Teams' reactions after the Japanese Grand Prix

Following a disappointing race in Melbourne, championship runaway chief Max Verstappen bounced again to clinch his third win of 2024, heading a dominant one-two for Purple Bull in Suzuka. F1Technical’s senior author Balázs Szabó delivers groups’ reactions after the Japanese Grand Prix.

Purple Bull endured a troublesome weekend final trip in Australia. Max Verstappen retired with brake issues whereas Sergio Perez suffered from a minor harm to his RB20 and graining on his entrance tyres. Nevertheless, Japan noticed Purple Bull excel as soon as once more on a monitor that very a lot highlights the strengths of their automotive as a result of lengthy high-speed corners.

It was subsequently no shock to see Max Verstappan and Sergio Perez safe a dominant one-two in Suzuka to construct up a margin to Ferrari within the Constructors’ Championship. Demonstrating their superior tempo across the Honda-owned monitor, it was Purple Bull’s third consecutive one-two in Suzuka within the final three years.

Max Verstappen, 1st
“At present was merely pretty and I actually loved the race. We stayed out of hassle within the first lap and from there, we tried to take care of the tyres as a lot as attainable. We made the precise calls earlier than we went into qualifying, which positively helped right now and it is vitally good to come back again and win after Australia.

“The automotive simply bought higher all through the race and, though it took just a few laps earlier than I bought a pleasant rhythm as we didn’t have many practices on the lengthy runs, on the second stint the automotive actually got here alive. I may push the place I wanted to and I may take care of my tyres effectively, so the race went actually properly. It was a terrific Staff consequence the entire weekend and good to attain a one two right here: our third of the season. Suzuka is at all times a terrific monitor to go racing at and general I’m actually comfortable in regards to the efficiency right now.”

Sergio Perez, 2nd

“It was a very good day for the Staff. We had good tempo right now, we simply struggled with the degradation initially and didn’t get sufficient out of the medium as a result of stability and monitor temperature. We suffered somewhat on the primary stint, it compromised our race somewhat an excessive amount of and with Lando pitting early. The second stint was higher, however we needed to get by way of lots of site visitors and that made our life loads tougher. On the laborious we had been again to our greatest, however issues had been somewhat out of sync by then.

“What’s optimistic and an enchancment is that when we now have points like on the primary stint, we’re in a position to resolve them throughout the race, which is one thing we lacked final 12 months. We’re in a very good place and acting at a really good stage, we simply have to hold progressing. My confidence is coming again and the momentum needs to be with me for the approaching races, if I’m able to have such a constant weekend in Suzuka it may possibly solely be optimistic shifting ahead.”

Ferrari continued the development that it has set initially of the season. The Scuderia appeared to wrestle for one-lap tempo on Saturday, however managed to massively increase its tempo within the race on Sunday. Carlos Sainz executed a ‘regular’ two-stop technique to beat Lando Norris for the third spot on the podium.

In contrast, his team-mate Charles Leclerc elected to finish the 53-lap Suzuka race with a one-stop technique, changing into the one point-scoring driver to take action. Given the excessive degradation on the 5.8km monitor, it was not a straightforward process to grasp, however the Monegasque demonstrated as soon as once more how a lot Ferrari has managed to enhance their tyre administration which was their Achilles’ heel final 12 months.

Charles Leclerc, 4th
“Trying simply at right now’s race, I’m fairly comfortable, as a result of there may be nothing that we may have performed higher. Our tempo, tyre administration, communication and technique had been all actually good. Nevertheless, what prevented us from getting a greater general consequence largely comes all the way down to our qualifying yesterday. Since Australia, we’ve had some difficulties placing the tyres in the precise window on the out laps in qualifying, which is one thing we by no means struggled with earlier than, so we actually need to concentrate on that within the subsequent few days to ensure we are able to put all of it collectively in China.”

