Round three of the 2026 Formula 1 season takes the sport to one of its most legendary and revered circuits – Suzuka – for the Japanese Grand Prix.
Whatever the regulation era, the skill of a driver and the performance of a car are put to the test around the acrobatic figure-of-eight Suzuka layout which features some of the most famous corner sequences in F1.
After one-two finishes in each of the season’s first two grands prix, Mercedes will be aiming for their third successive win with Kimi Antonelli, F1’s newest race winner after an accomplished victory in China, looking to see if he can build in-house momentum against championship-leading team-mate George Russell.
Ferrari will again likely be the closest threat to the Silver Arrows as they bid to improve on their three-four finishes in Australia and China in search of their first Grand Prix win since 2024 – and a first at Suzuka since the golden days of Michael Schumacher in 2004.
Max Verstappen is undefeated around Suzuka in both qualifying and the race since F1 returned to Japan after the Covid pandemic in 2022, but the Red Bull driver will have his work cut out to get anywhere near that this time with Red Bull off the pace so far in F1’s new season.
The same performance gap applies to world champions McLaren, who will first be keen to just make the race start at Suzuka after their disastrous double DNS in Shanghai.
With the Japanese Grand Prix now serving as the final F1 action for five weeks following the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian rounds in April, make sure you follow all the live action on Sky Sports F1.
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Highlights from the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix from the Suzuka Circuit
Japanese GP track – Suzuka Circuit
Ask a Formula 1 driver to name their favourite circuit and there’s a good chance their answer will be Suzuka.
The figure-of-eight 3.6-mile track features an array of famous fast corners known by name such as the Esses, the Degners, Spoon and 130R, which all combine to create one of motorsport’s most challenging layouts for drivers and their cars.
On the F1 calendar in all but four seasons since its 1987 debut, Honda-owned Suzuka’s original position at the tail end of the calendar means it is associated with some of the sport’s most famous title-deciding races including Ayrton Senna vs Alain Prost – twice.
Occupying an earlier April slot since 2024, the F1 fraternity now visits during Japan’s famous and picturesque cherry blossom season.
Japanese GP weather forecast in Suzuka
Rain is often a factor during the Japanese Grand Prix weekend but there is no wet weather on the current forecast for Suzuka.
It will be cool though, with temperatures in the high teens throughout the three days of action.
Japanese GP 2026 dates, UK start time and Sky Sports F1’s live schedule
Thursday March 26
4am: Drivers’ Press Conference
7am: Paddock Uncut
Friday March 27
2am: Japanese GP Practice One (session starts at 2.30am)*
4.30am: Team Bosses’ Press Conference
5.45am: Japanese GP Practice Two (session starts at 6am)*
7.15am: The F1 Show*
Saturday March 28
2.15am: Japanese GP Practice Three (session starts at 2.30am)*
5am: Japanese GP Qualifying build-up*
6am: JAPANESE GP QUALIFYING*
8am: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook*
Sunday March 29
4.30am: Japanese GP build-up – Grand Prix Sunday*
6am: THE JAPANESE GRAND PRIX*
8am: Japanese GP reaction – Chequered Flag*
9am: Ted’s Notebook*
*Also live on Sky Sports Main Event
How to watch or stream the Chinese Grand Prix in the UK and Ireland
Got Sky?
TV: Sky Customers can watch on Sky Sports F1 from the first practice session on Friday morning to the Japanese Grand Prix itself on Sunday, March 29 at 6am
App: Sky Customers can also watch on the Sky Sports app – with the option to go onboard with any driver!
Not got Sky?
Stream: Non Sky Customers can stream the action with a NOW Day or a cancel-anytime Month pass
Live blog: Anyone on the move can follow live coverage of the race weekend through our dedicated F1 blog
FREE Highlights: Watch F1 highlights shortly after the chequered flag on the Sky Sports app
How to watch the Japanese GP with the Sky Sports app
Sky Sports Subscribers can:
- Download or open the Sky Sports app
- Head to the ‘Watch’ section at 4.30am for build-up, ahead of lights out at 6am on race day
- Tap on the Sky Sports F1 or Sky Sports Main Event channel
- Sign in with your Sky iD (*you’ll only need to do this once)
*Sky iD help: How to find or create your Sky iD
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Formula 1 next heads to the iconic Suzuka Circuit for the Japanese Grand Prix on March 27-29 live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
