilton), we decided to extend his stint on the Mediums, hoping to get the benefit towards the end. It’s very close between ourselves, Mercedes and McLaren and the order can change depending on the track, as we saw in Singapore,” he explained.

“Obviously, we can’t be happy with a fourth and a sixth place but, having gained some ground on our closest rivals, we will stay focussed and prepare to give our very best at the upcoming races,” Vasseur concluded.

Leclerc had a good race, Sainz laments losing out on fifth

Leclerc added: “It was a good race and, even though I am not completely happy with a P4, we brought home the best possible result today as McLaren were strong and we just didn’t have the pace to fight them harder.

“I had a fun battle with George (Russell), who did a great job in managing his tyres, especially the rears, which made it challenging to pass him. I took the opportunity to pass him in turn 1 when I saw a gap and it worked out well.

“We improved our understanding of this car and what we’ve learned will be useful in the future. It will be interesting to see how our competitors progress in the upcoming races,” the Monegasque concluded.

After winning in Singapore, Sainz could not manage more than sixth in Japan, outpaced all weekend by his teammate.

“I think today we had better pace than the result suggests,” the Spaniard said. “We had a very good start and we were quick straight away.

“During the first two stints I managed my tyres well and had good pace, but we got undercut by Lewis (Hamilton) after the second stop and that compromised my race. I tried to extend my stint to have better tyres at the end and gave everything to close the gap quickly.

“Unfortunately, the race was a couple of laps too short for me today and we had to settle for sixth,” the Ferrari driver lamented.

“As always, we will analyse the whole weekend when we are back home to see if we could have done something differently, but on the positive side I think the pace was there today.

“We will regroup and recharge our batteries before heading off to Qatar,” Sainz concluded.

With six races remaining in the 2023 F1 season, Ferrari are third in the 2023 Constructors’ Championship, and have their sights set on Mercedes’ second place with a 20-point-gap to bridge if they are to succeed.

The post Ferrari: We did the most we could have done appeared first on GRAND PRIX 247.

Lewis Hamilton gave his verdict on Mercedes’ current form after finishing fifth in the Japanese Grand Prix, believing the situation was bad as 2022.

Mercedes were the fourth fastest team in Japan, behind Red Bull, McLaren, and Ferrari, and while Hamilton finished two places ahead of were he started (seventh), he was almost 50 seconds away from race winner Max Verstappen.

The seven-time Formula 1 Champion had to fight many cars on his way to the chequered flag, his teammate George Russell included as the Mercedes pair slugged it out, too close for comfort at some time, maybe feeling more free in the absence of boss Toto Wolff (absent due to knee surgery) and giving his deputy Jerome d’Ambrosio a baptism of fire.

In the end, firm team orders came to Russell, who gambled on a one-stop strategy, to allow Hamilton through as both were a risk of being overtaken by Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz. Russell finished seventh.

Speaking after the race, Hamilton told Sky Sports F1: “I’m exhausted, for one. Fighting with absolutely everything I have to get as high up as possible and get ahead of Ferrari, which had an upgrade this week so they were particularly quick.

“They have been quicker the last three races,” he pointed. “It was a hell of a fight. I scored the most points for the team, I’m really trying to hold on [to second] for the constructors’ title because I really know how important it is for everyone back at the factories.”

Hamilton claimed his W14 was acting as its infamous predecessor, the W13, that was basically an evil Silver bouncing trap in 2022.

He said: “Giving it absolutely everything, but it’s tough on weekends like this particularly where the car is such a handful. Basically the exact same as last year, so feeling-wise the car felt just the same as last year, bouncing and sliding.

“So that’s tough given how much work we have done to progress and we are not any closer to the front, at least here.

“But we did get ahead of one of the Ferraris which is great team work and great work from the guys in the pit stop and with strategy.

“A long way to go,” the winner of 103 grands prix maintained, before going on to explain what Mercedes need to do to be in better shape in 2024.

Next six months of development crucial for Mercedes

He said: “There are things that I’ve asked for that we’ve gone in part of the direction for next year. I think all the points that George and I give have been fully listened to.

“I have no idea where the car is going to be next year but we are a long, long way away. The next six months have got to be the greatest six months of development that we’ve ever, ever had to close that gap. To be really banging on the door.

“But the evidence is there at the McLarens and we can’t turn a blind eye to that. We’ve got to look at what they’ve done and go in that direction. That is the direction. But I truly believe my team can do it.

