2008 Fuji GP

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Sureboss

Sureboss

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The provider of an incredible race last season, due to the weather and a controversial incident on the last lap behind the safety car (was last lap behind safety car, wasn't it? That be last lap of the safety car period, not the race).

We have had a fantastic season and you'd have to say that the pressure is on Massa, if he doesn't outscore Lewis, his title bid could be gone.
 
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Couldn't find a better track map picture? Anyways. I have no idea how this one is gonna turn out. Since last years race was a total wash out. Going to be fun to watch.
 
Time to say "konnichiwa!" to Japan. In the second race of this set of Asian venues. We came away from the streets of Singapore in a history-making first night race there. Now we return to daylight with Mount Fuji in the distance.

Despite my criticisms of the new changes to the Fuji circuit, I'm slowly getting around to that these modifications to the classic Fuji track aren't bad. I don't think of this course as a true F1 track even though they've raced here long ago for the Japanese Grand Prix. I always thought F1-style courses are world-class facilities that test you on various levels. Think of the challenge tracks like Silverstone and the Nürburgring provide. The problem I've had (and I might get railed for this) is that this is not really an F1-STYLE track. It's not really as rewarding to race around in an F1 car as it is at Suzuka. Fuji was always more like a high-speed playground to me. Which is why when the new changes were made to this track, I didn't like them that much. Suzuka challenges you on many levels whether taking on Degner, Spoon Curve, 130R, or the dreaded Casio Triangle. There's not as much challenge to Fuji. It's a lovely course to race on, but I never thought it was a real F1 track anymore even with the modifications in 2005.

Who remembers last year's race? It took about... 19 laps before real racing got underway. Japanese weather can get pretty crazy, as demonstrated last year at Fuji. It was miserably wet as well as foggy. They may as well needed to have big flood light towers to see around the track (or would it do any good?). I refer to this track as a high-speed playground. About the first half of the course is mostly a high-speed track. However, the corners are very decisive. The very first corner, the hairpin, and every turn from Dunlop to the Panasonic are all some of the toughest sections to navigate. I think a high-speed transmission setup as well as strong brakes and stiff suspension will help you navigate the course safely.

Lewis Hamilton won last year's race, but threw away his title hopes with a DNF at the Chinese Grand Prix. Then too, Scuderia Ferrari's was reeling after seeing both of their cars taken out on the streets of Singapore. So I'll make three picks for this year's race: Hamilton, Maasa, or Alonso.
 
Massa and pressure! That's a good one.

I think the chicane at turns 10,11 and 12 is stupid. The GT version of that corner is miles better. It becomes a high speed 90 degree corner and means you carry more speed into turn 13 to make that more challenging.
 
I say Massa if the team doesn't let him down. Otherwise its Hamilton. If it rains Vettel :sly:
 
This configuration is best for motorcycles than cars. I guess since F1 cars are super-light, the F1 cars race this configuration. If that's not bad enough (speaking of GT as well as Tourist Trophy), I usually immediately slam the wall since I forget there's a super-slow chicane after blasting down the backstretch. How much do you want to slow down F1 cars to be safe? To the point where are more super-slow corners than high-speed sections? Might as well have F1 cars race on go-kart tracks!
 
Thanks for that great post Alex.

I'd say that this is Hamiltons race. Id like to see rain to make it exciting and lets see the championship decided on the drivers and not on dodgey pit crews and grey areas of the rules.

Just let them race and the real winner shall prevail
 
I fancy none of the top 2 to finish in the remainder of all races and Kubica to do a Rosberg and win the championship with 1 win :lol:
 
JohnBM01
This configuration is best for motorcycles than cars. I guess since F1 cars are super-light, the F1 cars race this configuration. If that's not bad enough (speaking of GT as well as Tourist Trophy), I usually immediately slam the wall since I forget there's a super-slow chicane after blasting down the backstretch. How much do you want to slow down F1 cars to be safe? To the point where are more super-slow corners than high-speed sections? Might as well have F1 cars race on go-kart tracks!
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Actually the current Fuji layout suits F1 cars quite well, as does most other Tilke tracks; ie stop and go style tracks, where cars reach high speeds and have to brake hard. All this is of course to promote overtaking, wich is notoriously hard in F1. So the chicane at Fuji has a purpose, as it is another overtaking possibility.
The following corners are technical and fairly slow, and their purpose is also to promote overtaking, but this time under acceleration, onto the main straight.

