Charging Bulls show wet weather potential

2014 Japanese Grand Prix lap charts

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[interactivecharts]Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said on Saturday the team had prepared their car in the expectation that it would be wet on Sunday.

So it proved, and their set-up tweaks allowed Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo to pass the Williams drivers and even close on the two Mercedes cars – which have usually been untouchable this year.

By the time the lead Red Bull of Vettel had passed Valtteri Bottas on lap 18, he was 32 seconds behind race leader Nico Rosberg. However Lewis Hamilton was clearly being held up by his team mate, and Vettel took eight seconds out of them over the next ten laps.

Had Vettel been able to sustain that rate of progress over the rest of the race, he still would have fallen short by a few seconds. As it was an off-track excursion on lap 38 cost him almost six, and after that he never even looked like catching Rosberg.

All of which proved academic as the race never ran its course. But Red Bull showed Mercedes they have threatening wet weather pace – even if their compromised qualifying positions meant they never got to fully exploit it.

Japanese Grand Prix lap chart

The positions of each driver on every lap. Use the controls below to show/hide different drivers:

https://www.racefans.net/charts/2014drivercolours.csv

01234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738394041424344
Nico Rosberg111111111111122111111111111112222233322222222
Lewis Hamilton222222222222211222222222222221111111111111111
Valtteri Bottas333333333334954444566666666666666666666777776
Felipe Massa444444444443365567777777777777777777778888887
Fernando Alonso55
Daniel Ricciardo6655555555561087776655555555554443322255555444
Kevin Magnussen77666666666711981121202020191918181816151515141414131516141414141414161514
Jenson Button887777777122018833333333333333333335555544444555
Sebastian Vettel998888888775476655444444444445554444433333333
Kimi Raikkonen10109999999889121099999999991412121212121212121212131313131312111112
Sergio Perez1111101010101010109910131312121111111111111111991111111110101010101010101099999
Daniil Kvyat121211111111111111101012141211101010101010101010111110101099999999991013121211
Nico Hulkenberg1313121212121212121111851110888888888888888888888887666668
Adrian Sutil141413131313131313131211614131312121212121212171614141414151516171919191919191918
Esteban Gutierrez1515141414141414141413141515151514141414141413121010999101111111111151515151515131313
Romain Grosjean1616151515151515151514151616141413131313131319161513131313131313141314171717171616141415
Marcus Ericsson1722212121212121212018192121212119191919181816141315201918181818181717161616161719181717
Jules Bianchi1817161616161616161615137418181717171716161513122019181919191919181818181818181717
Kamui Kobayashi1918171717171717171716161919191918181818171717151718182020202020202020202020202121201919
Jean-Eric Vergne20191818181818181818171717171616151515162020201919171616161616151514131111111111101010109
Max Chilton2120191919191919191919202020202020212121212121212121212121212121212121212121212020191818
Pastor Maldonado2221202020202020202121211818171716161615151514202019171717171717161615121212121211151616

Japanese Grand Prix race chart

The gaps between each driver on every lap. Use the controls below to show/hide different drivers:

