The Japanese Grand Prix has long been a cornerstone of the Formula 1 World Championship, renowned for its challenging circuits and pivotal moments that have shaped the sport's history while opening the sport to being hosted in Asia.
As we approach the 2025 edition and 39th running of the Japanese Grand Prix, from April 4 to 6 at the iconic Suzuka Circuit, anticipation is mounting for another intriguing chapter in this great race in front of probably the most appreciative and knowledgeable of all Formula 1 fans.
The inaugural Japanese Grand Prix took place in 1976 at the Fuji Speedway, a high-speed circuit located near Mount Fuji. This debut race became legendary, serving as the dramatic finale to the season's championship battle between James Hunt and Niki Lauda.
Amid torrential rain and treacherous conditions, Lauda made the courageous decision to withdraw after just two laps, prioritising safety over competition. Hunt's eventual third-place finish secured him the championship by a single point, a testament to the race's high stakes and unpredictable nature.
In 1987, the Japanese Grand Prix found a new home at the Suzuka International Racing Course. Designed by Dutch engineer John Hugenholtz in 1962, Suzuka is celebrated for its unique figure-eight layout, the only one of its kind in Formula 1. This configuration, featuring a diverse mix of high-speed straights, challenging corners, and elevation changes, has tested the mettle of drivers and teams alike.
Memorable moments at Suzuka
Suzuka has been the backdrop for numerous defining moments in Formula 1 history. The late 1980s and early 1990s saw intense rivalries come to a head on this circuit. In 1989, a controversial collision between Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost at the chicane decided the championship in Prost's favour.
The following year, Senna and Prost clashed again at the first corner, leading to Senna clinching the title amid heated debates.
The 1996 race witnessed Damon Hill's victory, securing his only World Championship and marking an emotional high point in his career. In 2000, Michael Schumacher's win at Suzuka ended Ferrari's 21-year championship drought, solidifying his status as one of the sport's greats.
These moments underscore Suzuka's reputation as a circuit where Formula 1 legends are made and championships are decided.
A dreadful Sunday at Suzuka
Jules Bianchi suffered a devastating accident during the closing stages of the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, ultimately leading to his death nine months later.
Driving for Marussia in wet and fading light conditions, Bianchi lost control at Turn 7 and collided with a recovery vehicle that was retrieving Adrian Sutil’s crashed Sauber. The race was red-flagged and not restarted.
Bianchi sustained severe head injuries and was taken to Mie General Medical Center, where he remained in a coma until his death on 17 July 2015.
The 25-year-old Frenchman was regarded as one of the brightest young talents in the sport. His death marked the first fatality from injuries sustained during a Grand Prix weekend since Ayrton Senna in 1994.
Bianchi’s crash prompted a series of safety reforms, including the introduction of the Virtual Safety Car and changes to recovery procedures under yellow flag conditions.
Legends have won at figure-8 Suzuka
Suzuka’s figure-eight design offers a blend of technical challenges that require precision and adaptability. The "S" Curves demand a rhythmic flow, while the high-speed 130R corner tests the limits of both car and driver. The Degner Curve and the Hairpin add to the circuit’s complexity, making it a favourite among drivers who relish a true test of their racing prowess.
Michael Schumacher holds the record for most wins in Japan with six victories (1995, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004). Lewis Hamilton follows with five wins (2007, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018), while Sebastian Vettel has taken four victories at Suzuka (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013).
Schumacher also has the most pole positions at the Japanese Grand Prix with eight. He leads again in the number of podium finishes, standing on the Suzuka rostrum nine times during his career. Hamilton has taken seven podiums, and Max Verstappen has scored six so far.
McLaren has enjoyed the most success in Japan with nine Grand Prix victories. Ferrari and Red Bull Racing each have seven wins. Ferrari leads the pole position statistics with ten starts from P1 at Suzuka, while McLaren holds the record for most podium finishes with 24.
