Google+ Jack Leslie F1: 2014 Japanese Grand Prix Preview

29 September 2014

2014 Japanese Grand Prix Preview

After racing under dark skies and bright lights in Singapore, the F1 paddock will reconvene in Japan this weekend for the 15th round of the 2014 season. 
© Mercedes AMG Petronas
It will be the 30th Japanese Grand Prix to appear on the Formula 1 schedule and the 26th to take place at the iconic Suzuka circuit. 


The 18-turn track is renowned for its tricky corners, figure-of-eight layout and enthusiastic fans. It is a classic circuit with old-school features, including plenty of gravel traps to punish even the smallest of errors. 
© Red Bull/Getty Images

Some incredibly iconic moments from F1’s past have taken place at Suzuka, including Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost’s famous collisions in 1989 and 1990. 

World titles have been wrapped up there – such as Michael Schumacher’s first championship for Ferrari in 2000 and Sebastian Vettel’s second triumph in 2011 – and some incredible drives have taken place as well. 

Schumacher and Vettel are the two most successful drivers in the event’s history, with six and four wins respectively. Meanwhile McLaren leads Ferrari with nine wins to seven in the constructors’ table. 

Very few changes to Suzuka’s track layout have been made since it debuted on the F1 calendar in 1987. After a year out of the sport, Kamui Kobayashi will return to racing in front of his home crowd this weekend for Caterham. 
© Marussia F1 Team

A lap of the 3.608 mile track kicks off on the start/finish straight, with the pit exit feeding cars back out on the right-hand side. 

Turn one is a fast and sweeping right-hander that tightens for the slower right of turn two. This is a good overtaking place, particularly as the main straight is where the DRS zone will be positioned. 

Turns three to six make up the complex known as the S Curves. It is arguably one of the trickiest sections of track in the world. Precision and rhythm are crucial for a clean run, and the corners will be made even trickier in 2014 with the increased torque levels and downforce cuts. 


Following the medium-speed and flowing left-right-left-right section is the Dunlop Curve. It is an uphill, long left-hander. Speeds increase through the corner before entering the second sector, which opens with the challenging Degner Curve. 

The quick right-hander is easy to get wrong and running wide on the exit can cause drivers to take a trip through the gravel, or even hit the wall. Turn nine is a tighter, slower right-hander before the track passes under the third sector. 
© Lotus F1 Team/LAT

A short straight follows before the right-hand kink of turn 10 and the low-speed, left-hand hairpin of turn 11. This is a strong overtaking place, particularly if a driver gets a good run out of the previous section. Expect plenty of lock-ups here over the race weekend. 

Good traction is vital for the long run through the flat-out right-hander of turn 12 and to the Spoon Curve, which is made up of two medium-speed right-handers, with the second one tightening on the apex. Again, a good exit is important for the following straight. 

The third sector kicks off with the hugely difficult, high-speed 130R. The flat-out left-hander can help to set up overtaking moves, although passes have been made at the corner itself – Fernando Alonso managed to pass Michael Schumacher around the outside here in 2005. 

Commitment is crucial for a good run to the Casio Triangle, which is a slow right-left chicane. The heavy braking zone for turn 16 makes it a good overtaking spot. The pit entry is to the right, with the final corner being a sweeping, flat-out right-hander. 

The first and second sectors require plenty of downforce, while good top speed is needed for the third and final part of the lap. This means we often see different approaches to set-up at Suzuka. 
© Scuderia Ferrari

Due to the high average corner speeds, fast changes of direction and a few heavy braking zones, the track is very hard on tyres – hence why Pirelli will bring the hard and medium compounds to Suzuka. Brakes are not put through too much strain, but the power-units will be in 2014. 

The circuit is very narrow, unlike most modern layouts, and there are plenty of elevation changes. It is arguably the most popular track on the calendar. Drivers love it, the teams love it and so do the fans. With Kobayashi returning this weekend, the grandstands will undoubtedly be packed. 

With the end of the 2014 season edging closer, we should expect a few power-unit related grid penalties to be handed out in Japan. Mercedes should be the team to beat once again and the final sector will suit the W05. 

Red Bull Racing should be competitive in the opening two sectors, but may struggle with overtaking thanks to the Renault power-unit’s lack of power. Ferrari and Williams will be in the mix, while Force India and McLaren’s fight for fifth in the constructors’ championship will continue at Suzuka. 
© Formula1.com

Japanese Grand Prix Fact File: 

Location: Suzuka, Japan 
Track Length: 3.608 miles 
Direction: Clockwise and anti-clockwise 
Turns: 18 
Laps: 53 
First race: 1976 (1987 Suzuka) 
Lap record: Kimi Raikkonen, McLaren, 2005, 1:31.540 
Tyre compounds: Hard and medium 
2013 race winner: Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing 
2013 pole position: Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing, 1.30.915 
2013 fastest lap: Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing, 1:34.587 
Live on: Sky Sports F1 and BBC One (UK)

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