“We’ve always been great at putting downforce on the car, it’s just that with the way our car currently works, adding downforce isn’t working – it just makes it bounce more,” he explained.

“Hopefully with the change in philosophy we will be back to where this team deserve because this is a world championship team. We still are an amazing team and I have absolute faith in everyone.

But decisions that are made in this period of time are critical for our trajectory,” Hamilton concluded.

Russell insisted taking a risk on a one-stop strategy was worth it, he reflected: “It was definitely worth the punt.

Russell: That radio is a vent to release some frustration

“The three-stop would probably have been faster than the one-stop but the one-stop gave us a chance to be P3 if there was a Safety Car or red flag, or even if overtaking was slightly harder than we predicted.

“Ultimately, we did have a shot but the end result is a fair representation,” he reckoned.

The younger of he Mercedes pair expressed his frustration with team orders issued to him to let Hamilton by; he commented: “When you’re in the car and 48 laps in, you’re giving it everything and you’re making a sub-optimal strategy to try and work. That radio is a vent to release some frustration.

“Overtaking was difficult. You saw Piastri with much fresher tyres and a much faster car this weekend, he didn’t fly by. It took him two laps.

“For me the goal is to secure P2 in the constructors’. On my personal side, the drivers’ championship is totally out of the window. It’s been a complete disaster of a season, so many missed chances.

“Lewis is in a really good position for P3. Standing here now, it’s all good,” Russell concluded.

The result from Suzuka, and despite Verstappen only scoring points for Red Bull, meant the 2023 F1 Constructors’ Title is now sealed by the Milton Keynes squad, as Mercedes who are still second will now have to focus on keeping third-placed Ferrari at bay, the latter only 20 points behind.

The post Hamilton: Car felt just same as last year, bouncing and sliding appeared first on GRAND PRIX 247.

In the wake of one of the most memorable Qualifying laps in Formula 1 history, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen starts today’s Japanese Grand Prix as outright favourite to win and also, with Sergio Perez playing his part, do enough to seal the 2023 Constructors’ world title for their team.

Singapore is looking more and more like a blip in a remarkable season for the F1 World Champions, star driver and team, with the RB19 a tricky but fabulous piece of kit to drive, and no one drives it better than Max as his 12 wins this season prove. And THAT lap yesterday.

Playing clairvoyant, one can see Verstappen rushing off into the distance whether he has a good start or not, because he can win with that car from anywhere, and cruise into the distance for win his 13th win, with Sergio Perez carving his way upfield, with a podium possible with that car, as he proved at Monza not too long ago.

And thereafter Red Bull will do their usual raucous celebrations wearing “2023 F1 World Champs” T-shirts as the squirt champers all over the place and deservedly so.

Who can realistically stop them in Japan today? No one. But if you are forced to hazard a guess: McLaren are in it to win it finally. With the incredible Oscar Piastri starting on the front row for the first time, with Lando Norris lining up in third behind Max, it’s one against two. Maybe them?

If the two play cleverly, they could cause a surprise. Provided they catch a sniff of the #1 car. To start with a double-pronged attack off the line would be nifty, presuming Max fiddles during his launch phase (perhaps the only tiny chink in his armour) because beating the #1 Red Bull into that famous Turn 1 will be key to having a chance in the race.

That is likely to be Piastri’s goal, with the bonus being Norris sneaking by into second. A one-two McLaren dictating the pace at the front may be a wish too far for neutrals wanting a race like the one we had last Sunday at Marina Bay. Nothing wrong with wishful thinking.

Beyond McLaren, who have really upped their game since this batch of upgrades broke cover. Both cars now with them bolted are second in the pecking order at Suzuka, and not too far off the one Red Bull, yet well off Max.

Can Lando and Oscar beat Max today at Suzuka?

A double podium today for Zak Brown’s team, run by Andrea Stella, will be a just reward for the Woking folk who have turned their season around and returned the famous team back to front-runner status. The top step will be a fairytale for either of the Mclaren lads, amid Verstappen’s fables.

Fresh from their first win of the season, Ferrari were not the force they were in Singapore. Nevertheless, a more subdued Ferrari was still good enough for fourth on the grid for Charles Leclerc with Singapore winner Carlos Sainz in sixth. Podium possible. Win unlikely.

Also off the boil, considering they were Mercedes, victory contenders a week ago but this weekend they struggled. Lewis Hamilton was the best of the Mercedes pair but down in P7 with George Russell in P8, a second off the in Q3 when all firepower is on the table.

Outside chance of a podium for Hamilton who can never be discounted, especially when he moans. Normally a precursor to a massive performance from the seven-time F1 World Champion, he will need one to celebrate on the podium come Sunday afternoon. Russell… George should focus on bringing his Black Arrow home in one piece.

Worth noting, the quartet of young drivers starting the race at the front represent the future of F1, and how spoilt GP fans are going to be when the four all get into winning cars.

Other Japanese Grand Prix sideshows:

• Yuki on home soil has been good value. Can he blow the roof off the place with a podium? That would be sweet. It’s Suzuka, it rains, shit happens, anything can go down today!
• Watch Fernando in the ever-slower Aston Martin and by how much he continues to destroy teammate Lance…
• Can hapless Logan keep his Williams in one piece for a GP distance?
• Alpine? Alfa Romeo? Haas? Where are you guys?

Japanese Grand Prix Stats & Facts supplied by Reuters

• Round 16 of the 22-race 2023 FIA Formula 1 World Championship:
• Lap distance: 5.807km. Total distance: 307.471km (53 laps)
• 2022 pole position: Max Verstappen (Netherlands) Red Bull one minute 29.304 seconds
• 2022 race winner: Verstappen
• Race lap record: Lewis Hamilton (Britain) Mercedes, 2019: One minute 30.983 seconds.
• Start time: 0500GMT (1400 local)
• Red Bull will retain their constructors’ championship if they score one point more than Mercedes and Ferrari do not outscore them by 24.
• Red Bull currently have a 308-point advantage over Mercedes and 332 over Ferrari, with only 309 points — including those from sprint races and fastest laps — still to be won after Suzuka.
• Should Red Bull end the weekend only 309 points clear of Mercedes, they will still be champions on race wins.
• Sunday’s race will be the 37th Japanese Grand Prix in world championship history and 33rd at Suzuka.
• The narrow, high-speed circuit is old-style in a figure-of-eight layout, with fast corners Degner 1 and 2, Spoon and 130R, taken at 295kph.
• Of current drivers, Hamilton has won five times in Japan (2007 at Fuji, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018) and Fernando Alonso twice (2006 Suzuka and 2008 Fuji). Other winners are Verstappen (2022) and Valtteri Bottas (2019).
• Mercedes have won six of the last seven Japanese Grands Prix.
• Ferrari last won at Suzuka, a Honda-owned circuit, with Michael Schumacher in 2004. The German won the Japanese Grand Prix a record six times.
• In 32 races at Suzuka, the winner has come from the front row on 27 occasions and been on pole in 16. Kimi Raikkonen won from 17th on the grid in 2005 with McLaren.
• Nine of the last 16 winners have started on pole.
• AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda is the only Japanese driver on the starting grid.

Victories, Pole Position, Podium & Fastest Laps

• Verstappen has won 12 of 15 races this season, his record run of 10 wins in a row ending in Singapore last Sunday.
• The Dutch driver has 47 wins from 178 starts and is fifth on the all-time list. Alain Prost, with 51, is fourth.
• Red Bull have won 14 of 15 races, with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz winning in Singapore. Red Bull have also had a team record six one-two finishes in 2023.
• Hamilton has a record 103 victories from 325 starts but has not won since Saudi Arabia in December 2021. Aston Martin’s Alonso has 32 wins, most recently in Spain in 2013 with Ferrari, from a record 370 starts.
• Ferrari’s Sainz is chasing his third pole in a row.
• Hamilton has a record 104 poles.
• Red Bull have been on pole 10 times this season. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc took the top slot in Azerbaijan and Belgium, Hamilton in Hungary and Sainz in Italy and Singapore. Verstappen has eight poles for 2023.
• Six teams and 10 drivers have made a podium appearance this season: Red Bull, Alpine, Aston Martin, McLaren, Mercedes and Ferrari.
• Verstappen’s fifth place in Singapore was the first time he had been off the podium since Brazil last November.
• Verstappen holds the record for most podiums in a season — 18 in 2021 — and has had 14 so far in 2023. Michael Schumacher is the only driver to have finished on the podium in every race of a season, in 2002.
• Seven different drivers have taken fastest laps this season – Alonso, Alfa Romeo’s Guanyu Zhou, Verstappen (6), Perez (2), Hamilton (3), Mercedes’s George Russell and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.

The post Japanese Grand Prix: Verstappen versus McLaren Boys appeared first on GRAND PRIX 247.

