Wet Suzuka Challenges Drivers, Precision Triumph

Qualifying:

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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

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* 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:

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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

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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.