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Fantasy Formula 1 - Japanese GP Preview
3:57 PM on September 28th, 2014 by Nathan Susanto

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The Japanese GP was established in 1963 as a sports car race. The event was held at Suzuka, which was originally built at Honda's headquarters as a test track for the company's motor vehicles. In 1966, the race moved to the Fuji Speedway, owned by Honda's rival Toyota. Ten years later, Japan finally made it onto the Formula 1 calendar.

The race wasn't a success, though, and the lack of interest led to it being dropped after its second running in 1977. However, it was resurrected in 1987, returning to Suzuka. Fuji played host in 2007 and 2008, but in 2009 it was decided the Grand Prix should alternate between the two venues to save on costs. That plan never came to pass, though, because Toyota pulled out of Formula 1 at the conclusion of the 2009 season, taking their venue with them.

The Suzuka International Racing Course was designed by John "Hans" Hugenholtz, whose creations included Zolder and Circuito del Jarama. Hugenholtz's vision for Suzuka evolved into a figure-of-eight configuration, which snaked around the undulating property.

Because it has often been placed near the end of the calendar, the Japanese GP has witnessed the crowning of many Formula 1 champions. The 1976 event saw James Hunt snatch the title in appalling weather conditions. In 1989 and 1990, bitter rivals Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna deliberately crashed into each other, resulting in the former taking the 1989 championship and the latter being crowned in 1990.

The 2014 Formula 1 season continues on its Asian adventures with round 15 taking place at Suzuka, Japan, on Sunday, October 5th. The initiative in the World Drivers' Championship has been seized by Lewis Hamilton after the Mercedes driver recorded his second successive victory last time out while the other main title protagonist, Nico Rosberg, suffered his second retirement of the season. Hamilton's advantage is a slender three points, though, so a repeat of his result at Suzuka twelve months ago would probably put him on the back foot again.

In 2013, Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel locked out the front row at Suzuka in qualifying but they were beaten into turn one on race day by the fast-starting Romain Grosjean. Lewis Hamilton looked to challenge both Red Bulls, too, but the slightest contact with Vettel's front wing caused a puncture, forcing the Mercedes to retire. Vettel eventually charged past Grosjean with a dozen laps remaining and Webber hunted down the Lotus and passed it on the penultimate lap to secure a Red Bull 1-2.

Remember to make your game picks in the 2014 Fantasy Formula 1 thread before the deadline of Saturday, October 4th at 1 AM ET, when qualifying begins. Here we run down some Japanese GP facts and season stats.



Race Info
Grand Prix Japanese GP
Round 15 of 19
Circuit Suzuka International Racing Course
Location Suzuka, Mie Prefecture
Circuit Type Race circuit
Circuit Length 3.608 mi (5.807 km)
Circuit Direction Clockwise
Turns 18 (8 Left, 10 Right)
Lap Record 1:31.540, Kimi Räikkönen (McLaren), 2005
Race Length 191.224 mi (307.573 km)
Laps 53
2013 Polesitter Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing)
2013 Winner Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
Timetable
Free Practice 1 Thursday, October 2nd at 9 PM ET - 10:30 PM ET
Free Practice 2 Friday, October 3rd at 1 AM ET - 2:30 AM ET
Free Practice 3 Friday, October 3rd at 10 PM ET - 11 PM ET
Fantasy Deadline / Qualifying Saturday, October 4th at 1 AM ET
Race Sunday, October 5th at 2 AM ET