Reigning and soon to be three time Formula 1 World Champion, Max Verstappen told Red Bull’s doubters to “go suck on an egg” after taking a dominant Japanese Grand Prix pole position, a week after the team’s record run of 15 wins in a row ended in Singapore.

The runaway 2023 Formula 1 championship leader’s lap of one minute 28.877 seconds around Suzuka was 0.581 faster than McLaren’s Australian rookie Oscar Piastri, who will line up on a Sunday front row for the first time.

There had been some who suspected a recent technical directive on flexible bodywork had clipped Red Bull’s wings in Singapore and possibly beyond, but Verstappen showed normal service had resumed.

He said there had been no recurrence of any of last weekend’s handling problems: “We had a bad weekend. Of course, then people start talking about: Ah, it’s all because of the technical directives.

“I think they can go suck on an egg. But for my side, I was just very fired up to have a good weekend here and make sure that yeah, we were strong,” added the Dutch ace.

Verstappen, who was on an unprecedented streak of 10 victories in a row before the shock of Singapore, said his car had given him a lot of confidence.

“When you have that confidence, especially in sector one you can really push it to the limit in a controlled way. It brought a smile on my face while driving,” Verstappen added.

The 25-year-old, who is a massive 151 points clear of Mexcian teammate Sergio Perez in the standings after 15 of 22 races, said it had been an incredible weekend so far.

The pole was Max’s ninth of 2023 ending a run of three in four races for Ferrari

“You have pole positions where you feel ‘Ah, the lap was quite OK’ but it always feels like a bit edgy or you think there was a bit more lap time in it or we could have changed the balance around a little bit,” Verstappen said.

“I think today and the whole weekend already the car has been like I knew that if I would go out I could just smash the lap time in without even having to think about it,” added Verstappen whose Red Bull team are set to retain their constructors’ championship in Suzuka on Sunday.

“I think what we’ve witnessed today is something very special,” team boss Christian Horner told Sky Sports television.

“That first sector was absolutely mighty. That first run looked good enough to get the job done but then he just went quicker again. All his laps have been stunning today … it’s been an absolutely mind-blowing performance,” raved Horner.

Verstappen’s race engineer also played a part in revving up the driver said Horner: “GP (Gianpiero Lambiase) started winding him up for the last run to say ‘let’s see a 28 (seconds) in there. I said to GP I’d like to see four wheels on the car at the end of it.”

Horner said Singapore was “a bit of an anomaly” and the team had learned a few lessons: “The car’s always been strong at this type of circuit all year, particularly that first sector which is man and machine at the limit. And today that was an awesome display. (Reporting by Alan Baldwin)

The post Verstappen: They can go suck on an egg appeared first on GRAND PRIX 247.

McLaren CEO Zak Brown offered to fly Oscar Piastri’s mother to Japan after the Australian rookie driver put his car on the front row of the starting grid for Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka.

The 22-year-old had also qualified on the front row for the Belgian GP sprint in July but Japan will be the first time Piastri has started a full grand prix from that position.

“I’m very happy to buy her an airline ticket,” Brown told Sky Sports television after Nicole Piastri responded to a jubilant McLaren social media post with the words “anyone got a cheap flight to Japan?” and added:”So if you can get here Mrs Piastri, we want to see you tomorrow.”

Nicole has acquired quite a following on X, formerly Twitter, for her joking comments on Oscar’s career.

“What!! So we are doing this for another three years???,” she exclaimed this week when McLaren announced her son’s contract extension to 2026.

Saturday’s qualifying, with Lando Norris third and Red Bull’s championship leader Max Verstappen on pole, continued McLaren’s remarkable turnaround after a poor start to the campaign.

From struggling to score points, McLaren are now looking quicker than engine provider Mercedes, even if well behind in the standings. Norris has scored three-second places in the last six races.

Brown: Oscar is driving great

“It’s exactly why we signed him up for another three years,” continued Brown. “I think our driver pairing is awesome. The team is really gelling, Andrea [Stella]’s leadership has been fantastic and everyone’s doing a first class job and the results are coming.

“It would be nice to get a car or two ahead of Max at the start and give him a bit of a race. I think we can definitely end up with a couple of cars on the podium,” added Brown optimistically.

Piastri had upgrades on his car that Norris already benefited from last weekend in Singapore and the Australian said McLaren had also made some good changes following Friday practice.

“It’s the first time I’ve started on the front row for a while. So, it’ll be cool. There’s only one car ahead to overtake, so I’ll try and make that happen,” he told reporters.

