F1 Race India - Vettel wins in New Delhi as Alonso limits the damage

Sebastian Vettel was never remotely challenged in the second Indian Grand Prix on Sunday, winning it even more easily than he did the first a year ago. Once he'd shrugged off a half challenge from Red Bull team mate Mark Webber in the first corner, he controlled the race and won it as he pleased. It was his fourth consecutive victory, and the first time since Ayrton Senna in 1989 that a driver has led every lap for three races in a row.

His only moments of concern were when his undertray generated a few sparks under braking towards the end, and when Ferrari's Fernando Alonso pushed ahead of Webber when the Australian ran into KERS problems, and began to close the gap slightly. Vettel had plenty in hand, however, and won by 9.4s to move 13 points clear of the Spaniard in the drivers' standings.

Webber had his hands full with Lewis Hamilton's McLaren in the closing stages, as the silver car belatedly came alive on Pirelli's harder tyre after failing to match either Red Bull's or Ferrari's early pace on the soft. That enabled Alonso to make moves stick after a first-lap charge against the McLarens succeeded in splitting them, and he at least kept himself in play for the title after another feisty run.

Hamilton just failed by 0.6s to dislodge Webber from the final podium position while team mate Jenson Button, who had earlier held third before Alonso overtook and then suffered a slight delay with a sticking left-rear wheel during his pit stop, came through for a lonely fifth. Vettel set the fastest lap on the final tour, only for that then to be beaten by Alonso, Williams' Bruno Senna and Button himself. It was small consolation for McLaren, who had hoped to fight for victory.

Sixth place fell after a great drive to Ferrari's Felipe Massa, who fended off an attentive Kimi Raikkonen all the way to the flag. The Finn momentarily moved ahead in their stops, but Massa soon repassed the Lotus and kept ahead thereafter. Nico Hulkenberg delivered again for Force India by holding off a challenging Romain Grosjean in the other Lotus, while another strong performance from Senna saw the Brazilian catch and pass Nico Rosberg's Mercedes to snatch the final point.

Force India's Paul di Resta was 1.1s behind Rosberg by the flag after a lonely race, then came Toro Rosso's Daniel Ricciardo who just held off Sauber's Kamui Kobayashi by less than half a second. The Japanese driver was involved in a small incident with Pastor Maldonado while they were battling with Senna, which resulted in the Venezuelan pitting with a cut right-rear tyre on his Williams. The stewards, who included 1980 world champion Alan Jones, decided that it was just a racing incident.

Jean-Eric Vergne got the front wing of his Toro Rosso pincered in the first corner traffic, which resulted in a cut right-rear tyre for Mercedes' Michael Schumacher. Both pitted for repairs at the end of the first lap, then fought their way back. Vergne's excellent efforts earned him 15th place, but Schumacher was later investigated for ignoring blue flags (the outcome has yet to be announced), but in any case the German retired his Mercedes.

Maldonado recovered to 16th, half a second behind Vergne, while Vitaly Petrov comfortably won the Caterham race against team mate Heikki Kovalainen as Charles Pic beat Marussia team mate Timo Glock home.

Narain Karthikeyan successfully nursed his brakes to get his HRT home as the final finisher in 21st, team mate Pedro de la Rosa joining Schumacher and Sergio Perez in retirement after crashing because of brake failure. The Spaniard was unharmed. The Mexican, meanwhile, was fighting Hulkenberg for eighth early on when he sustained a cut rear tyre, and retired after two further stops.

Vettel's victory thus puts him 13 points clear of Alonso in the hunt for the driver's title, whilst his team moves up to 407 in the constructors' table to Ferrari's 316, McLaren's 306 and Lotus' 263.

Only 4 days remaining!!!! The drivers also seem equally excited about F1 race India…

India preview quotes - Caterham, Force India, Williams & more

Last season the Indian round arrived on the calendar with a bang. Drawing universal praise from the paddock, the Buddh International Circuit offers challenging gradient changes, two ample straights, an interesting mix of corners and seating for around 130,000 cheering fans. What’s not to like? The teams and drivers look ahead to New Delhi…www.f1raceinindia.com

Heikki Kovalainen, Caterham
2011 Qualifying - 18th, 2011 Race - 14th
“It’s our second time racing in India and I’m excited about getting back there. Last year I think we were all impressed with what they did with the circuit - the layout was really good, an interesting mix of elevation changes and different types of corners, not what we’ve seen at a lot of the newer circuits so one I think we all enjoyed.

“Performance-wise I think we’re all realistic about what we can do in India, but that doesn’t mean we’re not working as hard as we can to keep progressing. The guys behind us are putting up a good fight and, while we have clear air between us on track, we need to make sure we keep that gap, and, where possible, take advantage of anything that happens ahead.”

Vitaly Petrov, Caterham
2011 Qualifying - 16th, 2011 Race - 11th
“The Indian track is one of the good ones. It’s pretty smooth, nice and wide, so you can take different lines into some of the corners, and it has a couple of really good corners like the double left turns five and six which you come into quickly, and then braking for the chicane through seven, eight and nine. The track surface itself is pretty similar to Korea. It will evolve a lot over the weekend and you’ll see times coming down as the grip levels improve but, as with the whole year, managing the tyres is going to be really important. In Korea we didn’t have as much track time in the practice sessions as we’d have liked, so one of the main objectives will be making sure we get as many laps done as possible so we go into Sunday knowing as much as we can about the tyre behaviour over a race distance.”

Giedo van der Garde, Caterham test driver
“With each session I’m doing I’m getting more comfortable with the car and the team and the feedback I’m getting from the engineers is good, so India’s another chance to build on that. It’s another new track for me but one that looks cool on my simulator, and the other drivers have told me it’s better than quite a few of the stop / start type of tracks so I’m looking forward to getting back out on track.

