DAY 2 - SUZUKA, F1 QUALIFYING & NAGOYA

First proper day in Japan, and its and early start. Made easier by jetlag we headed back to Nagoya Station and got the F1 express train to the circuit, picking up a couple of sandwiches for the journey.

A huge crowd had gathered at the main entrance as all the Japanese fans waited for their favourite drivers to arrive to cheer them in.

A young Lewis Hamilton is filmed by the BBC.
And below is Red Bull's prediction for the F1 car of the future, designed I think for Gran Turismo.

There is a theme park over the road from the racetrack, as well as lots of attractions at the circuit, like the famous wheel which this was taken from.

The Japanese fans love dressing up, the atmosphere here is like no other GP that I've been to.

Not quite sure what was going on here, but there was a big queue of people looking like they wanted to get their hair cut by a man from Marlboro cigarettes.

Taking our seats for the practice session, we had great seats to see Lewis Hamilton stick it in the wall. Luckily he wasn't hurt and car too damaged to give him or Mercedes too many problems about getting set for qualifying.

Below: We made some Australian mates, not sure who they were supporting though. I think it was Vettel.

The Japanese love a good snooze when they can squeeze one and it is no different at the F1.

The cars looked fantastic qualifying in the afternoon sun from our seats just after the first corner at the start of the Esses. Rosberg ended up taking pole position from Lewis Hamiliton, with the Williams taking the next two places on the grid.  Jenson Button qualified 8th.

Whilst queuing for the train with the hundreds of other people in Suzuka we got chatting to a Mexican guy named Homer, who randomly had to have studied in the North West of England. Upon arriving back in Nagoya we decided to go for some drinks. We ended up in private dining restaurant Tomoru (kind of by accident after entering one the many high rise buildings near the station), it was really nice inside so we got ourselves a booth.

After eating we went for a few more drinks in a small japanese bar. After a few more drinks we were invited to go for karaoke with the japanese patrons of the bar, but it was now getting really late, we had drunk too much and it was race day tomorrow. Homer though, not one to turn down fun went for it!