Max Verstappen leads going into the primary nook at Japan…and by no means must look again – Getty Photographs/Kym Illman
It was an unguarded comment which summed up the ideas of thousands and thousands of viewers all over the world, a lot of whom had obtained up on the first light to observe occasions unfold in Japan.
“That’s all of the highlights? That’s all that occurred in that race?” requested an incredulous Oscar Piastri as the highest three finishers had been proven a replay of the in-race “motion” from within the cool-down room.
Sadly, it actually was. A grand prix on one of the vital thrilling race tracks on the planet, in what’s shaping as much as be one of many tightest seasons in residing reminiscence – and but it was virtually utterly devoid of drama.
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There was actually valuable little in the way in which of overtaking. For under the fourth time within the sport’s historical past – and the primary time ever on a everlasting circuit – the highest six drivers completed in precisely the identical order they began.
The one on-track change within the high 10, in reality, got here when Lewis Hamilton handed Isack Hadjar for seventh within the opening laps. Thereafter it was, Hamilton admitted afterwards, “a fairly lonely race” for him.
The seven-time world champion was not alone in feeling like that. “It was a really boring race for me,” stated Charles Leclerc. “Yeah, not essentially the most thrilling race,” agreed Lando Norris. “Suzuka has develop into a little bit of a brand new Monaco,” was the decision of Carlos Sainz. At the least the Principality has tremendous yachts and azure waters to take your thoughts off the shortage of racing. What a let-down.
In fact, one man’s snoozefest is one other man’s thriller. Suzuka is a pure drivers’ circuit, with its quick flowing corners. And there was undoubtedly a sure magnificence in the way in which wherein Max Verstappen received from pole, taming his uber-sensitive Purple Bull, holding the quicker McLarens at bay, by no means placing a foot mistaken. However let’s be trustworthy. As a race it was fairly boring.
The priority is that whereas we’ve got all of the components for a humdinger of a season – 4 groups in shut proximity, the 2 drivers from the main group taking factors off one another, essentially the most profitable driver within the historical past of the game on the most well-known group within the sport and so on and so on – any such race might develop into the norm.
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It’s already trending that method. Throughout 2024 there have been 70 fewer overtakes than in 2023, regardless of there being two additional races. And to this point this season all three drivers who’ve certified on pole place have gone on to win the respective grands prix. 4 in case you embody the dash race in China.
What has already develop into abundantly clear is that clear air is king. Which is considerably irritating when you think about the present laws had been particularly designed to treatment that subject. And much more so when you think about this algorithm got here in on the finish of one of the vital thrilling, overtaking-filled seasons in residing reminiscence: 2021.
With luck, the final two races won’t be consultant of the 21 to come back. Bahrain subsequent week will show to be a desert basic and Saudi Arabia the week after a no-holds-barred streetfight. Who can overlook that mad race in Jeddah in 2021 which left Hamilton and Verstappen locked on factors heading to the finale in Abu Dhabi?
The fear, although, is that Fred Vasseur is correct. “Sure, it’ll in all probability be a quali championship,” the Ferrari group principal stated on Sunday when requested whether or not what we noticed in Japan could be a constant theme this yr. What a disgrace that will be. In fact there’ll all the time be rigidity if groups and drivers stay shut. However this season’s components are so good it will be a disgrace in the event that they had been served up in a sequence of bland dishes.
