F1 2026 Japanese Grand Prix - Race Weekend Thread

[Bradesmaen]

Surprised that they at least publicly acknowledged the Bearman crash was related to the new regs.

(I mean we all saw it, but its another thing for the governing body to admit)

Partially related. It was 50% regulations, 50% argentinian.

 

[Duck Farmer]

Red Flags I 100% agree.

Safety Car, no.

Safety cars are there to keep drivers and marshals safe while clearing up after an accident, not to give a leg up to someone who's opponent pitted the lap before. I hate it when drivers stay out a few laps extra hoping for a safety car to gain an advantage.

 

[Eaglemaniac]

Finally got to see the race and I’m getting sick of Oscar getting screwed over by safety cars. What does he have to do to get one work in his favourite for a change? He had that race pretty much sewn up until that.

 

[King Of Money]

Partially related. It was 50% regulations, 50% argentinian.

Those fans will somehow find a way to twist it and issue the obligatory threats to Bearman.

 

[Bedi]

Those fans will somehow find a way to twist it and issue the obligatory threats to Bearman.

i thought the Dutch fans were feral, but these Argentinian F1 fans are in a league of their own

 

[Cromulant]

i thought the Dutch fans were feral, but these Argentinian F1 fans are in a league of their own

Argentinian sports fans in general

 

[Guardian Hawk]

Watched on replay and what a heart-breaker as an Oscar fan!

To nail the start, get to first and be the only driver so far this season who has been able to hold the Mercs off and had actually built a 2 second advantage in an inferior car took some incredible driving.

Safey car came at the only small window of the race that could have jeopardised his win. Actually think this may have been his most meritorious victory yet, given there are 4 cars that are clearly quicker at the moment.

Leading Lando 3-0 in qualifying too - shame he hasn't been able to take advantage yet.

For those saying Oscar is now the No 1 driver, etc - I think McLaren would need plenty of evidence to come to that conclusion (i.e. dominance for most of the season) given how last year panned out. Certainly good signs so far as an Oscar fan, but I think it's worth remembering that Oscar was better on the high grip tracks and Lando better on the lower grip tracks and Suzuka was resurfaced and extremely high grip, bringing Oscar's driving style/skillset to the fore.

 

[Crowtel]

Possibly the most likeable podium ever in F1 history? Nice not to have Max, George or Lando up there (plenty here would argue Lewis too, i'm sure)

Valencia 2012 with an old Schumacher, Raikkonen and Alonso was pretty nostalgic. Shared plenty of podiums those 3 but the fact it was Schumacher's final one and Alonso's drive was cool.

 

[Bedi]

Valencia 2012 with an old Schumacher, Raikkonen and Alonso was pretty nostalgic. Shared plenty of podiums those 3 but the fact it was Schumacher's final one and Alonso's drive was cool.

Senna and Prost (and Hill) in1993 in Adelaide was my fav. Was great to see the two reconcile on the podium in what was Prost's last GP, and sadly, Senna's last win

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

Max and Kimi team mates at Merc next year?

Max>>Merc
George>>Mcl
Oscar>>Red Bull

 

[imadodgyumpire]

Under VSC, you have to keep a gap simialr to what it was prior to its deployment. WIth a full SC, it's too bad, so sad to whatever gap is lost to who's trailing you, and good luck to you if you make up the gap.

But I wonder what'd have to happen for a new rule to be implemented that aggregate times will count ofter an full SC is deployed?

So if you're trailing the leader by 10secs when a full saftey car comes out and close within 1sec, then post SC, you'd have to lead by 9secs to officaly be ahead of the car you closed up on and passed.

 

[Simon_Nesbit]

Under VSC, you have to keep a gap simialr to what it was prior to its deployment. WIth a full SC, it's too bad, so sad to whatever gap is lost to who's trailing you, and good luck to you if you make up the gap.

But I wonder what'd have to happen for a new rule to be implemented that aggregate times will count ofter an full SC is deployed?

So if you're trailing the leader by 10secs when a full saftey car comes out and close within 1sec, then post SC, you'd have to lead by 9secs to officaly be ahead of the car you closed up on and passed.

Will never happen, but I'd replace the safety car with red flag followed by a time-sensitive pit lane restart.

Cars line up in order they last crossed the finish line (no pit or garage access to the car). Lapped cars stay in the order they crossed the finish line. Pit exit programmed to flash green based on last lap timing. Each driver gets their own green light to (re-)start the race.

More green flag racing, less laps wasted behind the safety car. Less "luck" involved.