https://www.racefans.net/charts/2014drivercolours.csv

1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738394041424344
Nico Rosberg0000000000001.40519.317000000000000002.0383.9364.8195.6538.8528.52724.6654.1177.3538.5669.89210.65911.3912.56414.0739.18
Lewis Hamilton1.4451.7321.5092.6270.6150.7661.0612.0210.3861.3821.841.796002.1811.8251.2991.0451.1141.251.0080.930.770.5420.4840.8330.5840.3630000000000000000
Valtteri Bottas2.2893.7582.0333.191.3731.9881.7342.4941.4216.67913.56839.21140.46441.04924.98227.82630.21734.42638.40640.8442.90745.24647.43148.39249.55650.41751.34652.63454.1456.33258.0859.53760.83662.13161.85744.55450.2957.76281.46283.2784.39687.781108.347113.773
Felipe Massa5.0035.6623.954.4843.0653.4352.8683.3031.9887.83412.47519.46742.25242.55427.05531.93635.66738.30941.35745.1347.19349.49751.14552.62854.00155.23956.54758.07759.00661.30463.42164.82865.9667.31266.79549.68957.40381.00182.85184.83987.1890.267109.576115.126
Fernando Alonso6.855
Daniel Ricciardo8.63610.6775.1526.8364.7294.1683.9964.5942.7279.01716.01541.16343.70144.22928.45332.15433.63934.70535.84735.55334.48733.26232.21530.6229.00927.94326.56525.75624.58824.00422.81621.47520.46518.8815.51.09523.55124.11525.00626.76728.95632.53435.09138.818
Kevin Magnussen9.86812.3515.9367.8035.4994.5294.8345.1433.2179.71317.00342.44145.39147.97238.79470.67874.2175.65878.81481.93885.14289.09994.05497.00498.73199.519100.157101.28101.41102.833105.142105.208114.519132.931130.316110.616113.301115.144117.456122.214146.259149.018180.025
Jenson Button12.69714.3997.1578.7446.7335.855.8696.1336.28130.14632.53434.83234.98834.46516.79318.04918.6718.78919.36819.53719.48319.85319.76519.02418.32117.6117.15916.6316.06616.7420.13443.9341.40439.9936.46216.72219.10722.29624.44826.24628.28335.87958.10467.55
Sebastian Vettel14.35416.9689.0779.8677.497.2587.8426.5334.54410.24815.34220.24642.88243.43827.82630.42831.18732.8633.5333.20532.50931.2693028.67227.13226.16525.37824.72626.05544.2342.53440.18838.26436.54632.89812.61814.29920.22521.92423.45625.66127.10128.30529.122
Kimi Raikkonen18.39819.56912.28510.9079.0278.6299.3358.044.88611.22419.47845.20446.66848.72736.0139.79642.55745.49648.01350.56652.66155.0160.03591.05889.79290.55291.14192.5594.39397.03499.873102.232103.822109.267127.134105.805106.633107.947110.78115.516118.058121.956147.793
Sergio Perez20.06121.33313.45312.53410.1529.32910.4279.1565.21812.00320.12948.2451.84953.71639.18543.01646.4149.61352.69756.13858.0960.662.74264.10867.61588.30887.33788.04789.73890.98792.37393.1393.99295.08994.3475.8379.19784.0788.592.73294.69398.75120.601
Daniil Kvyat21.10823.62214.68613.30111.93910.99311.51810.4965.70712.36621.39148.38949.94951.43237.06241.2844.80947.6550.42952.77355.02157.18261.93282.40781.99882.32683.98585.64386.8388.70989.99290.79891.63792.39591.2873.47576.64981.56288.888116.019118.394122.504146.364
Nico Hulkenberg22.67425.89615.9315.02813.00412.0912.04710.9666.20713.16519.124.0347.37449.12435.06437.43839.41841.72943.48545.61749.451.06752.91854.23755.75259.46778.37176.90476.36777.57478.50879.51880.47281.26379.8661.38865.10168.8972.33176.07878.80783.145101.06115.948
Adrian Sutil23.75828.19516.88815.88414.47214.05913.33112.0377.24814.81220.8128.4353.99956.22241.69445.6848.45451.76955.1658.62561.57867.4693.14794.84496.16797.41599.222100.887104.696107.748111.453119.923141.908145.04147.399130.321138.445144.123149.902154.355
Esteban Gutierrez25.5631.74118.81317.81915.58515.12914.89613.0767.77115.65524.97652.85156.50960.91947.0551.2354.77859.73263.87668.33271.12773.94276.13477.79379.56281.28883.34385.45989.45994.94497.867100.076102.661108.503131.5115.322120.97124.975128.88131.71136.181143.922172.633
Romain Grosjean28.58234.14520.96119.43417.21416.93616.29514.8168.59717.22925.68853.31256.67859.99644.64648.11151.35654.41259.46162.69667.94489.77192.60193.41794.71895.44796.98698.00799.553101.959104.926108.127110.491114.882136.562120.835125.308129.925134.288139.827143.988148.239180.735
Marcus Ericsson91.30668.92532.99428.90926.91225.86425.78525.00414.14721.86434.57769.73772.8675.85363.44468.34571.30574.8278.3681.33184.49986.77488.39490.83697.069120.896121.038122.408123.632125.703127.723129.264130.778134.365136.034120.348124.736129.038137.393163.289166.151171.287208.382
Jules Bianchi31.48236.50223.00522.36219.93118.89417.80616.4699.32518.40824.95730.40236.61664.06850.31555.52660.36565.06769.38773.11876.2279.77182.92188.78112.666117.496118.954124.329126.766129.888132.588136.238138.982142.709144.356129.262137.881143.535149.218153.85157.963
Kamui Kobayashi33.60638.67924.53224.02621.89820.27218.65417.3489.86118.98228.16160.66164.88468.80956.00860.87565.41570.84475.39579.78483.18588.46391.75396.986102.582112.759141.253143.139144.654146.951149.138150.696156.674158.821158.579141.844146.336157.617194.252221.222224.372248.835277.076
Jean-Eric Vergne36.66741.32127.27825.50623.69622.44322.59122.03911.17719.89529.0755.09858.31261.42547.50652.61856.9261.35968.24989.75289.07190.71794.41797.698100.526102.063102.691103.728105.224108.145108.841109.412111.475113.01109.82490.16993.39995.9198.779101.29103.09106.225125.419127.638
Max Chilton37.42843.78429.49926.52225.13623.31523.0122.90512.34723.34335.24466.36270.93375.16362.2269.68376.67482.47688.28794.13998.561103.489111.741136.968139.01145.259148.222151.572154.75160.789165.472169.185172.482175.116176.596163.92170.321176.079182.358188.657196.897221.396254.237
Pastor Maldonado39.64553.17331.50127.32225.53923.82123.60523.39814.90441.29451.43857.08659.01361.80148.253.41157.4561.84666.62769.52172.00276.84498.13598.824102.729102.789103.441105.059106.402108.987111.775112.752115.72116.603115.35496.62299.204103.653107.303112.948144.43150.031180.853

