Formula 1

Japanese GP: Red Bull/Toro Rosso preview

FROM SINGAPORE TO SUZUKA. AS DIFFERENT AS NIGHT AND DAY... Our drivers on Suzuka and Japan... Toro Rosso: Jaime Alguersuari "I have been to Suzuka before, back in 2005 for a karting race, the Asia-Pacific World Cup, although of course we ...

Edited: Oct 8, 2009, 2:26 AM

Copy link

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share on WhatsApp

Share on Linkedin

Share on Pinterest

Share on Viber

Add as a preferred source

FROM SINGAPORE TO SUZUKA.

AS DIFFERENT AS NIGHT AND DAY...

Our drivers on Suzuka and Japan...

Toro Rosso: Jaime Alguersuari

"I have been to Suzuka before, back in 2005 for a karting race, the Asia-Pacific World Cup, although of course we weren't racing on the F1 track! I was leading the race on the final lap, but I crashed with Kazuki Nakajima at the last corner and ended second. Being in Japan for the first time was an amazing experience and it felt like another world to me. It's a dream to now be able to drive on the real circuit, after having seen it while I was there. I've driven it on the simulator and also on a computer game. I hope we can have a successful weekend."

Toro Rosso: Sebastien Buemi

"I've been to Japan, as I drove the Medical Car last year in Fuji, but I've never been to Suzuka. I've been on the simulator to practice the track, which looks great, so I'm very much looking forward to driving it for real. I've heard that they have resurfaced the track and got brand new facilities in the paddock with new pits. I think it is one of the best circuits in the world, so I can't wait to get there. Japan is very strange and completely different to what we are used to in Europe. I've been to Tokyo, which is fantastically modern, although the people wear some rather funny clothes! I got a good impression while I was there, in that the people treat one another with a lot of respect and everything is very clean. As for the race, I think we can do well, as we will have a new update on the car. In Singapore, we were a bit more competitive than in past races and I think we could be even better in Japan."

Red Bull Racing: Sebastian Vettel

"Suzuka is the best track in the world. I drove the two hours of Friday free practice here at the 2006 Japanese Grand Prix. The first hour was wet, which was pretty scary as I didn't know where the track went. I'm looking forward to racing there as it's one of the most challenging circuits with a lot of high speed corners. It's enjoyable and I think it should suit our car. I like the culture and the people in Japan. Last year, I climbed Mount Fuji and I've also spent time in Tokyo. The food is great, although maybe not all of it! Everything about the place is very disciplined and ordered, which I like."

Red Bull Racing: Mark Webber

"Fourth is my best result here, for Williams in 2005, the penultimate time we raced at Suzuka. It was a bit of a classic with Raikkonen and Alonso coming through from the back. Kimi took the lead on the last lap and I had a good battle with Fernando in the middle of the race. It's a sensational circuit and I've even got good memories of watching the 8 Hours motorcycle race on TV, as a lot of Australians ride in that race. The crowd are pretty close to the Italians in terms of how knowledgeable and passionate they are, although they're also very reserved. When I walk into the track, going through the amusement park, you can really feel that Suzuka has got something about it that makes it special."

-credit: red bull

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?

Take our 5 minute survey.

- The Motorsport.com Team

Read and post comments

Read also :

Share Or Save This Story

Copy link

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share on WhatsApp

Share on Linkedin

Share on Pinterest

Share on Viber

Previous article Theissen plays down Qadbak rumblings

Next article Japanese GP: Williams technical preview

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

View More & Comment

More from

Kazuki Nakajima



Why Kazuki Nakajima sees the 2016 Le Mans defeat as Toyota’s WEC highlight

WEC

WEC

Imola

Why Kazuki Nakajima sees the 2016 Le Mans defeat as Toyota’s WEC highlight



Kobayashi 'joke' triggered Nakajima's Toyota WEC reserve return

WEC

WEC

Sebring

Kobayashi 'joke' triggered Nakajima's Toyota WEC reserve return



Nakajima appointed Toyota WEC reserve for 2023 season

WEC

WEC

Nakajima appointed Toyota WEC reserve for 2023 season

More from

Red Bull Racing



How Geri Halliwell helped Christian Horner deal with fan hate

Formula 1

Formula 1 22 h

How Geri Halliwell helped Christian Horner deal with fan hate



Did Max Verstappen already know the impact of Red Bull’s big upgrade when he signed his new deal?

Formula 1

Formula 1

Singapore GP

Did Max Verstappen already know the impact of Red Bull’s big upgrade when he signed his new deal?



Employing team orders can simply be a matter of common sense

Formula 1

Employing team orders can simply be a matter of common sense

Latest news



GT2 European: Maserati ends on a high note at Portimao, with titles for Hartling/Thilenius and Gialdini/Njor

Sponsored

Sponsored

Portimão

23 min

GT2 European: Maserati ends on a high note at Portimao, with titles for Hartling/Thilenius and Gialdini/Njor



Inside the competition building F1’s future engineering talent

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

United States GP

1 h

Inside the competition building F1’s future engineering talent



Toyota clinches 2026 NASCAR Cup manufacturer championship early after dominant season

NASCAR Cup

NAS NASCAR Cup

Phoenix II

8 h

Toyota clinches 2026 NASCAR Cup manufacturer championship early after dominant season



Tyler Reddick really needed NASCAR Phoenix win for several reasons

NASCAR Cup

NAS NASCAR Cup

Phoenix II

8 h

Tyler Reddick really needed NASCAR Phoenix win for several reasons

Feature

Discover prime content



How levelling the playing field isn’t antithetical to the principles of F1

Formula 1

By Pat Symonds

How levelling the playing field isn’t antithetical to the principles of F1



Lights, Camara, action: How Haas picked F1's latest rookie for 2027

Formula 1

Singapore GP

By Jake Boxall-Legge

Lights, Camara, action: How Haas picked F1's latest rookie for 2027



Employing team orders can simply be a matter of common sense

Formula 1

By Kevin Turner

Employing team orders can simply be a matter of common sense



Why Christian Horner sees history repeating itself for Adrian Newey at Aston Martin

Formula 1

Singapore GP

By Ronald Vording

Why Christian Horner sees history repeating itself for Adrian Newey at Aston Martin

Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.

From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.

You have 2 options:

Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here

Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page

Manage Alerts

Subscribe