Suzuka exam for F1 2026
F1 is preparing to contest the third GP of the season before forced break due to the postponement/cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia GPs due to the current geopolitical situation in the Middle East
Teams and drivers will be on stage in Japan on the legendary Suzuka circuit, a track that will put this new generation of cars to the test and there is no shortage of concerns relating to the management of electrical energy in the long stretch that leads to the Triangle chicane and which could transform the legendary 130R in a very simple curve given that in all likelihood the pilots will arrive at that point with the battery now flat.
In Australia and China Mercedes achieved two doubles, we will see if in this third round the Ferrari – which plans to race the entire weekend with the SF-26s equipped with the ‘Macarena’ rear wing – will be able to put the W17s in even more difficulty after having already challenged them both in Melbourne and Shanghai. After his first podium, Lewis Hamilton is looking for his first victory as a driver for the Scuderia di Maranello, while Andrea Kimi Antonelli will try to confirm himself now that he has tasted the thrill of climbing to the top step of the podium. George Russell and Charles Leclerc – ‘beaten’ in China by their respective boxing partners – will be looking for revenge.
The event will be broadcast live in full on Sky Sports F1up TV8 Qualifying and the Grand Prix at 2pm on Saturday and Sunday will be broadcast free-to-air in a deferred manner. Qualifying and the race will start at the same time – 07:00 – because summer time kicks in on the night between Saturday and Sunday. On you will find the live written of all the sessions. Below i details of the programming, the characteristics of the circuit and the roll of honor of the Japanese Grand Prix.
GP Japan 2026: TV schedule and session times
Friday 27 March
03.30 Free Practice 1 F1 (Sky Sport F1, live written on )
07:00 Free Practice 2 F1 (Sky Sport F1, live written on
Saturday 28 March
03:30 Free Practice 3 F1 (Sky Sport F1, live written on )
07:00 F1 Qualifying (Sky Sport F1, live written on delayed on TV8 at 2.00 pm)
Sunday 29 March
07:00 F1 race (Sky Sport F1, live written on delayed on TV8 at 2.00 pm)
The characteristics of the Suzuka circuit
Route: 5,807 km
Laps: 53
Race distance: 307,471 km
Roll of Honor Japanese Grand Prix