Suzuka facts:
  • The polesitter has won three of the last seven races at Suzuka.
  • In the last 13 Grands Prix at Suzuka, the polesitter has only once failed to finish on the podium.
  • Sebastian Vettel (4) and Felipe Massa (1) are the only active drivers to have sat on pole at Suzuka.
  • Two of the last seven Suzuka podiums have featured at least one driver who started behind the front three rows.
  • Four of the last five podiums in Suzuka have included both drivers who started from the front row.
  • At the 2000 Japanese GP the first five on the grid finished in order.
  • Sebastian Vettel (4) is the only active driver with multiple Suzuka victories.
  • Fernando Alonso is the only driver to have won the Japanese GP at both Suzuka and Fuji.
  • Ferrari and McLaren have both won at Suzuka a record seven times.
  • McLaren have won the most Japanese GP having won twice at Fuji to add to their seven Suzuka triumphs.
  • The most positions gained at Suzuka is 16 by Kimi Räikkönen in 2005.
  • Six of the last nine Suzuka races have seen fewer than five retirements.
  • Three of the last four Grands Prix at Suzuka has had at least one first lap retirement.
  • The safety car has been deployed at four of the last five Suzuka races.
  • Two qualifying sessions at Suzuka have been postponed a day due to heavy rain.



2013 Japanese GP Qualifying Results
Rank
Driver Team
Q1
Q2
Q3
Grid
1.
Mark Webber
Red Bull Racing
1:32.271
1:31.513
1:30.915
1
2.
Sebastian Vettel
Red Bull Racing
1:32.397
1:31.290
1:31.089
2
3.
Lewis Hamilton
Mercedes
1:32.340
1:31.636
1:31.253
3
4.
Romain Grosjean
Lotus
1:31.824
1:31.565
1:31.365
4
5.
Felipe Massa
Ferrari
1:31.994
1:31.668
1:31.378
5
6.
Nico Rosberg
Mercedes
1:32.244
1:31.764
1:31.397
6
7.
Nico Hülkenberg
Sauber
1:32.465
1:31.848
1:31.664
7
8.
Fernando Alonso
Ferrari
1:32.371
1:31.828
1:31.665
8
9.
Kimi Räikkönen
Lotus
1:32.377
1:31.662
1:31.684
9
10.
Jenson Button
McLaren
1:32.606
1:31.838
1:31.827
10
11.
Sergio Pérez
McLaren
1:32.718
1:31.989
-
11
12.
Paul di Resta
Force India
1:32.286
1:31.992
-
12
13.
Valtteri Bottas
Williams
1:32.613
1:32.013
-
13
14.
Esteban Gutiérrez
Sauber
1:32.673
1:32.063
-
14
15.
Pastor Maldonado
Williams
1:32.875
1:32.093
-
15
16.
Daniel Ricciardo
Toro Rosso
1:32.804
1:32.485
-
16
17.
Adrian Sutil
Force India
1:32.890
-
-
22
18.
Jean-Éric Vergne
Toro Rosso
1:33.357
-
-
17
19.
Max Chilton
Marussia
1:34.320
-
-
18
20.
Charles Pic
Caterham
1:34.556
-
-
20
21.
Giedo van der Garde
Caterham
1:34.879
-
-
19
22.
Jules Bianchi
Marussia
1:34.958
-
-
21


107% Time:
1:38.251






Qualifying Notes
Red Bull had two cars in the top-2.
Mercedes had two cars in the top-6.
Ferrari and Lotus had two cars in the top-10.
Charles Pic received a 10-place grid penalty for accumulating three reprimands during the season.
Jules Bianchi received a 10-place grid penalty for accumulating three reprimands during the season.
Adrian Sutil received a 5-place grid penalty for an unscheduled gearbox change.



2013 Japanese GP Race Results and Drivers' Fantasy Points
Rank
Driver Team Retirement
Q.P.
R.P.
C.F.
L.L.
M.L.
F.L.
TOTAL
1.
Sebastian Vettel
Red Bull Racing

3
40
1
1
0
0
45
2.
Mark Webber
Red Bull Racing

5
38
1
1
0
1
46
3.
Romain Grosjean
Lotus

1
36
1
1
2
0
41
4.
Fernando Alonso
Ferrari

1
34
1
0
0
0
36
5.
Kimi Räikkönen
Lotus

1
32
1
0
0
0
34
6.
Nico Hülkenberg
Sauber
1
30
1
0
0
0
32
7.
Esteban Gutiérrez
Sauber

