+58 seconds for Tsunoda behind the identical car. All that drama and hype and press for P12, no points and no hope lol. Zero gained for this race. Does he get 2 more or do they dump him after 1 more. I know Marko said he would see the season out but that is the last person who should be believed.
I was thinking the same - completely. Monaco-esque this all was and we do not need that so early. Utterly disappointing this was. Other than a new winner, this was not a race at all. I expect more of this given the aero / tire issues in the series now.
Tsunoda doesn't have an identical car. He has a HDF(high downforce) rear wing to compensate for the front end loading car built for Max. The drawback with a hdf rear wing is it makes Tsunoda's car very draggy hence his qualifying lap time and race pace was paltry at best. RedBull opted the hdf rear wing on Tsunoda's car so it would look "manageable" for Tsunoda.
For those that haven't seen the race yet I've made a highlight reel. F1 Japanese GP 2025 Race Highlights
Again cars are way too wide on this kind of track. They looks like inelegant boats without any kind of speed. 2004 era is the way to go I guess. ( Ferrari is mediocre right now and I have no doubt they would be mediocre either with a V10 formula, not my point)
I'm not sure DRS is a good thing. Sure, it's for the two cars up front. But further back, people get stuck in a "DRS train" and it *impairs* passing. Sainz did well to get 32 laps out of his mediums, to put softs on for the last 20 laps. But he got stuck in a DRS train and could only make up two spots. Even lost fast lap to Antonelli on hards.
Snoozuka. Mclaren should have swapped with 12 to go. Piastri had pace. No one can get close. on to bahrain.
The only way to pass in F1 (aside from pit stops) is to have a long straight followed by a hard braking zone. It appears that the one place Suzuka has that - the chicane - still isn't good enough. So the top five starters were the top five finishers.....
I’m really happy the result was spoiled for me on Apple News. I can spend two hours today doing something more worthwhile now.
Total snoozefest. So far we had two terrific GPs and two totally boring ones. I wonder what the rest of the season will bring.
The best part of the entire race was in the cool-down room. Max deadpan to Lando: "that's an expensive lawnmower" /
I still remember spectating at Suzuka 1997 when Shumi won with a little help from Irvine, Ferrari 3L V10,glorious sound!Lived in Tokyo back then,great times... https://www.instagram.com/michaelschumacher.f1years/reel/DFxw2IaoxBn/ Fast forward to 2025,this race was a serious contender for the most BOAT
Another season where you tune into the first 5 minutes of a new season, forget about it until the last 5 minutes of the season. Spend all winter hoping the next season will be better.
Max in the post race interview with Lando to his right and Oscar to his left and a reporter asked, "So Max did you see Lando next to you coming out of the pit exit?" Max's response, " Well, that side of the grass wasn't cut so Lando made sure to cut that side of the grass!'.....Max had a smirk on his face.
Good weekend for Max, he sealed it with the qualifying. McLaren had pace but everyone struggled to pass. I didn't realize this track doesn't provide much racing action.