Carlos Sainz, third
“It was a very good day for the entire group. We executed a really strong race and introduced house lots of factors, maximising the potential of our bundle. A robust couple of begins stored me in a very good place and from there onwards we managed it completely with very robust tempo on each compounds and good overtakes to make the technique work. We clearly need to struggle a bit additional up, but when we hold pushing like this, I’m positive we can have extra alternatives. Now it’s again to the manufacturing unit with the group and from tomorrow we’ll begin getting ready for China.”

Visiting Japan this weekend, McLaren returned to the circuit on which they delivered certainly one of their strongest performances final 12 months. In qualifying, Lando Norris delivered a sensational lap to seize P3 on the grid, however he was unable to carry on to it with Ferrari drivers Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc massively choosing up their tempo in race trim.

His team-mate Oscar Piastri lacked tempo all by way of the weekend and was involed in a struggle with Fernando Alonso within the closing levels of the race. Altough he appeared to have extra tempo than the Spaniard, he was unable to go by, and was overtaken by Mercedes racer George Russell within the dying phases of the 53-lap race.

Lando Norris, fifth
“Powerful race! We gave it a very good attempt, however we simply did not have sufficient tempo right now, so making an attempt to cowl and keep forward of the Ferraris was difficult. I feel we nonetheless did a very good job and maximised the factors however beginning third and ending fifth isn’t the nicest factor to occur. It’s the utmost of what we may obtain right now although, so I feel we now have to be proud of it as a lot because it doesn’t really feel like a terrific consequence.”

Oscar Piastri, eighth
“It was a troublesome afternoon. Issues didn’t fairly click on into place and we weren’t combating for the positions we needed to. Nevertheless, it is 4 factors finishes on the bounce this 12 months and there’s loads to remove and attempt to study from. We’ll return to the manufacturing unit and switch our consideration to China the place we’ll look to safe extra worthwhile factors for the group.”

Aston Martin introduced a raft of essential upgrades to Suzuka, together with vital tweaks to the sidepod of the AMR24. Fernando Alonso made good use of the upgraded automotive to qualify himself fifth. Within the race, Aston Martin gave the impression to be weak as a result of increased tyre degradation, however the two-time champion managed to maintain the Mercedes of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton and the McLaren of Oscar Piastri behind to go away Japan with a sixth-place end.

Lance Stroll lacked tempo in qualifying which meant that he began the race from P16. The Canadian pursued a particularly aggressive technique to develop into the one driver to make use of two units of sentimental tyres throughout the race. Regardless of climbing up the order, the Montreal-born racer was not in a position to rating any factors in Spherical 4 of the season.

Fernando Alonso, sixth
“It was a terrific weekend for me with fifth place in Qualifying yesterday and sixth place within the race. It was certainly one of my finest for some time. I feel we barely outperformed our true place right here this weekend, however we’re executing our races very effectively this season and scoring good factors for the group. Our plan for right now labored effectively and a particular thanks for the pitstops which had been very spectacular, so credit score to the entire group for that. We nonetheless have to analyse our replace bundle, so we’ll take a look in any respect our information from this weekend in Japan forward of our return to Shanghai.”

Lance Stroll, twelfth
“It was a troublesome race right now. Ranging from P16 meant we had a compromised technique and struggled to seek out any clear air. We additionally lacked the straight-line velocity we wanted. I did make some good overtakes at Flip 6 although, in order that made for some enjoyable racing. We had been hoping to catch Yuki [Tsunoda] for P10, however the tender tyres simply didn’t have the grip in the direction of the tip of the race, so it was disappointing to not end within the factors. We’ll take these learnings into China in a few weeks’ time.”

Mercedes appeared comparatively robust by way of the apply periods and each drivers, notably Lewis Hamilton sounded optimistic concerning the automotive’s stability. Nevertheless, they missed the essential last tenths of a second in qualifying as Hamitlon and his team-mate George Russell certified themselves solely P7 and P9 respectively.

