SUZUKA,
No longer daunted by Suzuka, the track looks like an ideal bounce-back destination for Verstappen. In the last F1 race two weeks ago in
“I think if you look at Melbourne performance-wise, I think we were quick, but we didn’t finish the race," Verstappen said. "So that’s not ideal, but our car normally likes the higher-speed corners, so hopefully we can show that again this weekend.”
That's what's expected Sunday from the three-time defending F1 champion.
He was the quickest in Friday's first practice session. The second session was dampened by a light rain with most teams deciding not to run in the damp to save tire wear. Verstappen was among those sitting out.
Verstappen clocked 1 minute, 30.056 seconds in the first practice, .181 ahead of teammate
Verstappen won his second Formula 1 season title at Suzuka in 2022, and he dominated in
That race was only six months ago. The Japanese race has been moved to the beginning of the F1 calendar in 2024, dovetailing perfectly with a big weekend in the cherry blossom season across the Japanese archipelago.
Rain is in the forecast for Sunday, a weather condition that often greeted the race when it was run in the fall, or autumn.
Verstappen won this season's first two races in
Verstappen was asked in
“I'm very happy where I’m at,” he said. “And, yeah, we want to keep it that way.”
“I have a contract with
Ferrari's Sainz said closing the gap on
“Last year (September) we were, I think, 0.7-0.8 seconds off
Sainz will be replaced next season at Ferrari by
“I stayed in
Seven-time champion Hamilton — moving to Ferrari next season — went out in
“I think there’s a clear trend, where we know our strengths in the car, our weaknesses,” Russell said. “Definitely performing stronger in the low-speed corners, struggling a bit in the high-speed corners, of which there’s more of it in
Japanese driver
F1's lone American driver
Williams team principal
“The chassis is OK, fortunately, but I would say pretty much everything else isn't; suspension all around, gearbox cracked,” Vowles said. "Big damage."
Sargeant missed the second practice Friday while Williams made repairs, but the team's head of vehicle performance,
Sargeant was pulled out of the Australia GP two weeks ago. Teammate Albon crashed in that practice and, without a spare chassis, Albon was given Sargeant’s car to drive in the Melbourne race.
Vowles said Sargeant seemed ready on Friday to assert himself.
“Obviously he was in a very good state of mind this week and last night again when I called him,” Vowles said. "Really, really strong state of mind. He just wanted to get back into the car and get going but not with the intention of proving to the world he deserves a seat.”
___
AP Formula 1: https://apnews.com/hub/formula-one
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
, source