The Suzuka weekend took an unusual turn as FP2 was essentially washed out by drizzle, leading teams to focus on long-run data gathering in FP3 rather than typical qualifying simulations. Verstappen consistently trailed his teammate Perez by 0.122 seconds in these runs, while both were surpassed by Ferrari’s Leclerc by an average advantage of 0.482 seconds on medium tires, crucial for race strategy.
In Suzuka qualifying, Verstappen secured pole position, outpacing Perez, while Leclerc only managed eighth place, trailing four spots behind Sainz in the other SF-23. Verstappen expressed surprise at Ferrari’s fall from the pole fight they had engaged in at previous rounds but noted their competitiveness in the long run. He hinted at changes made to his car setup after FP3 to improve performance for the race.
Verstappen also acknowledged McLaren’s decent long-run potential at Suzuka but expressed dissatisfaction with his own performance during FP3, particularly citing understeer issues. He expressed concern over Ferrari’s apparent comfort on long runs, leaving uncertainty going into the race day.
However, Sainz contested Ferrari’s long-run performance, suggesting they might be running lighter fuel loads and lower engine modes during practice sessions, making their true race pace deceptive. He emphasized Ferrari’s tendency to appear slower on Fridays but significantly quicker on race days, indicating a deliberate strategy to downplay their strengths.
Sainz admitted that despite potential improvements compared to the previous year, closing the gap to Ferrari in terms of pace for the race seemed unlikely. He downplayed the possibility of significant gains, suggesting that Ferrari’s performance advantage on Sundays was formidable and not easily overcome.
The Suzuka weekend saw Verstappen secure pole position despite challenging conditions and Ferrari’s unexpected drop from the pole fight. However, uncertainties remained regarding Ferrari’s long-run pace and its true performance potential, as indicated by differing perspectives within the teams and drivers.
