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

[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

[em177]

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.

This will be my third time in a row, my advice;

- if you get public transport leave well earlier than you think you need to. It’s usually chaos (busy wise, not chaotic, it’s Japan everyone is obviously very obedient)

- pack bottled waters, last year pretty much every vending machine at the circuit had ran out by about 11am. That was in 35 degrees, not ideal.

- make sure to visit GP Collection on the way into the circuit (is outside the main entrance). An incredible hobby shop full of diecast, merch and car parts
(https://maps.app.goo.gl/9KG5L8bs3epG7WmU7?g_st=ic) naturally as with all events these days the venders inside the circuit are only official merch stalls.

- For general admission (West Zone) ticket holders. On Saturday/Sunday this only allows visible access from the last chicane to Spoon (you walk the track in reverse). However on Friday free practices all the east section of the track is opened up (seated grandstands excluded) so it’s best to explore that side on Friday and the other Saturday/Sunday.

- explore the food stalls, they’re amazing and usually super cheap (relative to silverstone!). There will be the usual western food (pizzas/burgers etc) but the Japanese stuff (yakisoba, yakitori, udon, ramen etc) will no doubt make you feel more like a local!


If you want any specific advice feel free to drop me a PM.

Edited by em177 on Sunday 31st March 11:17

[Byker28i]

Adrian W said:

Redbull one and two by a fortnight

Unfortunately I think you're right.

[mk1coopers]

Thanks for the thread PiaP, I’m waiting for the first Sky TV shot of a fan with a home made F1 car hat

[suffolk009]

thegreenhell said:

Current forecast for next weekend at the circuit:

Oooh, yay. Rain.

[HighwayStar]

em177 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.

This will be my third time in a row, my advice;

- if you get public transport leave well earlier than you think you need to. It’s usually chaos (busy wise, not chaotic, it’s Japan everyone is obviously very obedient)

- pack bottled waters, last year pretty much every vending machine at the circuit had ran out by about 11am. That was in 35 degrees, not ideal.

- make sure to visit GP Collection on the way into the circuit (is outside the main entrance). An incredible hobby shop full of diecast, merch and car parts
(https://maps.app.goo.gl/9KG5L8bs3epG7WmU7?g_st=ic) naturally as with all events these days the venders inside the circuit are only official merch stalls.

- For general admission (West Zone) ticket holders. On Saturday/Sunday this only allows visible access from the last chicane to Spoon (you walk the track in reverse). However on Friday free practices all the east section of the track is opened up (seated grandstands excluded) so it’s best to explore that side on Friday and the other Saturday/Sunday.

- explore the food stalls, they’re amazing and usually super cheap (relative to silverstone!). There will be the usual western food (pizzas/burgers etc) but the Japanese stuff (yakisoba, yakitori, udon, ramen etc) will no doubt make you feel more like a local!


If you want any specific advice feel free to drop me a PM.

Edited by em177 on Sunday 31st March 11:17

We’re on a full on guided tour, in Kyoto 6-8, race is on 7th.
We could only get weekend tickets but we’re only there race day, the only day that matters.
Cheers for the offer, will definitely PM you if tips or advice if needed.

[AceRockatansky]

A bit of blotchy rain will be ideal, haven't had a race like that for ages.

Stappers will cruise to victory if we don't have any jeopardy to befall him or the race in general.

[NGK210]

Forget Sky’s multigasm of bland and C4’s Red Bull supporter’s club or predictable ‘jokes’ from a bellend wearing wigs / different caps, this is the way to watch F1:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tJ9--VyTUJI

[RZ1]

Fingers crossed max has another stick brake

[BrettMRC]

Redbull 1-2, with Perez roughly a pitstop behind, but still a good 10 seconds ahead of the nearest Ferrari.

[PhilAsia]

BrettMRC said:

Redbull 1-2, with Perez roughly a pitstop behind, but still a good 10 seconds ahead of the nearest Ferrari.

Contained gap, around 20 seconds by Max to anyone following for me. Keeps the FIA from making any punitive adjustments to the rules.

