Suzuka
One of the greatest tracks used in Formula One today, Japan's Suzuka circuit is a massive test of car and driver ability. Built by Honda as a test facility in 1962, the track was designed by Dutchman John Hugenholz, the Hermann Tilke of his day. A huge theme park was also constructed at the track, including the famous big wheel which dominates the Suzuka skyline.
In 1987, having hosted various sportscar and F2 races, and having lost out initially to Fuji in the race to host the Japanese Grand Prix, Honda's influence finally prevailed and the Grand Prix had a new Japanese home. And at Suzuka the race has stayed, providing the scene for many nail-biting end-of-season deciders, including the infamous collisions involving Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna.
Suzuka includes some of the Grand Prix calendar's most challenging corners. Among the drivers' favourites are the high-speed 130R and the famous Spoon Curve. On top of this the circuit's figure-of-eight layout makes it unique in Formula One.
TV Times
Friday 7 October
First practice: 01:55 : 03:355, BBC Red Button/online
Second practice: 05:55 : 07:355, BBC Red Button/online
Saturday 8 October
Third practice: 0255-0405, BBC Red Button/online
Qualifying: 0500-0730, BBC One/online
Qualifying re-run: 1300-1415, BBC One/online
Sunday 9 October
Grand Prix live: 0600-0915, BBC One/online
F1 forum: 0915-1015, BBC Red Button/online
Grand Prix re-run: 1315-1515, BBC One/online
Highlights: 1900-2000, BBC Three
Standings:
Track:
Track Diagram
Track DRS
The FIA has set the DRS zone at the exit of the turn 16/17 chicane leading onto the start/finish straight.
The detection point is at the exit of 130R, meaning drivers will have to exit the high-speed corner within a second of a leading car in order to use DRS.
As usual, drivers will have free use of DRS during practice and qualifying.
Circuit information
Lap length 5.807km (3.608 miles)
Race laps 53
Race distance 307.471km (191.054 miles)
Lap record* 1’31.540 (228.372 kph) by Kimi Räikkönen, 2005
Fastest lap 1’28.954 (235.011 kph) by Michael Schumacher, 2006
Maximum speed 315 kph (195.732 mph)
Car performance
Lap length 5.807km (3.608 miles)
Race laps 53
Race distance 307.471km (191.054 miles)
Lap record* 1’31.540 (228.372 kph) by Kimi Räikkönen, 2005
Fastest lap 1’28.954 (235.011 kph) by Michael Schumacher, 2006
Maximum speed 315 kph (195.732 mph)
Strategy
Pit lane time loss 18.7 seconds
2010 prime tyre (No stripe) Hard (2009: Hard)
2010 option tyre (Striped) Soft (2009: Soft)
Team Preview
Pirelli
Red Bull Not uploaded yet
McLaren
Ferrari Not uploaded yet
Mercedes
Renault
Williams Not uploaded yet
Force India Not uploaded yet
Sauber
Toro Rosso Not uploaded yet
Lotus
HRT
Virgin
Classic F1
Mark Webber Classic F1
1986 Australian Grand Prix
1992 Belgium Grand Prix
1993 European Grand Prix
2000 Japanese Grand Prix
2010 Japanese Grand Prix
Technical Changes - Singapore
Weather Forecast
Practice 1 Fri 10:00
Practice 2 Fri 14:00
Practice 3 Sat 11:00
Qualifying Sat 14:00
Race Sun 15:00
News
Grand prix Insights
The Helmet
Driver Changes
The track and TV coverage starts
FIA Press Conference
Japan preview quotes - McLaren, Sauber, HRT & Mercedes
Ask an F1 driver to name his favourite tracks and chances are Suzuka will get more mentions than almost any other circuit. Its mixture of gradient, high-speed turns and technical corner combinations make for one of the sport’s ultimate challenges - and one that gives a huge sense of satisfaction if you get it right. And with Japan still recovering from a devastating earthquake and tsunami earlier this year, the teams are especially eager to return and show their support…
FIA Thursday press conference - Japan
Drivers - Jerome d’Ambrosio (Virgin), Jenson Button (McLaren), Paul di Resta (Force India), Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber), Heikki Kovalainen (Team Lotus), Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull).
Friday practice - selected team and driver quotes
McLaren’s Jenson Button seemed to rule the roost in Japan, dominating the timesheets in both opening practice sessions, but with changing track conditions affecting proceedings, the pecking order is yet to be settled. All the drivers, and senior team personnel, reflect on their early progress at Suzuka…
FIA Friday press conference - Japan
Team Representatives - Giorgio Ascanelli (Toro Rosso), Pat Fry (Ferrari), James Key (Sauber), Paddy Lowe (McLaren), Adrian Newey (Red Bull), Naoki Tokunaga (Renault).
FIA post-qualifying press conference - Japan
Drivers - 1 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull), 2 - Jenson Button (McLaren), 3 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren).
Qualifying - selected team and driver quotes
Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg on failing to set a Q1 time after hydraulic issues; Sauber’s Sergio Perez on feeling under the weather; Force India’s Adrian Sutil and Paul di Resta on missing out on Q3; and Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel on withstanding McLaren’s resurgence to take his 12th pole position of the season. All 24 drivers and senior team personnel report back on Saturday’s action…
Technical changes Silverstone
Practice 1
Practice 2
Practice Two - Button keeps McLaren ahead in Japan
McLaren’s Jenson Button continued to lead the field, after a change in track conditions towards the end rendered Friday afternoon’s hour and a half-long second practice session at Suzuka somewhat inconclusive.
Practice 3
Final practice - Button makes it three from three
As Jenson Button continued to dominate practice at Suzuka on Saturday morning, taking his McLaren round a half second faster than team mate Lewis Hamilton, the question was whether Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull were sandbagging as the world champion was eight-tenths away from the pace on a circuit that has hitherto suited them.
Qualifying
Qualifying - Vettel snatches pole from Button by a whisker
Although McLaren had dominated all sessions prior to the crucial final one, Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel managed to clinch pole position by a mere nine-thousandths of a second at Suzuka on Saturday, just pipping Jenson Button to the top slot.
Grid
Race
Standings
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