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The Japanese Grand Prix – Information, schedule, predictions

The Japanese Grand Prix, the sixteenth of the originally planned twenty-three races, is scheduled for the weekend of 22-24 September. What is the schedule and where can you follow the race weekend?

Published

1 year ago

20. 9. 2023

Tomáš Myšák

Zdroj: Clive Rose/Getty Images, Red Bull Content Pool

The Japanese Grand Prix, the sixteenth of the originally planned twenty-three races, is scheduled for the weekend of 22-24 September. What is the schedule and where can you follow the race weekend?

The Japanese Grand Prix has been on the Formula One calendar since 1987. However, the queen of motorsport will not race here in 2020 and 2021 due to a coronavirus pandemic.

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, as well as setting out to turn Honda into an automotive superpower, has 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 5.807 km 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, 22 September, at 04:30, as part of the first practice session (officially called Free Practice 1 – ed.). This will last the standard one hour.

FP2 will start at 08:00 on the same day. The third and final free practice is scheduled for Saturday, September 23, from 04:30 to 05:30.

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

Japanese Grand Prix – odds and predictions

Who will be the biggest favourite to win at Suzuka in Japan? In the context of the whole season, it should be Red Bull of course, but after their very poor form in Singapore, there is also a small question mark hanging over the Austrian stable.

As far as Norris is concerned, there is a strong possibility that the McLaren driver will regain the podium. There are decent odds of 2.20 on that, and 4.50 on his teammate Oscar Piastri.