2014 Japanese Grand Prix

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Keith Collantine
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27 comments on “Charging Bulls show wet weather potential”

  1. Jenson could’ve been in the podium if Bianchi crash did not happen and His pit stop is faster

    1. Why did Mclaren change his steering wheel? i didnt see an explanation. he was matching the mercs then went from 3rd to 5th due to the extra time spent. just wasnt sure it was necessary.

      1. I’ve been wondering that too…it is odd that both he and Mag needed a steering wheel change.

        On that subject, do you remember when Hamilton changed his steering wheel during a pit stop? it was amazing how quickly they got it done

  2. Yes, they both looked very fighty. Riccardo is a joy to watch, a very imaginative overtaker and very seldom does he arrive too fast to maintain the position, something I think Alonso is a bit prone to doing but then hes driving that pig of a Ferrari so….

    Theres was genuine disbelief from Ben Edwards that he could keep the car straight whilst overtaking and riding the kerbs. Im guessing from Coultards comments that Riccardo had checked the kerbing pre race and was aware there was grip paint on it.

    Still fantastic to watch though, a genuine superstar.

    1. i regard highly Ricciardo, but “imaginative overtaker”? he did the same Vettel pulled on Massa on the previous lap! :D

      1. Jeez I didn’t base my whole opinion of him on yesterdays race !

      2. No of course, but Vettel’s overtakes yesterday were pretty good too! ;D

      3. No he didn’t.
        He made the overtakes on both Williams on the Esses.
        The one on Button, yes, was just like what Vettel did.

        But i NEVER saw somebody overtaking on the Esses before. Kudos to Ricciardo. A guy who simply refuse to give reasons for Red Bull to be worried of losing Vettel.

    2. @antonyob, Dan was also looking very good tactically as it is likely the race would have been called early without him needing another pit stop but the safety car/race end happened to early for him to capitalise on his position.

  3. I think the race highlighted once more that RIC is right up there in the big leagues. The new generation of Pirellis suits him best and the 25 lap stint on inters with still a good pace at the end is one of the instances it showed.

    1. I have to say i am very impressed with how Hamilton is managing tires this year

    2. @tmf42
      That would mean that Verne is also right up there in the big leagues.

      Would’ve been great if Alonso had swapped with Seb and went to RBR, giving Ric can opportunity to prove his worth against a great driver.

      1. @supremacy there is still the possibility that Alonso remains at Ferrari and Kimi gets the boot :)

        About Vergne – I think he is not quite there yet, but definitely close to be a top-tier driver. I still rate RIC and KVY a bit higher when it comes to raw pace.

  4. This is evidence that, in aero terms, RBR may have the underlying potential to match or even surpass Mercedes next year if Renault can give them a decent engine. At the very least, the engine performance will surely (?) be closer next year, so I expect RBR to be competing for victories more often. All of which makes me surprised by Vettel’s decision to leave.

    1. @jonathan189 the thing is that Renault and Ferrari are lobbying for an unfreeze because they already recognized that they won’t come close to Merc within the regulations. At least that’s the water cooler talk in the paddock (but we’ll see).
      Additionally RBR will be affected the most (or at least heavily) by the nose changes for 2015 which will tend to produce more solutions resembling the Merc and Ferrari nose.