Piastri will be only the fifth Australian to start a grand prix on the front row in the history of the championship but he was more focused on other statistics.

“There’s not been that many Australians in F1, full stop. But yeah, it’s of course not a record I’m trying to chase,” he said.

“It’s nice just to have that success… and in particular so early on in my F1 career. Some people don’t get this opportunity in their whole career. So for me to have it in my first six or seven months is a privilege.

“But of course I want to try and be the next Australian to break some other records or be added to those lists. A nice start, but of course, I want to be able to do more.” (Reporting by Alan Baldwin)

The post Mrs Nicole Piastri: Anyone got a cheap flight to Japan? appeared first on GRAND PRIX 247.

Full transcript from the FIA hosted press conference after Qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix, Round 16 of the 2023 Formula 1 World Championship at Suzuka Cicuit on Saturday.

Featuring pole winner Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing), third-placed Oscar Piastri (McLaren) and third placed  Lando Norris (McLaren). Parc ferme post-qualifying interviews conducted by Jean Alesi.

Q: Max, what can you say when you see so many fans cheering behind your lap-time, which is unbelievable.
Max Verstappen: Yeah, I mean first I want to say a big thank you to all the fans, supporting us already the whole weekend, everyone being so passionate about Formula 1. So thank you very much for coming. From our side, an incredible weekend so far, and especially in qualifying, where you can really push it to the limit, it felt really, really nice.

Q: After Singapore, you arrive here and the car, from day one, you were driving like a top hero from Suzuka. You feel so good on this track?
MV: Yeah, we had, of course, a bad weekend in Singapore but I already felt from the progression we had that this was going to be a good track. But, of course, you never really know how good it’s going to be but from lap one it’s been really, really nice. Of course, you try to find little improvements here and there, and I think we did that. To be on pole here is fantastic.

Q: Have you seen the gap in between you and the second?
MV: I still need to double-check. I walked here…

It’s quite a lot.
MV: Alright. Thanks!

 Q: Oscar, congratulations Oscar, I mean you are here on the front row in front of these amazing spectators and the lap you made beat your team-mate in qualifying. Tell us about that?
Oscar Piastri: Yeah, the first lap was pretty solid. I was quite happy with it. The last chicane I could have done a better job but yeah, it was a good lap. On the second lap, my first sector was good and the next two sectors not so good, so no, happy to end it in P2. It’s been a really good weekend for the team so far, got upgrades on the car, and yeah, here they’re quick and we thought we might have decent chance around here but no, still got to make it happen. So, happy to be second, for the team to be second and third. Very, very happy.

Q: And the situation for the turn in on the start – but on your position, you know how much you can gain at the start. Are you ready for that?
OP:  Yeah. It’s the first time I’ve started on the front row for a while. So, it’ll be cool. There’s only one car ahead to overtake, so I’ll try and make that happen.

Q: Lando, well, you know, as a fan, part of our excitement is to watch the competition for the top three positions, today qualifying was just amazing. Can you tell us about that?
Lando Norris: Sure, first of all, a quick hello to everyone watching. Yeah, it’s been a very good day for us. As a team, a P2 and a P3, a great job by Oscar today and, as usual, by Max, but a good day for us. To be P2 and P3, I was pretty happy with my laps. Tricky, it’s not an easy circuit to put everything together always, but it’s so quick around here, the smallest mistake can make a bit amount of lap time, you know? I’m happy. It’s been a good day, good positions for tomorrow.

Q: You are part of the comeback of McLaren. McLaren is very famous here in Japan, and we are really pleased to see again McLaren fighting for the top position.
LN: Yes! Some of the most amazing McLaren stories come from here in Japan. We are of course hoping for a good result tomorrow. We want to continue that tradition but it’s going to be difficult. Max is doing a very good job, Red Bull are always doing a very good job, so we’ll do our best to make their life difficult and have a good race tomorrow.

JAPANESE GRAND PRIX QUALIFYING PRESS CONFERENCE

Q: What a qualifying session Max. In fact, what a weekend it’s been for you so far. Just how sweet were those laps in Q3?
MV: Yeah, to be honest, the whole weekend has been really good. As soon as we put the car on the track, it’s been very enjoyable to drive, very predictable, which I think is the most important. And, yeah, lap after lap in Qualifying as well, it was getting better. I mean, I only had three new sets of tyres, so I had to be a bit careful with using them, basically. So, in Q2 I had to run the scrubbed. But then, once I put on a new set again, in the first run in Q3, it was just super nice. I mean, these high-speed corners, if the car is very well balanced and you can really push it to the limit, it’s just really enjoyable to do to drive.

