Vettel has slight strategy advantage (Japanese Grand Prix fuel weights)
Vettel's strategy gives him a good chance of winning tomorrow's race
Sebastian Vettel should be able to pit one lap later than Jarno Trulli and Lewis Hamilton at the start of the Japanese Grand Prix.
But will he be able to keep Hamilton behind at the start of the race? Here are the fuel weights in full.
| Grid | Qualifying | Name | Weight | Fuel (kg) | First stint (laps) |
| 1 | 1 | Sebastian Vettel | 658.5 | 53.5 | 18 |
| 2 | 2 | Jarno Trulli | 655.5 | 50.5 | 17 |
| 3 | 3 | Lewis Hamilton | 656 | 51 | 17 |
| 4 | 6 | Nick Heidfeld | 660 | 55 | 18 |
| 5 | 8 | Kimi Raikkonen | 661 | 56 | 19 |
| 6 | 5 | Rubens Barrichelllo | 660.5 | 55.5 | 19 |
| 7 | 11 | Nico Rosberg | 684.5 | 79.5 | 27 |
| 8 | 4 | Adrian Sutil | 650 | 45 | 15 |
| 9 | 13 | Robert Kubica | 686 | 81 | 28 |
| 10 | 7 | Jenson Button | 658.5 | 53.5 | 18 |
| 11 | 9 | Heikki Kovalainen | 675 | 70 | 24 |
| 12 | 15 | Jaime Alguersuari | 682.5 | 77.5 | 27 |
| 13 | 10 | Sebastien Buemi | 665.4 | 60.4 | 20 |
| 14 | 16 | Giancarlo Fisichella | 661.5 | 56.5 | 19 |
| 15 | 17 | Kazuki Nakajima | 695.7 | 90.7 | 31 |
| 16 | 18 | Romain Grosjean | 691.8 | 86.8 | 30 |
| 17 | 12 | Fernando Alonso | 689.5 | 84.5 | 29 |
| 18 | 19 | Vitantonio Liuzzi | 682.5 | 77.5 | 27 |
| 19 | 19 | Mark Webber |
This grid is provisional. For more information on the starting order see here: Japanese Grand Prix grid (updated)
The start
Vettel vs Hamilton
Who prevails between Vettel and Hamilton on the run towards the first corner will be crucial to the outcome of the race.
From third on the grid, Hamilton’s KERS boost should allow him to make short work of Trulli’s Toyota. But will he be able to get past Vettel as well?
The run to the first corner at Suzuka is not one of the longest. And the double right-hand first corner has a short braking zone, making it harder for Hamilton to steal an advantage.
If Hamilton can’t pass Vettel there, he will most likely have to follow the Red Bull until they exit the hairpin. That could give him the chance to use KERS to pass at Spoon, or on the exit from Spoon down towards 130R, or at the start of the following lap.
Keep an eye on both drivers when the tyres warmers come off at the start to see whether either of them has gambled on starting the race on soft tyres for a crucial extra burst of first-lap pace. However the soft tyres could be more prone to graining early in the race before the track has rubbered in – a particular problem for Red Bull this year.
But for Vettel this is everything he could have dreamed of: he’s starting from pole position with the Brawns tenth or worse, and more fuel on board than those closest to him. This gives him a precious opportunity to keep him championship hopes alive.
Japanese Grand Prix
Vincent said on 3rd October 2009, 11:53
nakajima on one stop?
sutil is the lightest.
KERS powered ferrari and mclaren for the boost on position on lap 1.
5 place penalty is good for safety reason
SaloolaS said on 3rd October 2009, 12:01
I think Kovalainen was planning to have around 20 laps of fuel going into the race, but crashed and gained some fuel with that. He’s gonna have a one-stopper I belive, which makes him the first of one-stoppers on the grid. He might be dangerous for podium tomorrow.
mp4-19b said on 3rd October 2009, 12:05
Hope you are not joking! Kovi for a podium? Nah! He’ll just fade away as usual. His race pace has always been abysmal.
JHunt said on 3rd October 2009, 13:50
Its kind of sad cuz he seems to be a nice guy, but nice guys dont finish first.. oh well I’m sure if hamilton has his say Kovi will still be around next year… but definately hoping for Kimi to return so the other guy can stfu
Ned Flanders said on 3rd October 2009, 20:41
I definitely don’t think Kovalainen is as bad as he’s being made to look this year. I just think his confidence has been destroyed. I don’t think he’ll ever be championship winning good, but he certainly deserves his place in F1.
gpfan said on 4th October 2009, 3:30
Plus, Kovi is always on the back-up strategy. Kovi’s only chance of a win is when something odd happens (rain; SC, etc.).
Hakka said on 3rd October 2009, 12:06
We should expect some more crashes, retirements, and yellow/safety-car periods tomorrow.
All this was in the dry! Imagine if it is a wet race …
DMW said on 3rd October 2009, 16:45
Yes, the NASCAR race tomorrow will be fabulous. But you do know those guys are made of sugar and can’t race in the wet. Go, JPM!
