2009 Japanese Grand Prix (Oct 02-04)

[Wouter Melissen]

For race 15 of the 2009 Formula 1 World Championship, the 'circus' has traveled to the fantastic Suzuka circuit.

The big story of this week is that Alonso's long rumoured move to Ferrari to replace Kimi Raikkonen has been confirmed. At the track the Fin suggested he may not return to Formula 1 at all next year although many expect him to team up with Hamilton at McLaren in 2010.

It was also interesting to learn that Toyota have chosen not to lift the option in Timo Glock's contract. It could be another sign of an imminent withdrawal but then again Toyota Motorsport also announced a new partnership with Sachs for next season.

The big news on Friday was that Glock was suffering from a cold and stayed in his hotel to try and get ready for Saturday. His place was taken by GP2 Asia champion Kamui Kobayashi.

[Wouter Melissen]

The very wet weather conditions made the track even more difficult on Friday. The first practice was wet and the second was absolutely soaked. The times:

Practice 1:
Pos No Driver Team Time/Retired Gap Laps
1 2 Heikki Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes 1:40.356 24
2 17 Kazuki Nakajima Williams-Toyota 1:40.648 0.292 18
3 20 Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1:40.806 0.450 14
4 3 Giancarlo Fisichella Ferrari 1:40.985 0.629 27
5 12 Sebastien Buemi STR-Ferrari 1:41.421 1.065 26
6 1 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:41.443 1.087 15
7 7 Fernando Alonso Renault 1:41.532 1.176 22
8 4 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 1:41.577 1.221 25
9 23 Rubens Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes 1:41.821 1.465 19
10 16 Nico Rosberg Williams-Toyota 1:42.188 1.832 20
11 14 Mark Webber RBR-Renault 1:42.332 1.976 10
12 21 Vitantonio Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes 1:42.475 2.119 15
13 9 Jarno Trulli Toyota 1:42.657 2.301 13
14 11 Jaime Alguersuari STR-Ferrari 1:42.667 2.311 27
15 5 Robert Kubica BMW Sauber 1:42.833 2.477 17
16 6 Nick Heidfeld BMW Sauber 1:42.977 2.621 14
17 15 Sebastian Vettel RBR-Renault 1:43.218 2.862 11
18 22 Jenson Button Brawn-Mercedes 1:43.318 2.962 17
19 10 Kamui Kobayashi Toyota 1:43.407 3.051 16
20 8 Romain Grosjean Renault 1:43.572 3.216 22

Practice 2:
Pos No Driver Team Time/Retired Gap Laps
1 20 Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1:47.261 5
2 15 Sebastian Vettel RBR-Renault 1:47.923 0.662 6
3 21 Vitantonio Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes 1:47.931 0.670 5
4 1 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:47.983 0.722 5
5 17 Kazuki Nakajima Williams-Toyota 1:48.058 0.797 8
6 12 Sebastien Buemi STR-Ferrari 1:48.691 1.430 9
7 7 Fernando Alonso Renault 1:48.693 1.432 5
8 9 Jarno Trulli Toyota 1:48.737 1.476 7
9 11 Jaime Alguersuari STR-Ferrari 1:48.802 1.541 11
10 5 Robert Kubica BMW Sauber 1:48.861 1.600 6
11 4 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 1:48.886 1.625 5
12 10 Kamui Kobayashi Toyota 1:49.054 1.793 7
13 14 Mark Webber RBR-Renault 1:49.382 2.121 7
14 8 Romain Grosjean Renault 1:49.405 2.144 6
15 3 Giancarlo Fisichella Ferrari 1:49.553 2.292 5
16 16 Nico Rosberg Williams-Toyota 1:49.872 2.611 8
17 6 Nick Heidfeld BMW Sauber 1:50.179 2.918 10
18 2 Heikki Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes No time 0
19 22 Jenson Button Brawn-Mercedes No time 0
20 23 Rubens Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes No time 0

[TheScrutineer]

Cold or wet conditions don't seem to favour the Brawns. My moneys on Hamilton for another win. He will thrive in the challenge of a new circuit to learn and if its wet he will be even more on fire.

