MOTOR SPORT FORMULA ONE CHAMPIONSHIP, Japanese Grand Prix preview
ALTHOUGH LEWIS Hamilton did not say as much, he is probably unique in wishing for a return of the atrocious weather that accompanied his victory in last year’s Japanese Grand Prix. Drivers yesterday encountered the Fuji circuit for the first time in the dry, a more pleasurable experience after all three days of the 2007 event had been held in conditions so bad that one practice session had to be cancelled.
Yesterday’s opening day took place under sunny skies which, while highlighting the majestic surroundings of Mount Fuji, showed signs of playing into the hands of Hamilton’s rivals even though the Englishman, who finished the day with the third-fastest time, was quicker than the Ferraris of Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen.
“It’s been much nicer than last year,” said Hamilton.
“It’s been good to get to know Fuji while dry because, although pretty short, it’s a nice circuit to drive and the last sector is a real challenge. It’s not the easiest of tracks because it requires a good set-up to get the best from the car.
“We were immediately on the pace and found a good balance [on the car] straight away. The car was as I expected it to be: very competitive. It feels very consistent at this circuit, better than last year.”
When pressed further, however, Hamilton did admit to expecting the Ferraris to improve if it remains dry during this morning’s final practice and qualifying.
“If it’s dry,” said Hamilton, “we’re going to be very close but no doubt they’ll pull something out and be quicker than they are now. But they shouldn’t underestimate us. If it’s wet like last year, we’ll be very, very competitive. This is a great track in the wet.”
Hamilton would say that, since he had the advantage last year of being at the front and remaining largely unaffected by the opaque wall of spray created by those running behind the McLaren-Mercedes. Nonetheless, he did not put a wheel out of place in treacherous conditions that allowed him to display an exceptional talent.
Winning pole position again would put Hamilton at an advantage should the rain return tomorrow but, if the mild weather remains during qualifying, then Hamilton’s prediction of a Ferrari resurgence might be proved true. More than once this season Massa has shown average form during practice, only to produce a stunning qualifying lap time when it mattered most.
As it was, Massa was only three-hundredths of a second slower yesterday and showing the sort of quiet confidence Hamilton had every right to be concerned about.
“I’m pleased with the way things have gone,” said Massa. “The balance of the car is very good, both on the first timed lap and over a distance. The times are very close and maybe I could have been a bit further up the order if I had not encountered traffic on my last run on soft tyres. These seem to be very quick, which is no surprise, but also very consistent.
“I really want to do well this weekend and we will try and win and bring home the best possible result for the championship.”
Massa lies seven points behind Hamilton with three races remaining.
The Brazilian will also be watching the weather forecast but for different reasons. Massa’s record on a wet track is not impressive – he spun five times during the British grand prix, another race that allowed Hamilton to show his class in the rain – but the Ferrari team in general will not welcome cooler conditions.
The Ferrari chassis has difficulty in generating heat initially in its Bridgestone tyres, a handicap during the final phase of qualifying and after pit stops when instant performance is required.
On the other hand, if the warm conditions continue, Ferrari’s disadvantage will disappear in direct proportion to rising temperatures.
Such is formula one’s intensely competitive nature this year – one second covered 17 cars yesterday – that the championship is likely to be settled by small details.
Rather than worry about the position of the Ferraris, Hamilton would do well to be concerned about the second-fastest time yesterday, that set by his former McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso.
Fresh from a slightly lucky but well-worked win in Singapore two weeks ago, Alonso continues to show the scars of his fractious term at McLaren.
Alonso has no chance of taking a third championship this year but he will do everything to prevent Hamilton from winning his first.
Mount Fuji may be dormant but there will be a major explosion in the region if Hamilton finds himself trapped behind Alonso’s Renault while Massa makes his escape.
That is all the more reason for Hamilton to stay out of trouble by claiming his sixth and arguably most important pole position this morning.
Meanwhile Bernie Ecclestone, the sport’s commercial-rights holder, has said India will host a formula one race for the first time in 2011.
“We have India and here I can say that the grand prix will be inserted into the calendar in 2011,” Ecclestone said.
He added there were also “two or three options” in Russia but he insisted Singapore would remain the only race run under floodlights next season.
Guardian Service
Drivers world championship
1 Lewis Hamilton (Brit) McLaren 84pts
2 Felipe Massa (Bra) Ferrari 77
3 Robert Kubica (Pol) BMW Sauber 64
4 Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 57
5 Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber 56
6 Heikki Kovalainen (Fin) McLaren 51
7 Fernando Alonso (Spa) Renault 38
8 Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Toro Rosso 27
9 Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota 26
10 Timo Glock (Ger) Toyota 20
Constructors world championship
1 McLaren-Mercedes 135pts
2 Ferrari 134
3 BMW Sauber 120
4 Renault 51
5 Toyota 46
6 Toro Rosso - Ferrari 31
Remaining races
Sunday: Japanese GP
October 19th: Chinese GP
November 2nd: Brazilian GP
