LIVE | Japanese GP 2022 Formula 1: Suzuka Circuit
Vuelta 3/53 | There is already a clock for the end of the race and we are one hour and fifty minutes away so that there can be no more running by daylight. We remain awaiting a decision.
Vuelta 3/53 | This was the blow from Carlos Sainz on the first lap of the race that forced the red flag to be raised, keeping us emotionless on the track.
Vuelta 3/53 | The rain begins to fall with more force at 01:10 in the morning in the Center of Mexico and the Medical Car continues to circle the circuit but there is no progress.
Vuelta 3/53 | The weather forecasts do not indicate that the rain will stop for the rest of the day in Suzuka and there is still no official decision on whether or not this Grand Prix will be run.
Vuelta 3/53 | It’s already past one in the morning at CDMX and we’re still waiting for official information from the FIA, people in the stands resist the rain hoping to see something from the race.
Vuelta 3/53 | The rain does not stop and this will almost certainly not happen, Max Verstappen’s coronation will have to wait a few more days and it could be in Austin.
Vuelta 3/53 | What does my mom say that I always don’t. Two minutes before the stipulated time for the restart arrived, the race management suspended the restart and it seems difficult for this Grand Prix to run.
Vuelta 3/53 | Carlos Sainz speaks after his incident a few minutes ago: “We decided to start with an intermission, but when we started it was extreme conditions. The worst thing was that I stayed in the middle of the track and it was lucky that they didn’t hit me. The conditions are very complicated. Nothing is visible. The situation is very extreme.”
Vuelta 3/53 | The truth is that, waiting for the race not to be stopped again, it seems very complicated that the 53 laps can be finished due to the issue of light, so it could be due to time.
Vuelta 3/53 | YES WILL BE RELAUNCHED. The direction of the race informs that at 00:50 CDMX it will be run again with a moving game and hopefully there will be no other stoppage.
Vuelta 3/53 | One of the factors why not running this race anymore is because it won’t be long before the light of day begins to disappear on the track.
Vuelta 3/53 | There is more and more water all over the circuit and that is not a good sign for the restart of the race at the Japanese Grand Prix.
Vuelta 3/53 | Another person who takes things in a good mood is Fernando Alonso, who starts playing with the cameras while waiting for the decision of the race management. There is a possibility that it will not run and the rain is not going to stop.
Vuelta 3/53 | Max Verstappen takes things easy and waits for the relaunch of the race inside his box to avoid getting wet in the rain in Japan.
Vuelta 3/53 | While the race manages to resume, let’s review how the positions are so far, where just under a lap was run before the Sainz crash:
- Verstappen
- Leclerc
- PREZ
- Ocon
- Hamilton
- Alonso
- Russell
- Ricciardo
- Tsunoda
- Schumacher
Vuelta 3/53 | One of the details that will have to be followed after the red flag is how it will be relaunched, if stopped or with the safety car ahead. Jobs are kept on track.
Vuelta 3/53 | Surely many pilots will make the decision to change to wet tires and it is that more and more puddles are seen on the track, which complicates all actions.
Vuelta 3/53 | The difficulty in getting the cars off the track causes the race direction to launch a RED FLAG and the race will have to stop to get everything ready.
Vuelta 2/53 | There are two cars that have to be removed from the track and that will make the stay of the safety longer. Vettel complains about contact with Alonso at the start.
Vuelta 1/53 | Carlos Sainz ends up crashed into a wall and will have to abandon the race. The first Safety Car appears just on the first lap. Albon is also out.
Vuelta 1/53 | The lights of the traffic light go out and the Japanese Grand Prix starts. Max Verstappen manages to keep the lead despite Leclerc’s attack and Checo Prez gets third.
23:55 hrs | Max Verstappen is already getting into his car and we are a few moments away from the previous lap for the start of the Japanese Grand Prix… Let’s go with the actions!
23:50 hrs | This will be the first time that Yuki Tsunoda can race in front of his fans and the Japanese driver looks very excited, who will seek to score as many points as possible starting from behind.
23:45 hrs | This is how the water rises on a track that is very wet but doesn’t look flooded like it did in the first two free practice sessions two nights ago.
23:40 hrs | It is announced that Pierre Gasly will start from the pitlane this race after having made some changes to his car. We must remember that yesterday it was announced that he will be an Alpine pilot in 2023.
23:35 hrs | The boss Christian Horner gives a few last words to Checo Prez before getting into the car to place it on the starting grid. Light rain remains on the circuit.
What does Verstappen need to be champion in Japan?
23:30 hrs | It must be remembered that today Max Verstappen can secure his second Formula 1 world championship and these are the combinations that serve the Dutchman to consummate it.
23:25 hrs | Sebastian Vettel is applauded by all the fans in the stands and the German driver appreciates the affection in what will be his last race in Japan with Formula 1.
23:20 hrs | The rain stays but it’s not very heavy and if it stays that way it will most likely have to start with the green intermediate tires, waiting to see how the race develops.
23:10 hrs | This is the starting grid for this race, where Max Verstappen will start first and the Mexican Checo Pérez will do it from fourth position looking to attack early.
23:05 hrs | The Mercedes team points out through its official Twitter account that it has started to rain on the circuit as it had been forecast since yesterday.
23:00 hrs | Only one hour separates us from the start of the race, which will be 53 laps of 5,807 km each, so it will last a little over an hour depending on the incidents that may occur.
22:55 hrs | It must be remembered that this race could not be held in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, so the last winner was Valtteri Bottas in 2019 with Mercedes.
22:50 hrs | One of the great attractions of this race in Japan is the color of its fans in the stands, as the Red Bull team boasts on its Twitter account.
22:45 hrs | A few minutes ago the drivers’ parade took place along the entire circuit and fortunately the rain has not yet appeared, which is predicted at some point in the race.
22:40 hrs | We are just over an hour from the start of the race and this was the arrival of the historic Fernando Alonso, who is the driver with the most races in the history of Formula 1 and seeks to continue extending that legacy.
Welcome to the Japanese Grand Prix!
Hello, very good evening and welcome. It has been a weekend of sleepless nights but today we come to the end, with the Japanese Grand Prix race, where we will closely follow what our Mexican driver does on the track Sergio ‘Checo’ Prez.
The historic Suzuka circuit will host this race, where Checo has never been able to get on the podium and try to cut that streak as he has done in other tracks this championship.
The lights go out and the engines start at 00:00 this Sunday, October 9, so there is still time to have the pot of coffee ready to accompany the sleepless nights full of emotions.