0
28
1
0
0
0
29
8.
Nico Rosberg
Mercedes

1
26
1
0
0
0
28
9.
Jenson Button
McLaren

1
24
1
0
0
0
26
10.
Felipe Massa
Ferrari

1
22
1
0
0
0
24
11.
Paul di Resta
Force India

0
20
1
0
0
0
21
12.
Jean-Éric Vergne
Toro Rosso

0
18
1
0
0
0
19
13.
Daniel Ricciardo
Toro Rosso

0
16
1
0
0
0
17
14.
Adrian Sutil
Force India

0
14
1
0
0
0
15
15.
Sergio Pérez
McLaren

0
12
1
0
0
0
13
16.
Pastor Maldonado
Williams

0
10
1
0
0
0
11
17.
Valtteri Bottas
Williams

0
8
1
0
0
0
9
18.
Charles Pic
Caterham

0
6
1
0
0
0
7
19.
Max Chilton
Marussia

0
4
1
0
0
0
5
Ret.
Lewis Hamilton
Mercedes
Collision dam.
2
2
0
0
0
0
4
Ret.
Giedo van der Garde
Caterham
Collision
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Ret.
Jules Bianchi
Marussia
Collision
0
0
0
0
0
0
0



2013 Japanese GP Teams' Fantasy Points
Team Drivers
Q.P.
R.P.
C.F.
L.L.
M.L.
F.L.
TOTAL
Red Bull Racing
(Sebastian Vettel/Mark Webber)
5
39
2
1
2
1
50
Ferrari
(Fernando Alonso/Felipe Massa)
1
28
2
0
0
0
31
McLaren
(Jenson Button/Sergio Pérez)
0
18
2
0
0
0
20
Lotus
(Kimi Räikkönen/Romain Grosjean)
1
34
2
1
0
0
38
Mercedes
(Nico Rosberg/Lewis Hamilton)
2
14
0
0
0
0
16
Sauber
(Nico Hülkenberg/Esteban Gutiérrez)
0
29
2
0
0
0
31
Force India
(Paul di Resta/Adrian Sutil)
0
17
2
0
0
0
19
Williams
(Pastor Maldonado/Valtteri Bottas)
0
9
2
0
0
0
11
Toro Rosso
(Jean-Éric Vergne/Daniel Ricciardo)
0
17
2
0
0
0
19
Caterham
(Charles Pic/Giedo van der Garde)
0
3
0
0
0
0
3
Marussia
(Jules Bianchi/Max Chilton)
0
2
0
0
0
0
2



Race Notes
Classified finishers Top-19 drivers.
Two classified finishers Red Bull, Lotus, Sauber, Ferrari, Toro Rosso, Force India, McLaren, Williams.
Race leaders Grosjean (Lotus), Vettel (Red Bull), Webber (Red Bull).
Laps led Grosjean (1-12), Vettel (13-14), Grosjean (15-28), Vettel (29-37),
Webber (38-42), Vettel (43-53).
Fastest lap Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing) on lap 44 (1:34.587).



Points and Bonus Points Key
Q.P.
Qualifying Points
R.P.
Race Points
C.F.
Classified Finisher(s) Bonus Point(s)
L.L.
Lap Led Bonus Point
M.L.
Most Laps Led Bonus Points
F.L.
Fastest Lap Bonus Point