The group then elected to execute an bold technique within the race. On the restart, each Hamilton and Russell opted to make use of the Onerous compound with the choice seeing them lose a spot proper after the second standing begin. Having lacked tempo throughout their first stint, they each delayed their first cease, however doing so that they misplaced time when race chief Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez, Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz overtook them on recent tyres.

Having picked up a minor harm, Hamilton struggled from horrible understeer which the group may enhance with tweaks to the entrance wing throughout the pit stops. In the long run, the Briton ended the race in P9 whereas Russell completed two locations increased as much as finish one other troublesome weekend for Mercedes.

Lewis Hamilton, ninth
“It was a troublesome day right now. I did my finest, however the consequence wasn’t a very good one. Sadly, that’s the place our automotive is for the time being. I didn’t really feel nice on the Onerous tyre and picked up somewhat bit of harm on the restart. I had numerous understeer, notably throughout that first stint, which was why I made a decision to let George previous. As soon as we placed on the Medium compound, it began to really feel somewhat higher. The ultimate stint was the primary time within the race that I felt like I had good grip.

“We have to hold working laborious as right now, our tempo was possible solely adequate for P6. If we need to transfer up the grid, then we might want to add extra efficiency to the automotive.”

George Russell, seventh
“We moved ahead right now and that was optimistic. The plan to begin on the Onerous tyre after the pink flag was to offer us the pliability to try both a one-stop or a two-stop. It was good to have this freedom and in the end, we ended up on the two-stop technique because the one cease wasn’t working. We had a difficult opening stint however after that first cease, our tempo appeared aggressive to these forward.

It was an thrilling race in the direction of the tip. It’s at all times good to be attacking somewhat than defending, and it was good, laborious racing. There was some contact with Oscar, which was a racing incident, however I used to be glad to get the place in the long run. It’s shut between the 4 groups behind Purple Bull and qualifying goes to be important at every race. Whoever begins forward will possible end on the entrance of that pack. We all know we’ve bought work to do and we’ll hold pushing. Hopefully a monitor just like the one in China will go well with us higher.”

The Visa Money RB group had a robust weekend in Suzuka. Yuki Tsunoda certified himself P10, and managed to hold on to this place in his house race to develop into the primary Japanese driver since 2012 to attain factors in Japan. The Sagamihara-born driver has had a really encouraging season to this point, having completed within the factors for the second time in 2024 and having earned promotion into Q3 for the third time in 4 qualifying periods.

His team-mate Daniel Ricciardo had a way more troublesome weekend. The Australian handed over his automotive to Ayumu Iwasa in Free Follow One, and was unable to finish any significant working within the second one-hour qualifying session as a result of transient rain bathe. Nevertheless, he made the most effective of the ultimate apply to solely narrowly miss out on Q3. Regardless of his encouraging qualifying place, his race ended prematurely as he collided with Alexander Albon because the pair method Flip 3.

Daniel Ricciardo, DNF
“After yesterday, the place we made some steps in the precise route, I used to be actually excited to come back racing right now to have a very good day. In these circumstances, a Lap 1 incident is likely one of the worst issues that would occur to a driver, particularly as you don’t actually have the possibility to do something after the huge build-up and vitality was ready for the race. It was a disgrace and an unlucky one for all of us concerned. It was a racing incident, and by chance, after some checks, each Alex and I are okay.

“The beginning of the race was actually poor as Yuki and I had been on medium tyres, and we had been struggling a lot in comparison with the opposite vehicles behind on the tender compound. In Flip 2, it settled somewhat bit, however I nonetheless felt like I used to be sliding after which noticed an Aston on the surface of me. I used to be watching him however after I was getting ready to enter Flip 3, with out utilizing all of the monitor because it was the primary lap, Albon bought alongside me and had a greater exit from Flip 2. I didn’t see him and we touched. That is racing typically and is a part of it; not likely anybody accountable, there was simply an enormous distinction by way of grip out of there. I’m sorry for the group, however China is quickly, so we’ll concentrate on that.”

