Formula 1
Japanese GP: Williams preview
After 20 years of racing at the Suzuka circuit in Japan, Formula One changes tack this weekend and re-visits Fuji Speedway. Fuji hosted the first ever Japanese Grand Prix in 1976, but its time on the calendar was short lived and the race was dropped ...
Published: Sep 26, 2007, 6:20 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
After 20 years of racing at the Suzuka circuit in Japan, Formula One changes tack this weekend and re-visits Fuji Speedway. Fuji hosted the first ever Japanese Grand Prix in 1976, but its time on the calendar was short lived and the race was dropped a year later due to safety concerns. Brought by Toyota in 2000 and given a major facelift by renowned architect, Hermann Tilke, today's facility stands tall among its rivals with a challenging new track layout and modern infrastructure.
Located just 60 miles outside the hustle of Tokyo and with the stunning Mount Fuji as its backdrop, this year's new venue, which none of today's F1 drivers have experience of, will no doubt prompt some exciting action for the first of a pair of Asian races. Currently lying fourth in the Constructors' Championship with just three races remaining, AT&T Williams will be looking to extend its lead over its main rivals and close the gap to Renault in front of a home crowd for engine partner, Toyota.
Nico Rosberg:
"I am looking forward to racing at Fuji Speedway. With the huge renovation work and design input from Hermann Tilke, the legendary Fuji should now be a pretty cool track. Not having been to Fuji before, I have done some practice in a simulator, but the real learning happens when you are out on the track. For me, less than a dozen laps will be enough to start feeling comfortable. At Fuji Speedway, we'll be on Toyota's home ground, so it would be great if we could do well there in front of the Japanese audience."
"I'll be flying out to Tokyo a week early for sponsor events and to recover from the jet lag. Dealing with the big time difference is not only about sleeping, but also about eating. You sometimes wake up at 4am and your body is screaming for a huge steak! Anyway, it's an unknown track, but again I am confident we can do well and continue our form of the last few races."
Alex Wurz:
"I very much like going to oversees races and particularly to Japan because I love the culture there. This time, though, it will be a bit of an unknown trip for me, not because we're going to a new track, but because my wife Julia is expecting our third son and he's scheduled to arrive in the days between Japan and China. Naturally then, I'm leaving home with a bit of an uncomfortable feeling."
"As for the circuit, I always like driving new tracks and usually manage to learn them quite quickly. Fuji Speedway will certainly be a challenge when it comes to set-up and aero settings because the long fast straight, combined with the slow speed last sector, demands a big compromise. From a Championship perspective, we will have to wait and see where we stand in comparison to the others, but I hope to be able to snatch some points."
Sam Michael, Technical Director, Williams F1:
"Fuji is effectively a new circuit for Formula One as the circuit layout we will race on next weekend is quite different to what was used last time F1 raced there 30 years ago. The old track layout prompted higher speeds and had only three or four corners between the long straights. The new layout mainly consists of slow speed corners and has a lot of changes of direction."
"The one very long straight could influence the amount of rear wing that we run here. As it's a new layout, I'm sure there will be some changes needed after Friday's practice sessions. The only thing that hasn't changed is Mount Fuji itself which still provides a spectacular backdrop."
"Weather forecasts predict rain for most of the weekend. This can obviously always change, but we will expect it regardless. Fuji also has high altitudes; it's approximately 570m above sea level, which is close to that in Brazil. This causes a loss of downforce, drag and engine power because the air is not as dense."
-credit: williams
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 Viber
Previous article Japanese GP: Spyker driver preview
Next article A new challenge at Fuji
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Nico Rosberg
James Vowles faces "tough moment" as Nico Rosberg calls Williams woes "a shocker"
Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
James Vowles faces "tough moment" as Nico Rosberg calls Williams woes "a shocker"
Kimi Antonelli could get "more and more panicked" in F1 title fight, says Nico Rosberg
Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
Kimi Antonelli could get "more and more panicked" in F1 title fight, says Nico Rosberg
Nico Rosberg proposes major F1 VSC rule change after Lando Norris Spanish GP setback
Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
Nico Rosberg proposes major F1 VSC rule change after Lando Norris Spanish GP setback
More from
Williams
James Vowles explains request for review of F1 cost cap
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
James Vowles explains request for review of F1 cost cap
Williams Racing is suing a local garage owner for £1million
Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Williams Racing is suing a local garage owner for £1million
Latest news
WEC Barcelona: Toyota scores dominant 1-2 to seal manufacturers’ title
WEC
WEC WEC
Barcelona
3 h
WEC Barcelona: Toyota scores dominant 1-2 to seal manufacturers’ title
Hailie Deegan eying NASCAR Truck return but future plans remain uncertain
NASCAR Truck
NSTR NASCAR Truck
Phoenix
3 h
Hailie Deegan eying NASCAR Truck return but future plans remain uncertain
When Can-Am made its controversial comeback
General
When Can-Am made its controversial comeback
Yamaha boss on MotoGP changes under Liberty: 'We must be careful not to lose our fans'
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Japanese GP
6 h
Yamaha boss on MotoGP changes under Liberty: 'We must be careful not to lose our fans'
Feature
Discover prime content
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:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe