FORMULA 1: AFTER SINGAPORE GP, SUZUKA IN JAPAN
Already 3 races since we started to unveil the real life of Caterham F1, KENNOL partner team. And this next Grand Prix in Suzuka, Japan, has a very specific taste because our 1st driver, Kamui KOBAYASHI, is nothing less than a true legend. The Japanese hero is at home, where he scored his first podium finish in F1, in 2012. But the Team is in full restructuring, so priorities are somehow different.
We are all happy to introduce a new front wing, this shows a real team commitment here…
Manfredi RAVETTO, Team Principal
I will do my best to reward my fans with a strong performance in order to thank them for their enormous support!
Kamui KOBAYASHI, driver
▌ NEW AERODYNAMICS AGAIN FOR CATERHAM
Suzuka sings like fire to any driver’s hear. It’s mythical. It’s dangerous. It’s fast and technical. The main challenge is the fast, flowing corners and complexes, including the Esses and the 130R. The drivers will negotiate these at very high speed, just touching the brakes as they move from side to side. The forces running through the PU are huge, particularly on the ICE, which will be running at close to its maximum for a large percentage of the lap. The Team lands here with a rookie, and the living driving god in Japan, Kamui!
However, before seeing the Japanese racing in his home GP, we discover – again – the raw talent of young F1-driver-wannabee Roberto MERHI. He takes part in his second official Formula 1 session with the team during Friday morning practice in Japan. Kamui Kobayashi and Marcus Ericsson will race, as usual, for Caterham F1 Team at the Japanese Grand Prix.
Roberto MERHI: “Our objective this morning was to do more kilometres and continue to get used to the car and it all went as planned. We didn’t take any unnecessary risks and didn’t push really hard as it was only a free practice. I’m pleased with my performance; I kept improving at the same time as I was learning the track. I have to say that Suzuka is an amazing circuit, I’ve really enjoyed it here and we were also able to end up with both cars in front of our main competitors so it was a good morning in the office.”
This Free Practice session #1 was also the opportunity for the Team to install and experiment new front wing and aerodynamics they’ve been working on lately, in the England-based headquarters. The first results return good feelings, from the drivers, but also from the numbers, showing a good improvement in the times, which also means over the opponents…
▌ STEP BY STEP WE BEAT OUR DIRECT OPPONENTS
Marcus ERICSSON, official driver: “I’m happy with today. This morning in FP1 we went through the programme as planned and we tried the new front wing during the last run on used tyres – it felt good and we will definitely get some useful information. We went back to the old front wing in FP2 and it was a decent session. We completed plenty of laps and the car feels nice to drive round here. We have something good to build on during the rest of the weekend. Also, if we look at the gap to the guys in front, I think we are better than we’ve been before, which is positive. I have a lot of good memories from this track: I’ve been on pole and won here in the rain and in the dry and always been quick here back in 2009, so it’s great to be back – the track is great to drive in an F3 but amazing to drive in an F1!”
Unexpectedely, the 2014 debuts of Kamui KOBAYASHI on his home track have been less enthusiastic, because of an early incident, ruining the rest of his Free Practice session, sadly… Manfredi RAVETTO, Team Principal: “We are sorry for Kamui’s crash, which hugely damaged the car but, contrary to rumours concerning the shortage of parts here in Japan, we are perfectly able to repair the car and run it tomorrow.”
Kamui KOBAYASHI, driver: “It hasn’t been the best of ways to start my home Grand Prix: after sitting out in FP1, I suddenly lost the rear-left during my first run and that was the end of the day for me as I crashed into the barrier. It’s a shame, but at least we have tomorrow. It’s not much time but I will need to use FP3 to feel the car and luckily this is my home race, a track I know very well. Let’s see what happens tomorrow, hopefully it will be better than today.”
We can feel the frustration of our home driver, and wish him the best for FP3 and Qualifying, because with such motivation, and so many fans from all over the Japan, from any age, there is no doubt that he’ll feel wings during the Grand Prix! And even his Team and everyone involved in the GP is behind him: “Marcus (ERICSSON, 2nd driver) used his circuit knowledge to the full today and we got lots of information to study overnight.” explains Cedrik STAUDOHAR, Renault Sport F1 track support leader. “Everything worked well on the engine side and we were able to complete the programme. Unfortunately Kamui’s crash in FP2 meant we were not able to assess our usual checklist of fuel consumption and energy management so we will consolidate Marcus’ data to try to keep ahead of the Marussias as we were today.”
