Suzuka – Cherry Blossoms & F1
Posted on April 3, 2024 Tags: Suzuka Circuit
Daniel running out of options
THE SPECTRE OF RED BULL’s Helmut Marco looms large over Daniel Ricciardo at Suzuka this weekend, following the Aussie’s dismal showing last up at his home grand prix in Melbourne.
According to many pundits, the Aussie has just two races to turn his F1 season around or could risk being replaced by Kiwi Liam Lawson for the Miami Grand Prix, May 3-5.
The New Zealand media has been spruiking ever since the Australian Grand Prix that Helmut – Red Bull’s heavy hitter – has issued an ultimatum to the Perth superstar after his disappointing start to the 2024 F1 season.
Whether it’s true or not, there is no doubt the pressure has never more intense than now for the 34-year-old who simply must deliver some much-needed points to his struggling RB team.
Daniel is a Street Fighter
Daniel has been comprehensively beaten by teammate Yuki Tsunoda in the first three races, after the high hopes he had going into 2024, eyeing a return to Red Bull next year alongside Max Verstappen.
However, things simply haven’t worked out for him so far this year. More sheer bad luck than judgement. But he has been slower than Yuki in all three races, with the deficit substantial in Saudi Arabia and Australia.
Mind you, word is that Helmut doesn’t rate Yuki highly either!
No one can blame Liam
Reserve driver Liam Lawson meanwhile, is waiting in the wings after impressing during his brief F1 stint when he stepped in for Daniel during the middle of last year.
According to one home-grown report last week the young New Zealander is viewed by Red Bull as Sergio Perez’s successor – not Tsunoda or Ricciardo!
You can’t blame Liam for taking every opportunity he can. After all, that’s the name of the game!
To add to the pressure this weekend, Red Bull-backed rising star Ayumu Iwasa is tipped to make his F1 debut with RB during practice at Suzuka,
It’s hard to believe Daniel could be replaced after just five races – even Nyck de Vries lasted 10 in 2023.
Certainly, the Aussie must bring home a bag of points from Japan and China to silence the critics.
Particularly Helmut!
All about extraordinary Suzuka
For the first time in its history Suzuka, Japan’s legendary F1 Circuit, has no chance of crowning the 2024 F1 champion. Why? Formula 1 returns to Japan just over six months after its last visit to the country.
Before now the Japanese Grand Prix race was always scheduled for the second part of the season, in September or October.
As a result, Suzuka has frequently crowned world champions – both in the drivers’ and manufacturers’ standings. The last two years have been no exceptions: in 2022, Max Verstappen sealed his second title at the venue, while last year Red Bull were crowned constructors’ champions.
It should be a delight for everyone concerned. that the fourth event of the season coincides with the peak of the renowned cherry blossom – or Sakura – season. It truly is a sight to behold!
Suzuka, Mie, Japan
The early spring event will also bring lower temperatures than the teams are used to in Japan, with average temperatures ranging between 8°C and 13°C.
These temps could mean a one-stop strategy becomes possible, especially for drivers who are gentle on their tyres.
But a two-stopper traditionally is the most common strategy, due to the energy going through the tyres and the stress to which they are subjected.
Suzuka is a true classic: the 5.807-kilometre Honda-owned track tests every driver’s talents with a demanding layout characterised by a figure-eight layout, unique in F1.
It’s an extraordinary challenge for cars and drivers, and a true test for Pirelli’s boots – in terms of wear – due to high levels of asphalt roughness and abrasiveness.
Not forgetting the forces and loads to which they are subjected throughout the variety of corners that make up the lap.
The Suzuka circuit has 18 corners, some of which – such as Spoon, 130R and the uphill combination between Turns 2 and 7 – are among the most famous on the world championship calendar.
Less well-known are the two Degner corners, named after Ernest Degner, a Polish-born motorcycle racer of the 1950s and 1960s, who was raised in East Germany.
Turns 8 and 9 of the Suzuka track are now named after him as a tribute to his contribution to Japanese motorcycling history.
As expected, Pirelli has selected the hardest trio of compounds: C1 as hard, C2 as medium and C3 as soft – the same selection used in Bahrain for the first race of the season.
To date there have been 37 editions of the Japanese Grand Prix, 33 of which have been held at Suzuka. The remaining four took place at the Toyota-owned Fuji track.
Is Michael the Greatest of them all?
Michael Schumacher is the most successful F1 driver at Suzuka with six wins: the German also has the most pole positions (8) and podium finishes (9).
In terms of team achievements, McLaren has the most victories (9) while Ferrari has the most pole positions (10).
Two days of Pirelli testing are scheduled for Suzuka following the Japanese Grand Prix with Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber and Daniel’s Visa Cash App RB Formula One Team.
EDITED by AC
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