I think Yuki might struggle to get out of Q1 - The Redbull looks like a real handful to drive. Team radio might be entertaining.
Part of me thinks this carefully worded “rotation” has nothing to do with Yuki vs Lawson. Redbull don’t GAS about Yuki, but do about Lawson. This rotation is about proving to Lawson and to others that it’s not so much him as the car and that he simply needs time and space (and some RB help) to get on top of it.
If Yuki struggles, and I think he will, it will make Lawson pick himself up AND stop the pit lane chatter about his performance. The expense will be Yuki. But like I said, they don’t GAS about Yuki as their Honda partnership is ending this year.
I think it's a bit like Ricciardo at McLaren - it was a tricky car to drive and Norris figured out how to do it but Ricciardo couldn't.
As I understand it, the ground effects regulations make the cars inherently understeery in slow corners. This is because the location of the venturi tunnel is stipulated in the rules, so the aero balance is fairly locked in and has to be tuned using the wings. At higher speeds, the car gets sucked down nearer the ground and the front wing becomes more effective because of ground effect. This makes the cars very nervous in high-speed corners. That can be fixed by having a less powerful front wing, but then the cars just understeer like a pig in slow corners. McLaren mastered this with their flexi wing but the Red Bull seems to be very difficult to set up. Max is more comfortable with a nervous car so he can still qualify and race well. Throwing a rookie in that car on tracks he's never raced on before was a big ask. Question will be if Tsunoda can cope with the same level of nervousness.
I’ll be honest I don’t think Yuki, or pretty much any other driver, stands a chance of getting good results in the Red Bull car as it stands, especially when they keep getting thrown in without much practice
Question will be if Tsunoda can cope with the same level of nervousness.
As I said, I think he'll be about Perez/Albon/Gasly/Riccardo pace...None of those are objectively bad drivers, bar a few exceptions no one in F1 really is, but they don't have Max's level of feel for that RB. Of course Yuki will struggle - just not as badly as Lawson, but I still reckon, for a driver like Yuki, its still an amazing opportunity, if he can drive it, the seat's probably his for the rest of the year, and RB are strategically at least better than CashAppVisa (or whatever it is that they're calling the team this year) He's not going to get a chance like this again to drive for a top team.
As I understand it, the ground effects regulations make the cars inherently understeery in slow corners. At higher speeds, the car gets … very nervous in high-speed corners.
It’s a bit of a shame because—from what little actual experience I have—that’s basically the opposite of how you want a car to behave. I never pay much attention to the technical regs—are there any 2026 changes designed to undo this?
are there any 2026 changes designed to undo this?
To some extent, yes...
"On the aerodynamics side, there will be less reliance on generating downforce through ground effect, which was one of the pillars of the 2022 rules. From 2026, Formula 1 cars will have partially flat floors and a less effective diffuser, reducing teams' reliance on stiff and low set-ups"
...there will also be adjustable front wings too.
that’s basically the opposite of how you want a car to behave.
Exactly. Let's face it, Danny Ricciardo didn't suddenly forget how to drive and Lawson isn't a hapless amateur, those cars just behave the opposite way you want a car to behave.
Think RB are bonkers to make the decision so early, especially with Lawson never having driven to Australia or China before.
But anyway, as long as my bargain Air China flight actually gets me there, looking forward to my first GP since Spa 2013, which I slept through most of… will be my brother’s first race too. Just hoping for decent weather and a bit warmer would be nice.
especially with Lawson never having driven to Australia or China before
Even for a kiwi driving to Australia is tricky
Even for a kiwi driving to Australia is tricky
Piece of cake, barely an inconvenience: https://maps.app.goo.gl/rfzFGviygsBEF6kBA
Ok, it’s not current F1, but I’m sure it’ll be appreciated.
Proper touring cars
Mansell.
Needel.
Soper.
And Chris Rea…… (don’t remember him being in it BITD)
I'm far from being a Red Bull fan but I'll admit that this looks good https://www.planetf1.com/news/red-bull-honda-white-livery-japanese-grand-prix-2025
Yes special liveries often underwhelm but that ones quite nice and retro without overdoing it. Not as good as the Gulf McLaren though.
I see what they were going for but that just looks a Haas to me. 🤷🏻♂️
Well flabber my gast - Yuki’s made a good showing in FP1
OTOH… Lawson not comparing well to Hadjar. Hopefully more to come from him soon or he’ll be ejected from that seat too
Well flabber my gast - Yuki’s made a good showing in FP1
I said he'd be alright.
FP2 not so well but a heavily disrupted session (4 red flags) so no one did their planned runnning.
