Suzuka, 3 October 2009

There is a tendency to think that Formula 1 is a very safe sport, which in some ways it is, but come to a really challenging circuit like Suzuka and the slightest mistake can have frightening consequences. In today’s qualifying, in which Kimi Raikkonen qualified eighth and Gianfranco Fisichella set the sixteenth fastest time, several drivers had high speed accidents, the most serious affecting the Toyota of Timo Glock, although his injuries are not life threatening. The crashes meant the session was interrupted by no less than three red flag periods and it took almost 90 minutes to complete, rather than the more usual hour. Why so many accidents? That’s hard to say, but the fact the drivers have only had one hour of dry free practice this morning to run on slicks, after Friday’s sessions were held in the rain, probably had something to do with it. As for the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro duo, they both brought their F60s home in one piece: Giancarlo Fisichella just missed out on making it to Q2 by the slimmest of margins, while Kimi Raikkonen really did the very most he and the F60 were capable of, but the performance level of the car, as it comes towards the end of its racing life, is currently not at the level of the best. On the plus side, Kimi has a heavy fuel load, which will hopefully help him to run longer than those around him before the first pit stop tomorrow, thus getting some clear track ahead of him and with a good long run down to the high speed first corner, KERS should help him make up some places. With overtaking a possibility at this track and with the likelihood of further incidents during the race, even Giancarlo is hoping to finish in the top eight and pick up some points, but it’s a lot to ask for.



The front end of the grid provides a fairly accurate snapshot of which teams have the quick cars at this point on the calendar: Sebastian Vettel was fastest for Red Bull-Renault, with the Toyota of Jarno Trulli alongside him on the front row. Row 2 sees reigning world champion Lewis Hamilon on the inside line in the McLaren-Mercedes, with the Force India of Adrian Sutil in fourth spot. Rubens Barrichello is fifth for Brawn and Nick Heidfeld sixth for BMW. Mark Webber’s name does not appear on the Qualifying list, after he required a chassis change following a morning accident and he will start from pit lane.

The Japanese race fans are as enthusiastic, if less numerous than in past years at this track, possibly because Honda is no longer competing in F1. However, with the weather improving and hot, sunny forecast for Sunday, the main grandstands should be as packed as ever, for what looks set to be one of the most interesting races of the season.