The 2025 Japanese Grand Prix: what’s ahead
As the 2025 season unfolds, the Japanese Grand Prix stands as the third round on the calendar. The Suzuka Circuit will host the race over 53 laps of its 5.807-kilometre layout on Sunday, 6 April.
A significant storyline this year is the promotion of Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda to the Red Bull Racing team. Tsunoda's ascent marks a historic moment, as he becomes the first Japanese driver to compete for Red Bull Racing. His home race at Suzuka presents a golden opportunity to showcase his talent and aim for a podium finish—a feat that would resonate deeply with the home crowd.
Adding to the excitement, Red Bull Racing will debut a special white livery at Suzuka to honour their partnership with Honda, which concludes at the end of the 2025 season. This tribute underscores the successful collaboration between the team and the Japanese manufacturer, highlighting their shared achievements in the sport.
Entering the Japanese Grand Prix, the championship battle is going to be intense. Lando Norris leads the standings with 44 points, followed closely by Max Verstappen with 36 points and George Russell with 35 points.
Oscar Piastri, Norris's teammate at McLaren, holds fourth place with 34 points thanks to a sparkling weekend in China. The margins are fine up and down the grid, and Suzuka's demanding layout will deliver as it ends to do.
Japanese Grand Prix Reuters Facts & Stats
- Round 3 of the 2025 FIA Formula 1 World Championship
- At Suzuka International Racing Course
- Lap distance: 5.807km. Total distance: 307.471km (53 laps)
- 2024 pole position: Max Verstappen (Netherlands) Red Bull One minute 28.197 seconds
- 2024 race winner: Verstappen
- Race lap record: Lewis Hamilton (Britain) Mercedes, 2019: One minute 30.983 seconds.
- Start time: 0500 GMT (1400 local)
- Sunday's race will be the 39th Japanese Grand Prix in world championship history and 35th at Suzuka. The race was absent in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The Honda-owned circuit is an old-style figure-of-eight layout, with fast corners Degner 1 and 2, Spoon and 130R, taken at 295kph.
- Of current drivers, Lewis Hamilton has won five times in Japan (2007 at Fuji, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018), Verstappen three (2022, 2023, 2024) and Fernando Alonso twice (2006 Suzuka and 2008 Fuji).
- Verstappen is chasing his fourth win in a row in Japan.
- Ferrari last won at Suzuka with Michael Schumacher in 2004. The German won the Japanese Grand Prix a record six times, with a total of eight in the country when the Pacific Grands Prix at Aida are included.
- In 34 races at Suzuka, the winner has come from the front row on 29 occasions and been on pole in 18. Kimi Raikkonen won from 17th on the grid in 2005 with McLaren.
- Yuki Tsunoda, making his first appearance for Red Bull this weekend after his promotion from Racing Bulls, is the only Japanese driver on the race starting grid.
- Ryo Hirakawa will be taking part in first Friday practice for Renault-owned Alpine in place of Jack Doohan.
2025 Formula 1 World Championship
- McLaren's Lando Norris leads the drivers' championship, eight points clear of Verstappen.
- McLaren are 21 points clear of Mercedes.
- Hamilton has a record 105 career victories from 358 starts. Verstappen has won 63 grands prix and is third on the all-time list after Schumacher on 91.
- McLaren have won three races in a row -- the last of 2024 and first two of 2025 -- for the first time since 2012. Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri have won one race each this season.
- McLaren have not won four successive races since 2005.
- Hamilton has a record 104 career poles, his most recent in Hungary in 2023.
2025 F1 Rookies
- Only two of the six drivers starting a season for the first time have scored so far -- teenagers Andrea Kimi Antonelli for Mercedes and Oliver Bearman for Haas.
- Antonelli has scored in both his races so far.
- Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber), Doohan (Alpine), Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) have yet to open their accounts. (Compiled by Alan Baldwin)
Latest News
Loading