Q: Max, the pole gap is point six of a second. Have you even surprised yourself today?
MV: It’s always difficult to judge but after FP3 I was like, ‘they’re quite close’. But then luckily, I think yeah, we made some tiny adjustments and I think it helped the car a little bit. And then probably Sector 1, once you feel very confident with the car, you can push it a little bit more and that’s what happened in qualifying.

Q: Had you set yourself the goal of getting into the 1m28s? Because there was that radio message, radio conversation with your engineer afterwards?
MV: Yeah, he told me a ’28 would be nice. I said, “don’t worry, I’m going send it,” and then he was like, “yeah, but don’t shunt the car, right?” I was like: “yeah, well, obviously, that’s not what I want to do.” I knew that there was still a little bit left in a few places, and that’s what I tried to tidy up, which worked out quite well.

Q: Max, the qualifying lap times would suggest not, but have you suffered any recurrence of the problems you had last weekend in Singapore?
MV: Zero.

Q: At no point in the…
MV: Singapore didn’t happen for us?

Q: Let’s look ahead to the race tomorrow. Just how confident are you?
MV: Yeah, I mean, the car is quick, over one lap, I think also on the long run it’s quick. It’s still a decent amount of laps and quite a bit of deg on the tyres. So just need to look after them during the race. But yeah, the car normally should be quick.

Q: And how happy would you be to win the Constructors’ Championship here in Honda’s backyard?
MV: That was the aim, especially coming from Singapore. I wanted to have a really strong weekend. And of course, we know that this is the first proper opportunity to win it. So we also want to do that.

Q: Alright, very well done. Thank you, Max. Oscar coming to you. Now you’ve put together some sensational laps today to take your first front row in Formula 1, at Suzuka of all places. What does this mean to you?
OP: Yeah, very, very happy. You know, I think yesterday, we thought we could be in for a solid weekend. And then I think this morning we made some good changes. And the car looked quick in FP3. And I was getting more used to the track too. So yeah, very, very happy to be on the front row. Of course, the gap is a little bit or a lot bigger than I would prefer. But yeah, I’m happy to be in second.

Q: How much more time was there, because you say you messed up that final lap in qualifying Q3 in particular.
OP: Yeah, there was a bit, I think I was about two tenths up after the first sector, but I wasn’t going to find six. So yeah, in the end, it didn’t make much of a difference. But of course, you know, when you’re up on your lap before, of course you want to keep going that way and yeah, just a little bit frustrated that I didn’t manage to improve on the second lap. But in the end it didn’t matter.

Q: Oscar, how good does the MCL60 feel around Suzuka? You’ve got the new parts on it this weekend. Just where are its strengths?
OP: I think the strengths are still the same as it’s always been, the fast corners, the high-speed corners where we can really just commit to the grip really. We still struggle in the same places I think. The upgrades, of course, are in the right direction and have made the car quicker but we still need some more steps evidently to be the quickest. So yeah, it honestly doesn’t feel that much different to Singapore. I think the circuit is so different as well that it’s hard to tell but clearly it’s not too bad.

Q: Alright, and tomorrow in the race, can you and Lando work together to do anything about Max?
OP: We’ll try. I mean, we tried our best and Silverstone, so we’ll try and do the same thing. But obviously it’s going to be difficult. I think it’s going to be a very difficult race tomorrow as well. Very different to Silverstone in that regard. So yeah, it could be a lot more open, I think.

Q: Very well done to you, Oscar, thank you. And Lando, coming to you, what a session it’s been for McLaren, two and three on the grid. Just tell us about your Q3 in particular?
LN: I mean, not a lot to talk about. I think we’re very happy as a team. Also, for myself, I’m pretty happy with the improvements we made. But I think all weekend we’ve been strong, from FP1 onwards, the car has been feeling good. We’ve made some good steps forward throughout the weekend as well. And I think that’s proved, to be ahead of Ferrari. I think we thought it’d be close with Ferrari, so to be ahead, and have two cars ahead was an even bigger bonus. But like Oscar said, I think we would have loved to have been a bit closer to Max. But it proved not to be the case. So yeah, a good day. Not bad. I wouldn’t say they were not my best laps. I think there were some very good laps but just a couple of things may be holding us back a little bit. But otherwise, we’re happy.

