Mercedes aim to bounce back at Suzuka
EMOTIONAL RETURN: The death of Bianchi, 9 months after his crash at Suzuka, casts a sombre mood
SUZUKA, Japan: Mercedes seek to bounce back after a sudden and unexpected dip in performance in Singapore as Formula One makes an emotional return to the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday.
The death of Jules Bianchi in July, nine months after he crashed at Suzuka in last year’s race, casts a sombre mood over the race.
Bianchi suffered severe head injuries when his Marussia car crashed into a mobile crane removing the Sauber of Adran Sutil, and the French driver died on July 17. “This will be a very emotional weekend for us,” Manor Marussia driver Will Stevens said.
“We’re already a very close-knit team but occasions such as this only bring us closer and that helps us through the challenges we’ve experienced on and off the race track. In the same circumstances, Jules would have gone about the business of racing in a very focused and professional way and that is exactly what I’ll be doing.”
Marussia team chief John Booth said: “We think of Jules every single day. He will forever be a huge part of our team.”
“Jules’ funeral reminded us that he was a special gift to so many people, not least of all the magnificent Bianchi family, who are always in our thoughts and prayers. We were Jules’ team, and with that in mind I would ask everyone to understand and respect that, this weekend, we wish to deal with the experience of returning to Suzuka in a very private way.”
World champion and championship leader Lewis Hamilton said: “Of course, returning to Suzuka also means we will have Jules in our thoughts and I’ll be sending out strength to his family.”
The Mercedes driver won last year’s race and will be hoping for a similar return to the top of the podium after struggling in Singapore before eventually retiring in Sunday’s race won by Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel.
Hamilton’s championship lead was cut to 41 points by team-mate Nico Rosberg, who finished fourth, while Vettel is now only eight points behind Rosberg. “Singapore was a strange weekend but I’m chilled about it,” said Hamilton, who is seeking a 41st career win to draw level with his childhood hero Ayrton Senna.
“It’s been an incredible season so far and I’ve been around long enough now to accept that you can’t win them all.”
Suzuka is a track which allows overtaking and Mercedes feel could benefit them, but some uncertainty has crept in after their troubles in Singapore, combined with the resurgence of Ferrari.
Mercedes believe the problems were largely down to tyres and were specific to the Singapore street circuit — Suzuka is a classic track with a lot of high-speed corners which should suit Hamilton and Rosberg.
“Whether Singapore was a blip or not, we cannot take our position at the front for granted and expect not to get caught out,” Mercedes motorsport chief Toto Wolff said. “Suzuka is a track which should suit us better, so this will be a good indicator.”
With a maximum of 150 points still available in six remaining races,
Vettel could still be a threat, although the four-time world champion says Mercedes will be the favourites in Suzuka. “I am not expecting them to have problems here,” he said on Thursday. “But if the chance presents itself we have to take it.”
Vettel now has three wins this season and last week clinched Ferrari’s first pole position since 2012.
He has won four times at Suzuka and twice was third. “I love the track. It’s a driver’s circuit. I think we all love the track. It’s one of the old school circuits on the calendar,” he said.
A tropical storm forecast to hit southern parts of Japan’s island is expected to bring rain for Friday’s practice sessions, but should pass by the weekend, according to forecasts. — dpa