Yuki Tsunoda, tenth
“I’m feeling relieved. After I misplaced some positions on the primary begin, I felt somewhat disappointment for positive, however on the similar time, I simply centered on the second begin. I had a very good one and was in a position to make up just a few positions. One of many large highlights was the pitstop. Our mechanics did a improbable job, it was such a quick pitstop that allowed us to overhaul two vehicles, and that’s insane! With out that, it could’ve been much more troublesome to attain factors right now, so the group deserves large credit score. So do the Japanese followers, they’re nice! Clearly, lastly with the ability to rating factors in entrance of my house followers, right here and people who couldn’t make it to the monitor and watched it on TV, makes me a really comfortable man.

“I felt assured right now. I knew our straight-line velocity isn’t that aggressive in comparison with different vehicles however on the similar time, we all know we had lots of downforce, and the one probability we had was by way of the esses, usually affected by downforce. It allowed me a pair good overtakes and I positively loved that. When it comes to tyre administration, I really feel like my driving in right now’s race was in all probability my finest. I began my profession right here and to have the ability to rating factors right here is extraordinarily particular. An enormous thanks to everybody at Honda, Purple Bull and Visa Money App RB who’ve been concerned and supported me all through my journey. I don’t really feel like I scored P10 right now however P1 – it’s a terrific feeling.”

Haas has had a fairly weekend in Japan. The Suzuka monitor has been an actual check for the American group as tyre degradation was a sizzling speaking level this weekend, and that was the world Haas needed to enhance on for this 12 months. Having proven indicators of enhancements with tyre degradation throughout the opening rounds, Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen managed to take care of the tyres significantly better than final 12 months, albeit it was nonetheless not sufficient to attain factors.

Nico Hulkenberg, eleventh
“I don’t suppose we may’ve bought any increased than P10 in all probability, and Tsunoda was 50 seconds behind Hamilton, so I didn’t have that type of tempo. I had one good begin and one actually dangerous begin – the automotive went into anti-stall. After that, I bought my head down as I feel the tempo was fairly good for the midfield. I did an extended stint on the laborious at first, and a ‘splash and sprint’ on the second set in order that I may actually present some tempo. I take our race tempo as a optimistic, it was higher than what I anticipated earlier than the race in order that’s a reduction and promising for China and going forwards.”

Kevin Magnussen, thirteenth
“At one level I used to be working inside the highest 10 – I didn’t know what these round me had been doing so I wasn’t positive if it was sensible or not – however I used to be making an attempt. With the tires we had, the pink flag successfully helped just a few individuals they usually had been in a position to do a one-stop from laborious to laborious, the place I needed to do two stops from medium to laborious, in order that was powerful. I needed to pit fairly early for the second stint on the laborious tires, so it was a bit tough. We’re there or thereabouts within the races once more, in order that’s encouraging and provides some hope for coming races that we might be within the hunt for factors.”

Valtteri Bottas, 14th
“Our tempo general appeared fairly robust right now, that is the optimistic we are able to positively take out of this race: it ought to have allowed us to complete increased than we did right now – which confirms the step ahead we now have made by way of efficiency because of the upgrades we now have been bringing just lately and the work performed to refine our understanding of our bundle. Sadly, our potential for factors was scuppered after we suffered the site visitors at our second cease: we stopped with a gaggle of different vehicles, it was not the simplest cease and, as soon as I made it again out on monitor, I ended up being caught behind Kevin [Magnussen] for many of the last laps.

“I’m positively disenchanted, as we may have simply achieved extra right now, and scored our first factors of the season. Nonetheless, our race tempo appeared promising, and there may be progress made each on and off the monitor. We are able to hope for a stronger efficiency in Shanghai: our precedence stays getting extra constant execution throughout the entire board, and struggle for factors in what’s a particularly tight pack. I’m excited to be going again to China after just a few years, and it’ll in fact be an enormous one for us as a group and for Zhou – hopefully, we’ll have the ability to be again within the struggle and put up a good present and a few factors.”

