From the relatively fresh paint of Korea, the Formula 1 circus now heads to Japan and the iconic Suzuka circuit for the 15th round of the 2013 season.
With F1 only just recovering from the events from the Korea International Circuit, the F1 paddock now jumps on a plane and heads to Suzuka City for the 29th Japanese Grand Prix.
It is a real driver's circuit full of high-speed corners, sweeping bends and gravel traps lining the 18 tricky corners. There is no room for error around the Suzuka circuit and that is why it is one of my favourites.
Some of the sport's most iconic moments have taken place around the figure of eight circuit - the only one like it on the calendar. From Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost's titanic battles in 1989 and 1990 to Kimi Raikkonen's superb drive from the back of the grid in 2005, it is a track that never fails to disappoint.
Sebastian Vettel has won three of the last four Japanese Grand Prix's, Jenson Button taking victory in 2011 on the day that his German rival clinched his second title. Vettel dominated the 2012 round, finishing 20 seconds ahead of podium returnee Felipe Massa and home hero Kamui Kobayashi.
The race proved to be vital for Vettel's championship challenge. Rival Fernando Alonso crashed out on the first lap after contact with Kimi Raikkonen. This sliced the Spaniard's championship lead down to just four points as the title races heated up.
The track is incredibly fast with 10 of the 18 corners taken between 105 and 168mph. 60% of the circuit is spent cornering which makes it a very busy lap.
The layout has remained largely unchanged since its F1 debut in 1987, here is a look at one of the world's most challenging tracks: It starts off on the relatively short pit straight with the pit exit feeding cars back on track to the right. Turn one is a fast and sweeping sixth gear right-hander that tightens for the third gear right of turn two. This is a good overtaking place, particularly as the pit straight is where the DRS zone will be positioned.
Turns three to six make up the ‘S Curves’ and is quite possibly the trickiest part of the circuit. A car needs to have a good balance for this section and precision and rhythm is needed for a clean run. Turn three is a fifth gear left before the fifth gear right-left of the fourth and fifth corners.
Turn six is a slightly slower right-hander that leads on to the long left of turn seven. Cars are flat out and building speed through this turn before moving in to the second sector and facing the challenging Degner Curves. This complex starts with a quick fourth gear right that is followed shortly after by a tighter second gear right.
This leads cars on to a short straight and under a bridge that carriers the rest of the circuit. The track is the only one on the calendar to have a crossover, although Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina circuit does feature one with its pit exit.
Turn 10 is a barely-there kink before turn 11, a tight first gear left-hand hairpin that is a strong overtaking possibility. However, it is also easy to get wrong with the sweeping kink coming just before the braking zone. Expect plenty of tyre lock-ups into the hairpin over the race weekend.
Good traction and grip is key in order to get a strong exit from turn 11, as this releases cars on to the flat out right that is turn 12. Drivers enter the Spoon Curve, turn 13, in fourth gear but the corner tightens on the apex for turn 14, in a similar way to turn one, which means that cars exit in third gear.
Again, exit speed is important for the long straight that follows. Sector three begins just prior to 130R, a hugely difficult and challenging flat-out left-hand corner that is taken in second gear just after cars run over the previous part of the track.
It is a corner that can set-up overtaking manoeuvres into the next big braking zone, but Fernando Alonso managed to actually pass seven time world champion Michael Schumacher around the outside at 130R on route to third place in 2005. However, if you crash there it is usually a big one. Allan McNish crashed into and then through the barriers in 2002 and more recently Lucas Di Grassi crashed heavily there on his way to the grid in 2010.
Commitment through the 15th corner is crucial for a good run to the Casio Triangle, a tight second gear chicane that goes from right to left. Due to the big braking zone, this is also another good overtaking spot although it is rather narrow.
The pit entry is on the right as cars exit the chicane and head through the final sweeping right-hand bend of turn 18 to cross the line and start another lap.
Due to the amount of high-speed corners, the circuit is particularly hard on the tyres. That is why Pirelli are bringing the orange hard and white medium compound tyres. The circuit surface is relatively rough and bumpy but brake energy is low, in a similar way to Silverstone.