“I’m also really looking forward to going to India. I’ve never been before and I’ve always wanted to go to India, plus I’m a big fan of spicy food so it’ll be a chance to have a completely new experience, on and off track.”

Paul di Resta, Force India
2011 Qualifying - 12th, 2011 Race - 13th
“It’s obviously our home Grand Prix and a special weekend. There’s pressure on us to perform and clearly we need to go there ready to keep the momentum going. It’s a busy week for everyone involved with the team and there’s a lot going on in terms of media work and extra events, but it won’t distract from our focus to come away with the best result we can.

“We’ve got to go there and qualify in the top ten. That will get us in contention and allow us to concentrate on the race. All year we’ve shown that we have a car capable of reaching Q3, but the grid is very close and we don’t have any margin so we need everything to come together perfectly. Also, based on our performance last year, we looked quite competitive at this track so you’ve got to hope that will carry over for this year.

“It’s one of those new-style Herman Tilke circuits so there’s a good mixture of corners, plenty of run-off and a few areas where overtaking is possible. We found last year that the grip built up quite quickly and the track was exciting to drive with some satisfying corners. I remember that tyre wear was quite high last year and I had to stop three times during the race, so understanding the tyres on Friday will be the priority.”

Nico Hulkenberg, Force India
2011 Qualifying - n/a, 2011 Race - n/a

Nico force India

“I was at the first Indian race last year, but obviously I didn’t get a chance to drive. I’ve been around the track in a road car and tried it on the simulator, but I still have a bit to learn on Friday. As a race it’s as big as they come for this team. We will be in Delhi at the start of the week to meet the local media and fans and they always show lots of enthusiasm for us. I hope that we will see their support at the track with lots of fans cheering us on.”

Dr Vijay Mallya, Force India team principal
“Last year’s race was already a tremendous success and I’m sure we can expect an equally spectacular event this year. Buddh International Circuit always looks after us very well and I know that they have been working hard behind the scenes to fine-tune the circuit and facilities even more. But above all else, the most important thing is the layout of the track because last year all the drivers loved it. It’s certainly one of the best tracks in the world. 

“I remember how proud I felt last year to see our cars racing in India in the colours of the Indian flag. It was a moment I had dreamed about and a great sporting achievement for our country. To score points was the icing on the cake. This year I would like to go one better and see both our cars in the points - at the very least - so that we can give our fans something to smile about. The gap to Sauber is now 27 points. It’s a big lead, but not impossible to catch them before the end of the year. There’s still a lot of racing to go and we will keep the pressure up for the final four races.”

Pastor Maldonado, Williams
2011 Qualifying - 13th, 2011 Race - DNF
“India is enjoyable because it’s so different and the track is one of my favourites. It’s still a new track but it has a good combination of medium and high-speed corners, chicanes and good changes in direction. Coming to the final few races, making the most of our cars potential is going to be important, so hopefully we can score points here and put ourselves in a strong position for the final three races.”

Bruno Senna, Williams
2011 Qualifying - 14th, 2011 Race - 12th
“I’m looking forward to this weekend because India has a different atmosphere to many other Grands Prix and it’s always a unique place to visit. As a new track the surface is very smooth and the layout is fast and flows well with some high speed corners which will suit our car. We should therefore be looking to improve on our performance in Korea.”

Mark Gillan, Williams chief operations engineer
“On the back of a disappointing result in Korea the team have worked extremely hard to address the balance inconsistencies that affected both cars. We believe that we have found a solution and look forward to testing and optimising around the updated car. The weather forecast in Delhi is good with predicted dry running throughout the weekend in reasonably high track temperatures and, as ever, the aim is to keep both the Pirelli hard and soft tyres within their optimal working window throughout the weekend.”

Remi Taffin, head of Renault Sport F1 track operations
“The first part of the track is mainly composed of straights, including an awesome 1.12km straight, the longest on the calendar. Unusually this straight dips in the middle. The second part of the track is a lot more intricate, with all the corners linking together, so driveability will be very important. The challenge will be getting the right balance between the responsiveness needed for the off-camber turns, such as the chicane at turns 13 and 14, and longer corners such as the radial turn 10, which need a steady application of power. At the start of the weekend dirt on the racing line and pollution within the atmosphere can have a detrimental effect on air filter performance, so this will need careful monitoring during P1 and P2.”

Pirelli
Paul Hembery, Pirelli motorsport director
“There was an amazing atmosphere and an extremely warm welcome at the Indian Grand Prix for us last year, so we’re all looking forward to going back. This year we know a little more about the track so we’ve made a less conservative choice, with the hard and the soft tyres striking exactly the right balance between performance and durability. The circuit layout is one of the toughest that our tyres will face throughout the second half of the season and it’s also the last time that we will see the hard and soft combination this year, which was previously used in Barcelona, Britain and Japan - which gives you some idea about the demands of this circuit. The Buddh circuit has been specifically designed to encourage overtaking, which is also one of the objectives behind the design philosophy of our tyres, so we should be set for an action-packed race at a crucial point in the championship.”

Jaime Alguersuari, Pirelli test driver
“I think that the layout of the Buddh circuit is one of the best in Formula One, and it also happens to be one of the toughest on the tyres. I’ve got good memories of the track personally too: last year I finished eighth after a good qualifying as well. You get this interesting combination of low, medium and high-speed corners, as well as long straights. A lot of the corners are quite unusual: for example we have a chicane right at the end of the lap that we take in fifth gear, which doesn’t happen very often! What puts the biggest stress on the tyres in India is the fact that many of the corners are very long, so there is a sustained lateral load with some fast changes of direction as well. You need all the grip you can get and there is a risk of graining as well if you do not manage the tyres properly. The hard and the soft tyres are a very good choice here - the hard will be perfect to race on - and I think that a one-stop strategy could be possible if you look after the tyres in the correct way.”