Q: Well, what about tomorrow? I’m going to ask you the same question. Can you work with Oscar and do anything about the man in the middle?
LN: We’re going to try. I mean, if he’s leading by Turn 2 there’s not a lot you can really do. If you want to emulate Prost, Oscar, into Turn 1… I mean Ayrton Senna into Turn 1 you can do that happily! It would be lovely for me! So yeah, I think we’ll try. I think our race pace is decent. It’s definitely not going to be as good as the Red Bull here but we’ll do our best.

QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR

Q: (Matt Coch – Speedcafe.com) Oscar, you’re only the fifth Australian to ever qualify on a Grand Prix from the front row, a World Championship Grand Prix, from the front row. Do those records mean anything to you? And what does a first front row in Formula 1 mean to you?
OP: I mean, it’s nice to have that, obviously. There’s not been that many Australians in F1, full stop. But yeah, it’s of course not a record I’m trying to chase, being the fifth front row from Australia. But yeah, it’s nice just to have that success, I think. And I think, in particular, so early on in my F1 career. Some people don’t get this opportunity in their whole career. So for me to have it in my first six or seven months is a privilege. But yeah, of course, I want to try and be the next Australian to break some other records or be added to those lists. So yeah, a nice start, but of course, I want to be able to do more.

Q: (Jake Boxall-Legge – Autosport) Max, I know you said Singapore didn’t happen but can we very briefly pretend it did. Obviously, there was a lot of discussion about technical directives and that kind of thing and if it had hurt the team.  Coming from that weekend to this one, does this pole feel like a massive statement of intent from you and to right the wrongs of last weekend?
MV: Honestly, yeah, we had a bad weekend; of course then people start talking about… ah, it’s all because of the technical directives. I think they can go suck on an egg. But for my side,  yeah, I was just very fired up to have a good weekend here and make sure that yeah, we were strong.

Q: (Lawrence Edmondson – ESPN) Max, in qualifying you mentioned on the radio that Sector 1 was pretty special. Can you talk us through how on the limit you were there and is there any other section of track in Formula 1 that compares to that?
MV: Yeah, of course it was on the limit but it felt in control and that, I think, is very nice when the car just does exactly what you want it to do. So yeah, just really, really enjoyable. There are a few sectors where… like Austin, you know, is also very quick, but here, I think what makes it very special is that there is no runoff, so if you have a moment you’re going off. In Austin, you have the runoff and tarmac and normally it’s a bit more forgiving. So  that’s why I think this track is really beautiful to drive once the car is planted

Q: Oscar on the subject of Suzuka, how long has it taken you to get up to speed?
OP: Even through qualifying I was still trying to work on things. I think it’s just natural for everyone… the grip comes up but I think overnight I was more happy this morning in FP3, a little bit closer and just feeling a bit more comfortable. I think if I came back next year I’d probably be more comfortable again so it takes a while, especially around here. I had quite a big moment through the first Degner yesterday and it took me a few laps to get back up to the same speed. So it definitely bites but yeah, I feel it’s taken all of Friday and most of today.

Q: (Jake Boxall-Legge – Autosport) Max, on Thursday Sebastian Vettel was here and he mentioned that your dominance of this season, he mentioned it in the same breath as other great Formula 1 champions: Michael Schumacher being one of them. Growing up watching Formula 1, were you a big Michael Schumacher fan? And do you take many cues and that sort of thing from the dominance that he showed in the early 2000s?
MV: I was never really a fan of anyone. I appreciated everyone’s success and yeah, from my side, I was like…  I want to be there one day, I want to stand on the podium or win races. But I think everyone’s different, everyone has a different way how you get to Formula 1 anyway,  a different upbringing. So there are a lot of factors that come into play and that’s, I think, the beautiful thing about Formula 1, everyone is different because if everyone would be exactly the same I think it’s quite boring. But yeah, of course the success of some of the greats… I mean that’s amazing. You might get a little bit of inspiration from it but I wouldn’t necessarily want to try and do it the same way if you know what I mean. But anyway, the world is changing every time right? Every different era so you also have to take that into account.

