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Fantasy Formula 1 - Japanese GP Preview
11:02 AM on September 23rd, 2015 by Nathan Susanto

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The Japanese GP was established in 1963 as a sports car race. The event was held at Suzuka, which was originally built at Honda's headquarters as a test track for the company's motor vehicles. In 1966, the race moved to the Fuji Speedway, owned by Honda's rival Toyota. Ten years later, Japan finally made it onto the Formula 1 calendar.

The race wasn't a success, though, and the lack of interest led to it being dropped after its second running in 1977. However, it was resurrected in 1987, returning to Suzuka. Fuji played host in 2007 and 2008, but in 2009 it was decided the Grand Prix should alternate between the two venues to save on costs. That plan never came to pass, though, because Toyota pulled out of Formula 1 at the conclusion of the 2009 season, taking their venue with them.

The Suzuka International Racing Course was designed by John "Hans" Hugenholtz, whose creations included Zolder and Circuito del Jarama. Hugenholtz's vision for Suzuka evolved into a figure-of-eight configuration, which snaked around the undulating property.

Because it has often been placed near the end of the calendar, the Japanese GP has witnessed the crowning of many Formula 1 champions. The 1976 event saw James Hunt snatch the title in appalling weather conditions. In 1989 and 1990, bitter rivals Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna deliberately crashed into each other, resulting in the former taking the 1989 championship and the latter being crowned in 1990.

The Asian swing continues with round 14 of the 2015 Formula 1 season taking place in Japan this weekend. Last weekend, Sebastian Vettel produced a masterful display in Singapore to remind Mercedes he's still in the title hunt. Meanwhile, championship leader Lewis Hamilton suffered his first retirement of the year and the Silver Arrows were surprisingly off the pace throughout the weekend.

Lewis Hamilton took the 2014 Japanese GP ahead of teammate and polesitter Nico Rosberg, with Sebastian Vettel completing the podium, but the race was overshadowed by the accident of Jules Bianchi, who aquaplaned off the wet track into a recovery vehicle. Bianchi eventually succumbed to his head injuries nine months after the event.

Remember to make your game picks in the 2015 Fantasy Formula 1 thread before the deadline of Saturday, September 26th at 2 AM ET, when qualifying begins. Here we run down some Japanese GP facts and season stats.



Race Info
Grand Prix Japanese GP
Round 14 of 19
Circuit Suzuka International Racing Course
Location Suzuka, Mie Prefecture
Circuit Type Race circuit
Circuit Length 3.608 mi (5.807 km)
Circuit Direction Clockwise
Turns 18 (8 Left, 10 Right)
Lap Record 1:31.540, Kimi Räikkönen (McLaren), 2005
Race Length 191.224 mi (307.573 km)
Laps 53
2014 Polesitter Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
2014 Winner Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
Timetable
Free Practice 1 Thursday, September 24th at 9 PM ET - 10:30 PM ET
Free Practice 2 Friday, September 25th at 1 AM ET - 2:30 AM ET
Free Practice 3 Friday, September 25th at 11 PM ET - 12 AM ET
Fantasy Deadline / Qualifying Saturday, September 26th at 2 AM ET
Race Sunday, September 27th at 1 AM ET



Suzuka facts:
  • The polesitter has won three of the last eight races at Suzuka.
  • In the last 14 Grands Prix at Suzuka, the polesitter has only once failed to finish on the podium.
  • Sebastian Vettel (4) is the only active driver to have multiple pole positions at Suzuka.
  • Three of the last eight Suzuka podiums have featured at least one driver who started behind the front three rows.
  • Five of the last six podiums in Suzuka have included both drivers who started from the front row.
  • At the 2000 Japanese GP the first five on the grid finished in order.
  • Sebastian Vettel (4) is the only active driver with multiple Suzuka victories.
  • Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton have won the Japanese GP at both Suzuka and Fuji.
  • Ferrari and McLaren have both won at Suzuka a record seven times.
  • McLaren have won the most Japanese GP having won twice at Fuji to add to their seven Suzuka triumphs.
  • The most positions gained at Suzuka is 16 by Kimi Räikkönen in 2005.
  • Seven of the last ten Suzuka races have seen fewer than five retirements.
  • Three of the last five Grands Prix at Suzuka has had at least one first lap retirement.
  • The safety car has been deployed at five of the last six Suzuka races.
  • Two qualifying sessions at Suzuka have been postponed a day due to heavy rain.