Jenson Button, McLaren
2011 Qualifying - 4th 2011 Race - 2nd
“Through no fault of my own, my weekend in Korea was a wasted opportunity - but it’s already far behind me, and I’m really looking forward to these next two back-to-back races.

“The Indian Grand Prix went well for me last year - I had an absolutely straightforward drive, running second from start to finish. It’s a circuit I like: it has a good feel to it, and you can tell it’s quite different from the normal places we visit.

“There are a couple of unusual factors: firstly, the approaches to Turns Three and Four are incredibly wide - almost like a motorway - in order to stimulate different lines into the corner and encourage overtaking. I hear that’s an element that’ll be carried over to the new track at Austin, too.

“Secondly, the combination of Turns 10 and 11 is also pretty special - it’s a huge, bowl-shaped double-apex right-hander, a bit like Spoon at Suzuka. It’s unusual for a new circuit to have such fast corners, and it’s really enjoyable when you get the car hooked up through there - the lateral g feels great.

“I think we can have a good weekend there - I’m already looking forward to it.”

Lewis Hamilton, McLaren
2011 Qualifying - 5th, 2011 Race - 7th
“I love India - the people, the colour, the noise, the spectacle, the chaos: it’s an intense and vibrant country, with some of the most enthusiastic and friendliest people we meet all year.

“The circuit, too, is something of a revelation. Most modern tracks have a very similar feel; you find that the same driving style and rhythm suits them all. But the Buddh International Circuit is different: it has more in common with a great track like Spa than it does with any number of the more modern places we visit.

“And that’s because it’s got an incredible flow - basically, from Turn Four, a wide-apex right-hander that sweeps downhill, the track is just a series of fast, rolling curves which really allow you to put the car absolutely on the limit.

“I didn’t have a particularly tidy weekend there last year: but I feel I’ve been driving better than ever recently - even if the results haven’t quite shown it - so I’m headed to India determined for another good result. I think we’ll have a car that’s a match for the circuit and I can’t wait to get out there and start practicing on Friday.”

Martin Whitmarsh, McLaren team principal
“Our two weekends in Japan and Korea weren’t particularly prosperous. But while fortune certainly didn’t smile on Vodafone McLaren Mercedes during those two races, it’s proof if it were needed that no team or driver is immune from tides of good or bad luck.

“Of course, luck flows both way, and I’m positive that, after two disappointing races, this next double-header will be a more profitable affair for Jenson, Lewis and the whole team.

“I think the Indian Grand Prix has the potential to become a classic event on the Formula One calendar - the circuit is well regarded by all the drivers, there is a natural fanbase eager and ready for Formula One and there is terrific market potential within the entire continent. I am a big believer in the value of the Indian Grand Prix.”

Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus
2011 Qualifying - n/a, 2011 Race - n/a
“India is a brand new place for me. Like with Korea, I’ve never been to the country before which means I’ve never seen the circuit properly. I’m not like other drivers, so I haven’t driven the simulator to learn it, but all in all it’s not that much of a tricky situation. I like to go to different places and the challenge of driving a new circuit is always interesting. So far I’ve learnt tracks after a few laps in FP1 on Fridays. I didn’t have any problems learning the Yeongam circuit that way, and I don’t expect to have any issues here either. As for India, I have never visited the country before… I have certainly enjoyed Indian restaurants in almost every country I’ve been to though!

“We know this circuit is likely to be very dusty at the start of the weekend so that will make things interesting for the first practice sessions. We’ll have some new things on the car and it will be our second time with the new exhaust system so hopefully we can make more gains with our pace. India should also be pretty hot which should suit us. I’m looking forward to it.”

Romain Grosjean, Lotus
2011 Qualifying - n/a, 2011 Race - n/a
“I was at the circuit with the team last year in my role as third driver and it was fascinating to see Formula One come to a new venue like India. The track is very impressive, in the middle of what will be a massive facility. The layout looks very interesting, with some slow corners and high speed sections as well. I’m sure it will be a great track to drive and I’m looking forward to unlocking its secrets so it can go into my portfolio!”

James Allison, Lotus technical director
“(Korea) was a solid debut for the Coanda (exhaust) system and we will see both Kimi and Romain using it in India. We were reasonably pleased with how it performed on its first outing. We knew that our first implementation would be a little power hungry, but we hoped for - and were delighted to register on the track - a good downforce boost. Our initial design was already a step forward relative to the previous system, but we expect more from this package as we modify the exhaust to recover much of the lost power. Romain used a new front wing in Korea which has proved to be a mild step forward and will be available to both drivers in India. 

“Last year India was the track with the most important racing line in the world, with any deviation from that line punished pretty severely as the surface was very dirty. This year the circuit organisers have invested in impressive track cleaning equipment the likes of which we see in Bahrain, so matters should be somewhat different. We’ve learnt that it’s a pretty challenging circuit and a good test for both the car and driver with a bunch of nice corners. It’s a typical modern Formula One track and an interesting place to go racing.”

Mark Webber, Red Bull
2011 Qualifying - 2nd, 2011 Race - 4th
“It's a challenging venue and I really enjoy the track, it's a nice circuit to drive. There was a massive crowd there last year and it was a good atmosphere. The track is similar to Korea with mainly long straights in sector 1 followed by a very busy sector 2 and 3, so we need to get the balance right between downforce and top speed. It should be reasonably straightforward weather-wise and I'm looking forward to getting out there.”

Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull
2011 Qualifying - 1st, 2011 Race - 1st
“I loved the track layout last year, but not just because I won the race. With an average speed of 235km/h, the course is the second quickest of the year after Monza. There is a lot of elevation change around the lap which adds to the fun, from as much as 8 percent downhill and up to 10 percent uphill; it’s like a roller coaster! It really has emerged as one of the most challenging circuits on the calendar for the drivers."

Michael Schumacher, Mercedes
2011 Qualifying - 11th, 2011 Race - 5th
"The Formula One debut of India last year was certainly a success. There were a surprising amount of fans during the weekend, and the track itself really is cool. We drivers were given a very enthusiastic reception, and it will be interesting to see if this enthusiasm has remained as strong. After two races which have not been totally satisfying, we naturally wish for a more positive trend to come, and I can say that everybody in the team has put in a lot of effort to achieve it. Let's see what we can make out of it."

Nico Rosberg, Mercedes
2011 Qualifying - 7th, 2011 Race - 6th
"The Buddh International Circuit is very challenging with an interesting combination of slow speed corners and long fast straights. The track also has one of the highest average speeds in Formula One and is good for overtaking. Last year I was really impressed by the passion and friendliness of the Indian people so I'm looking forward to visiting again and having some more interesting experiences. I hope that I will have a bit more luck than recently next weekend, and I will have the chance to achieve a good result."

Ross Brawn, Mercedes team principal
"Next week will see Formula One's second visit to India following the inaugural Grand Prix at the Buddh International Circuit in October 2011. This year, our team is very pleased to be partnering with Airtel, title sponsors of the race, and we look forward to sharing our Indian Grand Prix experience with them. It's always a pleasure to welcome new fans to our sport, and Formula One certainly seemed to capture the imagination of those who came to the circuit last year. The facilities are very impressive, and the track proved a good challenge for the drivers."

Norbert Haug, Vice-President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport
"After a successful inaugural race last year, we are all excited to return to the Buddh International Circuit for the second edition of the Indian Grand Prix. We received a warm welcome from a very enthusiastic public last year and it was impressive to see the prestige Formula One enjoyed with the people on its first visit to India. Following two long straights, and one shorter one, the circuit offers a challenging flow of corners from turns 5 to 15, especially the long right-hander at turns 10 and 11. This puts high loads through the front-left tyre, while the expected temperatures in excess of 30 degrees Celsius will also make for additional challenges."

Pedro de la Rosa, HRT
2011 Qualifying - n/a, 2011 Race - n/a
"Just like Korea this will be a new circuit for me and all I know of it is from the work I did on the simulator last year. From what I know it’s an interesting circuit with a lot of medium and fast corners where we will have two DRS zones. It will be interesting to see how the asphalt has evolved from one year to another because last year it was brand new and quite dirty. I must admit that, overall, it’s a circuit that I like the look of. We hope to have solved the reliability issues which we suffered in Korea and complete another good race here.”

Narain Karthikeyan, HRT
2011 Qualifying - 24th, 2011 Race - 17th
"Obviously this is the most anticipated race on the calendar for me and there is already a great buzz around the event. The layout of the Buddh International Circuit is a great mix which makes it challenging for the tyres as there are very few conventional straight-forward corners but since the surface isn’t abrasive at all, wear shouldn’t be an issue. I’ve got great memories from last year’s Grand Prix as I had a great weekend; the car was good and we were quick. I hope this year things go even better and I can dedicate it to the fans who are showing me so much support. I can’t wait to get out on track!”

Luis Perez-Sala, HRT team principal
"Personally I’ve never been to the Buddh International Circuit but I’m eager to see it because I’ve heard great things about it, being a very complete track. We’re looking forward to it because of Narain, who will have all the fans backing him throughout the weekend. It’s a very special Grand Prix for him and we hope to put in a good performance and for him to complete a good race like last year. Pedro has never driven there and will have to adapt first but he’ll definitely lean on Narain’s experience from last year. Our target is to have good reliability and finish the race with both cars and improve the performance from Korea to reach the level we were at in Japan.”

Kamui Kobayashi, Sauber
2011 Qualifying - 17th, 2011 Race - DNF
“I am keen to see what the circuit will be like when we arrive there for the second time. Last year everything was new and the surface was very dusty. The track lay out as such should probably mean our performance will be average, which means we should be able to score points there. It is a bit similar to the Korean circuit, which might have something to do with the fact the same designer did it at about the same time. Unfortunately I haven’t seen much of the country yet. What I really love is Indian butter chicken - an Indian classic dish and one of my all-time favourites. Perhaps this year I can manage to go and visit the city of New Delhi, but it is quite far away from the track and, as it is so big, it is not easy to get your bearings there.”

Sergio Perez, Sauber
2011 Qualifying - 20th, 2011 Race - 10th
“I cannot believe we have only four races left, so the season will now end quite soon. To make up 20 points to finish fifth in the constructors’ world championship means we have quite a job to do. The race in India should be a bit better for us than in Korea, and our car will be quicker there. I like the fluent sections of the track. Outside the circuit I haven’t seen anything of the country yet and I know that, unfortunately, I won’t have time for a trip this year either.”

Monisha Kaltenborn, Sauber team principal
“For me the second Formula One Grand Prix of India certainly will be a very special race. Going to my home country, not for private but for business reasons, and for the team to race in front of my fellow countrymen is exciting. This is the emotional part of it. Looking at it in a more sporting way, it is clear we want to score a lot of points, be it in India or at any of the remaining four races. Technically the track in Greater Noida should not be a problem for the C31, but it isn’t our favourite either. We have to stay focussed and maximise our potential there.”

