Why Is the 2023 Japanese Grand Prix One of the Best F1 Races?

Suzuka Circuit Is an Iconic Race Track Loved by Drivers and Fans

September 20, 2023 160 4 minutes readOpinion
2023 Japanese Grand Prix: A Must-Watch F1 Spectacle
DigtialStorm | Getty Images/iStockphoto

A Thrilling Race To Watch

Some F1 grand prix are better than others and it’s safe to say that the 2023 Japanese Grand Prix coming this weekend is one of the more popular on the circuit. Let’s check out this year’s race and why it’s making F1 news.

Sensational Suzuka

Fans and drivers alike love the Suzuka circuit, a figure eight layout and one with an unforgiving renowned hairpin turn that can make or break a race. Last year Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won the Japanese Grand Prix for the first time in his career in front of a record 200,000 people.

The race was canceled in 2020 and 2021, which likely contributed to the swarm of people who attended when it returned. And before the race was run, Verstappen had this to say about the venerated circuit.

“I’m excited to see what is going to happen,” he says. “It’s an amazing track, and I think we really missed it. I mean, when you speak to everyone, we all think Suzuka is an amazing track to drive because it’s one of these last old-school tracks that when you make a mistake, and you go off, you are really off!

“So, it’s really nice. And the fans as well, they are so passionate about racing and F1 in general,” he added.

Oh, and one interesting fun fact, not a single Japanese driver has ever won the Japanese Grand Prix! The bronze medal is as good as it has gotten for the Japanese as Aguri Suzuki finished third for Lola in 1990 and Kamui Kobayashi did the same for Sauber in 2012.

What To Look for This Weekend

The monotony of the Red Bull team dominating this year’s F1 standings took a siesta in the last event as Max Verstappen’s rampage came to an end, as did his record-setting 10th consecutive victory streak. The Singapore Grand Prix was won by Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jr. with McLaren’s Lando Norris taking second followed by the legendary Mercedes driver, Lewis Hamilton.

Because Verstappen came fifth, he cannot close out his third consecutive Drivers’ Championship this weekend with a victory despite a 151-point lead over teammate Sergio Perez. However, Red Bull does have a chance to clinch the Constructors’ Championship but whether it happens this weekend in the 2023 Japanese Grand Prix or not, the Red Bull team and Verstappen will seize their titles soon enough.

Where’s the Love for Lewis?

Now that this weekend holds at least a little bit of drama, considering Verstappen did not make an appearance at the podium in Singapore, we also have this little tidbit of F1 rumors. Did Mercedes tell their team not to celebrate with Lewis Hamilton on the podium after he took third place in Singapore?

A few sharp-eyed viewers noticed the only ones congratulating Hamilton were those on the podium with him, namely Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris as well as their Ferrari and McLaren team members. With no Mercedes colleagues within sight of the cameras, some jumped to the conclusion that third place just wasn’t worth celebrating.

Mercedes’ technical director James Allison threw cold water on the notion that they were absent from the post-race festivities saying, “I am going to have to disagree a little bit with the premise of the question,” Allison said. “Of course, the team was there at the podium to celebrate with Lewis.”

Allison also added, “Necessarily a certain amount of the team had to stay in the garage during that event because we needed to receive George [Russell]’s car back from the marshals who were bringing it back into the pit lane.

“But the rest of the team were all down at the podium and cheering along with everyone else, but the cameras do not show everything, and the big story there was of course the first win this year for a non-Red Bull team.”

Keep in the loop with the 2023 Japanese Grand Prix at Point Spreads!

Sniper-PhotoAuthor: Sin City Sniper

Busting bookmakers and taking their money is his greatest joy in life. He’s been around the block more than once, knows the players both on and off the field of battle, and uses his experience to serve the bookies a heaping plate of humble pie washed down by a warm glass of their salty tears. You can find him in any number of Vegas books, sniping weak lines and getting paid to do it.

The opinions and view here expressed are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the view of Point Spreads or any of its affiliates. Point Spreads is not responsible and does not verify for accuracy any of the articles and content pieces included herein; moreover, besides being solely the opinion or views of the authors, these content pieces are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, anyone or anything.

 

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