Japanese GP: Mixed FP3 for Williams Racing


By Andrew Hooper
October 8 2022

In what was a dry session the Williams Racing Team would complete what was to be their only dry weather session in FP3 for the 2022 Japanese GP prior to qualifying. It was a mixed session in terms of results with Alex Albon and Nicholas Latiif finishing in 12th and 19th. Alex was at one stage as high as fourth but for Nicholas his session was somewhat of a struggle as he still tries to get to grips with the Suzuka circuit. Qulaifying was looking like it will be one of one car making into Q2 and the other not making it past Q1.

 
 Williams Racing Japanese GP Saturday Practice
 
Latifi
 

Team Summary:
After two wet Friday practice sessions the Saturday practice would commence with a rush of drivers coming out looking to make up for the lost dry track time. Both Williams cars were running using the medium tyre. There was a mix of all three tyre types and after the first opening times it would be Verstappen quickest with a 1m:32.050 followed by Perez, Norris and Ricciardo but all were on the soft tyre. For Williams their drivers were currently seventh and 17th. Drivers were straight into longer runs as we had Tsunoda, Gasly and Alex fifth to seventh but all on the medium tyre.

With thirty minutes remaining more soft tyre times were been set with Russell and Hamilton going second and fourth on the soft tyre. Bottas was now fifth with the Williams pair now 10th and 17th. Using the medium tyre we would have Alonso now second followed by Ocon, Hamilton and Russell now fifth. There was more change as Sainz went quickest with a 1m:30.965 followed by Leclerc and Verstappen. Fourth was now Alonso, Ocon, Tsunoda, Hamilton, Gasly, Russell, and Perez now tenth. After their soft tyre runs the Williams pair were now fourth and 19th.

Verstappen was now second behind Sainz with the Red Bull followed by Leclerc, Perez, Alex, Alonso, Ocon, Tsunoda, Hamilton, and Gasly now tenth. But Russell would improve on the soft to be fourth as we saw drivers coming out for what were most likely qualifying simulations. Leclerc was now second behind Sainz. On new soft tyres Verstappen would set a 1m:30.671 to become quickest. Alonso was now forth followed by Perez, Russell, Hamilton, Norris, Ocon and Stroll tenth. The Williams pair were now 12th and 19th with the end of the session. As for qualifying looking at their qualifying simulations Q2 for one car was a very good possibility.

Alex Albon:
Alex would be the last driver to take to the track using the medium tyre. Alex would set a 1m:35.784 to currently be 8th. But with a 1m:35.361 he would improve to be sixth dropping to seventh. He would also pit after a six lap run returning after a brief stop coming out on used medium tyres. He would complete another seven lap run prior to pitting. In the pits he would drop to 16th but yet to set a soft tyre time. This would become 20th and slowest as he returned for a soft tyre run. His would set a 1m:32.399 to be fourth. This would become eighth as others moved in front of him. Alex would return on a new set of soft tyres for what was his qualifying simulation. Alex would set a 1m:31.946 to be tenth. He would drop to 12th in what was an impressive effort. He would pit with the end of the session having completed a practice start and seven laps on the soft tyre.

Nicholas Latifi:
Nicholas would take to the track using the medium tyre. He would set a 1m:38.656 to currently be 14th. Nicholas would cut the final chicane lifting up a piece of the Astroturf. He had dropped to 20th but with a 1m:37.380 he would improve to be 17th. He would pit after a six lap run returning on used medium tyres. The session was quite windy and Nicholas would say that the wind sensitivity was the highest he has had all season. He was also on his radio to his engineer saying in the high speed parts of the track the car was extremely unstable. His engineer would reply yes we can see the balance. He would pit having complete a further seven laps. he would drop to 18th right behind Vettel. This would become 19th with twenty five minutes remaining.

He would return on a soft tyre and would set a 1m:34.359 to be 18th. With just under ten minutes remaining Nicholas would return for another soft tyre run in what was his qualifying simulation. He would set a 1m:32.868 to improve to be 17th. This would become 19th and with the end of the session he had complete seven laps on the soft tyre and would complete a practice start on the grid.

 
Albon
 
Cla Driver Chassis Laps Time Gap Interval
1  Max Verstappen Red Bull 22 1'30.671    
2  Carlos Sainz Ferrari 27 1'30.965 0.294 0.294
3  Charles Leclerc Ferrari 27 1'30.980 0.309 0.015
4  Fernando Alonso Alpine 20 1'31.320 0.649 0.340
5  Sergio Perez Red Bull 25 1'31.514 0.843 0.194
6  George Russell Mercedes 28 1'31.530 0.859 0.016
7  Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 25 1'31.589 0.918 0.059
8  Lando Norris McLaren 27 1'31.747 1.076 0.158
9  Esteban Ocon Alpine 22 1'31.750 1.079 0.003
10  Lance Stroll Aston Martin 25 1'31.838 1.167 0.088
11  Daniel Ricciardo McLaren 28 1'31.860 1.189 0.022
12  Alex Albon Williams 26 1'31.946 1.275 0.086
13  Valtteri Bottas Alfa Romeo 24 1'31.971 1.300 0.025
14  Sebastian Vettel Aston Martin 25 1'32.222 1.551 0.251
15  Kevin Magnussen Haas 23 1'32.290 1.619 0.068
16  Mick Schumacher Haas 24 1'32.366 1.695 0.076
17  Yuki Tsunoda AlphaTauri 26 1'32.377 1.706 0.011
18  Zhou Guanyu Alfa Romeo 24 1'32.385 1.714 0.008
19  Nicholas Latifi Williams 26 1'32.868 2.197 0.483
20  Pierre Gasly AlphaTauri 24 1'32.881 2.210 0.013
 
Latifi
 

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Japanese GP: Mixed FP3 for Williams Racing
Discussion started by Williams F1 , 08/10/2022 06:04
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