The Grand Prix of Japan – Information, schedule, stream

Despite the original plan, Formula 1 will run “only” twenty-two races this season, with the eighteenth event of 2022 being the Formula 1 Honda Japanese Grand Prix. So what is the schedule and where can you follow the entire race weekend?

The Japanese Grand Prix has been on the Formula 1 calendar since 1987. However, the queen of motorsport has not raced here in the last two years, so this is a big return to the Asian continent, along with the previous Singapore Grand Prix. That was a week earlier and was won by Sergio Pérez.

The Japanese Grand Prix has already offered us a lot in its history and Suzuka itself has its own specific story. The man behind its creation is Soichiro Honda, who, in addition to deciding to turn Honda into an automotive superpower, announced that his company must have its own test track.

The original drawings were done by Dutchman John Hugenholtz. The winner of the first race in 1987 was Gerhard Berger, and in its first year Suzuka offered great drama. Nigel Mansell suffered a severe crash in qualifying that year, which left him unable to compete in the race.

And as it was the penultimate Grand Prix of that season, it could be said that the World Championship title was essentially gifted to his rival Nélson Piquet. Hamilton set the fastest lap on this track in 2019 with a time of 1:30.983.

Suzuka International Racing Course

The track itself is 5.807km long and consists of eighteen corners. Suzuka International Racing Course, as the official name of the circuit goes, offers only one DRS zone, located in the start and finish area.

There is therefore one detection point on the track, which is located at the exit of turn 15 just before the timed section. The Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix is a standard 53-lap race, during which the drivers will cover just under 308 kilometres.

But as well as the detection points, you can also see the average speeds that the drivers achieve at each corner, and which gear they usually shift into at that corner.

Japanese Grand Prix – programme

The Formula 1 cars will take to the track for the first time on Friday 7 October, specifically in the early hours of the morning (05:00), and this will of course be the first practice session (officially called Free Practice 1 – ed.). It will last one hour as standard.

FP2 will start on the same day at 08:00 and will last unusually for one and a half hours. The third and final free practice is scheduled for Saturday, October 8, from 5 to 6 pm.

At the stroke of 8am, drivers and teams will qualify for Sunday’s Grand Prix, which F1 has scheduled to start at 07:00.

Japanese Grand Prix – stream

Live coverage of the Formula 1 races can be watched on Sport 1 and Sport 2. There will also be internet streams and, last but not least, F1 TV, where you can switch to the onboard cameras of individual drivers.

But F1 TV in particular also offers other features, namely livetiming and detailed telemetry. In addition to the full F1 programme, you can also watch press conferences or Formula 2 or Formula 3 practice and qualifying sessions.

Japanese Grand Prix – odds

The Suzuka circuit in Japan will be raced after a two-year hiatus when Formula 1 did not race here due to the coronavirus pandemic. The last time, in the 2019 edition, Valtteri Bottas won here, then still in Mercedes colours.

The podium was then captured by Sebastian Vettel in a Ferrari and Bottas’ teammate Lewis Hamilton. But how could this year’s Grand Prix end? Throughout the season, it has been true that when it comes to the battle for victory – Ferrari is usually better in qualifying, Red Bull in the race.

So the question is what will be the result of Saturday’s qualifying. If Ferrari succeeds in it, it will have a chance to win the race, even though the Red Bull monoblocs are very strong in terms of race pace. However, there is another, even more serious question that comes to mind for all involved – will Max Verstappen celebrate his world championship title in Japan?

Formula One World Championship race calendar for the 2022 season

20. march – Bahrain Grand Prix (Sakhir)
27. march – Saudi Arabia Grand Prix (Jeddah)
10. april – Australian Grand Prix (Melbourne)
24. april – Grand Prix of Emilia Romagna (Imola)
8. may – Miami Grand Prix (Miami)
22. may – Spanish Grand Prix (Barcelona)
29. may – Monaco Grand Prix (Monaco)
12. june – Azerbaijan Grand Prix (Baku)
19. june – Canadian Grand Prix (Montreal)
3. july – British Grand Prix (Silverstone)
10. july – Austrian Grand Prix (Spielberg)
24. july – French Grand Prix (Paul Ricard)
31. july – Hungarian Grand Prix (Hungaroring)
28. august – Belgian Grand Prix (Spa-Francorchamps)
4. september – Dutch Grand Prix (Zandvoort)
11. september – Italian Grand Prix (Monza)
2. october – Singapore Grand Prix (Singapore)
9. october – Japanese Grand Prix (Suzuka)
23. october – US Grand Prix (Austin)
30. october – Mexican Grand Prix (Mexico City)
13. november – Brazilian Grand Prix (Interlagos)
20. november – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Yas Marina)

With the date of 25 September, the Russian Grand Prix at the Sochi circuit also had a place on the calendar. However, due to the recent events in Ukraine, F1 has removed this race from the schedule and according to official information, it will not be replaced by any race.