The Formula 1 maturity certificate: Suzuka

MERCEDES: Honor where honor is due - in the case of Mercedes, in Japan it went first and foremost to Niki Lauda. The Formula 1 icon, who died in May, was no longer able to experience the 6th silver constructors' title in a row. But Toto Wolff, Lewis Hamilton and Co. couldn't overestimate Lauda's contribution to the success. “We miss the Kapperl a lot,” said motorsport director Wolff. Since 2014 and the beginning of the hybrid era, Mercedes has been the benchmark in Formula 1 - also thanks to Lauda, who helped shape the team's successes as a team supervisory board member. The 2019 title is the result of consistency and perfection in many areas. Mercedes had the best car for long periods of the season and diligently collected points during this phase. In world champion Lewis Hamilton and the Finn Valtteri Bottas, who won in Suzuka, Mercedes also has a pairing that works despite the natural rivalry and benefits from each other with fairness. Misfires like those that happen to Ferrari with (un)pleasant regularity are a rarity. However, the lead has recently melted away; Ferrari now has the better package, not only on the straights, but this also became clear again in Japan. The year will still end with 2 titles for Mercedes, the Drivers' World Championship will most likely go to Hamilton again, and Sebastian Vettel also made a commitment. It will be exciting to see what it looks like in 2020 when the championship starts from scratch again.

SEBASTIAN VETTEL: “Lewis will be world champion,” said Vettel after the race on Sunday, which also meant that he won’t be with Ferrari again. This was already clear before Suzuka and was no longer a surprise, just as mistakes made by the four-time champion are no longer surprising. On his favorite track, he made a huge mess at the start and after a few meters lost the pole position that he had fought for just a few hours before. However, you have to give Vettel credit for the following: he only looked for the fault in himself. And: The Heppenheimer drove a good race as the race progressed. In the final phase he fended off all of Hamilton's attempts to overtake, and he also managed a points victory against Charles Leclerc in qualifying and the race.

CHARLES LECLERC: Vettel's teammate at Ferrari was clearly inferior to the veteran this time. Over-motivated and clumsy, the Monegasque Max Verstappen conceded in the first lap. The race was over for both of them. Leclerc remains one of the biggest talents in the paddock and will learn lessons from this experience. Japan was a setback, nothing more.

Leclerc and Verstappen are getting closer © APA/afp / STR

MAX STAGES: The favorite of the Japanese fans was the young Dutchman, but it was of no use to him at the home game for Red Bull engine supplier Honda. He lacked power in qualifying, then came into contact with Leclerc. Verstappen avoids a clear commitment to Red Bull beyond the 2020 season. His satisfaction will not have increased at Suzuka.

HAGIBIS: Bright sunshine and blue skies: Anyone who saw the pictures from the Suzuka Circuit on Sunday might have asked themselves why Formula 1 made such a fuss about super typhoon Hagibis. The third training session was finally canceled and the qualifying was postponed by one day for the first time in 3 years. Anyone who saw pictures from other regions of Japan on Sunday had to come to the conclusion that the decision to cancel all motorsport activities on Saturday was only one thing: there was no alternative. Safety is above all else. The fact that Suzuka, and therefore Formula 4, was largely spared from a monster storm that cost lives was nothing other than luck.

SAYING OF THE WEEKEND: “We would like to dedicate this title to Niki because he was such an important part of the journey from the beginning.” (Mercedes Motorsport Director Wolff in memory of team supervisory board member Lauda, who died in May.)

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The Formula 1 maturity certificate: Suzuka

The Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka was no ordinary one: because of the super typhoon there were qualifying and races on Sunday. And Mercedes won their first world title.

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