Lawson OUTQUALIFIES Tsunoda at the JAPANESE GP!

Today, Liam Lawson, who was demoted from Red Bull, outqualified his replacement, Yuki Tsunoda. It was a fascinating battle on track, with Liam qualifying fourteenth and Yuki fifteenth. With Max, Yuki’s teammate, taking pole position, does this confirm what many have been saying: that the second Red Bull car is very hard to drive? It’s certainly a possibility, but it’s still too early to draw any conclusions.

Yuki has only had four track sessions in the car, and Liam has had just as many in the 2025. After qualifying, I followed Liam back from the press pen. While he wasn’t jumping out of his skin, he was certainly pleased, and Laurent Mekis met him halfway back to the hospitality suite for a chat about the session. It was all positive.

Yuki expressed that he felt very ashamed of his performance, stating, “I didn’t expect this result.” He felt he let down the thousands of Japanese fans who came to support him. He answered numerous questions in the media pen, but both Liam and Yuki were overshadowed by their teammates, with Max showing unexpected emotion in Parc Ferme. It’s been nine months since he put his Red Bull on pole, and he clearly missed that buzz.

Isack Hadjar and Team Dynamics

What about Liam’s teammate, Isack Hadjar? He qualified seventh and was measured in his joy, mentioning that “this is F1, not F2,” meaning you don’t bounce around as much if you have a good result. I caught Isack chatting with Alex, and Oliver Bearman joined in. It appears they get along very well, sharing some banter, which is nice to see from the younger drivers.

I spoke to Ollie’s dad, who mentioned they were aiming for maybe P12, so tenth for Ollie was a pleasant surprise. Speaking of surprises, I found a fan in the fan zone who was keen to let everyone know he looked similar to Isack, and I have to agree!

Fashion and Pre-Race Routines

Lando took second, and Oscar Piastri came in third. Have a look at the unique top that Oscar’s girlfriend, Lily, was wearing. It was handmade by a Sydney designer and is based on the Albert Park circuit, featuring plenty of hand-stitched beads. Different drivers have different pre-session routines; I discovered today that Oscar’s involves a bit of jumping rope behind his hospitality suite.

After his last race, where he won in China, Oscar had no celebration; he went straight home to bed instead of hitting the town. I also noticed some fun moments in the Alpine garage, where the drivers were enjoying a quiet moment. They seemed to be devotees of skin art, as evidenced by their tattoos.

Notable Accessories and Fashion Trends

I spotted Charles Leclerc wearing a diamond-studded bracelet, which commemorates the day he won the Monaco Grand Prix on May 26, 2024. Produced by one of his sponsors, APM Monaco, it’s an impressive piece. We’ve missed seeing Lewis Hamilton’s fashion statements—he’s been wearing Ferrari gear and has been quite shy about being photographed lately.

Let’s not forget the reserve drivers, like Antonio Giovinazzi, who is with Ferrari this weekend, and Ryo Hirakawa, who surprisingly is in his early thirties but looks much younger. I caught them in front of the paddock on Friday morning.

Fan Engagement and Unique Details

Have you noticed the numbers on the Haas cars? They’re in a Japanese font, which looks impressive and is complemented by cherry blossoms on the car design. Toto Wolff is absent this weekend, with Bradley Lord stepping in as the team representative. It’s been mentioned that Toto is quite tall, and Japan is generally built for shorter people, making it a bit challenging for him.

Driver’s sisters were also present; I spotted Kimi Antonelli’s sister, Maggie, who he walks with, and Yuki Tsunoda’s sister, Riko. Yuki’s dad, Nobuaki, is one of the most stylishly dressed men in the paddock. The energy at the motorsport gate was electric, with a crowd eager to see their favorite drivers arrive.

Unique Experiences at the Suzuka Circuit

Japan is home to major camera technology brands like Canon, Nikon, and Sony. Fans can actually buy tickets to photograph with their big lenses, which is unique since many tracks don’t allow such cameras. The cherry blossoms were in full bloom this year, providing stunning backdrops for photos.

This race is known for being one of the best values in terms of tickets and food. I checked out the fan zone today, and the food prices were exceptionally good: $8 for a burger, $5 for karaage chicken, $6 for a kebab, and under $10 for beef and rice. A post I shared drew comments about how this is double the price in Australia.

When it comes to dining away from the track, I can highly recommend a spot I call the “meat palace.” I’ve been here for three years in a row, and the food is fantastic!

Conclusion

This year is shaping up to be an absolute cracker for F1 races. As I head to the meat palace for a meal, the excitement in the air is palpable, with fans eagerly awaiting the next race. Stay passionate!

FAQ

• What is the significance of the cherry blossoms at the Suzuka circuit? They provide a beautiful backdrop for photographs and are a unique feature of the Japanese Grand Prix.
• Why is Toto Wolff not attending this race? He is not required to attend every race, and his height makes navigating the paddock a bit more challenging in Japan.
• What are some popular food items at the fan zone? Burgers, karaage chicken, kebabs, and beef and rice are among the fan favorites, all at reasonable prices.