Formula 1 returns to Suzuka for the Japan Grand Prix, the third race of the season, taking place from April 3 to 6 at the iconic Japanese circuit. After a week off, the series resumes with Brazilian driver Gabriel Bortoleto of Sauber still hunting for his first championship points. Scheduled for 2 a.m. Sunday (Brasília time), the race promises excitement with McLaren’s lead, Yuki Tsunoda’s Red Bull debut, and potential rain shaking up strategies. Live coverage will be available on Band and Bandsports, with practice and qualifying starting Thursday.
Located in Mie Prefecture, Suzuka is one of Formula 1’s most storied tracks, renowned for its challenging figure-eight layout and the high-speed 130R corner, where cars exceed 300 km/h. McLaren arrives in Japan atop the constructors’ standings with 78 points, driven by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri’s dominance in the season’s opening races. Norris triumphed in Australia, while Piastri took the win in China, solidifying the team as the early pacesetter.
Meanwhile, Red Bull faces turbulence. After just two races, the team replaced Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda alongside Max Verstappen, a move that stunned the paddock. Tsunoda, a Japanese driver racing at home, steps into the spotlight under intense pressure, as Lawson drops to the Racing Bulls, Red Bull’s sister team. Mercedes, second with 57 points, and Ferrari, struggling with 17 points from Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, aim to rebound in a weekend that could shape the season’s trajectory.
Suzuka circuit tests drivers in third round
Situated about 400 kilometers from Tokyo, Suzuka has hosted Formula 1 since 1987, except for 2007 and 2008, when the race moved to Fuji, and 2020 and 2021, canceled due to the pandemic. Spanning 5.807 kilometers, the track demands technical precision with its high-speed corners. Lewis Hamilton holds the lap record at 1:30.983, set in 2019, a testament to the skill and power required to master this venue.
The Japan GP boasts a rich legacy. Michael Schumacher leads with six Suzuka victories, followed by Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel with four each. For Brazilian fans, the circuit evokes pride: Ayrton Senna won in 1988 to clinch his first world title and again in 1993, Nelson Piquet triumphed in 1990, and Rubens Barrichello took the top step in 2003. Now, Gabriel Bortoleto aims to carve his name into this historic track’s annals.
Weather could play a pivotal role. Forecasts predict temperatures between 12°C and 20°C on Sunday, with a 60% chance of rain during the race. On a circuit where grip is critical, wet conditions might scramble strategies and create opportunities for unexpected outcomes, as seen in past rain-affected editions.
Red Bull shakeup stirs paddock
Red Bull’s decision to swap Liam Lawson for Yuki Tsunoda after two races caught many off guard. Lawson, who replaced Sergio Pérez late in 2024, failed to impress in Australia and China, prompting the immediate change. Tsunoda, previously with Racing Bulls alongside Isack Hadjar, now gets his shot next to Max Verstappen, the reigning four-time world champion, in a team notorious for its high expectations of secondary drivers.
Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s advisor, acknowledged Verstappen’s displeasure with the switch. Tsunoda’s experience and his tenth-place finish at last year’s Japan GP were cited as reasons for the promotion. Still, the Japanese driver faces immense pressure: racing alongside Verstappen and performing for his home crowd in Suzuka will test his mettle.
Liam Lawson, meanwhile, returns to Racing Bulls, partnering with Hadjar, the 2024 Formula 2 runner-up. The move underscores Red Bull’s push for renewal and competitiveness, but it also highlights ongoing instability in the second seat—a recurring issue since Pérez’s departure last year despite a contract through 2026.
McLaren shines in season opener
Boasting 78 points in the constructors’ championship, McLaren is riding high. Lando Norris kicked off the season with a commanding win in Australia, leading most of the race under tricky intermediate conditions. Oscar Piastri finished ninth after a collision but bounced back in China, securing victory in a one-two finish with Norris, who took second despite brake issues.
In Australia, Norris ended Verstappen’s streak of consecutive days leading the drivers’ championship, a run that began at the 2022 Spanish GP. In China, Piastri started from pole and controlled the race throughout, marking McLaren’s 50th one-two finish in Formula 1 history. The defending constructors’ champions display consistency and strength, though internal rivalry between Norris and Piastri could pose challenges in Suzuka.
Mercedes holds second place with 57 points, thanks to Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s climb from 16th to fourth in Australia and George Russell’s third in China. Lewis Hamilton, now with Ferrari, has struggled early on, with a sprint win in China overshadowed by the team’s disqualification from Sunday’s race due to technical breaches.
