Turning Japanese

Racing is in Suzuka, Japan, this weekend and will it be 3rd time lucky for Aussie driver Oscar Piastri? So far this season he has 2 DNS and 6th place in the Shanghai Sprint. Drivers love the Suzuka track and its layout should deliver some exciting racing for those who can get a handle on the new cars.

The circuit’s figure 8 layout did not leave much room for decoration but the cherry blossoms are in bloom in race week and it was an easy decision to pretty the track up with the pink and white flowers.

At Suzuka, 50 kilometres south of Nagoya, the blooms soften the utilitarian landscape of the race circuit which is owned by Honda and hosts car and motorcycle racing throughout the year. Cherry blossoms are big business in Japan with about 1,000 viewing locations and an official forecast issued by the Japan Meteorological Corporation.

There are cherry blossoms where I live and while they are a welcome sight at the end of a winter and beautiful sign of spring, the flowers are barely open before the winds arrive and blow them away. Much like the hopes and dreams of quite a few F1 drivers so far this year.