The new Formula 1 season has been full of surprises and intrigue from the very first races, both on and off the track.
Ahead is the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, and here are the main topics being discussed before the third round of the championship.
Norris vs Piastri Battle to Test McLaren
Two races – two wins.
McLaren has confirmed their status as the fastest car, although they are trying to downplay their success. The team started the season with two consecutive wins for the first time since 2003 and could have secured two one-twos if not for Piastri`s spin in Melbourne.
However, already in Shanghai, Piastri responded by outperforming Norris in the sprint and reducing the gap to his teammate in the drivers` standings to 10 points.
Verstappen and Russell are currently positioned between the McLaren drivers in the championship, but everything indicates that it is Norris and Piastri who will be fighting for the title this season.
Drivers` Championship: Top 5
1) Lando Norris, McLaren – 44 points
2) Max Verstappen, Red Bull – 36 points
3) George Russell, Mercedes – 35 points
4) Oscar Piastri, McLaren – 34 points
5) Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes – 22 points
Norris and Piastri`s successes raise questions about how McLaren will handle the situation when two drivers are fighting for the championship throughout the season. Norris stated that the team is “nervous but excited” about the prospect of such a battle. Team principal Andrea Stella noted that the team has been preparing for such a scenario for a long time, but they will have to adapt to the situation as it develops.
Another duel between the McLaren drivers is expected at Suzuka. The track suits McLaren cars, as they demonstrated in previous seasons when Red Bull dominated. The question is whether other teams will be able to catch up with McLaren in the upcoming races.
Red Bull`s Driver Swap: Many Unanswered Questions
While McLaren is dealing with a “luxury problem” of having two title contenders, Red Bull`s problems are more pressing. The first is improving the RB21 car, and the second is the situation with the second driver.
Just two unsuccessful weekends for Liam Lawson were enough for Red Bull to become disillusioned with him. Yuki Tsunoda, who many considered a more worthy candidate, got a chance to replace Sergio Perez.
Red Bull`s decision was unexpected, so it will be interesting to hear the opinions of Tsunoda, Lawson, and team principal Christian Horner at Suzuka.
Verstappen`s opinion is also interesting. His “like” on a critical Instagram post suggests that he is not thrilled with what is happening.
Verstappen`s dissatisfaction may be related to the fact that Lawson was not given more time, or to the fact that the reshuffle creates instability in the team. All this raises questions about Verstappen`s future with the team.
We will probably get answers to these questions this week.
Ferrari Under Pressure for a Strong Weekend
Despite expectations, Ferrari`s start to the season has not been as impressive. The team arrives at Suzuka needing to have a strong weekend to join the title race.
In China, Ferrari was in the spotlight due to Hamilton`s sprint race win and the double disqualification in the main race.
Ferrari`s double disqualification became a historic anti-record. The loss of points for 5th and 6th places highlighted that the race was already unsuccessful.
Hamilton was the only driver in the top six to pit twice. Leclerc, after swapping positions with his teammate, was faster, but his speed raised questions, given the damaged front wing he sustained at the start.
In the end, Leclerc was overtaken by Verstappen and finished 23 seconds behind winner Piastri, and was later disqualified due to his car being underweight.
The double disqualification cost Ferrari 18 points, dropping the team to fifth place in the Constructors` Championship, 61 points behind leader McLaren.
Team principal Frederic Vasseur urged not to panic, noting that Leclerc`s race was encouraging, and all teams are experiencing tire issues. He compared the gap to McLaren to last year`s gap to Red Bull.
Vasseur believes that McLaren is in good shape now, but the championship is not over yet. Nevertheless, Ferrari cannot afford several more unsuccessful weekends if they want to keep up with McLaren.
Suzuka: A Timeless Challenge for Drivers
The Japanese Grand Prix, moved to spring, remains an important round. Drivers note that Suzuka is a great place to race at any time of year.
The race takes place in Japan during the cherry blossom season, which adds charm to the event.
The Suzuka track layout has hardly changed since 1987. 3.6 miles, 18 corners.
Unlike some tracks, Suzuka remains a challenging task for drivers thanks to the Esses, Degner, Spoon, and 130R corners.
Monaco is considered the gold standard for a qualifying lap, but Verstappen`s onboard camera footage at Suzuka shows that this track is just as challenging and spectacular.
It`s worth waking up early on Saturday to watch qualifying and on Sunday for the race!