[cmcpokey]

just some additional information. If Jenson scores 5 points ahead of Barichiello, no matter what place, he will seal the deal.

[Wouter Melissen]

Webber crashed heavily in practice three and damaged the tub on his Red Bull. The car could not be repaired in time for qualifying.

Practice 3:

Pos No Driver Team Time/Retired Gap Laps
1 9 Jarno Trulli Toyota 1:31.709 24
2 12 Sebastien Buemi STR-Ferrari 1:31.771 0.062 26
3 16 Nico Rosberg Williams-Toyota 1:32.343 0.634 28
4 15 Sebastian Vettel RBR-Renault 1:32.414 0.705 19
5 4 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 1:32.445 0.736 26
6 20 Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1:32.467 0.758 25
7 23 Rubens Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes 1:32.488 0.779 24
8 2 Heikki Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes 1:32.546 0.837 22
9 22 Jenson Button Brawn-Mercedes 1:32.668 0.959 25
10 11 Jaime Alguersuari STR-Ferrari 1:32.689 0.980 20
11 8 Romain Grosjean Renault 1:32.717 1.008 25
12 6 Nick Heidfeld BMW Sauber 1:32.736 1.027 21
13 7 Fernando Alonso Renault 1:32.742 1.033 21
14 10 Timo Glock Toyota 1:32.749 1.040 26
15 17 Kazuki Nakajima Williams-Toyota 1:32.752 1.043 23
16 1 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:32.789 1.080 19
17 5 Robert Kubica BMW Sauber 1:32.848 1.139 20
18 3 Giancarlo Fisichella Ferrari 1:32.878 1.169 26
19 14 Mark Webber RBR-Renault 1:32.930 1.221 15
20 21 Vitantonio Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes 1:33.167 1.458 18

[Wouter Melissen]

Qualifying was very eventful with four cars crashing out. The heaviest incident involved Glock's Toyota.as the German's weekend seems to go from bad to worse. He bruised his back and cut his leg but apparently is set to start the race. Vettel is on pole and the two championship contenders are down in 5th and 7th with Barrichello ahead of his team-mate.

Qualifying:

Pos No Driver Team Q1 Q2 Q3 Laps
1 15 Sebastian Vettel RBR-Renault 1:30.883 1:30.341 1:32.160 14
2 9 Jarno Trulli Toyota 1:31.063 1:30.737 1:32.220 20
3 1 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:30.917 1:30.627 1:32.395 21
4 20 Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1:31.386 1:31.222 1:32.466 20
5 23 Rubens Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes 1:31.272 1:31.055 1:32.660 18
6 6 Nick Heidfeld BMW Sauber 1:31.501 1:31.260 1:32.945 19
7 22 Jenson Button Brawn-Mercedes 1:31.041 1:30.880 1:32.962 18
8 4 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 1:31.228 1:31.052 1:32.980 23
9 2 Heikki Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes 1:31.499 1:31.223 no time 21
10 12 Sebastien Buemi STR-Ferrari 1:31.196 1:31.103 no time 12
11 16 Nico Rosberg Williams-Toyota 1:31.286 1:31.482 17
12 7 Fernando Alonso Renault 1:31.401 1:31.638 14
13 5 Robert Kubica BMW Sauber 1:31.417 1:32.341 15
14 10 Timo Glock Toyota 1:31.550 no time 13
15 11 Jaime Alguersuari STR-Ferrari 1:31.571 no time 14
16 3 Giancarlo Fisichella Ferrari 1:31.704 11
17 17 Kazuki Nakajima Williams-Toyota 1:31.718 8
18 8 Romain Grosjean Renault 1:32.073 8
19 21 Vitantonio Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes 1:32.087 9
20 14 Mark Webber RBR-Renault no time 0

[TheScrutineer]

Alarms set for tommorow morning then. Better put that Redbull in the fridge. Drank about a litre of energy drink today after waking up for quali then going to work. Im having hot flushes!

[cmcpokey]

button, barrichiello, alonso and sutil all got 5 place grid penalties for going through Buemi's debris field at too high of a rate on the last lap (and their only flying lap) of Q2.