The F1 circus heads into Asia for the first time in 2024 with a visit to Japan for the only figure eight track on the schedule coming months earlier than usual. Talking of figure eight and eight figures, our 2024 Japanese F1 Grand Prix Preview is hardly that but will do as a quick look at the upcoming big weekend of Formula 1.
The Gurgler’s 2024 Japanese F1 Grand Prix Preview brings some thoughts on the race itself, a few bold predictions here and there, a more than a few barely interesting stats.
Essentially a quick summary of what a casual F1 fan needs in the shortest possible time for your convenience.
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The track map looks like a funky fly swatter, or someone with an eye for the creative bending a paperclip into a piece of art. The actual circuit is a piece of art for motorsport, with fast, flowing corners, and providing a challenge that separates the good from the very, very good. The chicane also can see some of the great overtakes and moments of bravery and over-ambition.
2024 Japanese F1 Grand Prix Preview – Race Rating
The Gurgler does like to use some obscure drivers in our Race previews and report, so who better to use than Teo Fabi to determine a race rating system.
So before each race we give a rating out of ten for four key category that are loosely based on each letter of Teo Fabi’s surname. Don’t know who Teo Fabi is, you should.
FAST? 9/10 – It’s plenty fast, with some of the great fast corners on the calendar. The 130R before the final chicane. The sweeping curves after the magnificent first turn. Then the first half of the double right handers leading into going under the bridge, which is an underrated challenge on a circuit which has plenty of them. And the plunging downhill sweep into the Spoon curve. So many.
ACTION? 9/10 – It is a track where stuff usually happens. Mostly in the past it was because it was the first race of the season and drivers had yet to get up to speed, but since Albert Park was bumped from the first race there’s still plenty of action. Look at last year’s race which was a 10/10 for action.
BIG HISTORY? – 9/10 The Japanese Grand Prix has been around at Suzuka since 1987, give or take some Covid and a brief move to Fuji, and is the home of some of F1 biggest moments of the past few decades. Namely the infamous Prost-Senna clashes of 1989 and 1990. Or the one of the greatest Grand Prix races anywhere – the 2005 Japanese Grand Prix. The move to April means Championships won’t be decided this time around, but the result may still be important.
INCLEMENT WEATHER? – 9/10 The Japanese Grand Prix usually throws up a bit of different weather conditions and the Weather Channel forecast shows a 70% chance of rain on Sunday raceday. Throw in a 39% chance for showers in the PM to spoil/enhance qualifying and we have a classic F1 weekend on our hands ahead.
RACE RATING 90% – It’s truly one of the great tracks,
2024 Japanese F1 Grand Prix Preview – Stats
Want to know if your favourite driver for this weekend is a master of the track or the track is a master of them? Here then are some barely interesting facts and stats.
- Lewis Hamilton has never missed Q3 at Suzuka.
- Pole position has a good winning % in Suzuka. Only once has a car on pole not finished in the points, and no DNFs.
DRIVER GRID POSITION vs RACE RESULT – CURRENT DRIVERS
TEAM GRID POSITION vs RACE RESULT
From 2001.
HISTORIC DRIVER RESULTS
99 = a DNF. Grid position 20 is overstated as that was also used for cars starting in pitlane.
HISTORIC TEAM RESULTS
Since 2001
GRID POSITION INTO RACE RESULT
99 = a DNF. Grid position 20 is overstated as that was also used for cars starting in pitlane. Results from 2001.
- Max Verstappen to take pole position by 0.8 seconds.
- Podium for Oscar Piastri.
- Rain will see a third of the field eliminated.
- Logan Sargeant will get a car for the whole weekend. And bin on the first lap.
- Sergio Perez will miss Q3.
- Daniel Ricciardo will not make an impression, missing Q3 and points, and leave Japan under even more pressure.
- But it will still be more than a Sauber/Kick/Stake.
2024 Japanese F1 Grand Prix Preview – Stats Extra
We had a thought whilst doing our stats…the Japanese Grand Prix feels like it is one of those races where pole position wins a lot. As our visuals above prove, but is it the most likely of any GP?
Here are the stats…this is for all Grands Prix, while previous Grid to Result visuals are for 2001 and beyond.
ALL RACE RESULTS – JAPANESE F1 GRAND PRIX
ALL TIME RESULTS