[Stupot123]

PhilAsia said:

Contained gap, around 20 seconds by Max to anyone following for me. Keeps the FIA from making any punitive adjustments to the rules.

Yep, I have a sneaky suspicion that game has been played for a while now!

[Byker28i]

Stupot123 said:

PhilAsia said:

Contained gap, around 20 seconds by Max to anyone following for me. Keeps the FIA from making any punitive adjustments to the rules.

Yep, I have a sneaky suspicion that game has been played for a while now!

Yup, we've seen he can pull out laptimes at any point of the race, then control. But why not? They have such a dominant car, pull out at least a pit stop plus ahead, then save the car/engine.

[Blib]

NGK210 said:

Forget Sky’s multigasm of bland and C4’s Red Bull supporter’s club or predictable ‘jokes’ from a bellend wearing wigs / different caps, this is the way to watch F1:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tJ9--VyTUJI

Best highlights package by far.

It confirmed my view that Alonso brake-checked Russell.

[TikTak]

Ferrari looks fast in a straight line so going to go for another Sainz win.

Bit between his teeth he keeps up it close enough with the RBR car lap by lap through turns 3 to 13 to use a huge slipstream and DRS to be back under Max's gearbox in turn 1.

Rare pitstop mess up for Red Bull gives the Ferrari the breathing space they need.

And then I wake up ...

[Sandpit Steve]

Byker28i said:

Stupot123 said:

PhilAsia said:

Contained gap, around 20 seconds by Max to anyone following for me. Keeps the FIA from making any punitive adjustments to the rules.

Yep, I have a sneaky suspicion that game has been played for a while now!

Yup, we've seen he can pull out laptimes at any point of the race, then control. But why not? They have such a dominant car, pull out at least a pit stop plus ahead, then save the car/engine.

It’s yet another consequence of the reliability regulations, that they will now turn the engine down a lot if they can, knowing it has to last for so long.

Possibly also not wanting to show their hand if they can avoid it, for fear of a regulatory clampdown as happened to Mercedes in previous seasons.

On the subject of reliability, Mercedes debrief video from the last race said that Lewis’s engine suffered an indicated loss of oil pressure, followed by an automated precautionary shutdown, with no warning to the driver before it switched itself off. I assume they have redundancy in the oil pressure sensors, in which case they get to strip down for analysis an engine that was just about to go bang. It also means that Lewis will likely have to take a penalty later in the season.

[Still Mulling]

Thanks PiaP!

A Lance cannonball to create an Alonso win.

Right?

Have a good time, HighwayStar!

In the nicest possible way, as I'm sure you'd like an unpredictable race as much as the rest of us, I hope it rains.

[CT05 Nose Cone]

suffolk009 said:

Oooh, yay. Rain.

Sweet, we can all stay in bed for a few hours longer whilst they wave the red flags and wait for the drizzle to stop.

[Gad-Westy]

CT05 Nose Cone said:

suffolk009 said:

Oooh, yay. Rain.

Sweet, we can all stay in bed for a few hours longer whilst they wave the red flags and wait for the drizzle to stop.

I have to admit. I have the same cynicism about wet races these days. Though in fairness Japan really can produce proper rain!

Hard to picture anything other than an RB walk over here but I wonder if McLaren might be best of the rest. They looked great through the fast stuff in Saudi. Which might also be worrying for Merc who emphatically did not.

Edited by Gad-Westy on Tuesday 2nd April 18:03

[Derek Smith]

HighwayStar said:

We’re on a full on guided tour, in Kyoto 6-8, race is on 7th.
We could only get weekend tickets but we’re only there race day, the only day that matters.
Cheers for the offer, will definitely PM you if tips or advice if needed.

Can't we block posts such as this until after the race? Dear me, it'll be bad enough with the timing of the race. I mean, only, that's the word, only there on race day. Not only that, there's two days going begging.

Can it get any worse for us?

Anyone got a flight I can hitch a lift in?