2024 Japanese Grand Prix Heroes and Zeroes

[Jericoke]

Going to mix it up this week, and I'll just leave one of each (plus an honourable mention) to give everyone a chance to add their own

Hero:
Yuki Tsunoda.  A safe choice, a Japanese driver with a Japanese (sort of) power unit getting points at the Japanese grand prix.  With the silly season in overdrive this year, with Perez constantly under the microscope, and Max maybe wanting to get out of the RBR sh*t show (which seems to have calmed down for now), being the top driver at VCARB is essential. Yuki finally showed he should be under consideration.  Also, my highlight of the race was when the entire midfield came in for pitstops at once, and VCARB got him out ahead of the pack, and he had the presence of mind to thank them for the gift.  That may be a career defining moment.

Zero:
Daniel Riccardo.  Just as Yuki is stepping up to prove he belongs with the F1 'big boys' Daniel just doesn't seem to be getting it together.  I understand that there's a lot going on during a race start and it's hard to keep track of everyone.  BUT, if you can't do that, you can't seriously contend in F1.  I don't know if he's lost his edge, his confidence or what, but I feel like he's the driver who doesn't belong in F1 the most right now (well, bottom 5 for sure)

Honourable Mention:
I've been meaning to bring this up a couple times - I love the new self righting cameras mounted on the cars!  You get a MUCH better feel for the banking and elevation changes of the tracks!  The cameras that stay in line with the cars makes everything feel smooth.  Now we can get a better feel for what the drivers are contending with as the cars pitch and roll over the length of a lap.

[Andy B]

Hero: -
I think CS should get a mention a fine drive from him.
LH for offering to let GR past as LH's car was so bad.

Zero: -
DR for me was to blame he didn't know AA was there because he didn't look and AA well up the side of him. Time to move on Dan!

[John S]

Hero:- for me was Leclerc, Charles stuck at his task of the counter strategy to Carlos and made it work well. Sure his Quali performance was below par, but he made up for it on race pace.

Zero:- once again it's Alpine, for a factory team they sure look like an underfunded back marker outfit. They talk about having a plan if both drivers jump ship at end of season.
Right now I'd guess both drivers have active talks going with anyone on grid with an open seat for 25 - or even 24! 

Special mention for Stewards who allowed the entertaining push & shove pit stop sequence when about 5 or 6 cars pitted, and left together, some of them side by side, without feeling the need to intervene. Feels almost like Charlie Whiting was back whispering in their ears. 

[Jericoke]

Zero:- once again it's Alpine, for a factory team they sure look like an underfunded back marker outfit. They talk about having a plan if both drivers jump ship at end of season.
Right now I'd guess both drivers have active talks going with anyone on grid with an open seat for 25 - or even 24! 

I agree that Alpine should be better than they are, but I also feel like they've gotten past the initial shock of being the worst and are starting to pull together.  Modern F1 makes catch up very hard, and while Alpine is in for their worst season ever, I do feel like they're not in free fall.

Special mention for Stewards who allowed the entertaining push & shove pit stop sequence when about 5 or 6 cars pitted, and left together, some of them side by side, without feeling the need to intervene. Feels almost like Charlie Whiting was back whispering in their ears. 

The pit lane is a proper pitlane, with room for cars to come in and out of the pits without being in anyone's way!  The FIA regulates what makes a track suitable for F1 competition, why not a proper pitlane requirement?

[John S]

Zero:- once again it's Alpine, for a factory team they sure look like an underfunded back marker outfit. They talk about having a plan if both drivers jump ship at end of season.
Right now I'd guess both drivers have active talks going with anyone on grid with an open seat for 25 - or even 24! 

I agree that Alpine should be better than they are, but I also feel like they've gotten past the initial shock of being the worst and are starting to pull together.  Modern F1 makes catch up very hard, and while Alpine is in for their worst season ever, I do feel like they're not in free fall.

Whatever Jeri, they're still awful.

Special mention for Stewards who allowed the entertaining push & shove pit stop sequence when about 5 or 6 cars pitted, and left together, some of them side by side, without feeling the need to intervene. Feels almost like Charlie Whiting was back whispering in their ears. 

The pit lane is a proper pitlane, with room for cars to come in and out of the pits without being in anyone's way!  The FIA regulates what makes a track suitable for F1 competition, why not a proper pitlane requirement?

The point I was making is the commentators couldn't believe Stroll in particular hadn't transgressed unsafe release, hell they even did about half a dozen playbacks to try to show how congested (read bad from there point of view) it was. Sometimes good racing needs to be on the very edge, - Charlie got that.

[Andy B]

R.I.P. Charley although I expect some weekends you are turning summersaults!