08/10/2017
NEWS STORY
Minded that Sebastian Vettel can be aggressive at the start of races - and all points in between - Lewis Hamilton had the perfect response yesterday. "He won't be any more aggressive than I am," grinned the Briton.
However, in many ways, Hamilton doesn't need to rise to the bait, with a 34 point lead and five races remaining - including today's - it is Vettel who has his back to the wall, it is Vettel who has all the work to do.
That said, having been the hunter for much of the season, Hamilton will not want to cut the German any slack especially now their positions are reversed.
Both drivers love this track, and what better arena for the two to go head to head, and with Bottas demoted following his gearbox penalty, Hamilton and Vettel effectively form the front row.
Both will be looking to the weather gods today, not so much in terms of rain, which would certainly please the Force India duo, but temperatures; with the Ferrari excelling in warmer conditions - being the Latin beast that it is - and the Mercedes preferring it to be cool, like its northern Europe homeland.
As the sun shines down from an azure blue sky, the early signs are that the gods favour the German.
Indeed, with an eye on the weather, in terms of the start, might we point Sebastian to Aesop's fable about the sun and the wind, and the bet as to which of them could get a traveller to remove his coat.
Those infamous grid penalties mean that once again few drivers are starting where they actually qualified, a knock-on effect being that the likes of Bottas and Raikkonen are starting behind the Red Bulls, the Mercedes driver in the precarious position of being caught between the Pink Panthers.
Suzuka rarely disappoints, over the years it has provided some iconic and breathtaking moments, as it is a circuit the drivers love, a circuit that allows them to prove themselves.
There have been no overnight surprises, other than the fact that just a couple of hours after qualifying Renault announced that this will be Jolyon Palmer's final race, as Carlos Sainz makes an early switch to the French team and Daniil Kvyat replaces him at Toro Rosso.
It's terribly sad for the Briton, and while he has had his fair share of bad luck with reliability and so on, let's not forget that not once this year has he out-qualified his teammate.
With an eye on Palmer's departure, what better time for a couple of other drivers to show they are worthy of a 2018 seat, we're talking Pascal Wehrlein... and, of course, Felipe Massa.
The conditions mean the Red Bull is unlikely to bother the two title contenders, providing everyone gets through the start and those first few corner without any silliness.
Again, the midfield should provide the thrills, with McLaren looking strong this weekend and possibly able to put pressure on Haas. The American team has been disappointing this weekend, as has Toro Rosso, though with all the driver changes one can possibly understand.
The sunshine has once again brought out the very best in those wonderful Japanese fans, who help make this one of the most enjoyable races on the calendar.
As for tyres: "We would expect two pit stops for most drivers," says Pirelli's Mario Isola, "as this is one of the circuits that takes the most energy out of the tyres of the entire year.
"Already we've seen some tactics in qualifying," he continues, "with two of the drivers carrying grid penalties opting to start on the soft tyres. This should allow them to gain track position by running a longer first stint than their direct rivals.
"Last weekend in Malaysia proved that, with the right strategy, it's still possible to get a good result even starting from the back."
The pitlane opens, and one by one the drivers head out. With thirty minutes before the start, the air temperature is 26 degrees, while the track temperature is 43 degrees. Not as warm as last week at Sepang.
On his way to the grid Hamilton says he feels his fronts are overheating and wonders if some more pressure can be taken out. Not sure if he's referring to the pressure in the tyres or from inside himself. Elsewhere, Niki Lauda admits: "I'm worried".
Mind you, Vettel doesn't look entirely confident, the German looking unusually concerned, as do several of his crew members. Indeed, a late issue with a spark plug is detected and work continues until just before the warm-up lap.
Elsewhere, the Renault crew line up to bid farewell to Palmer, let's hope they've given him a car that can go the distance.
A late drink for The Iceman, who appears to be feeling the heat.
All are starting on the supersofts, bar Bottas, Raikkonen, Hulkenberg, Ericsson, Wehrlein, Palmer and Sainz who are on softs.