 

[Vader]

Under VSC, you have to keep a gap simialr to what it was prior to its deployment. WIth a full SC, it's too bad, so sad to whatever gap is lost to who's trailing you, and good luck to you if you make up the gap.

But I wonder what'd have to happen for a new rule to be implemented that aggregate times will count ofter an full SC is deployed?

So if you're trailing the leader by 10secs when a full saftey car comes out and close within 1sec, then post SC, you'd have to lead by 9secs to officaly be ahead of the car you closed up on and passed.

You really can't justify that, given the importance of track position. Catching and overtaking are two very different things.

 

[imadodgyumpire]

Will never happen, but I'd replace the safety car with red flag followed by a time-sensitive pit lane restart.

Cars line up in order they last crossed the finish line (no pit or garage access to the car). Lapped cars stay in the order they crossed the finish line. Pit exit programmed to flash green based on last lap timing. Each driver gets their own green light to (re-)start the race.

More green flag racing, less laps wasted behind the safety car. Less "luck" involved.

Yeah, that's a much better idea.

 

[Nefarias_Bredd]

Will never happen, but I'd replace the safety car with red flag followed by a time-sensitive pit lane restart.

Cars line up in order they last crossed the finish line (no pit or garage access to the car). Lapped cars stay in the order they crossed the finish line. Pit exit programmed to flash green based on last lap timing. Each driver gets their own green light to (re-)start the race.

More green flag racing, less laps wasted behind the safety car. Less "luck" involved.

The issue with that is they have a certain amount of time in which they can complete the race.

 

[Satan]

 

[Vader]

The issue with that is they have a certain amount of time in which they can complete the race.

They have 4 hours from the start of the race, and most races last around 100 minutes.

The amount of time lost by replacing SC laps with a red flag would rarely cause them to go "time certain" - but it would massively drag out the races. Don't the rules require the race organisers to give the teams at least 10 min warning before re-starting a race that's been red flagged? Given the time lost while the track gets cleaned up, plus the re-start warning time, most red flags usually result in stoppages lasting at least 15 minutes.

You'd need at least 8x SCs to make the race go "time certain", but these lengthy unnecessary delays would massively detract from the viewing spectacle and would make races incredibly boring and long-winded.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Safety cars are there to keep drivers and marshals safe while clearing up after an accident, not to give a leg up to someone who's opponent pitted the lap before. I hate it when drivers stay out a few laps extra hoping for a safety car to gain an advantage.

Just close the pit window during the safety car period and it solves the issue.

 

[happy_eagle]

Just close the pit window during the safety car period and it solves the issue.

Doesn't solve the issue of someones lead being completely wiped because of someone elses crash.

Theres two issues at hand
1. Safety car allowing those a cheap pit stop to make positions.
2. Safety car eliminating any lead that a driver had built up over others.

 

[Vader]

Doesn't solve the issue of someones lead being completely wiped because of someone elses crash.

Theres two issues at hand
1. Safety car allowing those a cheap pit stop to make positions.
2. Safety car eliminating any lead that a driver had built up over others.

Closing the pits during a SC period solves issue #1.

As for issue #2... tough luck!

** Yes, I am painfully aware that this very issue cost Piastri victory at Silverstone last year.

 

[zedx]

Closing the pits during a SC period solves issue #1.

As for issue #2... tough luck!

** Yes, I am painfully aware that this very issue cost Piastri victory at Silverstone last year.

Any which way you try to change rules regarding pit stops, red flags or safety cars is always going to be unfair to some and a gift to others. Its the just the nature of this sport and the unpredictability or certainty of any outcome is what makes it exciting.

 

[Bradesmaen]

Any which way you try to change rules regarding pit stops, red flags or safety cars is always going to be unfair to some and a gift to others. Its the just the nature of this sport and the unpredictability or certainty of any outcome is what makes it exciting.

Safety comes first.

 

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

Is Oscar the number 1 driver now for McLaren. He just seems better

Lol no. Did you conveniently forget what happened last season

 

[Bedi]

Doesn't solve the issue of someones lead being completely wiped because of someone elses crash.

Theres two issues at hand
1. Safety car allowing those a cheap pit stop to make positions.
2. Safety car eliminating any lead that a driver had built up over others.

Wont solve the issue of eliminating a driver's lead, but it solves the issue of those who haven't pitted gaining 15-20 secs on those who have already come in for new tyres

 

[Duck Farmer]

Wont solve the issue of eliminating a driver's lead, but it solves the issue of those who haven't pitted gaining 15-20 secs on those who have already come in for new tyres

The problem isn't them gaining 15-20 secs, it's them gaining positions without having to overtake.