JapaneseGrand Prix

Ranked among drivers and teams alike as one of the greatest circuits in Formula One, Suzuka is a massive test of both car and driver ability and has played host to 12 World Championship-deciding races.

Suzuka includes some of the world’s most challenging corners. Among the drivers' favourites are the high-speed 130R, sweeping ‘S Curves’ complex and the infamous Spoon Curve.

There’s always a wonderful atmosphere, too, with Japan having some of the most knowledgeable and enthusiastic fans in the world.

Stat Sheet: Japanese Grand Prix

• This figure-of-eight layout is beneficial for tyre wear. It creates a more even balance between left and right-hand corners (10 being right-handers and eight to the left), distributing load more equally between tyres.

• The first corner doesn't require any braking on entry. In Qualifying, drivers don't hit the brakes until the car is cornering at close to 5G.

• That helps to generate some of the highest steering wheel torques of the entire season.

• The vast majority of the first sector at Suzuka is spent cornering. From Turn 1 until the exit of Turn 7, the steering wheel is moving almost continuously for nearly 2km of the lap.

• Just 1.2 km of the lap is spent driving in a straight line. Most of the 5.807 kms sees some lateral g-force going through the car.

• The lack of straights also means that Suzuka is just one of four circuits on the calendar that has a solitary DRS zone.

• 130R is one of F1's quickest corners, taken at 295 km/h. Turn 11 meanwhile is one of the slowest at 60 km/h.

• The braking zone for Turn 11 is particularly challenging. Drivers must hit the brakes midway through the fast Turn 10. They are cornering at close to 3.5G while turning right before the hairpin left. Lockups are therefore common.

• In contrast to Singapore, brakes have a slightly easier time at Suzuka. There are only two heavy braking events on the track. Brake duty and wear are therefore among the lowest we see across the year.

• Suzuka has one of the highest mass sensitivities of the season. That means that carrying more fuel is more penalising in terms of lap time and performance.