2019 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix
- What: race No.17 on the F1 2019 calendar
- When: 11-13 October
- Where: Suzuka International Racing Course
- Race start time: 6.10am (BST) on Sunday 13 October
- TV coverage: live on Sky Sports F1 and highlights on Channel 4
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff says the Formula 1 championship leaders will “keep their foot on the throttle” at the Japanese Grand Prix.
In the last race in Russia on 29 September Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas claimed a one-two as the Silver Arrows ended their run of three races without a win.
The duo head to Japan this weekend having also secured a one-two in last year’s race at Suzuka.
Wolff said: “Claiming a one-two in Sochi after three races without a win was a great feeling. We delivered a strong race in Russia, made the most of our opportunities and both Lewis and Valtteri drove flawlessly.
“We brought home 44 points, built the gap in both championships and are highly motivated to keep our foot on the throttle for the remaining five races.”
When asked about Japan, Wolff added: “The next race takes us to the iconic Suzuka Circuit with its exhilarating corner sequences and highly enthusiastic fans.
“We have a strong track record there, having won every Japanese Grand Prix in the hybrid era, but we expect this year to be challenging given the strength of our opponents.
“It will be a very close battle on track – and one that we very much look forward to. Our targets for the final quarter of the season is clear and it’s up to us to make sure we achieve them.”
Upgrades for the Silver Arrows
Should results go their way Mercedes could secure their sixth F1 constructors’ championship this weekend. They have 571 points from 16 races while nearest rivals Ferrari are on 409.
In their bid to fend off Ferrari and Red Bull the Silver Arrows will introduce “minor upgrades” for their W10 cars, Sky Sports reports.
Wild weather in Japan
Japan is bracing itself for wild weather this weekend with “violent” super Typhoon Hagibis threatening both the F1 grand prix and Rugby World Cup matches.
Ex-F1 meteorologist Steffen Dietz wrote on Twitter: “#Hagibis #F1 is still a powerful super typhoon with gusts above 300kph. Numerical models are in good agreement regarding track through Friday, afterwards some uncertainties arise. From today’s point of view landfall is likely between Suzuka and Tokyo on Saturday.
“Distance to the passing eye/centre of the already weakened typhoon will play a huge role. At this stage about 100mm of rain and gusts around 100kph are possible at the track during Saturday. For race day conditions should improve significantly.”
2019 F1 Japanese GP race guide
- Circuit name: Suzuka International Racing Course
- First grand prix: 1987
- Number of laps: 53
- Circuit length: 5.807km
- Race distance: 307.471km
- Lap record: 1:31.540 by Kimi Räikkönen in 2005
- 2018 podium: 1st Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes); 2nd Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes); 3rd Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing)
When are the practice sessions?
Set your alarms, UK-based F1 fans – the action from Japan is starting very, very early. There are three full practice (FP) sessions in Suzuka. On Friday 11 October FP1 takes place from 2am to 3.30am and FP2 is from 6am to 7.30am. FP3 will be from 4am to 5am on Saturday 12 October. All times UK.
When is qualifying?
Qualifying for the F1 Japanese GP starts at 7am on Saturday 13 October.
What time does the race start?
The 2019 F1 Japanese Grand Prix starts at 6.10am (UK time) on Sunday 13 October.
Japanese GP predictions
Matthew Atkinson, The Stats Zone: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
“The Japanese GP should be a close battle between Mercedes and Ferrari, with Red Bull hopefully in the mix. Lewis Hamilton loves Suzuka and it will be hard to bet against him, with Mercedes dominating the Japanese GP in recent years, winning every race since 2014.
“However, Ferrari know they should have won four-on-the-trot and should be very competitive in Japan. Given how hard it is to overtake at Suzuka, it will likely come down to who grabs pole position. Ferrari could be fighting a battle on several fronts with the media interest surrounding their team dynamic not helping things, but Hamilton and Mercedes’ Suzuka dominance in recent years will take something special to break through.”
Tony Kelshaw, Bwin: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
“Ferrari left Sochi full of frustration but are fancied to bounce back to top form in Suzuka in our Japanese Grand Prix predictions. Ferrari had come out on top in the previous three races, with [Sebastian] Vettel claiming victory in Singapore following [Charles] Leclerc’s double in Belgium and Italy. Everything suggests they are currently in the ascendancy and we favour Leclerc to pass the chequered flag first in our Japanese Grand Prix betting tips.”
Japanese GP betting odds
Prices according to Oddschecker
Japanese GP race winner odds
- Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes): 6/4
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari): 7/4
- Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari): 9/2
- Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes): 9/1
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing): 12/1
- Alexander Albon (Red Bull Racing): 125/1
- For a full price list see oddschecker.com
Japanese GP TV guide
Sky Sports F1 will show live coverage of practice, qualifying and the GP from Suzuka. Channel 4 will show highlights of qualifying and the race.
Watch F1 on Now TV
Formula 1 fans can also watch the action live on Now TV. Viewers can subscribe to a Sky Sports Day Pass via Now TV for just £8.99, the most economical way of watching each race.
Sky Sports F1 coverage of the Japanese GP
Thursday 10 October
- 6am: drivers’ press conference
- 9am: Welcome to the Weekend
Friday 11 October
- 1.45am: practice one build-up
- 2am: practice one live
- 5.45am: practice two build-up (simulcast on Sky Sports Main Event)
- 6am: practice two live (simulcast on Sky Sports Main Event)
- 8.30am: Japanese GP Story So Far (simulcast on Sky Sports Main Event)
Saturday 12 October
- 3.45am: practice three build-up (simulcast on Sky Sports Main Event)
- 4am: practice three live (simulcast on Sky Sports Main Event)
- 5.10am: Paddock Walkabout (simulcast on Sky Sports Main Event)
- 6am: qualifying build-up (simulcast on Sky Sports Main Event)
- 7am: Japanese GP qualifying live (simulcast on Sky Sports Main Event)
- 8.30am: The F1 Show (simulcast on Sky Sports Main Event)
- 10am, 1.30pm and 5pm: qualifying highlights
Sunday 13 October
- 4.30am: Pit Lane Live
- 5.30am: On The Grid (simulcast on Sky Sports Main Event)
- 6.10am: F1 Japanese Grand Prix live (simulcast on Sky Sports Main Event)
- 8am: Paddock Live (simulcast on Sky Sports Main Event)
- 9am: Japanese GP Notebook (simulcast on Sky Sports Main Event)
- 9.30am: Japanese GP replay (simulcast on Sky Sports Main Event)
- 12pm: Japanese GP highlights
Channel 4 coverage of the Japanese GP
- Saturday 12 October: qualifying highlights at 1.30pm
- Sunday 13 October: Japanese GP highlights at 2.25pm
Suzuka International Racing Course graphic: Formula1.com