2014 Japanese GP Qualifying Results
Rank
Driver Team
Q1
Q2
Q3
Grid
1.
Nico Rosberg
Mercedes
1:33.671
1:32.950
1:32.506
1
2.
Lewis Hamilton
Mercedes
1:33.611
1:32.982
1:32.703
2
3.
Valtteri Bottas
Williams
1:34.301
1:33.443
1:33.128
3
4.
Felipe Massa
Williams
1:34.483
1:33.551
1:33.527
4
5.
Fernando Alonso
Ferrari
1:34.497
1:33.675
1:33.740
5
6.
Daniel Ricciardo
Red Bull Racing
1:35.593
1:34.466
1:34.075
6
7.
Kevin Magnussen
McLaren
1:34.930
1:34.229
1:34.242
7
8.
Jenson Button
McLaren
1:35.150
1:34.648
1:34.317
8
9.
Sebastian Vettel
Red Bull Racing
1:35.517
1:34.784
1:34.432
9
10.
Kimi Räikkönen
Ferrari
1:34.984
1:34.771
1:34.548
10
11.
Jean-Éric Vergne
Toro Rosso
1:35.155
1:34.984
-
20
12.
Sergio Pérez
Force India
1:35.439
1:35.089
-
11
13.
Daniil Kvyat
Toro Rosso
1:35.210
1:35.092
-
12
14.
Nico Hülkenberg
Force India
1:35.000
1:35.099
-
13
15.
Adrian Sutil
Sauber
1:35.736
1:35.364
-
14
16.
Pastor Maldonado
Lotus
1:35.308
1:35.681
-
15
17.
Esteban Gutiérrez
Sauber
1:35.917
-
-
22
18.
Romain Grosjean
Lotus
1:35.984
-
-
16
19.
Marcus Ericsson
Caterham
1:36.813
-
-
17
20.
Jules Bianchi
Marussia
1:36.943
-
-
18
21.
Kamui Kobayashi
Caterham
1:37.015
-
-
19
22.
Max Chilton
Marussia
1:37.481
-
-
21


107% Time:
1:40.163






Qualifying Notes
Mercedes locked out the front row.
Williams had two cars in the top 4.
McLaren, Red Bull and Ferrari had two cars in the top 10.
Pastor Maldonado received a 10-place grid penalty for exceeding season's engine components.
Jean-Éric Vergne received a 10-place grid penalty for exceeding season's engine components.



2014 Japanese GP Race Results and Drivers' Fantasy Points
Rank
Driver Team Retirement
Q.P.
R.P.
C.F.
L.L.
M.L.
F.L.
TOTAL
1.
Lewis Hamilton
Mercedes

3
40
1
1
0
1
46
2.
Nico Rosberg
Mercedes

5
38
1
1
2
0
47
3.
Sebastian Vettel
Red Bull Racing

1
36
1
0
0
0
38
4.
Daniel Ricciardo
Red Bull Racing

1
34
1
0
0
0
36
5.
Jenson Button
McLaren

1
32
1
0
0
0
34
6.
Valtteri Bottas
Williams
1
30
1
0
0
0
32
7.
Felipe Massa
Williams

1
28
1
0
0
0
30
8.
Nico Hülkenberg
Force India

0
26
1
0
0
0
27
9.
Jean-Éric Vergne
Toro Rosso

0
24
1
0
0
0
25
10.
Sergio Pérez
Force India

0
22
1
0
0
0
23
11.
Daniil Kvyat
Toro Rosso

0
20
1
0
0
0
21
12.
Kimi Räikkönen
Ferrari

1
18
1
0
0
0
20
13.
Esteban Gutiérrez
Sauber

0
16
1
0
0
0
17
14.
Kevin Magnussen
McLaren

1
14
1
0
0
0
16
15.
Romain Grosjean
Lotus

0
12
1
0
0
0
13
16.
Pastor Maldonado
Lotus

0
10
1
0
0
0
11
17.
Marcus Ericsson
Caterham

0
8
1
0
0
0
9
18.
Max Chilton
Marussia

0
6
1
0
0
0
7
19.
Kamui Kobayashi
Caterham

0
4
1
0
0
0
5
20.
Jules Bianchi
Marussia
Fatal Accident
0
2
1
0
0
0
3
21.
Adrian Sutil
Sauber
Accident
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
Ret.
Fernando Alonso
Ferrari
Electronics
1
0
0
0
0
0
1