Q: (Matt Coch – Speedcafe.com) To both McLaren drivers, Oscar mentioned that it’s going to be a difficult race and more open, I guess. Can you elaborate on what you’re expecting tomorrow in the race? Are we mentioning Ferraris, Mercedes, those sorts of things?
OP: Yeah, I think yesterday and the whole weekend, just the degradation has been a lot higher than say Silverstone. Yeah, just looking at the tyre choices from everybody, clearly I would say most people are expecting more than one pit stop just from the number of… Max saved three sets of softs and the rest. Yeah, so he’s doing a four-stop tomorrow! So yeah, it’s just going to be a very different race to Silverstone from that aspect, and I think whenever you’ve got more deg, more pit stops it just increases the margin for error. It tests how well you can manage the tyres as well so it’s not as simple as just going flat out or as quick as the car will let you so yeah, that was all.
LN: Yeah, not much more from that. I think just the knowledge of our general pace and competitive pace… Mercedes are always very strong on a Sunday. But I think we’ve been strong all weekend from qualifying runs but also high fuel runs. So I think we’re hoping for probably an easy race but it’s never going to be an easy race around here so like Oscar said, just with undercut powers and things like that, I’m sure there’s going be a lot going on.

The post Japanese Grand Prix Qualifying Press Conference appeared first on GRAND PRIX 247.

Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur is admanat that qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix was “not too bad” for Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, the pair P4 and P6 respectively this Saturday in the wake of their victory last Sunday in Singapore.

But with the Red Bulls back in full flight, particularly Max Verstappen who powered to a spectacular pole, leaving the best of the Red cars wanting six tenths to be on par. A week ago Sainz was on pole and Leclerc in P3.

Fresh from celebrating his first victory as a Ferrari F1 boss, Vasseur summed up their Saturday in the team report: “Today’s result is not too bad, but our session started on the back foot in Q1 as we wasted a set of Softs because of the red flag triggered by Sargeant.

“It meant both our drivers had just one new set of tyres each for Q3 and so they had to give it their best shot on just one run and Charles managed to get within eight hundredths of the front row.

“It’s been clear from the start of the weekend that, apart from Red Bull, McLaren also has excellent pace, but ours was not bad on Friday and in qualifying, with lower temperatures than in the morning free practice, we were in better shape, even if it’s generally much hotter than usual this year in Suzuka,” explained Vasseur.

With Red Bull set to seal the 2023 F1 Constructors’ title on Sunday, the focus for the remaining races including Suzuka is the battle between Ferrari and Mercedes for the runner-up spot. The German team are 24 points ahead of the Italians, in a contest that is sure to go down to the wire. McLaren may even play a role should their form remain as it is.

Ahead of his 16th Grand Prix as Ferrari boss, Vasseur focussed on the positives from the afternoon at Suzuka for the Scuderia: “We are starting ahead of our closest rivals in the fight for second place in the Constructors’ championship and we must make the most of our grid positions.

“So we will be looking for a clean start in order to run a strategy that allows us to look after our tyres. We continue to bring updates to our car, as we want to fight all the way to the very end,” added Vasseur, alas only for second place of course.

Leclerc: Tyre management and strategy will be key

Outquailfied by Sainz in the three races before this weekend, Leclerc found his famous Qualy mojo to go fastest of the pair and nab a second row start. The gap between them was a quite substantial three tenths of a second. Charles reported: “I’m happy with my lap, because it was the maximum we could have done.

“We lost the most in sector 1, so we will look into that and try to understand what we can work on to improve. With the warm temperatures here this year, the risk of overheating is higher than usual, which means that tyre management and strategy will be key.

“Red Bull have been very fast all weekend and McLaren seem to have a similar race pace as we do, so it will be important to get the start right,” added Leclerc who finished third here last year, his best result from the three times he has raced F1 at Suzuka.

Seven days ago Sainz shone under the lights of Singapore, claiming pole on the night. His final Q3 lap better than Leclerc could manage. Thus, the Spaniard may well be scratching his head wondering where his teammate found over a quarter of a second in Qualifying today.

Sainz summed up his afternoon: “It was a difficult qualifying. We knew before coming here that this track would expose our weakness a bit more and, with its high speed characteristics and long corners, we knew it was never going to be easy.

“I’ve tried many different things and set-ups since yesterday, with the aim of putting the car in a better place, but it clearly didn’t work. I didn’t do a good lap in Q3 either, so we’ll start P6 tomorrow.

“We’ll fight to get some good points tomorrow and we’ll be ready to grab any opportunities,” added Sainz, who lies fifth in the 2023 F1 Drivers’ standings, 19 ahead of Leclerc in sixth and trailing fourth placed Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso by 28 points with seven rounds remaining.

The post Ferrari: We want to fight all the way to the very end appeared first on GRAND PRIX 247.