      But in any event I think VETs decision was not about finding a better car but the desire to drive for Ferrari and help bring the team back to winning championships.

      1. i am saying this just to put it out there but imagine this since Vettel hasn’t said where he is going…

        Vettel is going to Lotus next year because it is believed that they will be running Merc next year and Vettel thinks he can help improve their car while having the best engine available.

        I am NOT SAYING i think this will happen but what a story if it did happen!

      2. Actually I think he prefer ferrari because he thinks he can stay there comfortably for the next 4 or 5 years, unlike RBR where he will always be under pressure from Daniel and then kyvat afterwards, RBR already have an impressive line of young drivers, they will feel eager to promote one of their talents if they feel seb can’t deliver exactly what they want

    2. Renault have recently stated that they won’t have full power available next year until the European races start. That doesn’t bode well to begin with. And the question is whether they will reach this planning.

  5. It’s clear that Adrian Sutil had been right behind Jules Bianchi for the best part of 7 laps before they both crashed in the same place on consecutive laps. I wonder if the Marussia team didn’t tell Jules that he could relax for fear it might be interpreted as driver instruction? Jules certainly didn’t lift one bit though the increasing rain, even when Adrian Sutil was no longer there.

    Is Jules Bianchi the first casualty from the team radio clampdown, it will be enlightening to see the team radio transcript.

  6. If the Red Bulls were set up (on Saturday) for rain, does that mean the Sauber and Marussia weren’t?
    Seems crazy and unsafe to be forced to send drivers out in a car set up for a different day. It also takes cars out of contention in qualifying if one day’s wet and the other is dry.

    Should the parc fermé regulations be reviewed? Not saying there should be a morning warm-up again – that just leads to more costs, wreckage and injuries – but at least allow some premeditated adjustments to make the cars safer to handle in a wet race.

    1. To be honest, wet set-ups don’t really exist anymore. It used to be the case where you would have entirely different suspension settings et al, but now all it is basically is wing levels, and electronic settings (which can be changed anyway I believe).

      1. you are correct and lets not forget that when Sutil went off, there were still 21 cars running. Alonso was the only retirment

      2. @vettel1

        they have high downforce and lowdown force configuration. If I’m not mistaken, they basically have a totally different rear wings and can’t change that in pard ferme. If it didn’t rain, they would have been in serious trouble.

        1. Besides wing levels, not all that much is changed however @uan. That can be a big factor in grip levels, but not to the extent as to cause accidents.

          1. @vettel1

            I was just comment specifically to wet/dry set ups, which they do have, not to the extent that they used to, but there is a significant difference in downforce levels (and straight line speed).

            Regards the accident, downforce does play a factor and probably played a factor in the Bianchi incident, though more through driver error perhaps. Rosberg talked about it a bit in the post race press conference:

            _Yeah, it was fine but the thing is that we have so much more downforce than some other people, so I can imagine that maybe for them… because it was starting to get a little bit more difficult for us and maybe for them, with so much less downforce, it was already on the limit of needing to go to full wets. That’s very possible and I myself was a little bit surprised to hear that other people were already going for full wets but I guess that must be the explanation._

            If you recall, MAG came in for full wets, and then Button did as well. I can imagine that the Marussia (and Sauber) already needed full wets when they had their offs.

            The offs weren’t the issue either, those happen ALL the time, it was just a series of circumstances that compounded the issue. I think we, and drivers, sometimes forget just how dangerous F1 can be. It was similar to the MAL / GUT shunt in Bahrain. Cars tap all the time, etc, but it was just the specific angles for that one caused GUT to flip.

  7. Both Red Bull cars were really very fast.

  8. I think the data here show RBR was quick, relative to their normal performance, or relative to the normal peloton, but I don’t think they should get too excited. RBR was fastish compared to Rosberg, but on this day Rosberg was no where near showing the potential of the car. Look at the green flag laps after Hamilton got by. RBR was being held up by the Williams as much as Hamilton was being held up, but when they escaped their respective bonds, Vettel had nothing for Hamilton. Indeed, I would say that at no point in this race did Hamilton have the ability or the need to run flat out. What is most interesting about this race is how bad Williams was in the wet. I don’t know if they lost their balance on the inters or just went way light on the DF, but they were just blown away by RBR.

Comments are closed.