2014 Japanese GP Teams' Fantasy Points
Team Drivers
Q.P.
R.P.
C.F.
L.L.
M.L.
F.L.
TOTAL
Red Bull Racing
(Sebastian Vettel/Daniel Ricciardo)
1
35
2
0
0
0
38
Mercedes
(Lewis Hamilton/Nico Rosberg)
5
39
2
1
2
1
50
Ferrari
(Fernando Alonso/Kimi Räikkönen)
1
9
0
0
0
0
10
Lotus
(Romain Grosjean/Pastor Maldonado)
0
11
2
0
0
0
13
McLaren
(Jenson Button/Kevin Magnussen)
1
23
2
0
0
0
26
Force India
(Nico Hülkenberg/Sergio Pérez)
0
24
2
0
0
0
26
Sauber
(Adrian Sutil/Esteban Gutiérrez)
0
8
2
0
0
0
10
Toro Rosso
(Jean-Éric Vergne/Daniil Kvyat)
0
22
2
0
0
0
24
Williams
(Valtteri Bottas/Felipe Massa)
3
29
2
0
0
0
34
Marussia
(Jules Bianchi/Max Chilton)
0
4
2
0
0
0
6
Caterham
(Kamui Kobayashi/Marcus Ericsson)
0
6
2
0
0
0
8



Race Notes
Classified finishers Top-21 drivers.
Two classified finishers Mercedes, Red Bull, Williams, Force India, Toro Rosso, McLaren, Lotus,
Caterham, Marussia, Sauber.
Race leaders Rosberg (Mercedes), Hamilton (Mercedes).
Laps led Rosberg (1-12), Hamilton (13-14), Rosberg (15-28), Hamilton (29-44).
Fastest lap Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) on lap 39 (1:51.600).
Miscellaneous Safety car: Laps 1-9, 44. (Safety car start; red flag after lap 2).

Pastor Maldonado received a post-race 20-second penalty for speeding in
the pits.

The race was red flagged on lap 46; race didn't restart; results taken from
end of lap 44.

Adrian Sutil retired on lap 41/44 but was classified (+4 laps).

Jules Bianchi had an accident on lap 43. He succumbed to his injuries on
July 17, 2015.



Points and Bonus Points Key
Q.P.
Qualifying Points
R.P.
Race Points
C.F.
Classified Finisher(s) Bonus Point(s)
L.L.
Lap Led Bonus Point
M.L.
Most Laps Led Bonus Points
F.L.
Fastest Lap Bonus Point



