F1: Hamilton wins at rain-soaked Suzuka

Hamilton wins at Suzuka! Mercedes snatched another 1-2 this season, with Vettel completing the podium. The race, which started under the safety car, and was red flagged just 2 laps in, was action-packed from the get-go, as strategists and drivers argued about the weather and the tyres; the incoming typhoon made predicting which tyres to be on quite difficult. It was restarted, still under the safety car, as the rain lessened in intensity. At this point, several drivers were asking for the Intermediate tyres, but no one bar McLaren’s Jenson Button actually switched onto them. His gamble paid off, as he gained several places after his stop. Alonso’s Ferrari ground to a halt with electrical gremlins before the safety car even went in, leaving Raikkonen’s F14 T as the sole Works Ferrari. McLaren triggered a chain reaction, which saw everyone except for the Mercedes pit for Intermediate tyres. The Mercs had so much pace, that despite being on the slower tyre, they are still faster than anybody else on the circuit. Rosberg eventually stopped on lap 13 for his first set of Inters, and Hamilton stopped a lap later for his.

OneShift Editorial Team

06 Oct 2014

Wheel to wheel action was rife amongst the pack; Rosberg and Hamilton had a titanic battle, a battle with the Briton won, diving on the outside of T1 and staying ahead and retaking the racing line into T2. Rosberg, whose tyres had completely gone, had no grip and had to settle for 2nd. Button, Ricciardo and Vettel were squabbling for the last podium position, and right at the back, Ericcison, Kobayashi, Grosjean and Magnussen were battling just as hard as the front runners for a lowly P15.

Electronic issues plagued both McLarens, and the extra time spent in the pits changing a steering wheel meant that the gap Button pulled out was wiped out by the Red Bull duo. At this point, the rain intensified, prompting many to stop for Wets. It was at this time that the Sauber of Sutil aquaplaned and veered off the circuit. The safety car was eventually deployed and the DRS was disabled as the weather worsened. Unfortunately, it was deployed too late, for at the same corner a lap later, the Marussia piloted by Bianchi hit the same puddle, and slammed into the recovery tractor that was removing the strickened Sauber. The race was red-flagged following the severe crash, and Bianchi, who was unconscious, was rushed to the circuit’s medical centre for treatment, before being forwarded to Mie General Hospital for emergency surgery.

As of the 6th of October, the FIA have confirmed that Bianchi’s brain surgery has been successfully completed and he is breathing on his own. He has been moved to the Intensive Care Unit where he will be monitored.

Hamilton wins again, but no one in the paddock was celebrating after yesterday’s horror crash. We at Oneshift wish Jules Bianchi a speedy recovery!

Pictures used for illustration purposes only.

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