Giampaolo Dall’Ara, Sauber head of track engineering
“The race track in Greater Noida has similar characteristics to the one in South Korea. It has a first sector with long straights and slow-speed corners, then there is the mainly high-speed second sector, and a short third sector with some low-speed corners. Maybe the main difference is that the track in India has some slopes while the track in Korea is flat, and in India there are some bumps as well. The temperatures are expected to be higher, but also the tyres are harder - the compounds will be hard and soft, and I expect the hard one to be a challenge on this type of track. An interesting aspect compared to most of the other races this year is the fact there will be two DRS sections with two detection zones, which should normally help overtaking. We are fairly confident our car will perform well on this track.”

Japan preview quotes - Mercedes, Force India, Pirelli & more

With packed grandstands full of fervent fans and a track widely considered to be one of the best and most challenging on the calendar, the 2012 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix is one of the most eagerly anticipated races of the season. The drivers and senior team members look ahead to the Suzuka race and discuss their prospects…

Michael Schumacher, Mercedes
2011 Qualifying - 8th, 2011 Race - 6th
"My motivation is completely intact after the news last week, especially because Suzuka is one of the season's highlights for me. I enjoy the circuit - it has sections that challenge you as a driver like almost nowhere else. Then there are the fans: they love motor racing and it is fun to feel their passion. I'm also a big fan of Japanese food, so I'm always happy to travel to this race. Logically, it would also be nice to achieve a sporting highlight this weekend, although my chances are of course very limited because of my grid penalty. But I've always approached these things as a challenge."

Nico Rosberg, Mercedes
2011 Qualifying - 23rd, 2011 Race - 10th
"The last race in Singapore was my best result for a little while and I hope this is the start of an upward trend for me and the team. So I'm looking forward to getting to Japan this week and getting on with the work to get the most out of our new aerodynamic package and upgrades. Suzuka is a very exciting track which is popular with every driver for the interesting corner combinations and unique layout. I also look forward to meeting the Japanese fans again who have such a great passion for the sport and their support is always so enthusiastic."

Ross Brawn, Mercedes team principal
"Suzuka is a fantastic racing circuit, and the support that Formula One receives from the Japanese fans every year is so impressive. They really do love the sport and it's always nice to see their enthusiasm as we arrive at the circuit every morning. The track is a popular one with the drivers for its challenging layout, and Suzuka has seen some very exciting and decisive races over the years. For the team, we are looking forward to having more time to continue the ongoing work to optimise our new developments, and will be working hard to have a good weekend."

Norbert Haug, Vice-President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport
"Suzuka is one of the most demanding race tracks in the world and, if you asked the drivers to rate it between one and ten, I'm sure that the average would be very close to ten. The circuit is a classic: almost every corner is a challenge and the high-speed uphill Esses behind the pits provide a real benchmark for aerodynamic performance. The average lap speed is comparable to Silverstone and the engines spend over two-thirds of the lap distance at full throttle. Engine performance and driveability are important requirements in Suzuka in addition to good aerodynamics."

Paul di Resta, Force India
2011 Qualifying - 12th, 2011 Race - 12th
"It's a track that's all about aero so it's a real test of your car. I also found it very technical with corners like the 'S' curves where you need a good change of direction. Finding the sweet spot isn't easy because half the track is made up of straights so you need efficiency as well as downforce for the high-speed corners. Tyre degradation is also high so a neutral car is what you need during the race.

"The thing that surprised me last year was the commitment and enthusiasm of the fans. Even on Thursday the grandstands were busy. So that makes it a special race and the fact that it's a track with a lot of history. I also enjoy Japanese food, although the challenge is making sure you order the right thing!"

Nico Hulkenberg, Force India
2011 Qualifying - n/a, 2011 Race - n/a
"My race in 2010 with Williams was not especially memorable because I was taken out before the first corner. That was a real shame because it's a track I really enjoy and with corners like the 'S' curves it's a great experience in a Formula One car.

"Suzuka is definitely one of my favourite circuits: it's really challenging and technical, and you need a good car balance to hook up a good lap. Because it's so technical it's important to find a good rhythm because if you mess up one corner you can lose the flow of the whole lap.

"I'm feeling positive and we have generated some good momentum within the team recently so I want to keep that going. The goal is to keep getting consistent results in the points."

Dr Vijay Mallya, Force India team principal
"Historically Suzuka has never been our best track, but hopefully this time the team has something up its sleeve. I think we have been pretty consistent on most tracks this season so we are quietly confident that we can perform well this weekend. I certainly hope we can pull some rabbits out of the hat in Japan and Korea and come away with some more points."

Pirelli
Paul Hembery, Pirelli motorsport director
"Suzuka is definitely one of the highlights of the Formula One calendar for us: not only from a technical point of view but also because of the unique atmosphere. The fans are some of the most knowledgeable and enthusiastic in the world, and we are always assured of an extremely warm welcome. But it's the layout of the track that delivers the technical challenge: Suzuka is a classic drivers' circuit, a bit like Spa or Monza, with some of the most awesome corners that we see all year and very little margin for error. While it might at first seem from the names of the compounds that we are bringing harder tyres to Japan this year, in fact they are softer. Despite the increased demands that this places on the compound and structure, they are still more than capable of withstanding the immense forces to which they are subjected lap after lap. With a full step between the compounds as well, we hope this will bring extra performance and excitement to what is already a classic race. This should also open up the opportunity for lots of different strategies, which as we have seen already this year can form the foundation of a memorable victory, or boost drivers to a top result even if they have started from lower down on the grid. Last year the drivers' championship was actually decided in Japan, but this year has been so competitive that we are still a long way from seeing the titles settled - and that is great news for all the fans."