Japanese GP 2005 - 2014 and This Season's Statistics
List
Driver/Team
TM
This
Races
Poles
Avg Start
Avg Finish
Best
Top-10
Top-5
Wins
FP/Race
A
Lewis Hamilton
MER
Race
8
2
3.13
6.50
1
6
6
2
33.38
Track
6
0
3.83
6.50
1
5
5
1
32.17
Season
13
11
1.38
3.08
1
12
11
7
43.77
A
Nico Rosberg
MER
Race
9
1
8.88
11.67
2
5
2
0
21.44
Track
7
1
8.33
10.86
2
5
2
0
23.57
Season
13
1
2.54
3.69
1
12
11
3
39.54
A
Daniel Ricciardo
RBR
Race
4
0
15.00
12.25
4
2
1
0
19.25
Track
4
0
15.00
12.25
4
2
1
0
19.25
Season
13
0
7.62
8.62
2
10
3
0
26.85
A
Valtteri Bottas
WIL
Race
2
0
8.00
11.50
6
1
0
0
21.00
Track
2
0
8.00
11.50
6
1
0
0
21.00
Season
13
0
6.31
6.42
3
10
8
0
28.92
A
Sebastian Vettel
FER
Race
8
4
4.13
4.38
1
7
6
4
39.00
Track
6
4
2.50
1.67
1
6
6
4
45.67
Season
13
1
4.46
3.46
1
12
12
3
38.85
A
Fernando Alonso
MCL
Race
10
0
6.90
9.00
1
7
6
2
26.90
Track
8
0
7.88
8.50
1
6
5
1
27.63
Season
12
0
15.50
15.25
5
2
1
0
12.00
B
Daniil Kvyat
RBR
Race
1
0
13.00
11.00
11
0
0
0
21.00
Track
1
0
13.00
11.00
11
0
0
0
21.00
Season
13
0
9.23
8.33
2
10
3
0
24.85
B
Felipe Massa
WIL
Race
9
1
6.22
8.00
2
8
2
0
28.44
Track
7
1
6.71
8.43
2
6
2
0
27.57
Season
13
0
7.38
7.62
3
10
5
0
28.77
B
Kimi Räikkönen
FER
Race
8
0
8.50
4.88
1
7
6
1
34.75
Track
6
0
10.50
5.50
1
5
4
1
33.00
Season
13
0
6.85
7.46
2
10
7
0
29.38
B
Jenson Button
MCL
Race
10
0
7.00
6.50
1
8
6
1
32.00
Track
8
0
5.63
5.00
1
8
6
1
35.38
Season
13
0
16.33
14.50
8
2
0
0
12.54
B
Nico Hülkenberg
FI
Race
4
0
10.00
10.25
6
3
0
0
23.00
Track
4
0
10.00
10.25
6
3
0
0
23.00
Season
13
0
11.08
12.33
6
5
0
0
17.08
B
Sergio Pérez
FI
Race
4
0
11.50
13.75
8
2
0
0
16.00
Track
4
0
11.50
13.75
8
2
0
0
16.00
Season
13
0
11.92
9.85
5
8
1
0
23.54
B
Max Verstappen
TR
Race
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Track
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Season
13
0
11.23
11.92
4
5
1
0
19.31
B
Carlos Sainz Jr
TR
Race
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Track
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Season
13
0
10.77
12.62
8
5
0
0
17.85
B
Romain Grosjean
LOT
Race
4
0
11.25
13.25
3
1
0
0
17.75
Track
4
0
11.25
13.25
3
1
1
0
17.75
Season
13
0
8.92
11.00
3
6
1
0
21.46
B
Pastor Maldonado
LOT
Race
4
0
15.00
13.50
8
1
0
0
16.00
Track
4
0
15.00
13.50
8
1
0
0
16.00
Season
13
0
11.69
15.38
7
2
0
0
11.92
B
Marcus Ericsson
SAU
Race
1
0
19.00
17.00
17
0
0
0
9.00
Track
1
0
19.00
17.00
17
0
0
0
9.00
Season
13
0
13.85
12.00
8
5
0
0
19.15
B
Felipe Nasr
SAU
Race
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Track
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Season
13
0
13.92
10.83
5
4
1
0
19.85
B
Will Stevens
MAR
Race
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Track
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Season
13
0
19.00
15.91
13
0
0
0
9.38
B
Alexander Rossi
MAR
Race
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Track
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Season
1
0
20.00
14.00
14
0
0
0
15.00
TM
Mercedes
MER
Race
5
1
7.22
10.50
1
6
2
1
25.40
Track
5
1
7.22
10.50
1
6
2
1
25.40
Season
13
12
1.96
3.38
1
24
22
10
44.38
TM
Red Bull Racing
RBR
Race
10
5
6.42
7.45
1
15
11
4
32.50
Track
8
5
5.13
6.06
1
13
10
4
36.38
Season
13
0
8.42
8.48
2
20
6
0
26.54
TM
Williams
WIL
Race
10
0
11.75
13.20
4
5
2
0
16.50
Track
8
0
11.38
12.38
4
5
2
0
18.00
Season
13
0
6.85
7.04
3
20
13
0
30.00
TM
Ferrari
FER
Race
10
1
6.80
9.05
2
13
8
0
27.40
Track
8
1
7.63
10.13
2
9
6
0
24.75
Season
13
1
5.65
5.46
1
22
19
3
35.31
TM
McLaren
MCL
Race
10
2
7.00
8.40
1
11
10
3
29.30
Track
8
0
8.31
7.31
1
10
9
2
31.00
Season
13
0
16.00
14.88
5
4
1
0
11.92
TM
Force India
FI
Race
7
0
13.86
13.36
7
1
0
0
17.00
Track
6
0
12.92
12.75
7
1
0
0
18.50
Season
13
0
11.50
11.04
5
13
1
0
20.69
TM
Toro Rosso
TR
Race
9
0
14.33
13.39
6
5
0
0
17.22
Track
7
0
15.36
14.07
9
2
0
0
15.71
Season
13
0
11.00
12.27
4
10
1
0
18.62
TM
Lotus
LOT
Race
3
0
10.17
10.67
3
3
2
0
23.67
Track
3
0
10.17
10.67
3
3
2
0
23.67
Season
13
0
10.31
13.19
3
8
1
0
16.54
TM
Sauber
SAU
Race
10
0
10.30
9.70
2
14
2
0
25.00
Track
8
0
10.56
10.13
3
11
1
0
24.00
Season
13
0
13.88
11.44
5
9
1
0
20.15
TM
Marussia
MAR
Race
3
0
20.83
19.17
16
0
0
0
5.00
Track
3
0
20.83
19.17
16
0
0
0
5.00
Season
13
0
19.22
15.70
12
0
0
0
10.77



