JAPAN: It's mainly tyres...
NUMBER THREE
Japan. Gosh that was a lot of tyre chat.
Fans go (politely) wild for Tsunoda at his home race, as he nabs a point at P10. Unfortunately, his teammate has, what can only be described as, a shocker. Ricciardo loses it in Lap 1 and spins his RB into the wall, taking Albon’s Williams with him. The resulting red flag marks the commencing of the tyre game.
So, while most go for mediums, Mercedes play the long game and change straight to hards. This works for Russell, who ends up P7. Hamilton does not love this strategy and even OFFERS Russell a position swap early on. Finishes P9. I’m going to say it: Mercedes are being quite boring. Sorry Toto, still love you. McLaren, on the other hand, launch their drivers into aggressive, fast-paced battle – with Norris coming in P5 and Piastri P8.
With a variety of strategies flying around it gets a bit complicated knowing who is racing who. But it does mean lots of overtaking. For example – Norris is the first of the front-runners to pit post red flag. His race is really with Sainz behind him, so he’s gone for the undercut (explanation thread on the way). Lap 11 he pits, which sees him drop from P3 to P10. Now he must climb back up – with fresh tyres this shouldn’t be a problem and makes for some exciting overtakes. Lap 14 and he’s put in a fastest lap. By Lap 18 he’s back to P3. On paper it makes sense. With 19 other cars simultaneously carrying out their own strategy, it’s chaos.
While Mercedes go long and McLaren get in quick, Ferrari split their strategy down the middle. Sainz pits in Lap 15, while his teammate nurses his tyres until Lap 26. Leclerc’s tyre management allows him to keep his Ferrari amongst the Red Bulls at the top, while Sainz’s additional Lap 36 stop gives him fresh tyres to cruise past his teammate on Lap 46, and secure P3. A very well-deserved Ferrari P3 and P4.
Alonso puts on a stellar performance for Aston Martin, while his teammate Stroll squawks about a lack of straight-line speed. Owing to his chassis-damaging crash at Jeddah, Stroll’s car is fitted with new upgrades – perhaps ones he needs time to get accustomed to, as his 3 stop race lands him in P12. Alonso, harnessing his speedy soft tyres, launches up the grid and remains a frontrunner throughout. With Piastri close behind him at P7 and Russell, on fresh tyres, closing in at P8, Alonso puts on a defensive masterclass. Keeping Piastri within DRS range behind him, he allows the McLaren to defend itself against Russell’s Mercedes, with Russell only managing to squeeze past Piastri on the final lap – too late to catch Alonso for P6.
Sauber face problems AGAIN – with a dodgy gear box causing Zhou to retire in Lap 14. Bottas does better with P14, and Haas sandwich Stroll taking P11 and P13. Sargeant takes a trip through the gravel and winds up P17, just behind the 2 Alpines.
It’s mainly tyres.
Oh, and Red Bull finish P1 and P2.