The crowd is really up for it, almost everyone appearing to have a paper chequered flag, which they are all waving enthusiastically.
The grid forms... Alonso the last to take his place.
They're away and Hamilton wastes no time in moving across the track to cover his title rival. As they head into T1, the Red Bulls jostle for position while Ocon slips in behind.
Verstappen gets ahead of Ricciardo on the inside in T1, while further back Vandoorne runs wide.
In the Esses, Ocon gets ahead of Ricciardo who appears to be struggling as Bottas holds off Perez
Sainz is off and in the gravel. I'm really sorry guys," he says, "It's my fault. "Never mind," he is told. "Sad to close the race like this."
Meanwhile, Verstappen nails Vettel at the hairpin, the German appearing to be caught asleep.
Raikkonen runs wide in Spoon ah he goes head to head with Hulkenberg, the German having the inside line. The Finn loses a whole load of positions as he rejoins the track.
At the end of lap 1, it's: Hamilton, Verstappen, Vettel Ocon, Ricciardo, Bottas, Perez, Massa, Hulkenberg and Magnussen.
Vettel appears to have a problem however, passed (with ease) by Verstappen, he has now lost out to Ocon, Ricciardo and Bottas in quick succession as they all sweep by on the run to T1 at the start of the second lap.
The Safety Car is deployed as Sainz' car is removed from the track after the Spaniard's issue. A disappointing 'final' outing for the Spaniard at Toro Rosso.
Vandoorne reports that he was hit by a Ferrari (Raikkonen) at the start.
The Safety Car pulls off at the end of lap 3.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Suzuka, here.
The race resumes, as Vettel reports: "I still have the same issue". Indeed, he is passed by Perez and then Massa.
"Box Sebastian, box, we retire the car I am afraid." The German duly pits, his race and quite possibly the championship over.
Out front, Hamilton enjoys a 1.442s lead over Verstappen, while Ocon is up to third, ahead of Ricciardo, Bottas and Perez. Elsewhere, Raikkonen makes a nice move on Grosjean and then teammate Magnussen for 9th.
Stroll and Wehrlein have both pitted.
Incredibly, Vettel remains in his car, helmet on. Across the pitlane Arrivabene watches, could the German yet rejoin the race?
Hamilton and Verstappen trade fastest sectors, the Briton posting a new fastest lap (34.917).
Out come the double yellows as the camera picks out Ericsson who is in the barriers at Degner. The Swede is OK, but his car isn't. The shaking of heads in the Sauber garage suggest his team is not impressed.
Just before the VSC is deployed, Raikkonen makes a nice move on Hulkenberg for 8th.
Palmer is up to 13th, could the Briton sign off with another points finish?
Still under VSC, Vandoorne pits at the end of lap 9 - at which point the VSC is withdrawn.
Ricciardo makes an immediate challenge on Ocon, and quickly dispatches the Frenchman going around the outside in T1. In clear air, the Australian immediately goes quickest in S2.
Another nice move on Ocon, this time from Bottas, the Finn moving up to 4th on his soft rubber.
Meanwhile, the cameras cut to Vettel who is now out of his car.
Raikkonen closes on Massa who is 3.9s down on the Pink Panthers. Struggling with his rear tyres, as Ocon loses ground to Bottas he falls into the clutches of Perez.
Raikkonen makes short work of Massa and sets about closing the 3.5s gap to Perez.
Elsewhere, Alonso is up to 14th, 2.5s down on Palmer but 18.9s clear of Stroll.
Verstappen reports blistering to his front-left as he slips to 4s behind the race leader.
In 11th, Grosjean is told he is doing a good job. The Frenchman is uncharacteristically quiet today. Then again, the day is young.
On the pit-wall, Arrivabene puts an assuring hand on Vettel's shoulder. We'd prefer to have a camera watching Sergio Marchionne's reaction. Ignoring Singapore, Ferrari has thrown away this championship.
Massa pits at the end of lap 17, rejoining in 14th on softs.
As Raikkonen closes on Perez, Vandoorne is all over (15th placed) Stroll.
