Red Bull dominate first two sectors but Ferrari’s pace is unknown (FP1 analysis)
Red Bull are pulling out an advantage of half a second over their rivals in the first two sectors of the lap at Suzuka.
But while Lewis Hamilton showed promising pace before his crash, Ferrari’s performance around Suzuka is surely better than 11th and 13th in first practice suggested.
Meanwhile Suzuka specialist Sutil flattered his Force India with the fourth-fastest time.
View interactive chart full screen
Tick/untick drivers’ names to show their laps, click and drag to zoom
With heavy rain expected tomorrow the teams got in as much running as they could during first practice on a dry track.
But McLaren missed out on a quarter of the running available to them as Hamilton crashed halfway through the session.
He had just set the fastest time in the first sector of the lap up to that point and had been lapping at a similar pace to Sebastian Vettel. Although McLaren will be frustrated at the loss of track time, they may draw some encouragement from that. Apparently their new rear wing is working as well.
Both MP4-25s ran their new rear wing with revised F-duct. It seems Jenson Button was on a different programme to Hamilton, and had not beaten his team mate’s time by the end of the session.
Indeed Hamilton ended the session fifth despite missing half of it, which indicates the performance drop-off on the hard tyres was quite high. That should improve as more rubber goes down on the track this weekend.
Ferrari also seem to have been keeping their powder dry with neither car finishing in the top ten. Expect that to change in the next session.
Adrian Sutil, whose qualifying performance here last year marked him out as a Suzuka specialist, strung his three best sectors together in one lap to put his Force India fourth.
The ultimate times list shows the Mercedes and Williams are faster. However Sutil was slightly delayed by a hydraulic problem, so there’s probably more to come from the VJM03.
As expected, the Red Bulls are strongest in the first sector, where no other car is within 0.3s of them. Both drivers were also top in sector two, with a slightly smaller advantage.
For the moment at least, their rivals aren’t able to claw much of that back in the final sector with its long straights. Mark Webber was quicker through the speed trap than both the McLarens.
According to Mike Gascoyne, Lotus tried a lower downforce set-up on Heikki Kovalainen’s car but decided it was “not the way to go”.
Given Kovalainen ended the session quicker than his team mate it seems this was tried in his first stint, when he was slower, as you can see in the interactive data above.
The next session should provide some clues as to whether Red Bull’s rivals can reduce their advantage – and just how quick those Ferraris are.
| Car | Driver | Car | Best lap | Gap | Lap | At time | Laps | |
| 1 | 5 | Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull-Renault | 1’32.585 | 14 | 71 | 23 | |
| 2 | 6 | Mark Webber | Red Bull-Renault | 1’32.633 | 0.048 | 14 | 63 | 23 |
| 3 | 11 | Robert Kubica | Renault | 1’33.129 | 0.544 | 14 | 72 | 23 |
| 4 | 14 | Adrian Sutil | Force India-Mercedes | 1’33.639 | 1.054 | 9 | 42 | 13 |
| 5 | 2 | Lewis Hamilton | McLaren-Mercedes | 1’33.643 | 1.058 | 6 | 67 | 8 |
| 6 | 9 | Rubens Barrichello | Williams-Cosworth | 1’33.677 | 1.092 | 14 | 35 | 21 |
| 7 | 10 | Nico Hülkenberg | Williams-Cosworth | 1’33.707 | 1.122 | 16 | 91 | 24 |
| 8 | 3 | Michael Schumacher | Mercedes | 1’33.739 | 1.154 | 9 | 70 | 20 |
| 9 | 22 | Nick Heidfeld | Sauber-Ferrari | 1’33.791 | 1.206 | 10 | 64 | 23 |
| 10 | 4 | Nico Rosberg | Mercedes | 1’33.831 | 1.246 | 8 | 91 | 9 |