Lucas di Grassi, Pirelli test driver
"Suzuka is really enjoyable to drive and it always produces good races but it's not so easy for the tyres because there are so many heavy demands: the first part of the lap, for example, is just corner after corner so the tyres are constantly working with no real chance to cool down. There are a lot of combined forces in particular, when the cars are turning and accelerating, and this is what always puts a lot of energy through the tyre. Because of this, there is never a problem with tyre warm-up, but of course you have to take care over a longer stint, particularly when the car is heavy with fuel. It's good that we have the hard tyre in Japan this year: I tested this 2012 hard tyre a lot and it's a really versatile product, which has plenty of performance but durability as well: a big step over the equivalent compound in 2011. The soft tyre should be the perfect choice for qualifying, but I would expect to see the hard tyre come into its own during the race."

Timo Glock, Marussia
2011 Qualifying - 21st, 2011 Race - 20th
"Suzuka is quite a different circuit to the last race in Singapore and with a lot of high-speed corners. Now we just need to wait and see how the car performs there. For this race we again have a couple of new developments on the car suited to this track, and I am hoping we will see another step forward and an even better chance of fighting with our immediate competitors and further closing the gap to the front of the field. Another tough and demanding race for the team, being a back to back with Korea. Although Singapore was a tough challenge logistically and operationally, the result there gave everyone a boost, which was very nice to see and share in after all the hard work that has gone on this year in particular. I hope we can be strong again at Suzuka and do everything we can to defend our 10th position in the championship."

Charles Pic, Marussia
2011 Qualifying - n/a, 2011 Race - n/a
"I visited Japan for the first time in 2011 to watch a race I was hopeful I would come to take part in. Twelve months on, I'm back and doing just that. My visit was quite short last year and as I passed through Tokyo I was also hopeful that I would be able to spend a little more time exploring Japan next time around too - I loved the city and the country. I really like what I have seen of the circuit. It will obviously be another new challenge for me, driving here for the first time. Although it is a very technical circuit, I think the hardest new track for me - Singapore and its night-race - is behind me and my preparation will be much more representative of the other new long-haul tracks I have tackled in my debut season. These are important times for the team and we need to work together to ensure that now we have 10th place back we hold on to it. I realise that is the key objective for us in these races and I will be playing my part in that - hopefully with some strong performances along the way to underline everything I have learned this year. As far as Japan is concerned I am looking forward to some time to explore before and after the race, so I can really make the most of the whole Suzuka experience."

John Booth, Marussia team principal
"We take the trip back to the Far East after a week back at base, feeling very positive about the way the last third of our season has started out. We are in a much stronger position in development terms at this stage of the year than ever before and that is really exciting for us as an ambitious team looking to make significant strides for next season and beyond. It was fantastic for us to earn back 10th place in the constructors' championship, but we have to keep pushing all the way to Brazil now. Fortunately we have two highly competitive challengers in Timo and Charles - and continual developments coming through from the technical team - to be able to do just that. We enjoy the Suzuka experience immensely, although the weather conditions as we all embark on the trip seem quite interesting! It's still a little early to see how that will affect us over the race weekend, but we'll approach it as a potential opportunity. We also look forward to having Max Chilton alongside us in his new capacity as reserve driver, up to the Brazilian Grand Prix. He is extremely motivated to be working alongside the team so closely and to see what he can learn during this period."

Pastor Maldonado, Williams
2011 Qualifying - 14th, 2011 Race - 14th
"I'm really looking forward to getting to Japan this week. I think everyone in the paddock looks forward to this race, as the fans in Japan are some of the best in the world and give us all such a warm welcome. I also enjoy the track as it's one of the historic circuits in Formula One. There is a good combination of high-speed corners and we run close to the maximum amount of downforce. It's a great challenge as a driver."

Bruno Senna, Williams
2011 Qualifying - 9th, 2011 Race - 16th
"I'm really looking forward to the Japanese Grand Prix. It's one of my favourite tracks of the season and it's very fast and flowing but quite narrow compared to some of the other circuits we visit. It feels amazingly quick and is one of the biggest challenges as a driver. It is similar to Spa-Francorchamps so it's a real drivers' track. You can get variable weather in Japan ranging from warm and sunny to rain that stops qualifying. It's always exciting though and we have a good potential to be strong there."

Mark Gillan, Williams chief operations engineer
"Suzuka is a fantastic old-style track with its trademark figure-of-eight layout that proves a tough technical test for the drivers. The circuit layout leads to very high average cornering speeds and energy input into the tyres, but it's reasonably light on the brakes. Following Singapore we have been working hard to ensure that the cars run as reliably as possible for the remaining races. Given the excellent pace shown at Singapore in both qualifying and the race, we expect to be strong in Suzuka and will bring further updates as part of our continuous improvement process."

Remi Taffin, head of Renault Sport F1 track operations
"The power sensitivity at Suzuka is not higher than say Canada or Valencia, but the variety of corners over the lap requires some careful preparation. The first half of the circuit, from the First Curve to Spoon Curve, is flowing so the engine needs to be responsive and smooth throughout the power curve. The second half of the track, from the exit of Spoon to the end of the pit straight, is all about outright power as 90 percent of this section is spent at full throttle. We will most likely introduce new engines here for this reason."

Heikki Kovalainen, Caterham
2011 Qualifying - 18th, 2011 Race - 18th
"I stayed in Singapore for a couple of days after the race before heading back to Europe to spend a couple of days at home and then do a session in the simulator before going to Japan.

"Suzuka is one of the races everybody looks forward to and I'm no different. It's a proper track, exactly the sort of circuit you want to drive F1 cars on as it has everything – high-speed corners where you can really feel the downforce working, medium-speed sections where it's all about car balance and some of the most passionate fans in the world.

"For me the best bit of the track is in sector one, from T1 to T7. You go into T1 and T2 at high speed and if you're not fully committed you can lose a lot of time right at the start of the lap. Out of T2 the track is positively cambered and you can really lean on the car as you go into T3. From there, right through to T7 if the car is well balanced the whole section seems to flow. It's a great feeling when you get it right, but get it wrong and you lose a lot of time."