Japanese GP 2004 - 2013 and This Season's Statistics
List
Driver/Team
TM
This
Races
Poles
Avg Start
Avg Finish
Best
Top-10
Top-5
Wins
FP/Race
A
Sebastian Vettel
RBR
Race
7
4
3.43
4.57
1
6
5
4
39.14
Track
5
4
1.20
1.40
1
5
5
4
47.20
Season
14
0
6.00
7.79
2
11
8
0
28.79
A
Lewis Hamilton
MER
Race
7
2
3.29
7.29
1
5
5
1
31.57
Track
5
0
4.20
7.60
3
4
4
0
29.40
Season
14
6
3.46
5.14
1
11
11
7
37.71
A
Nico Rosberg
MER
Race
8
0
10.00
12.88
5
4
1
0
18.25
Track
6
0
9.80
12.33
5
4
1
0
19.67
Season
14
7
1.86
4.36
1
12
12
4
39.64
A
Fernando Alonso
FER
Race
10
0
7.50
7.30
1
8
7
2
30.10
Track
8
0
8.63
6.38
1
7
6
1
31.63
Season
14
0
6.64
6.14
2
13
8
0
31.71
A
Kimi Räikkönen
FER
Race
8
0
8.75
4.13
1
8
6
1
36.13
Track
6
0
10.83
4.50
1
6
4
1
34.83
Season
14
0
10.00
9.64
4
10
1
0
24.29
A
Jenson Button
MCL
Race
10
0
6.70
6.30
1
8
6
1
32.40
Track
8
0
5.25
4.75
1
8
6
1
35.88
Season
14
0
9.21
8.79
3
9
3
0
26.07
B
Daniel Ricciardo
RBR
Race
3
0
18.00
15.00
10
1
0
0
13.67
Track
3
0
18.00
15.00
10
1
0
0
13.67
Season
14
0
4.50
4.46
1
12
10
3
33.71
B
Romain Grosjean
LOT
Race
3
0
9.00
12.67
3
1
1
0
19.33
Track
3
0
9.00
12.67
3
1
1
0
19.33
Season
14
0
14.43
14.79
8
2
0
0
13.14
B
Pastor Maldonado
LOT
Race
3
0
14.33
12.67
8
1
0
0
17.67
Track
3
0
14.33
12.67
8
1
0
0
17.67
Season
14
0
17.73
15.38
12
0
0
0
11.07
B
Kevin Magnussen
MCL
Race
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Track
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Season
14
0
8.36
10.00
2
9
1
0
23.71
B
Nico Hülkenberg
FI
Race
3
0
8.67
11.00
6
2
0
0
21.67
Track
3
0
8.67
11.00
6
2
0
0
21.67
Season
14
0
10.29
8.36
5
12
4
0
26.71
B
Sergio Pérez
FI
Race
3
0
11.33
15.00
8
1
0
0
13.67
Track
3
0
11.33
15.00
8
1
0
0
13.67
Season
14
0
11.86
10.08
3
9
1
0
21.57
B
Adrian Sutil
SAU
Race
6
0
14.33
13.67
8
1
0
0
15.50
Track
4
0
11.75
14.00
11
0
0
0
15.00
Season
14
0
15.79
16.07
11
0
0
0
10.71
B
Esteban Gutiérrez
SAU
Race
1
0
14.00
7.00
7
1
0
0
29.00
Track
1
0
14.00
7.00
7
1
0
0
29.00
Season
14
0
15.69
16.71
12
0
0
0
9.14
B
Jean-Éric Vergne
TR
Race
2
0
17.50
12.50
12
0
0
0
18.00
Track
2
0
17.50
12.50
12
0
0
0
18.00
Season
14
0
10.86
13.50
6
4
0
0
16.29
B
Daniil Kvyat
TR
Race
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Track
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Season