| 11 | 7 | Felipe Massa | Ferrari | 1’33.929 | 1.344 | 15 | 41 | 25 |
| 12 | 1 | Jenson Button | McLaren-Mercedes | 1’34.042 | 1.457 | 12 | 70 | 19 |
| 13 | 8 | Fernando Alonso | Ferrari | 1’34.169 | 1.584 | 12 | 76 | 23 |
| 14 | 23 | Kamui Kobayashi | Sauber-Ferrari | 1’34.271 | 1.686 | 4 | 56 | 19 |
| 15 | 12 | Vitaly Petrov | Renault | 1’34.373 | 1.788 | 13 | 66 | 24 |
| 16 | 15 | Vitantonio Liuzzi | Force India-Mercedes | 1’34.379 | 1.794 | 12 | 70 | 21 |
| 17 | 16 | Sebastien Buemi | Toro Rosso-Ferrari | 1’34.991 | 2.406 | 24 | 62 | 26 |
| 18 | 17 | Jaime Alguersuari | Toro Rosso-Ferrari | 1’35.684 | 3.099 | 19 | 70 | 22 |
| 19 | 19 | Heikki Kovalainen | Lotus-Cosworth | 1’36.949 | 4.364 | 15 | 55 | 25 |
| 20 | 24 | Timo Glock | Virgin-Cosworth | 1’37.329 | 4.744 | 10 | 66 | 17 |
| 21 | 18 | Jarno Trulli | Lotus-Cosworth | 1’37.388 | 4.803 | 6 | 66 | 23 |
| 22 | 25 | Jerome d’Ambrosio | Virgin-Cosworth | 1’37.778 | 5.193 | 15 | 68 | 23 |
| 23 | 21 | Bruno Senna | HRT-Cosworth | 1’38.814 | 6.229 | 19 | 69 | 28 |
| 24 | 20 | Sakon Yamamoto | HRT-Cosworth | 1’39.443 | 6.858 | 17 | 75 | 26 |
Ultimate laps
An ultimate lap is a driver’s best time in each of the three sectors that make up a lap added together.
| Car | Driver | Car | Ultimate lap | Gap | Deficit to best | |
| 1 | 5 | Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull-Renault | 1’32.536 | 0.049 | |
| 2 | 6 | Mark Webber | Red Bull-Renault | 1’32.583 | 0.047 | 0.050 |
| 3 | 11 | Robert Kubica | Renault | 1’32.800 | 0.264 | 0.329 |
| 4 | 2 | Lewis Hamilton | McLaren-Mercedes | 1’33.379 | 0.843 | 0.264 |
| 5 | 4 | Nico Rosberg | Mercedes | 1’33.614 | 1.078 | 0.217 |
| 6 | 3 | Michael Schumacher | Mercedes | 1’33.628 | 1.092 | 0.111 |
| 7 | 9 | Rubens Barrichello | Williams-Cosworth | 1’33.638 | 1.102 | 0.039 |
| 8 | 14 | Adrian Sutil | Force India-Mercedes | 1’33.639 | 1.103 | 0.000 |
| 9 | 10 | Nico Hülkenberg | Williams-Cosworth | 1’33.675 | 1.139 | 0.032 |
| 10 | 22 | Nick Heidfeld | Sauber-Ferrari | 1’33.738 | 1.202 | 0.053 |
| 11 | 7 | Felipe Massa | Ferrari | 1’33.809 | 1.273 | 0.120 |
| 12 | 1 | Jenson Button | McLaren-Mercedes | 1’34.024 | 1.488 | 0.018 |
| 13 | 8 | Fernando Alonso | Ferrari | 1’34.169 | 1.633 | 0.000 |
| 14 | 23 | Kamui Kobayashi | Sauber-Ferrari | 1’34.194 | 1.658 | 0.077 |
| 15 | 15 | Vitantonio Liuzzi | Force India-Mercedes | 1’34.330 | 1.794 | 0.049 |
| 16 | 12 | Vitaly Petrov | Renault | 1’34.373 | 1.837 | 0.000 |
| 17 | 16 | Sebastien Buemi | Toro Rosso-Ferrari | 1’34.933 | 2.397 | 0.058 |
| 18 | 17 | Jaime Alguersuari | Toro Rosso-Ferrari | 1’35.416 | 2.880 | 0.268 |
| 19 | 19 | Heikki Kovalainen | Lotus-Cosworth | 1’36.909 | 4.373 | 0.040 |
| 20 | 18 | Jarno Trulli | Lotus-Cosworth | 1’37.140 | 4.604 | 0.248 |
| 21 | 24 | Timo Glock | Virgin-Cosworth | 1’37.299 | 4.763 | 0.030 |
| 22 | 25 | Jerome d’Ambrosio | Virgin-Cosworth | 1’37.609 | 5.073 | 0.169 |
| 23 | 21 | Bruno Senna | HRT-Cosworth | 1’38.662 | 6.126 | 0.152 |
| 24 | 20 | Sakon Yamamoto | HRT-Cosworth | 1’39.155 | 6.619 | 0.288 |
2010 Japanese Grand Prix
- Force India pair expect busy Friday
- Technical review: Japanese Grand Prix
- Tom Hitchings watches the Japanese GP at Suzuka
- Massa pleased by di Montezemolo’s support
- Hamilton takes heart from McLaren pace
- Mercedes admit missed opportunity to keep Schumacher in front of Rosberg
- Alonso says five drivers can still win title
- 2010 Japanese Grand Prix: the complete F1 Fanatic race weekend review
- Who was the best driver of the Japanese Grand Prix weekend? (Poll)
- Dominant win for Vettel piles pressure on Webber (Red Bull race review)
Image © Force India F1 Team
Rahim RG said on 8th October 2010, 4:56
I Love Suzuka…Its gonna Be so Tight…. Excited about Next Session….