There is no margin for error with old-school gravel traps lining the circuit. If you make a mistake, it is game over as the deep kitty litter is very difficult to emerge from. Qualifying is particularly tricky in this regard, 2009 saw a number of cars spin off track and into the barrier as drivers pushed to the limit.
The unforgiving circuit is Red Bull territory through and through. The high-speed corners require strong downforce and grip, something the RB9 has in spades, but it has also shown good straight-line speed in recent races which will help in the final sector.
Other teams may have to compromise by either taking off downforce to benefit in sector three or adding it to make up ground in the first two sectors. Red Bull, on the other hand, will most likely take off downforce as they will still have enough wing to do well in the opening of the lap.
Vettel is a Suzuka master and has won three of the last four races at the Japanese track. After winning his fourth consecutive race in Korea, he is definitely the man to beat.
Mercedes could struggle if their tyre wear woes continue but should perform well in the final sector. Ferrari cannot be discounted either, Massa went very well in 2012 and with their 2013 challenger being an evolution of its predecessor, don't rule out the Scuderia.
Lotus should expect to go well in Suzuka and Raikkonen has always gone well around the narrow and twisty circuit, his 2005 race win is still one of my personal F1 highlights. Sauber are looking on the up although a podium finish, like 2012, doesn't look to be on the cards.
Japan always hosts an exciting Formula 1 race and it looks to be more of the same in 2013. Unlike Korea, the fanatical Japanese supports will surely be out in force to cheer on this year's grid and create a brilliant atmosphere.
Japanese Grand Prix Fact-file:
Location: Suzuka, Japan
Track Length: 3.609 miles
Direction: Clockwise and anti-clockwise
Turns: 18
Laps: 53
Gear changes per lap: 45
Full throttle: 71%
First race: 1987
Lap record: Kimi Raikkonen, McLaren, 2005: 1m31.540
Tyre compounds: Hard and medium compound
2012 race winner: Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing
2012 pole position: Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing: 1m30.839
2012 fastest lap: Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing: 1m35.774
Live on: Sky Sports F1 and BBC One
 |
| (c) Lotus F1 Team |
It is a real driver's circuit full of high-speed corners, sweeping bends and gravel traps lining the 18 tricky corners. There is no room for error around the Suzuka circuit and that is why it is one of my favourites.
Some of the sport's most iconic moments have taken place around the figure of eight circuit - the only one like it on the calendar. From Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost's titanic battles in 1989 and 1990 to Kimi Raikkonen's superb drive from the back of the grid in 2005, it is a track that never fails to disappoint.
Sebastian Vettel has won three of the last four Japanese Grand Prix's, Jenson Button taking victory in 2011 on the day that his German rival clinched his second title. Vettel dominated the 2012 round, finishing 20 seconds ahead of podium returnee Felipe Massa and home hero Kamui Kobayashi.
The race proved to be vital for Vettel's championship challenge. Rival Fernando Alonso crashed out on the first lap after contact with Kimi Raikkonen. This sliced the Spaniard's championship lead down to just four points as the title races heated up.
 |
| (c) Vodafone McLaren Mercedes |
The track is incredibly fast with 10 of the 18 corners taken between 105 and 168mph. 60% of the circuit is spent cornering which makes it a very busy lap.
The layout has remained largely unchanged since its F1 debut in 1987, here is a look at one of the world's most challenging tracks: It starts off on the relatively short pit straight with the pit exit feeding cars back on track to the right. Turn one is a fast and sweeping sixth gear right-hander that tightens for the third gear right of turn two. This is a good overtaking place, particularly as the pit straight is where the DRS zone will be positioned.
Turns three to six make up the ‘S Curves’ and is quite possibly the trickiest part of the circuit. A car needs to have a good balance for this section and precision and rhythm is needed for a clean run. Turn three is a fifth gear left before the fifth gear right-left of the fourth and fifth corners.
