Formula 1 visits Suzuka in 2025! Official F1 Journal 2025 Japanese Grand Prix preview

Credit: Sam Bagnall

The infamous Suzuka Circuit will play host to round three of the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship - for the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix.

Following a week break from the back-to-back rounds in Melbourne and Shanghai, Formula One will descend on Japan for the start of a triple header, which will head to Bahrain and Saudi Arabia following this weekend's round in Japan.

​Lando Norris comes into round three with the championship lead following two Grand Prix results where he ended up on the podium on both occasions - including a win on the season-opening weekend of the Australian Grand Prix.

Norris secured a second-place finish almost two weeks prior at the Shanghai International Circuit, as the Brit finished behind his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri.

McLaren driver Norris leads the championship by eight points to Max Verstappen who is second in the current standings. Piastri is 10 points off the championship lead in fourth, with George Russell one point ahead of Piastri in third - in the overall championship.

A look at the track - Suzuka Circuit

Suzuka is the venue this coming weekend for the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix and is one of the most iconic venues of this year's calendar, at the start of the first triple header of this year's championships.

Following three wins in a row at this circuit, Max Verstappen will be hoping to make it four in a row at Suzuka, following Grand Prix victories in 2022, 2023 and most recently 2024. All three of Verstappen's Grand Prix victories of Suzuka have also been comfortable for the now four-time world champion.

The Suzuka Circuit may have first entered the Formula One world in 1987 but since then it has produced some of the most iconic moments in Formula One history. Most memorably the 1989 and 1990 Drivers Championships were decided at this very circuit between legendary rivals Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna. 

However, this circuit has also seen tragedy, as the injuries sustained to Jules Bianchi in October 2014 proved to be fatal. He lives forever in the memory of everyone who visits this circuit in a Formula One manner or not. Bianchi will never be forgotten

Here are some circuit stats for Suzuka:

• Lap Distance: 5.807km
• Race Distance: 307.471km
• Corners: 18
• DRS Zones: 1
• Race laps: 53
• First Grand Prix at Suzuka: 1987
• Lap Record: Lewis Hamilton - 1:30.983 (2019)
• Most Wins: Michael Schumacher (6)

Free Practice 1 in Japan will see the first session of the 2025 Formula One Championship where a rookie driver will participate in a free practice session outside of the official grid.

Alpine reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa will take the place of Jack Doohan in front of his home crowd. What a special moment for the Japanese driver who will be looking to relish every moment!

Brandon Whiteside
​Writer - F1 Journal