14
0
10.64
13.43
9
5
0
0
16.43
B
Felipe Massa
WIL
Race
9
1
8.00
8.22
2
8
2
0
27.89
Track
7
1
9.00
8.71
2
6
2
0
26.86
Season
14
1
8.00
11.07
3
7
4
0
22.29
B
Valtteri Bottas
WIL
Race
1
0
13.00
17.00
17
0
0
0
9.00
Track
1
0
13.00
17.00
17
0
0
0
9.00
Season
14
0
6.93
6.36
2
12
7
0
31.57
B
Jules Bianchi
MAR
Race
1
0
22.00
22.00
22
0
0
0
0.00
Track
1
0
22.00
22.00
22
0
0
0
0.00
Season
14
0
18.07
16.21
9
1
0
0
10.50
B
Max Chilton
MAR
Race
1
0
19.00
19.00
19
0
0
0
5.00
Track
1
0
19.00
19.00
19
0
0
0
5.00
Season
14
0
19.43
16.79
13
0
0
0
9.43
B
Kamui Kobayashi
CAT
Race
3
0
8.33
7.67
3
2
1
0
28.33
Track
3
0
8.33
7.67
3
2
1
0
28.33
Season
13
0
19.38
16.75
13
0
0
0
7.86
B
Marcus Ericsson
CAT
Race
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Track
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Season
14
0
21.08
17.86
11
0
0
0
7.07
TM
Red Bull Racing
RBR
Race
9
5
6.29
7.89
1
13
9
4
31.89
Track
7
5
4.77
6.43
1
11
8
4
36.14
Season
14
0
5.25
6.19
1
23
18
3
32.29
TM
Mercedes
MER
Race
4
0
8.86
12.75
6
4
0
0
19.25
Track
4
0
8.86
12.75
6
4
0
0
19.25
Season
14
13
2.63
4.75
1
23
23
11
40.57
TM
Ferrari
FER
Race
10
2
6.85
8.35
1
14
9
1
29.00
Track
8
2
7.69
9.25
1
10
7
1
26.75
Season
14
0
8.32
7.89
2
23
9
0
28.86
TM
Lotus
LOT
Race
2
0
6.50
8.25
3
3
2
0
29.00
Track
2
0
6.50
8.25
3
3
2
0
29.00
Season
14
0
15.88
15.07
8
3
0
0
12.29
TM
McLaren
MCL
Race
10
2
7.25
8.65
1
12
10
3
28.50
Track
6
0
8.63
7.63
1
11
9
2
30.00
Season
14
0
8.79
9.39
2
18
4
0
25.57
TM
Force India
FI
Race
7
0
14.00
14.08
7
1
0
0
15.50
Track
5
0
12.90
13.50
7
1
0
0
17.00
Season
14
0
11.07
9.19
3
21
5
0
24.64
TM
Sauber
SAU
Race
10
0
10.10
8.85
2
16
2
0
26.70
Track
8
0
10.31
9.06
3
13
1
0
26.13
Season
14
0
15.74
16.39
11
0
0
0
10.21
TM
Toro Rosso
TR
Race
8
0
14.63
13.81
6
5
0
0
16.38
Track
6
0
15.92
14.75
10
2
0
0
14.33
Season
14
0
10.75
13.46
6
10
0
0
16.43
TM
Williams
WIL
Race
10
0
12.15
13.00
2
7
3
0
16.60
Track
8
0
11.88
12.13
2
7
3
0
18.13
Season
14
1
7.46
8.71
2
19
11
0
27.93
TM
Marussia
MAR
Race
2
0
20.75
19.25
16
0
0
0
4.50
Track
2
0
20.75
19.25
16
0
0
0
4.50
Season
14
0
18.75
16.50
9
1
0
0
10.57
TM
Caterham
CAT
Race
2
0
20.75
17.75
15
0
0
0
7.00
Track
2
0
20.75
17.75
15
0
0
0
7.00
Season
14
0
20.26
17.52
11
0
0
0
7.71



