Aside from the pit stops and a few DRS passes on midfielders by drivers from the ‘big three’ teams, the Japanese Grand Prix was short on overtaking.
Fernando Alonso did his best to pass Massa late in the race but their battle was disrupted by the arrival of the leaders, who lapped them. Lewis Hamilton lost a lot of time behind Alonso – so much that the McLaren driver was penalised after the race – and without that delay it’s doubtful Max Verstappen would have got within striking distance.
Despite failing to get into the points, Alonso posted the biggest position gain of any driver in the race. He gained nine place, coincidentally the same number of spots his team mate Stoffel Vandoorne lost on the first lap after clashing with Kimi Raikkonen.
2017 Japanese Grand Prix lap chart
The positions of each driver on every lap. Click name to highlight, right-click to reset. Toggle drivers using controls below:
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| Driver | Start position | Lap one position change | Race position change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lewis Hamilton | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Valtteri Bottas | 6 | 0 | 2 |
| Daniel Ricciardo | 3 | -2 | 0 |
| Max Verstappen | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Sebastian Vettel | 2 | -1 | |
| Kimi Raikkonen | 10 | -5 | 5 |
| Sergio Perez | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Esteban Ocon | 5 | 1 | -1 |
| Felipe Massa | 8 | 0 | -2 |
| Lance Stroll | 15 | 4 | |
| Fernando Alonso | 20 | 3 | 9 |
| Stoffel Vandoorne | 9 | -9 | -5 |
| Carlos Sainz Jnr | 19 | ||
| Pierre Gasly | 14 | 2 | 1 |
| Romain Grosjean | 13 | 0 | 4 |
| Kevin Magnussen | 12 | 2 | 4 |
| Nico Hulkenberg | 11 | 2 | |
| Jolyon Palmer | 18 | 4 | 6 |
| Marcus Ericsson | 16 | 0 | |
| Pascal Wehrlein | 17 | -2 | 2 |
2017 Japanese Grand Prix race chart
The gaps between each driver on every lap compared to the leader’s average lap time. Very large gaps omitted. Scroll to zoom, drag to pan and right-click to reset. Toggle drivers using controls below:
2017 Japanese Grand Prix
- 2017 Japanese Grand Prix Predictions Championship results
- 2017 Japanese Grand Prix team radio transcript
- 2017 Japanese Grand Prix Star Performers
- “It’s been a pleasure”: Japanese GP team radio highlights
- Hamilton on course to equal Schumacher’s 91 wins record in 2020
