A lap of Suzuka with Tonio
Suzuka is a real drivers’ track, but not everyone can be fast here: it’s the toughest circuit of the year and the hardest to be fast. The first time I went, I was a bit lost as there are so many changes of direction, corners, uphill, downhill sections – it’s a circuit that gives you a big wake-up call when you get here for the first time…
“Suzuka is a real drivers’ track, but not everyone can be fast here: it’s the toughest circuit of the year and the hardest to be fast. The first time I went, I was a bit lost as there are so many changes of direction, corners, uphill, downhill sections – it’s a circuit that gives you a big wake-up call when you get here for the first time.”
“Into the first corner you go flat out into the apex and it’s a double right hander so you have to brake just when you are nailing the apex at 300kph. The g-force is just unbelievable. The most important is the second part, but fortunately Suzuka is a track with a lot of grip and you feel like you are in a go-kart. Then we go into a really difficult sequence like a long chicane from corner four, five and six that’s similar to Hungary but at much higher speed. If you make a mistake into four then you will have a problem and have to gain it back as it’s a sequence that you have to nail in one go and not take in small parts.”
“In the last corner the track goes uphill and into a blind flat corner where if you are not ready it scares you a lot. Then there’s flat area and a double right where the first turn is really tight and flat and the second turn, a 90 degrees turn, where you need to get onto the brakes in a big way. The exit is really tricky as the track goes a little uphill and you can easily lose the rear of car.”
“We then go up into the slowest part of circuit, a hairpin that has historically seen some great overtaking moves, especially in rainy conditions. You go into it really fast in fifth or even sixth gear and then brake down into the hairpin. It doesn’t upset the car as there’s a lot of grip from the tarmac here. We’re then into a fast section that keeps going uphill into a double left hander that you do it like one corner with two apexes. From the second part of corner we exit onto the longest part of circuit.”
“At the end of the straight comes the classic 130R. It’s a cool corner as you’re at high speed, flat out in 7th before we go into the last chicane. You’re going really fast into it but also downhill in braking so to stop the car you have to use all the kerbs. You need to sacrifice some of the speed in the chicane to get the best exit onto the straight. This is one of the few overtaking opportunities. For sure Suzuka not a big circuit for overtaking as it’s very technical, but it’s one everyone loves.”