The excitement is building as Formula 1 heads to Suzuka for the fourth round of the season at the Japanese Grand Prix. This year, the event takes place in April for the first time in its history, with the race set to kick off this weekend.
In the previous race in Australia, Carlos Sainz led Ferrari to a one-two finish, ending Max Verstappen’s winning streak. Verstappen, who had won the previous nine races, suffered his first retirement in two years due to a brake issue. Lando Norris secured third place, making him the driver with the most podium finishes without a win in F1.
McLaren is expected to be strong once again in Suzuka, as Norris and Oscar Piastri had a double podium at the Japanese GP six months ago. However, Mercedes is facing challenges with correlation issues affecting their car’s performance.
The Japanese GP has been moved to early April as part of F1’s sustainability efforts, with the aim to become net zero carbon by 2030. Suzuka recently signed a contract extension to remain on the calendar until at least 2029, with F1 president Stefano Domenicali praising the circuit’s significance in the sport.
Fans can catch all the action live on Sky Sports F1 and Sky Sports Main Event, with replays and highlights available throughout the weekend. The race itself is scheduled for 6am on Sunday, so set your alarms and don’t miss out on the thrilling Japanese Grand Prix.