Well to get things started you can already tell how great of a day I am having after waking up a few hours earlier than I normally do, I get to school and somehow I am expected to answer every single question because I am the one to call on and currently I lost the notes that I always write out before I write these articles, well I don’t let anything ruin my day and the notes I never really need so here it goes.
The first thing I would like to address is the Japanese Grand Prix. The typhoon that hit Japan was the biggest concern regarding the race weekend and particularly the Grand Prix itself. After mostly a dry weekend but the dark clouds always looming in the distance, the Grand Prix was already beginning to turn into a huge disaster after the cars were set off behind the safety car. Hydroplaning, or I heard it all the time from the English folks: Aquaplaning, was the biggest issue when the rain was heavy enough which formed small puddles the drivers were having a hard time avoiding. The drivers were complaining over the radio about the issue when they were behind the safety car. This means the cars were only going about 50 mph, imagine hydroplaning doing a 100 or so more than that. One thing I didn’t expect to see was Fernando Alonso pulling his car to the side of the circuit and was forced to retire after an electronics issue, he was my pick to bring home the win all weekend. Another major issue the drivers face in this bad of weather or really any time when the circuit is wet, is visibility. Every time I see an in-car view of a driver going down a long straight and being behind another driver when it’s wet, is just amazing because you cannot see a thing and yet they can still pull off overtaking moves and know where to brake before a corner in that bad of a condition.
After a few laps of constant rain, the drivers followed the safety car into the pit lane where they were lined up on the pavement because the race had been red flagged, well at least they knocked down three laps. The red flag lasted for some time before the rain finally calmed down enough for the safety car to go out yet again with the cars, which was still on lap three. The drivers then would drive around the circuit a few more times complaining of visibility and hydroplaning once again. I remember the Mclaren team principal asking Jenson Button if the conditions were suitable for intermediates and he gladly declined that they weren’t. The safety car finally went in on lap 10 leaving the man in pole position, Nico Rosberg, a full view ahead not caring about the amount of visibility the other drivers had to endure. Well I mean that should be the last thing on your mind as you head about 180 mph, since it’s in the wet conditions, to the first corner before you have to brake.
The next bit of news I heard that the race could be stopped and finished at lap 40 of 53, due to rain that was expected to hit later in the race. This race was so crazy, out of all of the times I have watched Formula 1 (Which really isn’t as much as you might think I have) I have never seen a race quite like it, well at least how much the weather was effecting it. The race was surprisingly interesting with the weather, you had great passes by Daniel Ricciardo who would make passes in the same place, but it’s also one of the hardest places to make an overtaking maneuver, but he was able to do this in the rain. Great drive by Ricciardo. The fight at the front was as usual, the gap from second position to third position was in the double digits and as usual, Hamilton was following Rosberg before finally being able to move on Nico when DRS was enabled. The move came shortly after and right before turn one where Hamilton came right up on Rosberg, and probably being nothing short of blinded from the rooster tail from the wet track, emerged right from that spray out of nowhere and made a risky move on the outside of Nico and came into the corner side by side before Hamilton was able to use the loud pedal at the exact right time. The pass was something out of beauty. And how can you say Formula 1 is boring? You just have to wait on those kinds of moments!
The race continued on and on, there was passing, fast pit stops, and lapping of slower teams. Just like any other Grand Prix, in the middle of a typhoon! But the wet conditions were not suitable for any of the drivers. On lap 42, Arian Sutil lost control of his car and spun off into the tire barrier at turn 7. So of course that brought out a yellow flag right before the corner and a caution. Then a crane (Recovery Vehicle) was sent to pick up Sutil’s C33 and place the car behind the guard rail. In the process of this minor accident, a much larger one occured. As the crane was lifting the car with race marshals keeping the car stable and attending Adrian Sutil, who was out of the car, Marussia driver Jules Bianchi was coming into turn 7 when he lost control of his car and went straight off into the gravel area and came into contact the back of the crane at full force, which lifted the whole crane smashed the car. After the news that Jules had been injured, the medical car and safety car were deployed to attend Jules and make sure no other incident would happen.
