F1: Red Flag Set The Grid Positions For The Japan Gran Prix

Saturday saw a dramatic end to the qualifying session for the Japanese Grand Prix, when, with just over 30 secs left in the session, Daniil Kvyat had a massive shunt causing the session to be Red Flagged.

3rd spot on the grid went to Williams driver Valtteri Bottas, who got the jump on Singapore GP race winner Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel who starts 4th on the grid. And while during the 1st 2 sessions it looked like Kimi Raikkonen was the driver who would be a serious threat to the AMG Mercedes Team, he was bested by the Willams drivers and his Ferrari team-mate in Q-3.

Mr. Raikkonen had to settle for 6th on grid.

Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo qualified 7th on track, with Romain Grosjean 8th for Lotus, and Sergio Perez 9th for Sahara Force India. Daniil Kvyat, after his massive shunt, having got 2 wheels on the painted grass at the right before the hairpin resulting in a grizzly crash, put him 10th on the grid

Nico Hulkenberg put the 2nd Force India 11th, with Carlos Sainz Jr 12th in the 1st of the Toro Rossos. Pastor Maldonado was 13th for Lotus, while Fernando Alonso came 14th for the McLaren Team. Young Max Verstappen will start tomorrow’s race 15th on the grid.

The last 5 drivers on the grid for Sunday’s Japanese GP are Jenson Button, Marcus Ericsson, Felipe Nasr, Will Stevens and Alexander Rossi.

It is going to be interesting to see whether the performance from AMG Mercedes in Singapore was an anomaly or a sign of things to come. But the manner in which they dropped off of the pace from Ferrari so sharply is a major concern for both Messrs Hamilton and Rosberg.

This is a circuit both of the MBZ drivers have proved strong at in recent years, and they will both do enough to get on the podium.

We may well see some renewed pace at a circuit he really likes will see Mr. Vettel take the Chequered Flag, giving him a chance of capturing a 5th world title in the last third of the season.

Going in to Suzuka, Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes leads the Drivers’ Championship with 252 points, according to Formula 1. Closing in on 2nd place held by Nico Rosberg at 211 pts is Sebastian Vettel with 203 pts.

Leading the Constructors’ Championship is Mercedes with 463 pts. Second in the standings is Ferrari with 310; 3rd place is held by Williams with 198, according to Formula 1.

Japan is the 14th round of a 19-round season this year.

Last year, the Japanese Grand Prix was won by Mr. Hamilton with 2nd and 3rd places taken by Messers Rosberg and Vettel, respectively. The drama of Jules Bianchi’s crash, however, following Adrian Sutil’s, as well as news of Bianchi’s resulting head injury, overshadowed celebrations over the race results at the time. The race ended under the safety car. Several months later, Mr. Bianchi succumbed to his injuries, passing away in July 2015.

Remaining races in the season are slated to be held in Russia, the United States, Mexico, Brazil, and Abu Dhabi. The last race of the Y 2015 season takes place on 29 November.

12 of 26 Japanese Grand Prix have been won from Pole, the last to do so was Sebastian Vettel in Y 2012 (Red Bull).

Prediction: 1. Vettel, 2. Rosberg, 3. Hamilton.

Tune in and enjoy the race.

Sunday, 27 September