P1racenews AI automatic summary:
What unusual final F1 practice revealed about true Suzuka race form
After completing the initial sighter runs, most teams had their drivers go out for longer stints on higher fuel to assess their performance on tire management at this challenging track with its abrasive surface. Among the top frontrunners like Red Bull and Ferrari, both teams followed similar run plans in preparation for Sunday’s race, hinting at an intriguing battle ahead. Ferrari seemed to be keeping up with Red Bull in terms of pace based on the practice session averages, despite Red Bull’s motor racing advisor expressing some frustration with Charles Leclerc’s long run performance in FP1. Mercedes took a different approach, with George Russell completing a 14-lap race simulation in FP3 at an impressive pace of 1m35.301s. While Lewis Hamilton showcased speed on the soft tires, McLaren and Aston Martin opted for varied strategies during their race simulations, adding complexity to the true performance picture. The data from FP3 and insights from Pirelli suggest that we might see more diverse race strategies during the main event on Sunday compared to last year’s race at Suzuka.
