Japanese GP 2012 - QF

Ladies and Gentlemen,

No doubt the battle for Suzuka  will be between  McLaren and Red Bull. Results from Friday’s practice sessions are always inconclusive but it’s clear that the fastest cars on low-fuel qualifying-simulation are the RB8 and the MP4-27. When analysing the long-runs on race trim the picture is not so clear: the Red Bull appears to be 0.4 seconds quicker than McLaren on the same prime tyres, although you can never be sure what fuel loads the teams are running to deceive their competitors. Ferrari is looking better here than in Singapore,  Alonso’s best times were very close to Hamilton’s and both his and Massa’s were competitive on their 10-lap simulation stints on the options, but it looks like it could be Lotus that will emerge as the 3rd-best team comes race day. Grosjean was flying on heavy loads, Raikkonen had understeer issues on critical sector 1 and had KERS problems but both E20 are showing real pace around here.

P1 BUT (1.34.507) HAM  WEB  ROS  SCH KOB  MAS  DIR  HUL  MAL (ALO 11th)

P2- WEB (1.32.493) HAM VET HUL ALO GRO BUT SEN MAS SCH 

The unforgiving nature of Suzuka claimed its first victims today: Schumacher, DiResta and Petrov experienced off track accidents. The drivers relate the speeds of this place to those of Spa ‘without run-off areas...’ Most disappointing was DIR losing valuable track time, Force India is fighting with Sauber for 6th place in the Constructors Championship and they have a good car this weekend. Hulkemberg’s 4th best time in P2 was done on prime tyres as proof of their potential. 

Williams and Sauber showed promise on the long-run tests, particularly thanks to Perez amazing skills preserving his rubber, but both teams are lacking outright qualifying speed, unless Maldonado comes with one of his inexplicable all-out flying laps. Mercedes? they are badly struggling with tyre temperatures although they recorded the highest top speeds at the traps by 5 kph.

It is time, let’s decide on the top 3 for QF tomorrow. McLaren has taken the last four poles, if they get their 5th straight on Saturday will tie their own record from 1999. Red Bull and Vettel had been on pole the last 3 times in Suzuka. This will be a fascinating battle.

Cato – HAM VET WEB

What do you think? Good luck!

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