The Suzuka International Racing Course has hosted the Japanese Grand Prix in all but two years since 1987.
The only figure-of-eight circuit in Formula 1, Suzuka has been the setting of many classic title deciders, such as Prost and Senna’s epic battles and Schumacher’s and Hakkinen’s titanic scraps. R Racing around it in F1 2019 is a testing thrill for all.
Overtaking is difficult and keeping the car pointed in the right direction around the circuit is even harder, as one slightly miscalculated corner can send you into the barriers. Aside from Monaco, I believe this is the hardest track on the calendar and requires a lot of practice to master.
Turns 1 & 2
You’ll be hurtling towards the first corners at around 205 mph (328 kph) and as this follows a DRS zone, this is one of the main overtaking spots on the track. The only way to pass is down the inside, taking the outside line will result in you flying off the circuit, thanks to Turn 2’s heavily cambered surface.
Due to the incredible downforce of the cars, you don’t have to brake until you’re entering T2, Turn 1 can be taken flat. I usually brake at the point where the kerbs on the right disappear from view in T-cam. Decelerate down to fourth gear and hug the inside kerbs of Turn 2, being sure to wait before getting back on the throttle for the run towards the S curves.
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S Curves & Dunlop
This is arguably the hardest complex to perfect in Formula 1, as at no point between Turns 3 and the Dunlop curve (Turn 7) does the steering wheel stay level for more than a split second.
For Turn 3, you need to lift while remaining in sixth gear and avoiding the kerbs, something you’ll need to do throughout this complex until the very end. Brake down to fifth gear for Turn 4 and don’t worry if you run a little wide of the apex, it’s good for momentum. Turns 3 and 4 are effectively like a high-speed chicane, but you have to be ready for Turn 5, which follows immediately after.
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Lift and stay in fifth gear for Turn 5, before squirting the throttle and going into Turn 6 where you stay in the same gear throughout. Dunlop follows, it’s a long gradual uphill left-hander where you should be able to go full throttle through. Stick as close to the inside as possible, as this corner tightens the further you go up, it’s very easy to clip the grass and spin around.
You’ll have to do dozens of laps to get these turns all right, but when in doubt, go slowly, as you will only realise you’ve made a mistake when it’s too late.
Degner
Degner is a two-part corner complex, the first corner of which tempts you to go flat out through but attempting to do so almost always ends badly. You’ll have to dab on the brakes just before the 50m board and stay in seventh gear to get through the corner. Clip the inside kerbing, but no more, as track limits are strictly enforced here.
Use a little kerb on exit also, but no more than half a wheel’s width, or you’ll be taking a trip across the gravel. Turn 9 is where you slow it all down, brake into fourth gear starting at the point where the kerbs on the left stop. Clump the inside kerb, but don’t use any of the exit’s, as there isn’t much grip out there.
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