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Top five F1 teams differ on Japanese Grand Prix tyre choices

The top five teams in Formula 1 have all opted for different tyre choices for the Japanese Grand Prix

There are also marginal differences between the drivers in three of those teams - Mercedes, Ferrari and Williams - for the event at Suzuka from October 7-9.

Reigning champion Lewis Hamilton has opted for three sets of Pirelli's hard compound, two sets of the medium and eight softs, while team-mate Nico Rosberg has the same number of softs, but two hards and three mediums.

At Ferrari, Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel have both chosen nine softs - the most of the 11 teams - while the former has gone for two of each of the hards and mediums, and the latter has gone for three hards and just one medium, the fewest of all the 22 drivers.

Red Bull drivers Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo are different again, with the pair choosing four sets of the hards, three mediums and just six softs, the fewest of the teams alongside Manor.

In the battle for fourth place in the constructors' championship, Williams duo Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas have gone for seven sets of softs, with the Brazilian then taking two hards and four mediums, while the Finn has three sets of each.

At Force India, Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez also have seven sets of softs, with four hards and two mediums.

Japanese Grand Prix tyre choices

Driver Team Hard Medium Soft
Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 3 2 8
Nico Rosberg Mercedes 2 3 8
Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 3 1 9
Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 2 2 9
Felipe Massa Williams 2 4 7
Valtteri Bottas Williams 3 3 7
Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull 4 3 6
Max Verstappen Red Bull 4 3 6
Nico Hulkenberg Force India 4 2 7
Sergio Perez Force India 4 2 7
Kevin Magnussen Renault 4 2 7
Jolyon Palmer Renault 3 3 7
Daniil Kvyat Toro Rosso 4 2 7
Carlos Sainz Jr Toro Rosso 3 3 7
Marcus Ericsson Sauber 2 3 8
Felipe Nasr Sauber 2 3 8
Fernando Alonso McLaren 3 3 7
Jenson Button McLaren 3 3 7
Pascal Wehrlein Manor 3 4 6
Esteban Ocon Manor 3 4 6
Romain Grosjean Haas 3 3 7
Esteban Gutierrez Haas 2 4 7
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