Alonso complains of poor grip at the front.
Despite Perez' best efforts, Raikkonen is in no mood to take prisoners and sweeps around the outside of the Mexican in T1 to take 6th.
Magnussen pits at the end of lap 20, rejoining in 14th.
Ocon also pits, but there's a slight delay with the right-rear. He rejoins in 12rth behind Alonso.
Next time around Verstappen pits, as Ocon barges his way past Alonso. Perez also pits.
Verstappen rejoins in 4th, just metres ahead of a charging Raikkonen.
"Box, box, box, box," Hamilton is told. The Briton duly obliges, rejoining in in 3rd, 3.2s ahead of Verstappen.
As Ocon closes on Palmer, Alonso is passed by the second Force India.
On fresh rubber, and 1.5s down on Hamilton, Verstappen posts a new fastest lap (33.813).
Despite a stout defence, Palmer is unable to hold off Ocon who nails the Briton for 7th.
Grosjean pits at the end of lap 24.
Verstappen is told that Hamilton is probably going to make his tyres last until the end.
Ricciardo pits at the end of lap 25, the Australian rejoining in 5th behind Raikkonen. Elsewhere a lock-up for Hulkenberg at Degner which allows Ocon to make up ground.
Talking to Sky Sports, Vettel is remarkably calm, refusing to criticise his team. "We've done an incredible job so far," he says. "Obviously bitter the last two races, we're all disappointed, but I think I need to protect them, get a bit of rest, and then go flat-out for the next races.
"We still have a chance," he insists, "but it's not in our control as we would like."
A series of blue flags for Wehrlein as he is about to be lapped by race leader Bottas who has yet to stop.
As Verstappen closes to within DRS range, Hamilton complains that Bottas is compromising his race. "He can't hold me up much longer," says the Briton. "This is compromising my pace and my tyres. I've got poor downforce behind him."
The Finn subsequently moves aside at the chicane, allowing his teammate through.
Raikkonen pits at the end of lap 28, rejoining ahead of the Panthers. Now 6th, Bottas and Hulkenberg ahead have yet to stop.
Bottas pits at the end of lap 30, leaving Verstappen in clear air, albeit 3.2s down on Hamilton. The Finn rejoins in 4th ahead of Hulkenberg.
After 31 laps (of 53), it's: Hamilton, Verstappen, Ricciardo, Bottas, Hulkenberg, Raikkonen, Ocon, Perez, Palmer and Massa.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Suzuka, here.
On fresh rubber, Bottas sets a strong pace, posting a new fastest lap (33.688).
Hamilton reports that he is "struggling" with his rear tyres. No such problems for Verstappen who is told his tyres are "looking good" when he asks his team.
Raikkonen sweeps past Hulkenberg to take 5th.
The McLaren pair are clearly frustrated as they continue to lose time behind Stroll. Vandoorne subsequently makes a second pit stop.
Stroll pits which releases Alonso, while Perez closes in on his good buddy Ocon.
"If we can overtake these cars there are points on offer," Gasly is told. "Massa is struggling."
Oh, oh. Perez advises that Ocon is too slow, and essentially asks if he can make a move.
"Can I attack Esteban, he's going so slow," asks Perez. "No Checo, no. Hold position. We'll have more updates for you in a few laps," he is told. "Well tell him to pick up the pace, he's going so slow."
Hulkenberg finally pits at the end of lap 39, leaving teammate Palmer as the only driver still to stop. Hulkenberg rejoins behind Gasly, but subsequently makes short work of the Toro Rosso driver.
As Gasly has a big lock-up in his short duel with Hulkenberg, the German has to pit again as he has an issue with his rear wing, the DRS flap being stuck open. In the meantime, Palmer has pitted.
"It doesn't ******* close," the German had warned. Unfortunately the problem is unfixable and his race is over. The Hulk is clearly furious.
As Bottas posts a new fastest lap (33.424), Magnussen makes a great move on Massa for 8th, Haas teammate Grosjean subsequently adding to the Brazilian's misery. "Good boy!" Magnussen is told.
