Official 2024 Japanese Grand Prix Thread ***SPOILERS***

[Piginapoke]

Something of a relief after Australia, as Max can't now win every round (and I’m a fan). Good to see that Ferrari seemed to be on RBR pace, and whether that will be repeated in Japan is the key question for the weekend and maybe the season.

Expect the McLaren to go very well here as it loves fast corners, and another difficult weekend for Mercedes.

I’m going to stick my neck out and say Piastri for the podium, and an outside chance of a win.

Poll is for 1st place, following Ferrari’s performance last race.

Date(s): Friday 5 to Sunday 7 April 2024.

UK Broadcast Timings (and track time)

All sessions are live on Sky F1. Channel 4 is showing highlights of Qualifying and the Race.





2023 Highlights:

https://youtu.be/rPLxuLE62gI?si=wKSh9fQKWYi_HxSi

Tyres:

Hardest compounds C1-C3

2023 Result:

Edited by Piginapoke on Saturday 30th March 13:50

[Piginapoke]

TheInternet said:

Thanks PiaP

Piginapoke said:

Date(s): Friday 5 to Saturday 7 April 2024.

Sunday^^

Doh!

[Piginapoke]

Sandpit Steve said:

HighwayStar said:

Derek Smith said:

HighwayStar said:

Really looking forward to this one, I’m going to be there

If you've posted that just to make us jealous, it's worked with me. Enjoy yourself.

Thanks yet again, PiaP.

Thanks Derek.
I haven’t been to a race since Monaco 2002…
Last August we booked a big holiday to Japan, flying out April 1st. While watching last years September Grand Prix it was mentioned the race was moving to April. Checks calendar and we’re in Kyoto that weekend. Google tells me 95km from Suzuka! Tickets bought, shouldn’t be difficult to get there.

Very cool, have a great weekend, not jealous at all!

Suzuka is definitely on the bucket list, wifey wants to go the the World’s Fair in Osaka next year so I might be able to tag along and add the race to the itinerary. Japan definitely has the world’s maddest F1 fans, so many in fancy dress or team uniforms. Memories of getting up in the morning as a kid in 1989 to watch Senna and Prost collide, then again in 1990 when it was all over at the first corner.

Those were the days. I remember when Mansell binned in it qualifying and hurt his back in 87

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhA9C_7VcRU

[Piginapoke]

HighwayStar said:

Nova Gyna said:

HighwayStar said:

Really looking forward to this one, I’m going to be there

Count me as another envious of your trip Suzuka is very much on my bucket list, and I almost made it there, but then the pandemic hit, and life sort of got in the way since. I will get there one day.

Hope you have a great time

Cheers Nova…
We had a 5 day package for Singapore killed off by the pandemic. Unlucky with that, lucky with Suzuka.

Fantastic HighwayStar- post a few pics if you can

[Piginapoke]

Red Bull has introduced some major changes to the RB20's cooling- (even) slimmer letter box inlet (2) and a new duct (3) doing goodness knows what.



It really is next level from RBR.

[Piginapoke]

Just off a plane in Dubai and will miss the race. Ricciardo seems to me hammering more nails onto his F1 coffin by the sound of it

[Piginapoke]

MCBrowncoat said:

g4ry13 said:

epom said:

Just the 24 pages on here says it all about this race. Shame, I miss the genuine excitement and racing.

The racing is dull and predictable. But there would be more pages if it wasn't on at such an antisocial time.

Wait until the European races and the posts will increase.

I was genuinely looking at this earlier because I thought it notable how few pages this thread was up to, so I checked: Thread for the Japanese GP last year ran for 50 pages

I was also thinking the thread has been a lot more quiet than usual. Sport can’t afford to be predictable.

[Piginapoke]

Murghee said:

I wish red bull would allow perez to actually race max instead of letting him have a 10 second buffer

Max has 3 championships so may aswell let perez race flat out to see if he actually can be on par with max..guess red bull want max to get 4 championships to match vettel.

Or maybe perez is flat out but max is just too good

Edited by Murghee on Sunday 7th April 23:50

Max is another level compared to Perez, RB want and need him to do better than last year. If Sainz gets the drive for next year- and I think he will- it will be a bit closer.

[Piginapoke]

vaud said:

honda_exige said:

The deal to go 100% was announced a couple of weeks ago and the initial deal was done last year I believe. What has happened in the last 12 months to double the value? Not a lot.

Further more, how many buyers are out there ready to drop $1bil? Rumours about offers are just that, rumours.

And with FIA/Liberty seemingly blocking new entrants the valuations will only go up.

Renault will want an exit for 2026/27 if someone can help them save face in the process.

Yep, Liberty are 100% on board with the franchise system.

[Piginapoke]

Sandpit Steve said:

TheDeuce said:

suffolk009 said:

asfault said:

If Perez can stay on the tails on Verstappen theres no point in changing driver.

With Merc being the 4th or possibly 5th best car (need a decent driver in the 2nd aston to find out) why would max think about the move to merc.

Because if Newey leaves, they'll be a mid field team within a few seasons.

That's fair I think. Merc are stuck with a crap car but as a team they're pretty tight and maintain an excellent culture. They're a bonfide top team and as likely as any other top team to capitalise on the next regs shake up.

RBR without newey = a toxic team that has lost its only notable not toxic person. Toxic, volatile teams tend to fall to pieces rapidly when not easily winning.

That’s a very astute comment.

I think it underestimates the senior design talent at RBR, it’s way deeper than Newey who is now effectively a consultant AIUI