Vitaly Petrov, Caterham
2011 Qualifying - 10th, 2011 Race - 9th
"Japan's one of my favourite places to race, in fact it's one of my favourite countries to visit whether we're racing or not! At home I eat Japanese food quite often and the fact it has great food and really cool fans makes it a great place to go as an F1 driver. The fans really are incredible. The stands are packed throughout the whole weekend, even on Thursdays when we're not on track, and they're so polite, almost a bit scared of asking for autographs or photos, but you can tell how much F1 means to them and it's always cool when they give us presents or things they've made for us.

"On track Suzuka is obviously a cool track to race on. The first sector is a good challenge in the car and for the engineers, to make sure we have a well-balanced car. The second sector is also pretty quick and then you're into S3 and heading towards 130R. A lot of people talk about that being a major corner, and it looks pretty good on TV when you see the cars flat out through there, but in the cockpit it's really not that much of a challenge. Despite that you need to be flat through there as the chicane afterwards is one of the few overtaking spots, so if you lose time through 130R you're going to come under pressure from cars behind right at the end of the lap."

Jenson Button, McLaren
2011 Qualifying - 2nd, 2011 Race - 1st
"All of my Grand Prix wins have felt special, but winning at Suzuka in 2011, at the first Grand Prix held in Japan since the terrible tsunami last March, was an achievement that still makes me feel incredibly proud and emotional. As everybody knows, Japan means a lot to me. It's a place I love, I've been here so many times - for business and pleasure - and I still feel that wide-eyed awe and deep emotion for a country that exists so comfortably on so many different levels.

"Suzuka is definitely a circuit that puts hair on your chest. It's extremely uncompromising; like a street circuit, it doesn't allow for a single mistake, punishing you for putting a wheel wrong at almost every point on the circuit. But it's also extremely quick - there's only one line through the esses that make up the whole first section; the Degner corners are blind, hidden in dips in the track, and approached over bumps that jolt the car, trying to unbalance it. Successfully hitting the apex for Degner 1 is a bit like trying to thread a needle while running the 100 metres - difficult!

"We go to Japan with a car that I feel convinced can fight for victory - it should be another good weekend for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes."

Lewis Hamilton, McLaren
2011 Qualifying - 3rd, 2011 Race - 5th
"When I first raced here in 2009, I couldn't believe a place like this could still exist in Formula One - it still feels like a proper old-school circuit. It doesn't have the polish or finesse of an ultra-modern track - but is all the better for it. It's fantastically quick, too, and very difficult to master. It's an unforgiving place, and it also has that special atmosphere that you only get in Japan, for some reason.

"I think that's due to the fans - they're what make any visit to a racetrack in Japan feel so special. They're very passionate about Formula One, but also extremely polite and friendly - they make you feel very special every day when you're going in and out of the circuit.

"In terms of the championship, there's nothing to really be gained by analysing the points tables, from now on, it's simply gloves-off. As in Singapore, I'll come out fighting, I'll just be hoping for a better result next weekend."

Martin Whitmarsh, McLaren team principal
"Suzuka is a very special circuit, a place where some of the greatest chapters in McLaren's history have been written over the past 25 years. Of all our achievements there, I look back at Jenson's victory last year with particular fondness and satisfaction. It was an extremely tense afternoon, and the victory was a perfect team effort - Jenson drove with all the measured aggression we've come to expect, and his back-up from the team was superb.

"Despite Lewis's retirement from the last race, our performance in Singapore was encouraging for the whole team; it showed that we have a car that can fight for victory on a wide range of circuits, and we're confident of once again challenging at the front in Japan next weekend."

Kamui Kobayashi, Sauber
2011 Qualifying - 7th, 2011 Race - 13th
"I'm very much looking forward to my home Grand Prix in Suzuka. I think our car should be very fast there and we also will get new parts on the C31 for the Japanese Grand Prix. I am confident about getting a good result in front of my fellow countrymen. Last year I was seventh on the grid but then had a problem at the start and only finished 13th.The Japanese fans are great and the mood and atmosphere they create is an enormous support. And it is not only me who they cheer for! They are true Formula One fans and that is why I'm really proud of them. Nowhere else will you find the fans being at the circuit so early in the morning and staying for so long at night, no matter what the weather is like. Also regarding the track itself, Suzuka is a very special place. I'm sure a lot of drivers would agree it is a really great circuit. It is a very technical track, really exciting to drive and challenging, especially because it is so difficult to put a perfect lap together there. I would say at most of the circuits it takes no more than 20 to 30 laps to really learn them. Some are getting boring even before that, but in Suzuka you are still learning and improving after you have done hundreds of laps."

Sergio Perez, Sauber
2011 Qualifying - 17th, 2011 Race - 8th
"I really like the Suzuka Circuit. Last year I drove there for the first time and enjoyed it an awful lot. I finished eighth after having started from 17th because we had a problem in qualifying. After underperforming in Singapore, in Japan I am expecting our car to again to be as good as it used to be and we should be strong in the high-speed corners. The circuit has got some quite nice sections and corner combinations. Thanks to the Japanese fans the atmosphere there is really great and our team gets a lot of support because it is Kamui's home race. I am very much looking forward to it."

Giampaolo Dall'Ara, Sauber head of track engineering
"Suzuka is one of the most fascinating and challenging tracks of the season. It's got a first sector with very technical high-speed corners, and then you encounter the middle sector with the hairpin and the tricky Degner corners, which are relevant for stability. Spoon corner is also quite special. It's a medium to high-speed corner, leading onto a long straight with the R130 corner, which is flat nowadays but still challenging. Finally there is the slow chicane at the end of the lap where you need good traction. Overall it is a very complex and technical track. It requires a well-balanced car and it is very challenging for the drivers. The tyres will be the hard and the soft compounds, which should be fine for this track. Due to the abrasive surface and the fast corners in the first sector, which put a high load on the tyres, there should be no issues with warming them up. Also we will be introducing a new aero package in Japan, including a new front wing for the C31. Looking at the requirements of this track I expect our car to be very competitive there."