Recent Form Table
List
Driver/Team
TM
Last 4 Races
Poles
Avg Start
Avg Finish
Best
Top-10
Top-5
Wins
FP/Race
B
Daniel Ricciardo
RBR
1,1,5,3
0
5.25
2.50
1
4
4
2
41.00
TM
Red Bull Racing
RBR
7,5,6,2
0
5.25
4.38
1
8
6
2
40.50
1,1,5,3
A
Lewis Hamilton
MER
3,DNF,1,1
2
1.33
6.00
1
3
3
2
36.50
TM
Mercedes
MER
3,DNF,1,1
4
3.67
4.38
1
6
6
2
36.50
4,2,2,DNF
A
Sebastian Vettel
RBR
7,5,6,2
0
4.25
5.00
2
4
2
0
35.00
A
Nico Rosberg
MER
4,2,2,DNF
2
1.50
7.25
2
3
3
0
33.50
TM
Williams
WIL
5,13,3,5
0
4.50
7.50
3
6
5
0
33.00
8,3,4,11
B
Valtteri Bottas
WIL
8,3,4,11
0
5.00
6.50
3
3
2
0
31.75
B
Felipe Massa
WIL
5,13,3,5
0
6.25
6.50
3
3
3
0
31.00
A
Kimi Räikkönen
FER
6,4,9,8
0
11.00
6.75
4
4
1
0
30.00
TM
Ferrari
FER
2,7,DNF,4
0
9.00
8.13
2
6
3
0
29.00
6,4,9,8
A
Fernando Alonso
FER
2,7,DNF,4
0
5.25
8.50
2
3
2
0
27.00
B
Jean-Éric Vergne
TR
9,11,13,6
0
11.25
9.75
6
1
0
0
23.75
TM
McLaren
MCL
10,6,8,DNF
0
7.50
9.38
6
5
0
0
23.25
12,12,10,10
A
Jenson Button
MCL
10,6,8,DNF
0
8.50
10.50
6
3
0
0
22.75
B
Sergio Pérez
FI
DNF,8,7,7
0
13.00
10.25
7
3
0
0
22.50
TM
Toro Rosso
TR
9,11,13,6
0
10.88
12.50
8
3
0
0
22.25
14,8,11,11
B
Kevin Magnussen
MCL
12,12,10,10
0
7.75
11.00
10
2
0
0
22.00
TM
Force India
FI
DNF,10,12,9
0
12.13
11.63
7
5
0
0
20.50
DNF,8,7,7
B
Daniil Kvyat
TR
14,8,11,14
0
10.75
12.00
8
1
0
0
19.25
B
Nico Hülkenberg
FI
DNF,10,12,9
0
13.50
12.75
9
2
0
0
17.50
B
Adrian Sutil
SAU
11,14,15,DNF
0
14.25
14.75
11
0
0
0
13.25
B
Pastor Maldonado
LOT
13,DNF,14,12
0
17.33
15.00
12
0
0
0
12.75
TM
Lotus
LOT
DNF,DNF,16,13
0
16.50
17.25
12
0
0
0
10.50
13,DNF,14,12
TM
Sauber
SAU
11,14,15,DNF
0
15.13
15.63
11
0
0
0
10.25
DNF,15,20,DNF
B
Jules Bianchi
MAR
15,18,18,16
0
17.75
16.75
15
0
0
0
9.50
TM
Marussia
MAR
15,18,18,16
0
18.75
17.13
15
0
0
0
9.25
16,16,DNF,17
B
Max Chilton
MAR
16,16,DNF,17
0
20.00
17.75
16
0
0
0
7.75
B
Romain Grosjean
LOT
DNF,DNF,16,13
0
16.00
17.50
13
0
0
0
7.50
B
Marcus Ericsson
CAT
DNF,17,19,15
0
21.50
18.25
15
0
0
0
6.75
B
Esteban Gutiérrez
SAU
DNF,15,20,DNF
0
16.00
18.00
15
0
0
0
6.50
TM
Caterham
CAT
DNF,DNF,17,DNS
0
20.29
18.63
15
0
0
0
5.25
DNF,17,19,15
B
Kamui Kobayashi
CAT
DNF,DNR,17,DNS
0
19.00
17.50
17
0
0
0
3.75

Sections: Main, Fantasy Games
Tags: Fantasy_Formula_1, Unofficial_Games, ASFL2_Fantasy_Games, Bonus_Points

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