Coming off the back of one returnee to the
Formula One schedule, the field heads to another this weekend, as the heavily revamped Fuji Speedway takes on the mantle of hosting the Japanese Grand Prix for the first time since 1977.
Whereas Spa-Francorchamps was welcomed back to the fold with open arms however, Fuji's return is being greeted with a little more reluctance as the switch means the loss of another of
F1's favourite venues, Suzuka. Although the two circuits may share the event from 2009, Fuji has claim on Japan's round for the next two seasons, repaying
Toyota's investment in the venue that has seen it heavily transformed from the venue where James Hunt claimed the 1976 world title.
Following
McLaren's decision not to appeal the penalties handed down by the World Motor Sport Council prior to Spa, it is hoped that the event - the first of three flyaways to end the 2007 campaign - will pass off without further controversy. The drivers' championship remains finely balanced between the two McLaren pilots after
Fernando Alonso got the upper hand on
Lewis Hamilton in Belgium, but has
Kimi Raikkonen got the momentum to beat them both after his victory at Spa?
FIA F1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP NEWS
As mentioned above, the
Formula 1 spy saga could well be at an end after McLaren elected not to appeal against the $100 million fine handed down by the World Motor Sport Council prior to the Spa race weekend. The decision also means that
Ferrari has clinched the 2007 constructors championship, with McLaren’s exclusion from the standings now being official.
