Wet Suzuka Challenges Drivers, Precision Triumph

Qualifying:

Pos	#	Driver	Constructor	Time
1	1	Sebastian Vettel		1:25.630
2	5	Valtteri Bottas		1:25.795
3	28	Marcel Agyemang-Badu		1:25.872
4	63	Jules Bianchi		1:25.872
5	90	Daniel Ricciardo		1:25.988
6	21	Stoffel Vandoorne		1:26.220
7	27	Nathan McKane		1:25.865*
8	98	Salvatore Miccoli		1:26.505
9	2	Lewis Hamilton		1:26.550
10	6	Matt Solomon		1:26.650
11	32	Daniel Melrose		1:26.631
12	99	Kevin Magnussen		1:26.749
13	22	Johnny Cecotto Jr.		1:26.977
14	30	Nico Hülkenberg		1:27.024
15	29	Pastor Maldonado		1:27.176
16	62	Dave Cassidy		1:27.190
17	91	Max Verstappen		1:27.359
18	42	Davide Valsecchi		1:26.775*
19	67	Pierre Gasly		1:27.562
20	66	Josef Newgarden		1:27.743
21	12	Scott Dixon		1:27.952
22	55	Artem Markelov		1:28.063
23	56	Bradley Dagnall	-Mercedes	1:28.142
24	31	Rhys Davies		1:27.692*
25	43	Sergio Pérez		1:27.705*
26	11	Daniël de Jong		1:28.472

* demoted five places for changing engine/gearbox

Report:

Wet weather always throws a curveball into the plans of Formula One teams. The first race at the Suzuka Circuit proved this rule true. Sebastian Vettel, the rain star in Italy ten years go, was in the best position, able to see everything despite the rain since he scored his first pole position of the season for Caterham. Unfortunately, unlike in Monza, he blew the safety car start after six laps behind the Safety Car.

Thankfully, he managed to avoid Bottas’ attack and retained the lead. Caterham were prepared to keep him in the lead with a stable strategy. Regrettably, the lower downforce challenged Sebastian just a little bit too much. He spun out shortly after his first pitstop and had contact with a wall, ending his Grand Prix right on the spot and costing him 15 valueable points.

He was not the only driver struggling: Sergio Pérez and Max Verstappen were rather struggling, despite having a decent car under them. Especially Verstappen rotated like he was a disc at a Utrecht trance festival. Verstappen provided the contrast to Ricciardo’s heroic drive, providing a beautiful artistic picture of darkness and light for the Jamaican team Calinetic.

Calinetic-Holden were not the only team having a hero and a loser: Gene Haas saw Johnny Cecotto, Jr. struggle and finish outside the points. It was not very important to the American team, however, as Stoffel Vandoorne was running quite well and worked alone in an empty world in the last stages of the race to earn his first podium of this season, getting Haas 12 crucial points.

Race:

Pos	#	Driver	Constructor	Time/Retired	Points
1	63	Jules Bianchi		54:59.343	15
2	21	Stoffel Vandoorne		+11.814	12
3	90	Daniel Ricciardo		+23.786	10
4	98	Salvatore Miccoli		+26.177	8
5	2	Lewis Hamilton		+28.056	6
6	5	Valtteri Bottas		+28.646	5
7	29	Pastor Maldonado		+34.162	4
8	30	Nico Hülkenberg		+38.626	3
9	56	Bradley Dagnall		+41.244	2
10	6	Matt Solomon		+48.754	1
11	67	Pierre Gasly		+49.006	0
12	22	Johnny Cecotto Jr.		+49.740	0
13	62	Dave Cassidy		+55.250	0
14	99	Kevin Magnussen		+63.775	0
15	11	Daniël de Jong		+74.689	0
16	66	Josef Newgarden		+86.434	0
17	43	Sergio Pérez		+1 Lap	0
18	91	Max Verstappen		+1 Lap	0
DNF	1	Sebastian Vettel		Accident	2
DNF	55	Artem Markelov		Accident	0
DNF	28	Marcel Agyemang-Badu		Collision	0
DNF	31	Rhys Davies		Accident	0
DNF	12	Scott Dixon		Engine	0
DNF	27	Nathan McKane		Engine	0
DNF	42	Davide Valsecchi		Engine	0
DNF	32	Daniel Melrose		Collision	0

Fastest Lap:

Kevin Magnussen – 1:32.520

Infinite Improbability Drive Of The Race:

Bradley Dagnall – Got his first point in Formula One, a decent drive.

Reject Of The Race:

Sebastian Vettel – Bad error may come around to cost him.