Form guide: Don't bet against a Red Bull walkover
There have been tantalising glimpses that Mercedes can carry the fight to Red Bull in Japan but, as MARK HUGHES reveals, the RB9 is still the pick of the bunch - while further down Sauber and Toro Rosso appear to have closed on McLaren
It might not necessarily be the Red Bull Suzuka walkover pretty much everyone is expecting.
But it probably will be.
The ray of hope for some competition to Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber came in the form of a 13-lap run by Nico Rosberg's Mercedes on Friday afternoon. On the option medium tyre, Rosberg's average was 1m39.0s, while on shorter 'long' runs both Vettel and Webber were in the high 1m39s.
But treat the comparison with caution: a difference of almost one second in the Merc's favour is just too much to be feasible.
How good was Surtees?
How good was Surtees? How good was Surtees?
The top 10 F1 drivers of 2013
The top 10 F1 drivers of 2013 The top 10 F1 drivers of 2013
The title fight that turned on tyre failures
The title fight that turned on tyre failures The title fight that turned on tyre failures
GP report: Formula 1's subdued farewell
GP report: Formula 1's subdued farewell GP report: Formula 1's subdued farewell
Form guide: it's Vettel vs Rosberg if it rains
Form guide: it's Vettel vs Rosberg if it rains Form guide: it's Vettel vs Rosberg if it rains
GP report: a waste of a beautiful track
GP report: a waste of a beautiful track GP report: a waste of a beautiful track
Form guide: only Webber can stop Vettel
Form guide: only Webber can stop Vettel Form guide: only Webber can stop Vettel
Mark Hughes' GP report: Vettel reaches a new level
Mark Hughes' GP report: Vettel reaches a new level Mark Hughes' GP report: Vettel reaches a new level
Marko: De Vries Monaco F1 performance "what I want to see"
Marko: De Vries Monaco F1 performance "what I want to see" Marko: De Vries Monaco F1 performance "what I want to see"
Rossi: Indy 500 rivals were “getting away with crazy restarts”
Rossi: Indy 500 rivals were “getting away with crazy restarts” Rossi: Indy 500 rivals were “getting away with crazy restarts”
Why Indy 500 'fix' finish accusations are wide of the mark
Why Indy 500 'fix' finish accusations are wide of the mark Why Indy 500 'fix' finish accusations are wide of the mark
Newgarden happy that Indy 500 red flag led to a “good finish”
Newgarden happy that Indy 500 red flag led to a “good finish” Newgarden happy that Indy 500 red flag led to a “good finish”
Monaco Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Monaco Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023 Monaco Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Why Alonso and Aston made the call that guaranteed Verstappen's Monaco victory
Why Alonso and Aston made the call that guaranteed Verstappen's Monaco victory Why Alonso and Aston made the call that guaranteed Verstappen's Monaco victory
The factors for and against a Red Bull upset in F1’s Monaco GP
The factors for and against a Red Bull upset in F1’s Monaco GP The factors for and against a Red Bull upset in F1’s Monaco GP
What Aston Martin's Honda deal reveals about its true F1 mindset
What Aston Martin's Honda deal reveals about its true F1 mindset What Aston Martin's Honda deal reveals about its true F1 mindset
Would Hamilton really be a worthwhile F1 investment for Ferrari?
Would Hamilton really be a worthwhile F1 investment for Ferrari? Would Hamilton really be a worthwhile F1 investment for Ferrari?
Why the growing pains of F1’s cost-cap era require patience
Why the growing pains of F1’s cost-cap era require patience Why the growing pains of F1’s cost-cap era require patience
Has F1 gone too far with its sprint race format tweaks?
Has F1 gone too far with its sprint race format tweaks? Has F1 gone too far with its sprint race format tweaks?
The crucial next steps for McLaren on its path to F1 recovery
The crucial next steps for McLaren on its path to F1 recovery The crucial next steps for McLaren on its path to F1 recovery
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.