vodka and orange said on 8th October 2010, 12:59
whoooooa mate, slow down a bit!! Lets get this brilliant season over with first eh? I dont know how you can be thinking about next year just yet with things looking so hot at the moment!!#:)
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 8th October 2010, 13:08
“Next session”, not “next season”.
Gill said on 8th October 2010, 4:56
Its a seen trend this year where Ferrari goes heavier in the FP1.
They cant be 1.5 secs of the pace and slower than Renault, Meecedes, Force India and Williams.
Regis said on 8th October 2010, 5:00
Yeah, Ferrari seem to run heavy at the start. Finally a race i will be able to watch in the afternoon here in Australia. Its better than 10pm on a sunday night :)
macahan said on 8th October 2010, 5:54
I take 10pm any time over my “normal” race time of 7am. Quali and race shown midnight Fri/Sat.
US_Peter (@us_peter) said on 8th October 2010, 6:06
My normal time is 4am, and admittedly, I don’t watch those live. I catch ‘em on the DVR once I’m awake and jacked up on caffeine. That way I can skip the atrocious ads too.
trulli dead09 said on 8th October 2010, 6:14
Yea but because of these useless Commonwealth Games we don’t get a pre-race show by One, so that puts a dampener on things. Surely it couldn’t hurt Channel 10 to put in a 50 minute show in place of a bunch of athletes running around in circles.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys) said on 8th October 2010, 5:05
You know, I could settle for a Red Bull victory with Ferrari pointless …
macahan said on 8th October 2010, 5:54
Sounds great to me. ;)
Gill said on 8th October 2010, 5:08
Its good that Ham collided and destrroyed his car.
I hope he doesnt run in FP2 and crashes out in the race.
PS: I am not anti Ham . He is tremendous driver but I dont like Mclaren.
Becken said on 8th October 2010, 5:15
Wow… I hope everybody feels much better now after you let us know that… ;)
Gill said on 8th October 2010, 5:32
Any day Becken.
Just keep looking and reading at my comments. You will say WOW everytime. :)
Franton said on 8th October 2010, 9:47
Haters gotta hate :(
Ninja said on 8th October 2010, 11:42
Agree with you Gill. He Should hit the wall again during qualifying. lol
RioF said on 8th October 2010, 5:40
I have a feeling HAM may get pole… don’t forget, he actually got the fastest 1st sector at that time of the crash… 1st Sector is supposed to be RBR…
Ferrari really have not shown their true colours… last few races especially italy and Singapore…. Ferrar was no where near the top for FP1….
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 8th October 2010, 5:46
McLaren say Hamilton will be out in FP2 but not right at the start.
Gill said on 8th October 2010, 7:19
ham is still out. Its 11 m ins left in FP2 to end
BasCB (@bascb) said on 8th October 2010, 8:28
Really hard to judge, the RBR went fast early, Ferrari held back and the only McLaren running in the end was doing longer runs as well.
Lewis will be in a fighting mode after this, i am curious to learn what that brings out in him this weekend.
Hallard said on 8th October 2010, 18:05
“Meanwhile Suzuka specialist Sutil flattered his Force India with the fourth-fastest time. ”
Aliteration aside… :)
gonzo said on 9th October 2010, 18:35
looks like Kubica this time
Odbiór mieszkania Warszawa Certyfikaty Energetyczne said on 31st January 2011, 18:48
Kubica is ok.