Mark Webber, Red Bull
2011 Qualifying - 6th, 2011 Race - 4th
"I'm looking forward to the Japanese Grand Prix as it's an opportunity to get a top result again on a track I enjoy driving on. Qualifying has not been as strong for us recently and we know this has to be improved. We are focusing on that and, once that's better, we can make a strong push towards being better positioned at the end of Grands Prix. The Suzuka Circuit has an incredible combination of corners. You have to be very accurate and rhythm is very important. It's a good challenge for the drivers."

Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull
2011 Qualifying - 1st, 2011 Race - 3rd
"I love the Suzuka circuit. In short, it has the most amazing corners and brilliant fans, I really like coming here. In 2011 the country experienced unbelievable difficulties, so it was extremely important to try and give them some enjoyment and to show our support for their suffering. I wish I had won in 2011, it was my third Formula One race on my favourite track and it still bothers me a bit that I took my world title with a third place. The track itself is huge and almost every metre of it is special."

Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus
2011 Qualifying - n/a, 2011 Race - n/a
"It's a good circuit, one that's quite fast and there are some nice opportunities for overtaking. The best tracks for me are ones with long straights and sharp corners with lots of space for racing on, and Suzuka has that. In 2005 I had one of my best wins there after starting the race near the back of the grid and then taking the lead on the last lap. Winning in that way, you never forget the feeling it gives you while crossing the finish line.

"It is one of the more difficult tracks and part of racing at Suzuka is that there are usually quite a few accidents. When you are on the limit, a driver will always have some big moments during the weekend at a fast circuit and Suzuka really punishes the driver due to the speed of the track and the small run-off areas. It's a great circuit; very quick and challenging for both car and driver. You need an aerodynamically strong car there, and a solid car to go through those fast, long sweeping corners. I think that suits the E20."

Romain Grosjean, Lotus
2011 Qualifying - n/a, 2011 Race - n/a
"What a circuit! If we have a good base line set up then we can really enjoy the track. It's an amazing circuit. I've only raced there once but I loved it so I'm really looking forward to going back. It's difficult to pick one part of the circuit as your favourite. The first sector is brilliant, with turn one, turn three, four and five - it's crazy! Then you go right under the bridge, then a small hairpin, and next up is the 'Spoon corner' which is a nightmare for the drivers. Then you're flat out, DRS wide open, before the last chicane. A brilliant circuit. Also, I think it's important to say the fans are absolutely amazing in Japan, and the atmosphere around the track is very special. I love Japanese cuisine, especially sushi, and when I cook at home I often try to put some spices in my dishes that are from Japan.

"There are many challenges over the weekend. We have to get the set-up working perfectly as Suzuka is so demanding and exposes any weakness in the car. You have to complete all the sessions without making any mistakes because the run-offs are small and it's easy to damage the car if you run wide or get a corner wrong. You need to get on top of the tyres as Suzuka never stops in its demands on them. I think it is a place where you need just a little luck. I hope we have some of that in Japan and everything comes together."

Eric Boullier, Lotus team principal
"I know that both Romain and Kimi enjoy the Suzuka circuit so we're all looking forward to the race weekend. Kimi still holds the lap record from back when he won there in 2005, so he should feel confident and we are of course looking to provide him with a car to achieve the best that he can. I could tell you that the target is the podium, which it is somehow, but the relative level of performance between the teams is constantly evolving. We're bringing a few promising updates including our 'device'. We think that the track will suit our car, and we're hoping for a gentle build-up to the race, with no technical drama or dodgy weather."

James Allison, Lotus technical director
"It's a track with a wide range of cornering speeds, but there are several very fast turns in the Silverstone mould; in particular Turn 1, the 'S' bends and130R. These are features that have suited us so far but it's a tight season and, as we've shown, you really need to hit the ground running in order to have a good weekend."

Pedro de la Rosa, HRT
2011 Qualifying - n/a, 2011 Race - n/a
"Suzuka is a beautiful and spectacular circuit; I would say it's my favourite track. It's very quick, you hardly touch the brake, and we'll be able to make a better evaluation of the difference between the new floor and the old one. It has inclinations, quick, flowing corners and it's a very long lap. It's a circuit for aerodynamics and horsepower where the best cars stand out. I've got great memories of it because my first victories in Formula Three and Formula 3000 came there and it's one of the tracks which has brought me most luck in my career because by winning there the doors to Formula One opened. I hope to also have a good performance next weekend."

Narain Karthikeyan, HRT
2011 Qualifying - n/a, 2011 Race - n/a
"I'm really looking forward to Japan after not being able to finish in Singapore. Suzuka is a very fluid and challenging track. From a physical point of view it's also tough as it's very quick. It's a circuit that I love and one I have fond memories of. I think we'll take a step forward with the car with regards to Singapore and we'll be able to better evaluate how the new floor works. We've been pretty fast in the last few races but we've been missing a bit of luck. But we have to continue working to maintain this positive momentum through to the end of the season."

Luis Perez-Sala, HRT team principal
"Suzuka is a circuit with a lot of tradition which I raced at during my years as a Formula One driver. It's quite a technical track that's very challenging both mechanically and for the driver and it's also a very attractive circuit because it combines quick corners with quick straights. We'll be able to further test and evaluate the updates we took to Singapore because we will have more data. We're confident that we'll be able to continue with our momentum and it's another race to continue progressing."