Fisichella, meanwhile, could be facing the start of his
Renault - maybe even F1 - swansong, with team boss Fl\vio Briatore continuing to consider his 2008 line-up. The Italian, however, is looking forward to Fuji after a disappointing Belgian GP.
"I think it is always interesting for the teams and drivers when you go to a new place and a new circuit," he says, "It breaks up the routine from year to year and, for the drivers and also the engineers, I think it makes our job a bit more interesting. To be honest, this isn't my first time in Fuji because I raced there back in 1993 in F3, but the circuit has changed a lot since then.
"Japan is a country I like in general, and I have always had a fun time racing here. I have been on the podium both times I have raced for Renault in Japan, and I am hoping for another good race at Fuji this year. Belgium was a complicated weekend, and it was made more frustrating by the fact that the car was working well. My concentration is now on the final three races, where I am looking to have some good battles and score more points."
Despite not being able to test at the new circuit, Renault has attempted to flatten its learning curve by feeding all known data on Fuji through its computer systems.
"The major part of our work has involved completing detailed computer simulations," engineering director Pat Symonds confirms, "It is very clearly a circuit that follows the modern trend, of slow corners and long straights, [and] we have very good circuit maps, and extremely accurate software, but there are still unknown parameters to cope with. We don't know how the drivers can use the kerbs, for example, and we don't have detailed information about the grip level. This means we have to run many different simulations, with different estimated values, in order to be full prepared for every eventuality. But that basic homework gives us a good feeling for what to expect.
"The midfield group has clearly closed up over the last few races, which was to be expected, but I am confident that we still have the performance to lead that group. While our championship position is relatively comfortable, we cannot afford any slip-ups, and especially if we have to deal with unpredictable conditions which are a distinct possibility."
Ferrari – Felipe Massa (#5), Kimi Raikkonen (#6):
There are only a handful of people in the paddock who were at Fuji Speedway the last time it staged a Formula One grand prix, Ferrari's Luca di Montezemolo among them, but for the majority of the Scuderia's 2007 line-up, this weekend will be a step into the unknown.
Kimi Raikkonen arrives in Japan having renewed his challenge for the world title with victory in Belgium and, with Ferrari having secured the constructors' crown - albeit in contentious circumstances - the team can focus on helping the Finn and team-mate Felipe Massa make life difficult for the
McLaren duo. Like the majority of his rivals, Raikkonen has not seen teh remodelled Fuji - but, unlike most of the opposition, he has made little effort to discover more about it.
"Honestly, I've seen the track only in the papers," the Finn claims, "I know that some drivers prepare themselves for this race using simulators but, to be honest, that's something I don't like. I've never played with a Playstation, never used simulators and I think that my performance did not suffer at all! I've always been able to get to know a new race track very fast. This hasn't changed since I've been racing in
Formula One. With three hours of free practice on Friday and one on Saturday morning I don't think that there will be any problems in the qualifying. I always liked to discover new tracks, I really like that feeling it gives me. It's nice to walk down the track on Thursday to get to know all the corners.
"I've read that our car would not adapt perfectly to this kind of track, but I know that our team has worked very hard, so we can be competitive during the weekend. I'll face this race just like I faced the ones before, which means that I want to win. We're behind, so we don't have any other choice.
"It's difficult to tell who might have an advantage here. We know that McLaren will be very strong, but they know that we will be too. We'll try to go on riding the wave of the 1-2-win at Spa-Francorchamps. The two McLarens are still well ahead and, obviously, they don't want to make any stupid mistake. I have nothing to lose, but they have to be very careful."
Massa's title chances may have receded following his retirement in Italy three weeks ago, but the Brazilian's ambition remains undimmed, although he may soon find himself being asked to support Raikkonen's run at the crown.
"We have three more races and, as usual, I will do my best to get the better result for the team," he stresses, "In
Ferrari, our main priority is the interest of the team. However, there is a lot to do, but you never know what might happen. In
F1, there can be surprises sometimes and I am hoping for the right sort of surprise!
"The Japanese race will be a new adventure for all of us with a new venue and a new track layout. Like most of the other drivers, I have been using the simulator we have in the factory to learn the Fuji track and at least now I know where the corners are!"
Honda – Jenson Button (#7), Rubens Barrichello (#8):
If anyone will be determined to succeed at Fuji it will be the Honda Racing F1 team, which is forced to ventue onto
Toyota territory after years of being comfortable at Suzuka. Sadly, given its current malaise, the only success that Honda is likely to achieve will be beating the hosts.
"This will be the first time that Formula One has visited the 'new' Fuji International Speedway and, as a result, we have limited data on the circuit which makes the practice sessions on Friday and Saturday even more important," confirms senior technical director Shuhei Nakamoto, echoing the 'revelations' of his peers, "The downforce levels required will be very similar to the last race at Spa-Francorchamps, so we are prepared for a challenging weekend."
The difficult weekend in Belgium wiped out the pleasant memories of
Jenson Button's point from Monza, but the Briton - who is repeatedly being pushed, by the British media at least, as a potential replacement for
Fernando Alonso at McLaren - remains upbeat for Fuji.
"The Japanese Grand Prix is always a very special weekend for the whole Honda team as it is one of our two home races of the year," he explains, "This year will be a new challenge for both myself and the team as the race returns to the Fuji International Speedway, which is an unknown quantity. I will be studying the circuit layout with our engineers in advance of the race, but we will only find out its true characteristics during our track walk on Thursday and the first few laps of practice on Friday. The re-designed circuit is another Herman Tilke 'special' and, after the fantastic job that he did with Istanbul Park, it will be interesting to see how this circuit matches up.
