Suzuka Esses footage drops
F1 released crisp trackside footage of Suzuka’s Esses as teams ramp up prep for the Japanese GP — tight, high‑speed sequencing that’s already prompting setup chatter. (x.com) (x.com)
Formula 1 published multiple trackside clips and an official qualifying highlights package covering Suzuka’s Turns 3–6 on March 28, 2026. (formula1.com) The footage highlights drivers largely avoiding heavy braking through the Esses as the 2026 hybrid power units perform significant regenerative deceleration, a behaviour Autosport and trackside analysts explicitly documented. (autosport.com) Teams reported shifting setup priorities toward steady mid‑corner grip and suspension stability rather than traditional brake bite, and The Race’s Friday analysis documented differing energy‑deployment philosophies — notably between McLaren and Mercedes. (formula1.com) Pirelli confirmed the tyre allocation for the weekend as C1 (hard), C2 (medium) and C3 (soft), the hardest trio used so far in 2026, and commentators flagged that a recent resurfacing at Suzuka increases the importance of tyre preservation through the Esses. (formula1.com) Friday telemetry and team reports showed McLaren topping single‑lap timesheets while Mercedes demonstrated superior long‑run pace, prompting rival engineers to adjust battery‑harvest maps and suspension settings ahead of qualifying and the race. (f1cosmos.com)