Who wins? Hamilton hands down. Fuji demands a brave and technical driver, with a car that can both corner well and have good top speed. Hamilton has all of this. Alonso has the driving skills, but not the car. Massa has the car but his skills are questionable in this case. Räikkönen has the skills and the car, but I don´t think he´s hungry enough to win this one. If it rains, Vettel will shine, but not win.
So to sum things up;
Dry:
1. Hamilton
2. Räikkönen
3. Massa
Wet:
1. Hamilton
2. Vettel
3. Kubica
 
Mt. Lynx
So to sum things up;
Dry:
1. Hamilton
2. Räikkönen
3. Massa
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You don't think Räikkönen will play the good teammate role and 'accidentally' take to long in the pits or go wide on a corner allowing Massa to pass?

Mt. Lynx
Wet:
1. Hamilton
2. Vettel
3. Kubica
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Your wet prediction may be more accurate, but I like mine better.
 
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peterjford
You don't think Räikkönen will play the good teammate role and 'accidentally' take to long in the pits or go wide on a corner allowing Massa to pass?
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Kimi isn´t really the best guy to ask such a thing from... But that´s besides the point; Massa won´t be quick enough to get that fortunate either. He may actually snitch pole, but come the first round of pitstops, he´ll be left in the dust (or rain...).


peterjford
Your wet prediction may be more accurate, but I like mine better.
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I know, so do I! I really like Vettel, and I´m not that keen on Hamilton actually. Too much resemblence to a certain M. Schumacher, who wasn´t always the fair racer...
But darn fast!
 
Tired Tyres
I think the chicane at turns 10,11 and 12 is stupid. The GT version of that corner is miles better. It becomes a high speed 90 degree corner and means you carry more speed into turn 13 to make that more challenging.
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I agree, it is a better corner for driving. But the chicane will always be there as it creates an overtaking spot and lenghens the lap.
 
peterjford
I say Massa if the team doesn't let him down. Otherwise its Hamilton. If it rains Vettel :sly:
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Unless of course his past comes to haunt him again. :sly: But on that note, I think Vettel could theoretically score some valuable points (even a podium maybe?) here if he doesn't end his race or have his car fail on him. He seems to improved a lot since last year.....

As for the weather, as all the Asian continent is going to be, its going to be rain, Rain, RAIN!!!!! :D I do expect the weather to be similar as last year, and hopefully have something spectacular to happen like last year! :dopey: Odds and chances are, this should be the race that decides the final championship standings for the whole entire season. Its either make or break run for Massa if he want to become champion, as he really needs to win in order to catch up to Hamilton. Likewise, Hamilton needs to keep a consistent pace and keep scoring points and extend his lead on the championship or he could have a repeat as to last year....... :scared: Kimi, heh, well I could forget about him. If he crashes any more I think Ferrari are willing to bail him out of his contract and get some worth drivers to drive for them. 👍
 
Whoever has the quickest car down the straight will win. I don't think the driver has too much to do with it.
 
Which if the GT4 and GT5P version is anything to go by wouldn't be a problem for the least talented race driver in F1.

Who ever has the fastest car in a straight line should win. Not will win, but should win.
 
Tired Tyres
Who ever has the fastest car in a straight line should win. Not will win, but should win.
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Thanks for that insight Sherlock ;) 👍

Any of the teams could reduce their cars downforce to nothing and they'd be the quickest through the speed trap down the straight. But they'd still be the slowest over a lap because they need that downforce for the twisties.
 
No, any team can make their car go 320+ kph, but not all teams can take 100R in 265-270 kph. And who gets the highest top speed anyway? It´s the driver who can maintain the most momentum from turn 12. Wich means that they´ll need a good setup with decent downforce aswell as top speed.

Dang! TheCracker beat me to it!
 
I hope Ferrari Lollipop man has been practicing or it could be trouble!

I've alway assumed that a car is setup for an optimum lap time. At that point the fastest car down the straight should win.
 
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Tired Tyres
Whoever has the quickest car down the straight will win. I don't think the driver has too much to do with it.
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When did you last watch F1? They have taken the driver aids away now so the driver is much more in control of his destiny.

And if that's the case we expect Paul O'Grady to be next years champion.
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A quote from a bloke at work who I read some of the board comments to.

Yes straight line speed is a factor and if F1 races were in a straight line then Ferrari and McLaren would never get caught. Man my son could drive it and he's 4. But damm those F1 fools have no idea, they make tracks with bends on them, even worse chicanes, so it will always come down to a mix of driver skill and a good car. Where is the fun in that.
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Tired Tyres
I've alway assumed that a car is setup for an optimum lap time. At that point the fastest car down the straight should win.
Click to expand...

An optimum lap time is usually a pay-off between straight line speed and corner apex speed. Downforce and drag mean that whilst cornering capability increases the more downforce you give a car, the aerodynamic 'drag' it creates makes it slower down the straight. The more you tune your aero package to be quicker down the straights, the slower it will potentially be in the corners.
 

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