We’ve already shared Esteban Ocon’s comments from a lap around the Suzuka circuit in the simulator, and now the Alpine F1 driver continues his story about the Japanese race weekend in general and about the great Japanese fans. But he started with the events that took place in Melbourne in the third stage of the season.
Esteban Ocon: “After the race in Australia we returned home with mixed feelings. On the one hand, we saw some positive signs because the pace the car was capable of this weekend was generally better and we were able to close the gap with the other teams.
On the other hand, it seemed to us that some opportunities were missed, because without the extra pit stop we had to make to remove the foil from the visor of the rear brake air duct, we could have competed for points.
But that’s how racing is, and it’s possible that without this pit stop we wouldn’t have reached the finish at all. I know that our team at Enstone and Wiri continue to work very hard to improve the car’s performance, and we have prepared some minor updates for the coming weekend at Suzuka.
Every year when I arrive in Japan, I can’t help but smile. Local fans are always full of enthusiasm and passionate love for Formula 1, they always support us and come to the track in all weather conditions. By the way, a weekend in Suzuka is usually not complete without weather surprises!
Some fans get really creative and prepare special outfits and hats, and even give gifts to the drivers, which is generally incredibly cool. Such support does not go unnoticed and we appreciate the efforts of the public, which creates a unique atmosphere for the weekend, making the Japanese Grand Prix one of the best races on the calendar.
It is often said about the Suzuka circuit that drivers and fans alike love it – I can confirm this is true. For me this is the best circuit on the calendar and I enjoy coming back here every year.
There really is a lot to like, especially the first sector, which is incredibly fast and organic, where you don’t have time to catch your breath. The corners follow one another, and if you miss the apex in one of them, it will affect the entire lap.
The circuit requires maximum steering precision and confidence, and this is especially evident in qualifying. Suzuka is one of the old-fashioned racing circuits, where every mistake is very costly, and we know many such examples from history. All this, plus the great Japanese crowd, makes this weekend one of the highlights of the calendar.”
Source: F1 News
I am Christopher Clyde, an experienced journalist and content writer with a passion for sports. I have been writing about Formula 1 news for the past five years and am currently employed as an author at athletistic.com, one of the top sports websites in the US.