As Hamilton maintains a 2.7s lead over Verstappen, Ricciardo is a further 11.3s down the road, 4s ahead of Bottas. Raikkonen is a distant (+18.7s) fifth, ahead of the Panther and Haas duos.
Blue is clearly not only the colour for Chelsea, it is all that Wehrlein's been seeing for much of the race.
Off goes Stroll across the grass at the Esses, almost collecting Ricciardo as he rejoins the track. "There's something wrong with the car," he reports, as the VSC is deployed. "I don't know whether I can make it back.
Replay suggests he suffered a suspension issue or maybe a puncture at the front-right part of the car in T1. Either way his race is done.
Behind the VSC, Verstappen is 4.9s down on Hamilton with 5 laps remaining. Ocon is sixth, ahead of Perez, Magnussen, Grosjean and Massa.
A double points finish for Haas ahead of its home race would be good new for the team, while Alonso hasn't given up on that final point scoring position.
Perez is still unhappy at his teammate's pace, though not too much stress on the word 'mate'. "Hah, what is Esteban doing," asks the Mexican of no-one in particular.
The VSC is withdrawn at the end of lap 49 as Bottas closes to within 1.1s of Ricciardo.
As he focusses on Massa, Alonso is now the subject of blue flags as the leader comes up to lap him. Verstappen closes to within 0.2s of the Mercedes.
"Am I allowed to give it everything," asks Verstappen. "As long as you are sensible," he is told. The words "and eat your greens" omitted.
Meanwhile Alonso is under investigation for ignoring the blue flags.
As they begin the final lap, Hamilton is 1.7s clear of Verstappen, while Alonso continues to harry Massa. Bottas is also closing in on Ricciardo.
Hamilton takes the flag, and with it a 59 point lead in the championship, a championship he can wrap up in Austin in two weeks' time.
Hamilton wins, ahead of Verstappen, Ricciardo, Bottas, Raikkonen, Ocon, Perez, Magnussen, Grosjean and Massa.
Alonso is eleventh, ahead of Palmer, Gasly, Vandoorne and Wehrlein.
On his cool down lap, Hamilton waves to the crowd, the crowd, appropriately, waves its chequered flags.
Nice to see that at Suzuka, the field actually gets to complete a whole lap after the race, thereby allowing the fans to salute their heroes.
"Get in there Lewis," comes the traditional call over the radio. "Beautiful work, lovely managed race A fantastic result."
"Lots of vibrations I'm getting now," Hamilton responds, and we don't think it's the Beach Boys variety.
The podium trio carry out a post-mortem in the ante room, Verstappen telling Hamilton he appeared to be struggling in traffic. As if Lewis didn't know.
The anthems played, the trophies handed out and the Champagne sprayed, Takuma Sato joins the drivers on the podium for the post-race interviews - it is unclear if he is standing on wooden blocks. (One from the old days).
As ever, Lewis thanks the "amazing" fans, "fantastic" track "beautiful" weather, "incredible" team and "outstanding" rivals. He makes it appear as effortless as the victories.
The only break from tradition is when he bends to admire Sato's Indy 500 winners' ring, which looks positively enormous on the Japanese driver.
On a day when Ferrari finally came off the rails - Raikkonen's effort aside - the Red Bull duo are delighted to be up there, and with five races remaining one wonders if the Maranello outfit might yet be pipped at the post.
Clearly impressed by Sato's Indy ring, Hamilton asks if he can try it on. "It might be worth going there some day," he admits.
Asked about his hopes after today, he replies: "Honestly, I could only have dreamed about this kind of gap. Ferrari has put on such a great challenge all year long, all I can say is that I put it down to my team, they have done a phenomenal job, reliability has really been on point. They're just so meticulous, and that's why we have the reliability, the results we're having."
Words that Ferrari would do well to heed.
So on to Austin, where Justin Timberlake awaits, not only to thrill his fans but to possibly laud the new world champion.
With 59 points advantage, the title is Hamilton's to lose.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Suzuka, here.