Salty said on 3rd October 2009, 12:17
Wonder if Glock will be able to race tomorrow. Given his conplaints of back pain, the gash on the back of his leg and a dose of man-flu, might be better if he doesn’t.
Toyota boss John Howlett said he would try and get Kamui Kobayashi back in the car if Timo is not fit, but under current rules this is not possible as he did not take part in one of today’s sessions.
Does remove the car from between Button and Barrichello, although I believe the 11th place grid slot would remain empty.
mm said on 3rd October 2009, 17:07
It is possible with permission… just not automatically allowed.
Leslie said on 3rd October 2009, 12:27
Looking at the car weights, Rosberg/Kubica should be in with a good chance since their revised grid positions have pushed them up into contention.
Meander said on 3rd October 2009, 12:30
Rosberg and Kubica to podium?
Choltz said on 3rd October 2009, 15:38
Rosberg has a good chance of a podium for sure, he was fast all weekend, all the red flags really put him in 11th.. and that looks to have given him an advantage since he was able to fuel heavy. Just depends on how good the start is for him, but 8+ laps of clean air could give him a good shot.
SaloolaS said on 3rd October 2009, 12:33
Why is Heikki 13th?
mp4-19b said on 3rd October 2009, 12:36
Doesn’t matter where he is. He’s gonna end up 13th. Unlucky fella.
pSynrg said on 3rd October 2009, 12:38
Podium: Vettel, Raikkonen & Hamilton of course. Not sure on the order though but my money’s on Hamilton, he’s just going to faster and faster during the race. Always a chance Vettel will find a way to toast his motor though, assuming they don’t take each other out at the 1st turn.
Bit of farse the whole session really. What’s up with the drivers here? So many errors, some potentially catastrophic. Commentary complaining about some of the run off areas still being gravel, and I get their point. But the fact that no-one was hurt is surely vindication that Suzuka has got the right balance?
Richard said on 3rd October 2009, 12:39
Why exactly is Kova in 13th when he qualied into quali 3 even if he didn’t set a time
he wasn’t on the list of penalised drivers
e said on 3rd October 2009, 12:56
changed his gear box
Nathan said on 3rd October 2009, 12:57
He had to change a gearbox due to his crash
mcfan said on 3rd October 2009, 12:56
Kovi is 13 due to gearbox change (5 grid place penalty)
mp4-19b said on 3rd October 2009, 13:04
But he didn’t crash that heavily, did he? strange. But I would really want him to charge from down there, pull of some breathtaking overtaking maneuvers, set the fastest lap time, overtake hamilton on the last lap & win the race in style!! Am I expecting too much? He’s racing for pride. GO KOVI! GO OUT IN STYLE!!
Ali Adams said on 3rd October 2009, 13:22
McLaren to make sure he is slowed down sufficiently so as not to complain when kicked out for Kimi’s sake :)
Mike G said on 3rd October 2009, 19:57
That would be amazing!!!!!… really feeling sorry for Heikki at the moment, you can clearly see the pressure is getting to him.
Whitty 123 said on 3rd October 2009, 13:08
worked out fantastic for alguersuari. I’m very pleased for him.
Ali Adams said on 3rd October 2009, 13:39
how did Alguersuari end up in 11th when I see other times listing Clock between 10-Barrichello and 12-Button?
And is he Arab? as his surname starts with Al-Guersuari :)
Pradeek said on 3rd October 2009, 13:55
Ali Adams said on 3rd October 2009, 14:10
Proof of computers can only compute and only human/animal do understand :)
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 3rd October 2009, 18:18
Sorry, left over from working out fuel stuff, should’ve been deleted.
Robert Silvestre said on 3rd October 2009, 14:00
Good job by Rubens, outqualified Jenson with more fuel on board… 1st time this year?
Ali Adams said on 3rd October 2009, 14:06
last GP he did the same so not the first time I believe but don’t quote me on that as I have a 10s memory span only :)
BT52/B said on 3rd October 2009, 14:24
He also did the same thing in Italy.
Ruben’s is also starting on softs, I believe? Is this the smart thing Suzuka? I don’t know…
Daniel said on 3rd October 2009, 14:30
Second time in a row, and, as long as I remember, at least the third time in the year that he outqualifies button, despite being heavier…
wasiF1 said on 3rd October 2009, 14:19
I don’t Toyota can,it will be Vettel vs Lewis vs Kimi on the 1st corner & hopefully for the race.If Nico come out of the 1st corner good then he may end up at the podium.
One thing for sure we will have lots of overtaking tomorrow from 6th to 12th there is a mix if 1 stopper & two stopper.
Whatever happens we will have an exciting race for sure.
Rahim said on 3rd October 2009, 14:23
Go Kimi Raikkonen…..Go Vettel
Wesley said on 3rd October 2009, 18:49
I’ll second that!