Norris warns Suzuka qualifying won't be “as spectacular" in new F1 era

Lando Norris has cast doubt on whether the latest generation of Formula 1 machinery will maintain the thrill of qualifying at the Japanese Grand Prix.

Suzuka is considered one of the best tracks on the calendar by F1 drivers, with the old-school nature of the layout and often close barriers meaning that pushing to the limit, especially in qualifying, carries a significant risk.

However, with requirements to save energy in order to gain speed on the straights, there are fears that some of the grip-limited sections of the track could be neutered, these areas including the Esses and Degna corners.

“It’s never ruined, I don’t think you can ever ruin this track,” said Norris. “Will it be as spectacular? I don’t think so, it will not be. But it’s still an incredible track to drive.

“There will also be some places where it will be – you’ll start clipping into Spoon and that’s one of the quickest corners. When you turn in, you’re going incredibly quick. Last year, you didn’t even brake into The Spoon entry, and it took a risk to get to that point, and it feels incredible in quali when you’re pushing it to those limits like that.

“Degna One, not even a full lift. To be honest, we might just be flat through those corners now, because you’re clipping and it’s quite a different world.

“It will be better now, I think. You’ll see some places now not as spectacular as it has been in the past, but I think it will still be cool to drive in qualifying.”

In order to reduced the super clipping at the end of straights, the FIA made a last-minute change to reduce the amount of energy a driver can harvest over a lap from 9MJ to 8MJ, which should reduce the need for drivers to enter harvesting mode while on full throttle.

As to whether these changes will alter things, Norris added: “It’s different. I need to go out and drive with it first. It will eliminate some things, it will shift around some other bits. I think the thing is you will also have tracks where it will be better; some tracks it will work and be a much better thing, and some tracks it won’t change too much.

“It should be a bit better here. It’s not like it’s going to change the whole world, but honestly, I need to go and drive on the track first and understand it.”

Leclerc backs “right direction” FIA change

Qualifying in both Australia and China came under significant criticism on social media, with numerous clips posted showing drivers slowing on straights either to harvest energy, or because their battery had been depleted.

Turns 9 and 10 in Melbourne highlighted this issue, with the usually flat-out curves requiring a downshift.

Asked if the challenge of Suzuka’s Degna curves could be similarly affected, Charles Leclerc reflected: “I’m not 100 percent sure yet. I obviously did the simulator, but these new rules weren’t out yet, so I did it on the previous qualifying rules, and my feedback was it was quite a shame for Turn 8/9 and for some of the corners which were not really pushing anymore and were a bit more about energy management.

“However, it’s going in the right direction, the changes that have been made since then, so I hope it can bring us back the character out of these corners, because that is what makes Suzuka so special and so enjoyable to drive, and we shouldn’t lose that, especially in qualifying when you really push the car to the limit.”