The Formula 1 season continues with early race times as the popular Suzuka circuit hosts the Japanese Grand Prix, the third round of the championship.
Suzuka, a favorite among drivers, is the first race of a triple-header before events in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Its fast, flowing layout is a true test of aerodynamic performance.
In qualifying, Max Verstappen of Red Bull secured pole position, ahead of McLaren`s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Ferrari`s Charles Leclerc was fourth, and Mercedes` George Russell fifth.
Yuki Tsunoda`s promotion to the main Red Bull team has boosted the enthusiasm of Japanese fans. He replaces Liam Lawson, who returns to Racing Bulls after two races. Lawson qualified 14th, ahead of Tsunoda, marking his first Q1 appearance this season.
Norris leads the championship by a small margin of eight points over Verstappen, followed by Russell and Piastri.
Ferrari aims to recover after a disappointing race in the previous round, where Lewis Hamilton`s sprint race win was overshadowed by a double disqualification in the main Grand Prix.
Suzuka Circuit: Japanese GP Track
Suzuka is a legendary 3.6-mile Formula 1 circuit, known for its iconic and challenging sections.
The figure-of-eight layout features famous corners like the Esses, Degners, Spoon, and 130R, making it one of the most demanding tracks for both drivers and cars.
Suzuka has been a regular on the F1 calendar since 1987, and its original late-season slot often saw it host title-deciding races, including the famous Senna-Prost battles.
Since 2024, the race has moved to April, coinciding with Japan`s beautiful cherry blossom season.
Japanese GP Weather in Suzuka
Rain is expected before the race, which could be beneficial after grass fires caused interruptions during practice and qualifying.
Japanese GP Race Schedule
Sunday, April 6
- 4:30am: Japanese GP build-up
- 6:00am: THE JAPANESE GRAND PRIX
- 8:00am: Japanese GP reaction
- 9:00am: Post-Race Analysis
