Lewis Hamilton admits he has “no idea” which of the top three teams will lead the way at the Japanese Grand Prix.
In recent races, it has been Mercedes and Ferrari going head-to-head, with the Brackley-based team ending the Scuderia’s three-race winning run at Sochi.
However, the unique figure-of-eight that is Suzuka promises to test every aspect of the current cars meaning each team may well specialise in a particular section.
“It’s going to be awesome,” said Hamilton ahead of this weekend.
“Suzuka is incredible, it’s one of the most exciting parts of the year, and now so more than ever before because you’ve got three solid, incredibly fast teams, pushing each other and having the potential to win a race.
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“I have no idea who is going to be quickest there. At the moment, Ferrari is quite dominant but maybe it will suit our car a little bit more, who knows? Or the Red Bull, maybe.
“So. it’s exciting to go there because that’s a serious driver’s track, one of the best ones of the whole year.”
After the tarmac paradise of Sochi’s Olympic Park, the world champion, who has won in Suzuka four of the past five years, also can’t wait to go to a “proper” classic track.
“It’s proper grass and gravel and walls so it’s the ultimate test, for the car and also for the driver,” Hamilton added. “I just hope that we get to have a good race there.”
As for Ferrari, the sweeping esses will provide the biggest test yet of their recent upgrades but Charles Leclerc is optimistic the Italian team will be in the mix.
“We’ve been quick in Singapore, we’ve been quick in Monza, and both of them are the complete opposites,” said the Monegasque.
“It shows that we are making some progress, so there are no reasons for us to be very slow in Japan, but it doesn’t mean that we will have an easy life.
“I’m pretty sure that Mercedes and also Red Bull will be very strong there.”
Providing F1 can safely navigate the approaching typhoon, a great weekend lies in store.