Carlos Sainz and Ferrari finally ended Red Bull’s monopoly on victories in 2023, when they took out last Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix.
Red Bull was uncharacteristically off the pace one week ago but is coming to a track where it had success last year.
The Japanese Grand Prix has been a popular race for drivers and fans for many years and with renewed hope Red Bull can be beaten, there could be a few teams eyeing off a race win.
Here is what you need to know about the Japanese Grand Prix.
Where is the race?
The Japanese Grand Prix is held at Suzuka, a city of roughly 200,000 people located on the Ise Bay.
The circuit is approximately 65 kilometres south-west of Nagoya, and about 120km east of Osaka.
What do I need to know about the track?
Suzuka is one of the most popular tracks on the F1 calendar.
Long straights, winding corners and fast turns make it not only a fan favourite but popular with drivers as well.
Turns 3-7 are very technical and require a high degree of skill to keep the car balanced while maintaining speed.
Turn 15 is arguably the most famous corner on the track.
Named 130R, this left-hand turn is taken flat-out and shows off an F1 car in all of its glory.
How can I watch the race in Australia?
The only place to watch all the action is via the Fox Sports stable of broadcasting channels.
It will be available on both Foxtel and Kayo Sports, with the race starting at 3pm AEST.
What happened last year?
It was a wild race at Suzuka last season, with Max Verstappen coming out on top.
The race did not complete the full amount of laps, as rain meant the grand prix was timed out.
Charles Leclerc was handed a late penalty, dropping him down the grid, meaning Verstappen’s win secured his second drivers’ championship.
Fast facts
- First grand prix — 1987
- Number of laps — 53
- Lap distance — 5.807km
- Race distance — 307.471km
- Fastest lap — 1:30.983 Lewis Hamilton (2019)
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