Ray S

F1 has not raced at Fuji in 30 years and it sounds like the teams are all using simulators to prepare. Any predictions?

The weather reports look mixed;

Friday: Lo: 63°F. Hi: 85°F. Chance of precipitation: 25%
Saturday: PM Rain. Lo: 60°F. Hi: 69°F. Chance of precipitation: 35%
Sunday: Rain. Lo: 58°F. Hi: 62°F. Chance of precipitation: 85%

Good weather Friday & Sat, rain possible on Sunday

http://www.trackpedia.com/wiki/Fuji_Speedway

multi21

No clue at all Ray!! The cars are so much more different than then, no testing, except for possibly Toyota, on that track and if there is rain forcast for race day, forget about it. We could have anyone up on the podium.

I'm looking forward to a new/old track.

MPD47

Hope it's a heavy rain storm. Wish it was still at Suzuka.

smlporsche

If there is rain maybe Super Best Friends could podium.... That would be a fitting end.

Chaos

Hamilton will win at McLaren and Rikkonen will win at Ferrari !

BC

Rain? Cool.

Ray S

If nothing else no driver has a "track knowledge" advantage here.

Unfortunately, it doesn't appear (from the track map) that there are a lot of passing areas for an F1 car.

Flying Finn

Based on what kind of track Fuji is (not much fast sweepers but slower corners) and maybe little on simulators what McLaren & Ferrari uses has and , McLaren should have an advantage.

Interestingly, Kimi didn't even try Fuji with Ferrari's simulator, Massa did and said it helps a lot with completely new track like this where as Kimi said simulators make him feel sick, he'll walk around the track and should learn it quickly.

I agree it's a shame they're not at Suzuka, that's a great track.

Prediction: Alonso, Hamilton, Massa. (Kimi has problems)

mitch236

Let's not get personal!!!!

Flying Finn

ltc

So let me see if I have this straight.....

Honda loses it's home track F1 race (Suzuka) to rival Toyota (Fuji)
Honda's factory cars lose to the customer engine cars (Super Best Friends)
Honda watches as Super Best Friends spray champagne from the podium

Not a good time to be Honda.......

Ray S

I agree this track will probably favor McLaren. Unfortunately, it will all come down to qualifying again (IMHO). The race will probably be another "conga line" with pit stops.

Maybe rain will make it interesting. The forecast for Sunday has not changed.

Flying Finn

+1

I think I should go and buy Alonso/Wayne shaped woodoo doll , that might help Alonso knock himself & Hamilton out of the race...

multi21

Suzuka will be back next year. It was announced a few months ago that Fuji and Suzuka will alternate each year on hosting the Japanese GP.

BC

Its all a learning curve. In 1971 or so, Japanese cars were on the bottom of the list. They worked on it every year, incremental improvements. Now they are on the top in so many ways its not even funny.

I would think they will do the same here.