Jules wasn’t able to be airlifted out of the circuit due to the weather conditions, so he was rushed by ambulance to Mie General Hospital where he had CT scans which later revealed that he had a Diffuse Axonal Injury. This injury is a brain injury that is widespread and is one of the most devastating types of traumatic brain injury. The outcome of the injury is usually a coma, with over 90% of patients never regaining consciousness, and for those who do wake up often remain significantly impaired.
The race was cancelled at lap 43, where the cars were lined up in pit lane and the race results were from the previous lap.
With Lewis Hamilton getting first position at the Japanese Grand Prix after the race was stopped, this put Hamilton at 266 points in the championship with Nico Rosberg just ten points behind him after finishing second. The last few Grand Prix of the season will be critical to both of the drivers, you could get ahead by winning this weekends Russian Grand Prix, but that would only mean you are only ahead by some margin if we keep seeing a Mercedes one-two finish. Each driver will do anything they can to get ahead in the race and a good strategy is going to be an advantage towards either of the drivers. Also with the last race being at the spectacular Yas Marina Circuit, what comes with the great circuit comes great points (Double Points). I am hoping the championship will come down to that last Grand Prix so we can see an exciting show.
This weekend is the first ever Russian Grand Prix that has been on the Formula 1 calender at the Sochi Autodrom. There has been two other Russian Grand Prix in 1913 and 1914, so to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Grand Prix racing in Russia, why not build a circuit and bring Formula 1 to the motherland? What’s even better is bringing your own driver from the country on his rookie season to the the first race in this brand new complex.
The circuit is 3.6 miles (5.8 KM) in length which is actually an average size track since there are going to be 53 laps ran in the actual race, but it’s still considered more of a longer circuit featuring 18 turns. The circuit was also built in the same complex of the Sochi Olympics that was previous this year. The circuit features two DRS zones, and from most of the drivers, they say it’ s a great circuit and a well put together complex. I actually can’t wait for this weekend, I think it’s going to be a great Grand Prix.
In other news, Sebastian Vettel is leaving Infiniti Red Bull Racing. I know, everybody knows but he is leaving. After six years with the team, four world championships, and bringing the team four constructors championships, he’s going out while he’s on top, well kind of. You see Sebastian Vettel isn’t doing too hot this year, at least if you compare his results to his previous seasons, but that’s just the new era. I still think Red Bull will eventually recover and become the next team to take the fight to Mercedes, but that’s already started. Daniel Ricciardo, who is Sebastian’s teammate, is the only other driver who has taken a win away from the German and the Brit in their dominating season, but they still have some work to do. Most of the rumors have been going around have stated that he had a deal with Scuderia Ferrari for 80 million pounds, which if this deal is true, could push Fernando Alonso out.
But don’t worry, Fernando has already stated that he is leaving the Scuderia, but still no statement saying any deals or where he is going. Again with the rumors, Alonso could have a deal coming up with Mclaren, but where would that place Jenson Button? There are so many questions to be answered for the 2015 season regarding drivers and teams. I read an article on ESPN F1 today about how both Sebastian and Fernando flew into Farnborough at separate times and were both picked up by black Mercedes with no acknowledgement whatsoever. Which 15 miles away from the airport is the Mclaren Technology Center. At this point, who really knows what is going on.
When I watched the Japanese Grand Prix, I had no idea what happened to Jules when the incident happened and had no idea why the medical car was being dispatched. After finding out about his condition, I realize how serious this sport is about safety. I am just as devastated about the incident as any fan would be. When I read about the injury, I didn’t want to believe it. I didn’t want to put it in the article, I had my moment. After writing this article, I realize that my day isn’t actually that bad. It can always be worse. Always hope for the best in these situations, I ask that you keep Jules Bianchi in your thoughts and try to show some sort of support because not one person doesn’t want him to pull through. Forza Jules.
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