Zhou Guanyu, DNF
“It has been a troublesome weekend for me: sadly, we encountered some smaller points over the weekend, from the lowered run time in FP3, that in the end impacted my qualifying, to a DNF in a race the place I had the tempo to make up some positions. I had a very good begin and first laps of the race, earlier than we seen that we’d have some technical issues and being knowledgeable to retire the automotive.

“Whereas that is positively not the beginning of the 12 months that I hoped for, we hold working laborious as we all know issues will enhance: our general tempo appeared good, and my focus now’s on the preparation for my first house Grand Prix. With the group trackside and again on the manufacturing unit, we’ll examine our points and work on them to be in a greater place, so I’ll be combating for factors at house in China – in Saturday’s Dash Race in addition to the Race on Sunday.”

Alex Albon, DNF
“I didn’t have a terrific begin however being on the Onerous tyres, I had good traction arising into Flip 2, however I don’t suppose Daniel [Ricciardo] noticed me and it was a little bit of a pinching second… I attempted to again out of it however I couldn’t fairly get out of the way in which fast sufficient. It’s a tricky one to take, so all in all a really irritating and disappointing weekend. It wasn’t an enormous crash however the way in which I hit the tyre wall, the automotive gripped and went underneath it, and I got here to a tough cease actually quick and aggressively, in order that gained’t assist with the harm to the automotive. Trying forward, we’ll assess the harm and get the automotive prepared in time for China.”

Logan Sargeant, seventeenth
“After that second cease, I used to be pushing as laborious as I may to catch the group forward and make one thing occur. I bottomed on the exit kerb, locked up and went straight. That second was disappointing however main as much as it there have been some positives. We had a daring technique making an attempt to do the Onerous, Onerous race which I feel would’ve labored. In fact, the lap we attempt to pit everybody pits and as a substitute of leaping 4 vehicles, we bought jumped by 4 vehicles which may make or break a race. Had that gone to plan, the race would’ve performed out very in a different way.

“Nonetheless, we tried to adapt to the state of affairs by boxing once more. We nonetheless may’ve had a good consequence, however I made that little mistake.”

Alpine has one other troublesome race weekend following their troublesome begin to the 2024 F1 season. Esteban Ocon delivered encouraging efficiency to get himself into the second qualifying phase, however he was unable to maintain up with Alpine’s direct rivals. His team-mate Pierre Gasly was delighted with the getaway initially and the restart, however he additionally lacked race tempo. Each driver complained about harm to their automotive, however they conceded that it didn’t utterly change the general image.

Esteban Ocon, fifteenth

“It was not a straightforward race right now. We picked up some harm initially, and after that we tried some totally different technique choices to offer us a combating probability. However, in the end, we weren’t fast sufficient right now to compete with these round us and hold them behind after the restart. It was unlucky to choose up harm, nevertheless, I don’t suppose it made an enormous distinction to the general image of the race. We struggled with race tempo in comparison with Qualifying, so we now have loads to overview and hopefully we are able to come again stronger on the subsequent race in Shanghai.”

Pierre Gasly, sixteenth

“Sadly, it’s been an extended afternoon for us in Suzuka. There are some positives, together with having two very robust standing begins. At the second, after the pink flag, I overtook the Haas, then Esteban after which bought myself alongside Yuki [Tsunoda]. At that time, I used to be sandwiched between each in an unlucky racing incident. It meant I had vital harm to the ground – costing round 30 factors of downforce – and subsequently lap time because of the harm.

“From then, it was a really troublesome race, there was not a lot we may do aside from push as laborious as attainable. It’s not the place we need to be, however it’s good that we introduced the primary upgrades to the automotive this weekend. Now we have to maintain growing the idea, hold bringing elements as quickly as attainable as we want it in an effort to enhance our present place.”

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