Japanese GP 2012 - Preview

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let’s get prepared for the Japanese GP this weekend, round 15 of the 2012 Championship.

As you know, the most important news since the last race are the changes on the drivers’ line ups for next year with Hamilton going to Mercedes, Perez to McLaren and Schumacher retiring from the sport for the second time.

It is hard to imagine Hamilton leaving a winning team like McLaren for Mercedes, although money was a strong motivator the reason might be that he wants to be on the front line with a top engine manufacturer when the rules change in 2014 and the V6 turbo engine will be introduced. To the delight of the large Mexican CFA presence PEerez was signed up by McLaren to replace Hamilton for 32 million dollars for 3 years, and it has now permeated that the Sauber driver was the Mercedes choice as well to take Schumacher’s place. 

As the entire world wonders what’s going to happen to Massa’s seat, the reason for Ferrari delaying their decision on his replacement and passing on the opportunity to sign the Mexican comes from their interest in getting Vettel in 2014 when his contract with Red Bull expires. Facing the possibility that none of the desired drivers (Hulkemberg, DResta, Kovalainen) wants a one-year only contract, we may see again Massa alongside Alonso next year. The Brazilian holds the Ferrari record for the largest spell of races (35) without a podium finish...

But all of that is next year. Let’s now move back to this weekend and enjoy the best racetrack in F1: Suzuka. Next to Spa this is the driver’s favorite, although Suzuka is a lot more difficult technically for both cars and drivers. Each one of its 3 sectors offers a different challenge, particularly the first where the ‘esses’ require inch-perfect precision and the slightest mistake penalizes the rest of the lap. It has the fastest corner in the calendar, the famous 130R, these days a flat out  7th gear corner.

Suzuka is fast but requires high levels of downforce with its many 5th gear corners. Red Bull with its low-drag, small-wings design and quick directional changes is usually the car to beat here. Vettel has been on pole the last 3 races and has won 2. Pirelli will provide the hard (silver) and soft (yellow) compounds, a combination with less grip but more resistant to the very high loads experienced in this circuit.

Last year’s winner Button will take a 5 grid penalty for replacing his gearbox. Actually both McLarens needed ‘box replacements after last race but Hamilton didn’t finish in Singapore thus didn’t incur the penalty.

Will this be a Red Bull vs McLaren weekend? Where’s Ferrari going to be? and Lotus and Sauber?

We’ll have the first answers tomorrow; it’s going to be a treat!

Cheers

Cato

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