...odds on Colapinto being in that Alpine by the next race!? 😬
****ing hell, 185mph. Are the commentators saying the DRS stuck open or he simply forgot to close it?
edit- according to reddit experts, drivers usually turn in before braking at that corner, so have to manually close DRS before turning in.
From other social media posts I've read I think they are saying he forgot to close it. Because it's a pretty much flat corner it won't close on it's own like it normally does under braking.
If he forgot it's a major balls-up as he would (should) have driven Suzuka in the SIM so missing FP1 is no excuse.
From other social media posts I've read I think they are saying he forgot to close it. Because it's a pretty much flat corner it won't close on it's own like it normally does under braking.
If he forgot it's a major balls-up as he would (should) have driven Suzuka in the SIM so missing FP1 is no excuse.
Yeah, sounds like it. 😔
Here's George's onboard, you can see him cover the button towards the end of the straight, then press it just before turn in.
Biiiig smash though, glad he's alright. amazing how much faster the cars look when you see them crashing out.
Also, lucky that escaped wheel didn't bounce up over the catch fencing
Go Yuki Go!
Well pleased to see him so close to Max in FP1.
I'm guessing he didn't get a proper run-out in FP2.
Fingers crossed he maintains this form.
The Doohan crash does look like he forgot to shut the DRS, which is not great! Looks like a real hard smash. I wonder if they'll get the car back together for FP3?
I wonder if they'll get the car back together for FP3?
Plenty of time for that. They'll just work into the night.
I see a rule change incoming. To have to remember to press a button in order to not have a crash on some of the highest speed parts of the track isn’t exactly ideal.
I see a rule change incoming. To have to remember to press a button in order to not have a crash on some of the highest speed parts of the track isn’t exactly ideal.
Speed Bump? 🤣
I see a rule change incoming. To have to remember to press a button in order to not have a crash on some of the highest speed parts of the track isn’t exactly ideal.
They are pressing buttons and changing settings constantly - this should be innate behaviour for an F1 driver.
They are pressing buttons and changing settings constantly - this should be innate behaviour for an F1 driver.
Confirmed that he didn't deactivate DRS
https://bsky.app/profile/chrismedlandf1.bsky.social/post/3llybbtclc22w
Even the best sometimes **** up button pushing, Hamilton's brake bias, Baku, 2021 springs to mind. Ultimately cost him the championship (as in if he hadn't done that Massi ignoring the rules would have been irrelavent)
Even the best sometimes **** up button pushing, Hamilton's brake bias, Baku, 2021 springs to mind. Ultimately cost him the championship (as in if he hadn't done that Massi ignoring the rules would have been irrelavent)
That was pissing around on the warm up that got him, not something you *have* to do every lap or you go off at 185mph.
Anyway, back to normal running. FFS *insert name of current RB no.2 driver here*. He really needs to give *insert current VCARB driver name here* a hiding tomorrow
Even back in Senna’s day they’d be constantly adjusting brake bias with left hand while changing gear with right hand! Drivers are constantly fiddling with their knobs.
Doohans crash was entirely down to him, he said he tried it in the SIM and it worked - so leaving DRS open was a deliberate action. Costing his team £1.5m in repairs!!
Is the sim thing now confirmed? I’d only seen one iffy source so far. again, none of those things Senna was doing guaranteed a massive crash like removing the bulk of rear downforce does.
OTOH the drivers have asked the FIA to look into it
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/f1-drivers-propose-drs-change-after-jack-doohan-shunt/
Is the sim thing now confirmed?
So, the DRS is deactivated if the driver brakes or lifts off the throttle by a certain amount. Doesn't work for flat-out corners.
That was some lap by Max, he has put that car far above where it deserves to be. I don't really like him but I can also appreciate he is comfortably the fastest and most consistent driver on the grid.
That was some lap by Max, he has put that car far above where it deserves to be. I don't really like him but I can also appreciate he is comfortably the fastest and most consistent driver on the grid
Agree - no way that Red Bull should be ahead of the McLarens.
And Lewis is clearly topping up his pension at Ferrari!
Well done to Kimi too - only a couple of tenths behind George.
And!… Albon putting that Williams in the top ten again! 👍
And!… Bearman too! 😀
Should be a good race, a nice mix in the top ten.
Lewis was only 3/10th behind LeClerc and made a small mistake. The top 15 are all within 1 second of pole on an 87-88 second lap. We’re taking ~1% difference.
George had a lockup as well so was faster than his Q3 position appears, should be a good race.
Gooooooooooooood Morning F1 fan(s)! 😀
How was that not an unsafe release?
(And max DID squeeze him on to the grass!)
Not the most exciting race, hopefully Lando will have a chance to overtake in the last few laps
Classic race is what you mean! Not one for DTS fans! 😀
They should have let Piastri through - throwing a win away now as the McLarens are racing each other.