Key moments to watch in Suzuka
Several storylines stand out for the Japan GP weekend. The McLaren duel between Norris and Piastri will draw eyes, as both have shown pace and ambition. Red Bull, with Tsunoda’s debut alongside Verstappen, aims to close the 42-point gap to McLaren. Gabriel Bortoleto, the lone Brazilian on the grid, seeks improvement after finishing 14th in China, having climbed from 19th in a recovery drive.
- Title chase: Norris, the championship leader, faces pressure from Piastri, who already has a win.
- Home spotlight: Tsunoda carries Japan’s hopes in his Red Bull debut.
- Rain factor: Wet conditions could disrupt the pecking order.
- Bortoleto’s bid: The Brazilian eyes his first points in a challenging circuit.
Ferrari, meanwhile, must regroup. Hamilton’s sprint victory in China was a bright spot, but the Sunday disqualification exposed weaknesses. Charles Leclerc has yet to find his rhythm, and the team lags with just 17 points, trailing even Racing Bulls in the standings.
Full Japan GP schedule
The Suzuka weekend follows Formula 1’s standard format: three practice sessions, qualifying, and the race. All times are in Brasília time, accounting for the 12-hour difference with Japan. The event will be broadcast exclusively by the Bandeirantes Group on Band, Bandsports, and F1TV.
- Thursday, April 3
Practice 1: 11:30 p.m. (Bandsports and F1TV) - Friday, April 4
Practice 2: 3 a.m. (Bandsports and F1TV)
Practice 3: 11:30 p.m. (Bandsports and F1TV) - Saturday, April 5
Qualifying: 3 a.m. (Band, Bandsports, and F1TV) - Sunday, April 6
Race: 2 a.m. (Band and F1TV)
Friday’s practice sessions will be crucial for teams to fine-tune setups for Suzuka’s demands, while Saturday’s qualifying sets the grid for the 53-lap race, covering 307.471 kilometers.
Looking back at the 2024 Japan GP
Last year, Max Verstappen dominated the Japan GP, winning with a fastest lap of 1:33.706 and starting from pole with 1:28.197. Red Bull secured a one-two finish with Sergio Pérez in second, while Carlos Sainz, then with Ferrari, took third. Yuki Tsunoda, racing for Racing Bulls, finished tenth, earning his first points at home—a feat he’ll aim to repeat in a faster car this time.
Verstappen’s 2024 victory followed a retirement in Australia, showcasing Red Bull’s quick turnaround. The race featured a tactical tire battle, with the Dutchman outpacing rivals on a dry track. Now, with Tsunoda replacing Pérez and Lawson, the team’s dynamics will shift significantly.
For Gabriel Bortoleto, the 2024 Japan GP was a distant aspiration. Competing in Formula 2 at the time, he clinched the title before joining Sauber. In his rookie Formula 1 season, he now faces the challenge of scoring points on a track that demands experience and adaptability.
High stakes for an unpredictable weekend
With the season still young, the Japan GP could reshape the standings. McLaren enters as the favorite, but rain and Tsunoda’s Red Bull debut add uncertainty. Mercedes, buoyed by Antonelli’s rise, could surprise, while Ferrari aims to overcome its early technical woes.
At 20, Gabriel Bortoleto embodies Brazil’s next generation of racing talent. After a tough debut in Australia and a partial recovery in China, he arrives in Suzuka targeting a top-10 finish. Sauber, with six points from Nico Hülkenberg, relies on the young driver to boost its seventh-place standing in the constructors’ championship.
Rain on Sunday heightens anticipation. In Suzuka’s 33 races, the pole-sitter has won 17 times, but wet conditions have sparked upsets—like Kimi Räikkönen’s 2005 victory from 17th. Teams and drivers must be ready for anything.
Suzuka and Japan GP trivia
Suzuka ranks among Formula 1’s most beloved circuits, blending a unique layout with rich history. Here are some tidbits that enhance the weekend’s allure:
- Its figure-eight design is the only one in the series with an overpass crossover.
- The 130R corner, named for its 130-meter radius, is one of the calendar’s fastest turns.
- Suzuka has decided 11 world titles, more than any other track in Formula 1.
- Senna’s 1988 win sealed his first championship, a defining moment for Brazilian fans.
These historical layers amplify the Japan GP’s mystique, now hosting a new wave of drivers vying for glory.
Adjusted 2025 calendar
The 2025 Formula 1 season began in March with the Australian GP, a shift from last year due to Ramadan delaying the Bahrain GP. Suzuka, typically held in September or October, moved to April to avoid Pacific typhoon season. The 24-race championship, ending in December, marks the final year of current power units before 2026 regulation changes.
Following Japan, Formula 1 heads to Bahrain on April 13, maintaining an Asia-Pacific start. The rejigged calendar reflects efforts to optimize logistics and weather, ensuring safer, more competitive races.