Turn six is a slightly slower right-hander that leads on to the long left of turn seven. Cars are flat out and building speed through this turn before moving in to the second sector and facing the challenging Degner Curves. This complex starts with a quick fourth gear right that is followed shortly after by a tighter second gear right.
This leads cars on to a short straight and under a bridge that carriers the rest of the circuit. The track is the only one on the calendar to have a crossover, although Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina circuit does feature one with its pit exit.
Turn 10 is a barely-there kink before turn 11, a tight first gear left-hand hairpin that is a strong overtaking possibility. However, it is also easy to get wrong with the sweeping kink coming just before the braking zone. Expect plenty of tyre lock-ups into the hairpin over the race weekend.
Good traction and grip is key in order to get a strong exit from turn 11, as this releases cars on to the flat out right that is turn 12. Drivers enter the Spoon Curve, turn 13, in fourth gear but the corner tightens on the apex for turn 14, in a similar way to turn one, which means that cars exit in third gear.
 |
| (c) Getty Images |
Again, exit speed is important for the long straight that follows. Sector three begins just prior to 130R, a hugely difficult and challenging flat-out left-hand corner that is taken in second gear just after cars run over the previous part of the track.
It is a corner that can set-up overtaking manoeuvres into the next big braking zone, but Fernando Alonso managed to actually pass seven time world champion Michael Schumacher around the outside at 130R on route to third place in 2005. However, if you crash there it is usually a big one. Allan McNish crashed into and then through the barriers in 2002 and more recently Lucas Di Grassi crashed heavily there on his way to the grid in 2010.
Commitment through the 15th corner is crucial for a good run to the Casio Triangle, a tight second gear chicane that goes from right to left. Due to the big braking zone, this is also another good overtaking spot although it is rather narrow.
The pit entry is on the right as cars exit the chicane and head through the final sweeping right-hand bend of turn 18 to cross the line and start another lap.
Due to the amount of high-speed corners, the circuit is particularly hard on the tyres. That is why Pirelli are bringing the orange hard and white medium compound tyres. The circuit surface is relatively rough and bumpy but brake energy is low, in a similar way to Silverstone.
There is no margin for error with old-school gravel traps lining the circuit. If you make a mistake, it is game over as the deep kitty litter is very difficult to emerge from. Qualifying is particularly tricky in this regard, 2009 saw a number of cars spin off track and into the barrier as drivers pushed to the limit.
The unforgiving circuit is Red Bull territory through and through. The high-speed corners require strong downforce and grip, something the RB9 has in spades, but it has also shown good straight-line speed in recent races which will help in the final sector.
 |
| (c) Getty Images |
Vettel is a Suzuka master and has won three of the last four races at the Japanese track. After winning his fourth consecutive race in Korea, he is definitely the man to beat.
Mercedes could struggle if their tyre wear woes continue but should perform well in the final sector. Ferrari cannot be discounted either, Massa went very well in 2012 and with their 2013 challenger being an evolution of its predecessor, don't rule out the Scuderia.
Lotus should expect to go well in Suzuka and Raikkonen has always gone well around the narrow and twisty circuit, his 2005 race win is still one of my personal F1 highlights. Sauber are looking on the up although a podium finish, like 2012, doesn't look to be on the cards.
Japan always hosts an exciting Formula 1 race and it looks to be more of the same in 2013. Unlike Korea, the fanatical Japanese supports will surely be out in force to cheer on this year's grid and create a brilliant atmosphere.
 |
| (c) AllF1 |
Location: Suzuka, Japan
Track Length: 3.609 miles
Direction: Clockwise and anti-clockwise
Turns: 18
Laps: 53
Gear changes per lap: 45
Full throttle: 71%
First race: 1987
Lap record: Kimi Raikkonen, McLaren, 2005: 1m31.540
Tyre compounds: Hard and medium compound
2012 race winner: Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing
2012 pole position: Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing: 1m30.839
2012 fastest lap: Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing: 1m35.774
Live on: Sky Sports F1 and BBC One
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