Strange Surface at Suzuka Causing Massive F1 Tyre Degradation
The opening day of practice at the Suzuka Circuit has left drivers puzzled, with a lack of grip on offer. British Mercedes driver George Russell expressed his surprise and confusion after finishing fifth in second practice, 0.6 seconds behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
Russell described the day as anything but normal due to the challenging track conditions. The newly-laid asphalt, particularly through Turns 3, 4, and 7, seems to be causing significant issues for the drivers.
With the new surface, tyre degradation has become a major concern for teams. The lack of grip is resulting in faster wear and tear, making it crucial for teams to carefully manage their tyre strategies throughout the race weekend.
As teams work to adapt to the challenging conditions, Russell mentioned that the tyre degradation is significantly impacting lap times and overall performance. Drivers will need to find the right balance between speed and preserving their tyres during the race.
Although the track conditions are posing a challenge, drivers and teams remain determined to overcome this obstacle. With further analysis and adjustments, they hope to refine their setups and find ways to optimize their performance on the unusual surface.