2023-09-22 09:00:00
12:00 o’clock
Photos of the day
The training sessions in Suzuka produced some nice pictures, which you can always view in our photo gallery.
Which is your favorite?
F1: Japanese Grand Prix (Suzuka) 2023
11:30 a.m
Admission of error
After the Singapore Grand Prix there was discussion, confusion and anger over the stewards’ penalties.
They sought discussion in a meeting with the team managers in Suzuka and the FIA admitted that they had made mistakes. This particularly affects Max Verstappen, but also other incidents.
You can find out what this is explicitly about in this article by my colleague Ruben Zimmermann.
© LAT
11:00 o’clock
Who will follow Red Bull?
After the second free practice session, we obviously also have to keep an eye on the important long runs with a lot of fuel at the end of the session, where Red Bull has found its way back to its old strength.
Max Verstappen was clearly the fastest man on the track, followed by – surprise – Valtteri Bottas in the Alfa Romeo. Behind them come the Ferraris and McLarens. Mercedes and Aston Martin, on the other hand, are far behind.
Like our data expert Kevin Hermann You will find out how the balance of power will be after training Friday in Suzuka as the day progresses on the Formula1.de YouTube channelwhere he works with the strategy software OneTiming von PACETEQ Alfa Romeo’s strong form explains Mercedes’ weak pace and why the Japanese Grand Prix could become a tire battle.
© Motorsport Images
10:31 am
Continue series
Fernando Alonso loves driving at Suzuka. In his media round after the second free practice session, he said that “Formula 1 was made for a track like Suzuka.”
Tomorrow he would like to continue his own streak of making it into Q3 in every race, but he also knows that the field behind Red Bull will be very narrow:
“That will be the goal, to maintain this series. That will be the goal, but it will be tight,” said the Spaniard.
© Motorsport Images
9:33 a.m
Full again
It comes as no surprise to observers that Red Bull is fully back. The drivers were also very happy with the performance of their RB19 compared to Singapore.
Max Verstappen: “It felt really good today. The car was a pleasure to drive again from the first lap. It seems like we had a strong day, both on a fast lap and on the long runs.”
Sergio Perez: “I think we will be strong on Saturday and Sunday.”
© Motorsport Images
9:03 a.m
Impact Gasly
In turn nine, the braking and the locking of the tires caused Pierre Gasly to crash and the end of the second free practice session.
The Frenchman could no longer keep his Alpine on the track and slipped into the gravel and along the tire wall, where the front left suspension then broke.
Of course, it’s extremely bitter for Gasly, who is currently lagging behind his performances of the past and is outshined by Esteban Ocon.
8:57 a.m
It hurts a little
Sebastian Vettel is not only traveling as a bee ambassador this weekend, but of course also as a fan, but you can still tell that he would actually like to be in the car right now. This was particularly highlighted in an interview with Sky Germany:
“I knew it would be difficult to watch here. Of course it’s extremely difficult here. It’s my favorite track and I already said it last time: I would never be against a comeback just for here. I mean, it is “It’s hard when I stand here now and know what it feels like when you’re sitting in the car.”
© Motorsport Images
8:47 a.m
Broad spectrum
There is a lot of activity on the track and you can tell that all the teams are following different programs, but most of them are in the long run.
The two McLarens, for example, are on the soft tires and currently have 15 (Piastri) and 16 (Norris) laps completed. At Ferrari, meanwhile, they are concentrating on the medium, with which Leclerc completed 17 laps and Sainz completed 16 laps. Max Verstappen tests the prototype.
Just over 12 minutes left on the clock.
8:33 a.m
Verstappen fell
Halftime in the second free practice session in Suzuka and Max Verstappen is currently not leading!
Charles Leclerc set a 1:31.008 on the soft tires and is therefore in first place. Behind us we find Lando Norris, around 1.5 tenths behind. Carlos Sainz is in third place and Verstappen is in fourth place. Nico Hülkenberg is eleven.
8:17 a.m
That was fast
And once again Max Verstappen set the fastest lap. With a fast 1:31.377, he set the fastest time on the fast soft tires and once again made it clear that he always intends to be the fastest this weekend.
Charles Leclerc is three tenths behind, but on the medium tire. Carlos Sainz is currently in third place.
Still around 40 minutes to drive in FT2.
© Motorsport Images
07:20 am
Technical updates from the teams
Of course, the teams brought a few updates to Suzuka again this weekend. For some, not quite as many as there were at the start in Singapore, some brought nothing with them and for others there are even very significant updates.
Here is the list:
Red Bull: –
Ferrari: Underbody (here we have a detailed article for you)
Mercedes: “Shovel” on the rear wing end plate
Alpine: –
McLaren: Beam wing, air intake on the side pods was equipped with a “packer”.
Alfa Romeo: –
Aston Martin: smaller cooling inlet on the brakes
Haas: –
AlphaTauri: rear wing tips, side mirrors
Williams: Inner underbody edges reduced in size
For pictures of the updates, please take a look at our photo gallery, where you can find some cool snapshots.
Photo series: Formula 1 technology: detailed photos at the Japanese Grand Prix 2023
07:08 am
New perspectives
Did you see Lewis Hamilton’s new, slightly more sideways onboard camera in the first free practice session?
I think Suzuka comes across really well, very cool idea.
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