Japanese Grand Prix Preview
In advance of this week's Japanese Grand Prix, the Etihad
Aldar Spyker Formula One Team has conducted Q&As with
drivers Sakon Yamamoto and Adrian Sutil.
Q&A with Adrian Sutil
You have a lot of experience of Fuji Speedway, having raced
there in Japanese Formula 3 in 2006. How do you feel about
having the opportunity to drive an F1 car at the track?
I think it's very good that F1 is going there. The area surrounding
the circuit is very nice, and the circuit is also a special
track. It has a long straight, and also very tricky middle
and last sectors. It's hard to find the right balance, because
you need to be quick on the straights, but you need downforce
for the last corners. In general I really like it. The last
corner is really good, as you go straight towards Mount Fuji,
and you see it right in front of you. The environment around
it makes the track very special.
Fuji has the longest straight on the calendar at 1.5km.
Is there any way you can you compare the straight with Barcelona
or Monza?
It's like in Monza, I would say. Normally Fuji is a low downforce
track, but for sure we'll see some cars running higher levels
just trying to gain some time in the middle and last sector,
but in general it'll be a low downforce set-up similar to
Spa.
How many races did you do there in 2006?
I had many F3 races and many tests there, so it's like my
second home track! The experience will help as I know which
parts are important and how you set up the car there, what
the benefits are and so on. I think it's very good to know
about driving this circuit because it's not easy, and there
are some special corners where you really have to be very
smooth and not push, because otherwise you will be slow. I
hope it will be an advantage.
Last year you lived in nearby Gotemba, the town closest
to the track. Do you really know your way around?
I know the area, and I know some friends there, so it will
be nice to come back. I won't be staying in my old apartment
though - I'll be in a hotel this time, I think it's probably
more safe with the traffic! There's only one way from Tokyo
to Gotemba, so it's quite hard with the traffic. But we have
many tracks where the traffic is bad, so it shouldn't be anything
out of the ordinary.
And you still have some friends there?
Yes, I have many friends and also fans there, so I will see
them again and I still get letters and presents from them
most weeks. They were very friendly and I really enjoyed meeting
them last year at the Japanese Grand Prix as well. I always
make some time for them.
Q&A with Sakon Yamamoto
When did you first go to Fuji Speedway?
Once or twice when I was younger I visited Fuji for what was
F3000 at that time. The first time I raced there on the old
circuit was in F3 in 2001. It was good until I crashed! My
first race on the new circuit was 2005, in Japanese GTs. On
the old track you could really use a big tow and you could
pass more easily. I think it was more tricky and more dangerous.
The new one is safer, but it still has the long straight.
What do you think of the track?
Fuji is a very interesting circuit, because one side is a
very quick straight, and the other is very technical, especially
sector three. For a driver it's interesting, but for engineers
it's a real compromise. The last part is probably best for
drivers. It's a bit slow, but it's fun to drive. And also
this is the part where the driver can make a difference, good
or bad.'
In the future the Japanese Grand Prix will alternate
between Fuji and Suzuka. Do you see this as a positive move?
Suzuka is also a very nice circuit, so I guess my feelings
are 50:50! I will miss Suzuka, but I am looking forward to
the new Fuji. For a driver, Suzuka is perfect for driving
one lap. But for a race, you can never overtake. At Fuji one
lap is OK, but in a race if you are quicker than the guy in
front you can have a chance to overtake him.
The backdrop to the Fuji Speedway is pretty spectacular.
Do you like the ambience of Fuji, with the big grandstand
and the mountain in the background?
Yes, it's impressive. But I think that Fuji has changed a
lot since I was there because they've built more stands and
the facilities are better.
What are you looking forward to this year?
Last year I was really surprised that so many Japanese fans
cheered for us when I was driving with Super Aguri. That really
gave me some power. So I'm looking forward to driving in front
of them again. I also think my family and some friends are
coming, so it will be good!
Sakon Yamamoto's journey to his home race
The Japanese Grand Prix will of course be a special occasion
for Spyker's Japanese driver Sakon Yamamoto. For the 25-year-old
from Toyohashi, a city located between the major hubs of Tokyo
and Osaka on Japan's main island, this will be his first 'home'
race with the Spyker team and the first time he has driven
a Formula 1 car round the Fuji Speedway.
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