Recent Form Table
List
Driver/Team
TM
Last 4 Races
Poles
Avg Start
Avg Finish
Best
Top-10
Top-5
Wins
FP/Race
A
Sebastian Vettel
FER
1,12,2,1
1
4.00
4.00
1
3
3
2
39.00
A
Lewis Hamilton
MER
6,1,1,DNF
3
2.00
6.50
1
3
2
2
35.50
TM
Mercedes
MER
6,1,1,DNF
3
2.75
7.13
1
6
4
2
35.00
8,2,DNF,4
TM
Ferrari
FER
1,12,2,1
0
5.00
6.13
1
6
5
2
34.75
DNF,7,5,3
B
Daniil Kvyat
RBR
2,4,10,6
0
9.25
5.50
2
4
2
0
32.50
TM
Red Bull Racing
RBR
3,DNF,8,2
0
8.00
6.63
2
7
4
0
31.75
2,4,10,6
A
Nico Rosberg
MER
8,2,DNF,4
0
3.50
7.75
2
3
2
0
30.00
A
Daniel Ricciardo
RBR
3,DNF,8,2
0
6.75
7.75
2
3
2
0
29.00
A
Valtteri Bottas
WIL
13,9,4,5
0
5.50
7.75
4
3
2
0
28.75
B
Kimi Räikkönen
FER
DNF,7,5,3
0
6.00
8.25
3
3
2
0
28.00
B
Max Verstappen
TR
4,8,12,8
0
13.00
8.00
4
3
1
0
27.50
TM
Williams
WIL
13,9,4,5
0
6.38
8.88
3
5
3
0
27.00
12,6,3,DNF
B
Sergio Pérez
FI
DNF,5,6,7
0
9.50
9.25
5
3
1
0
24.75
B
Felipe Massa
WIL
12,6,3,DNF
0
7.25
10.00
3
2
1
0
23.75
B
Marcus Ericsson
SAU
10,10,9,11
0
14.25
10.00
9
3
0
0
23.25
TM
Sauber
SAU
10,10,9,11
0
14.88
10.63
9
4
0
0
22.75
11,11,13,10
B
Romain Grosjean
LOT
7,3,DNF,13
0
8.00
10.50
3
2
1
0
22.75
TM
Toro Rosso
TR
4,8,12,8
0
12.63
10.75
4
4
1
0
21.50
DNF,DNF,11,9
B
Felipe Nasr
SAU
11,11,13,10
0
15.50
11.25
10
1
0
0
20.50
TM
McLaren
MCL
5,13,18,DNF
0
15.75
13.25
5
2
1
0
17.00
9,14,14,DNF
TM
Lotus
LOT
7,3,DNF,13
0
10.38
13.38
3
2
1
0
16.50
14,DNF,DNF,12
TM
Force India
FI
DNF,DNS,7,DNF
0
10.00
12.00
5
4
1
0
16.50
DNF,5,6,7
B
Jenson Button
MCL
9,14,14,DNF
0
16.00
13.25
9
1
0
0
16.25
A
Fernando Alonso
MCL
5,13,18,DNF
0
15.50
13.25
5
1
1
0
16.25
B
Carlos Sainz Jr
TR
DNF,DNF,11,9
0
12.25
13.50
9
1
0
0
15.75
B
Alexander Rossi
MAR
-,-,-,14
0
20.00
14.00
14
0
0
0
15.00
TM
Marussia
MAR
16,16,15,15
0
19.25
15.25
14
0
0
0
13.50
15,15,16,14
B
Will Stevens
MAR
16,16,15,15
0
19.00
15.50
15
0
0
0
12.00
B
Pastor Maldonado
LOT
14,DNF,DNF,12
0
12.75
16.25
12
0
0
0
10.25
B
Nico Hülkenberg
FI
DNF,DNS,7,DNF
0
10.50
15.67
7
1
0
0
8.50

Sections: Main, Fantasy Games
Tags: Fantasy_Formula_1, Unofficial_Games, ASFL2_Fantasy_Games, Bonus_Points

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