Lewis on Suzuka
What was your first impression of Suzuka?
I only drove it for the first time last year, and I immediately thought it was an absolutely incredible circuit. When I started in Formula 1, the Japanese Grand Prix was held at the Fuji Speedway, which is a great circuit, but Suzuka is a monster of a track.
What are the main characteristics of the circuit?
Even though it’s very fast, it’s also very demanding – lots of the corners are blind, or over blind brows, or are cambered, so it’s not a circuit that you can just jump into and attack, you need to work on your lines, start to understand the track and its flow to get the best from it. It has its own unique character, which all the best circuits have.
Many drivers have said it’s a special place – why is that?
The whole atmosphere in Japan is always special – firstly, you really feel like you have travelled a long way to get to the circuit, because, even when you’ve arrived in Tokyo, it still takes almost half a day to get there, so you really feel like you’ve arrived there, rather than simply flown in in the morning.
I love the circuit because I’d watched it on TV when I was younger, and I knew about the history of Senna and Prost at this place, so it really meant a lot to me to finally get there and be able to see it for myself.
What makes it different to other races on the calendar?
Like I said, it has its own special character. And it shares that with some of the other older circuits on the calendar – like Spa, Monza, Monaco and Silverstone. It has a feeling that you couldn’t recreate – it has a history and a feel that is very special. You drive out onto the track on a Friday morning, and you know you’re sharing the track with some of the greatest drivers in the sport. It’s also unique because some of the corners really are tough and challenging: turn one into turn two is a big-balls corner. The esses are incredibly satisfying to get right, as is Spoon, which is quite easy to get wrong too. When you drive a strong lap, it’s really rewarding.
How important is it to do well in qualifying here?
Because there’s really only a single racing line through most of the circuit, and because the track is a bit narrower than most places we visit, that makes qualifying more important. There’s only really one opportunity to overtake, and that’s into the final chicane, and, even then, it’s a tricky manoeuvre. So qualifying really is important.
Finally, have you got a message for the Japanese fans?
I’ve had some incredible experiences in Japan – the high of winning at Fuji in 2007 and the disappointment of finishing out of the points a year later. I raced my heart out at Suzuka last year, and I’m really honoured that so many Japanese fans have shown me such huge support and appreciation. It’s something that has really touched me, and which means a lot to me.
Credit: McLaren (mclaren.com)
No comments:
Post a Comment