Pre Race
Sweet Suzuka 😍🌸
It’s race week, folks! And it’s the Japanese Grand Prix – the first leg of a demanding triple-header – where Nico Hulkenberg and the rest of the Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber are ready to push forward and build on the learnings from the season’s first two races in Australia and China. The battle for points will take place on the famous Suzuka Circuit – a true favorite among drivers – and with former Red Bull Sports Director Jonathan Wheatley making his debut as the new Team Principal of the Sauber team, we’re in for an exciting weekend!
“Suzuka is one of those tracks that really pushes you as a driver. It’s high-speed, technical, and demanding, which makes it rewarding at the end of a lap. I always enjoy racing here – the fans are some of the most passionate in the world,” says Nico Hulkenberg.
The German Formula 1 driver didn’t get as much out of Friday’s practice as hoped, as FP2 was interrupted by no fewer than four red flags! Still, Hulkenberg remains positive heading into the weekend.
“I think Friday was okay. FP2 was obviously very limited – we didn’t deliver as many laps as planned because of the four red flags. But that’s the same for everyone. It means we have a limited amount of data and limited information, but the car felt okay and a bit better than in FP1. We’re analysing everything now to optimise the set-up for tomorrow,” he says.
Friday’s practice sessions will be followed by a final practice session and Qualifying on Saturday (15:00 local time). Sunday’s 53-lap Japanese Grand Prix will get underway at 14:00 local time (GMT+9).
Want to follow the action live? Watch every session on the official Formula 1 App! 📱 🤙
Three Fun Facts about Suzuka
- The 5.8 km long circuit was built by Honda – yes, that Honda. It was none other than the founder of the Japanese car brand who decided his company needed a test track. The track was completed in 1962.
- Hosting its first Formula 1 Grand Prix in 1987, the circuit was a relatively late addition to the calendar. If anyone remembers that year, it’s definitely Nigel Mansell – the British legend didn’t make it to the start grid due to a crash during qualifying, which ultimately cost him that year’s championship to rival Nelson Piquet.
- Designed by Dutchman John Hugenholtz, it’s still the only track on the calendar with a crossover. In fact, the original drawings had the track passing over and under itself a full three times – which would have been sweet!
Qualifying
Update from the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, where Saturday’s qualifying didn’t go quite as Nico Hulkenberg and the Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber had hoped. In a session with very tight margins, the German driver narrowly missed out on Q2 by just two hundredths of a second (!), placing him 16th on Sunday’s starting grid.
“The car has been a bit tricky all weekend, and today even more so with the wind change in Sector 1, which turned 180 degrees compared to yesterday. It’s just been difficult to find the right balance. We knew it was going to be tight in the midfield—and it really was. I had a bit of a wobble at the exit of Turn 9 and lost some time there. Unfortunately, that happens when you’re on the edge—and that’s where we are now,” Nico Hulkenberg said.
However, with rain in the weather forecast, Sunday’s Grand Prix could present a mix of both challenges and opportunities for the Swiss team – and that’s a positive outlook for the German driver.
“For tomorrow, it looks like there might be different weather on the way, which could create an opportunity we’re willing to take,” Nico added.
Full throttle, Nico! We believe in you 👏 Sunday’s 53-lap Japanese Grand Prix will begin at 14:00 local time (GMT +9).
Race Day
“We continue to learn with every race weekend” 👊
The Japanese Grand Prix ended with a P16 finish for Nico Hulkenberg, who had certainly hoped for a better result at Suzuka. Nevertheless, the German Formula 1 driver remains positive and highlights that there are still some takeaways from Sunday’s race.
“Actually, the car didn’t feel too bad today, and I would have liked the chance to explore its full potential a bit more. But Suzuka is a track where overtaking is notoriously difficult, and that really defined the race,” says Nico Hulkenberg.
Hülkenberg spent most of the 53-lap race stuck in traffic in what turned out to be a fairly uneventful affair, making it difficult for the Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber driver to make any real progress.
“That’s obviously a bit frustrating. We know there’s still work to do – both in terms of overall pace and car characteristics – and today’s race underlined that once again. But it’s still early in the season, and we continue to learn with every race weekend,” he adds.
Well fought, Nico! We’re looking forward to seeing you back in the battle next weekend! The Bahrain Grand Prix takes place in Sakhir on April 11–13.
