F1 Japan - Speed Race F1

Australia

China

Japan

Bahrain

Saudi Arabia

Miami, USA

E. Romagna

Monaco

Spain

Canada

Austria

Great Britain

Belgium

Hungary

Netherlands

Monza, Italy

Azerbaijan

Singapore

Austin, USA

Mexico

Brazil

Las Vegas, USA

Qatar

Abu Dhabi

First Grand Prix

1987

Number of Laps

53

Circuit Length

5.807 km

Race Distance

307.471 km

Lap Record

1:30.983

Suzuka International Circuit

History and Construction

Built in 1962 by **Soichiro Honda**, founder of Honda, as a test track for the brand.
Designed by Dutch engineer John Hugenholtz, known for his work on other legendary circuits.
Made its Formula 1 debut in 1987, with Gerhard Berger (Ferrari) taking the victory.
Has been a crucial battleground for championship deciders, hosting many legendary title fights.
Since 1987, it has almost continuously hosted the **Japanese Grand Prix**, except for a few years.

Design and Features

The track is 5.807 km long and features 18 corners.
The only F1 circuit with a figure-eight layout, with a bridge crossing over another part of the track.
A mix of fast and technical corners, including the famous "S" Curves, the high-speed 130R, and the tricky Degner Curve.
Requires a perfect balance between aerodynamics and top speed.
Overtaking is challenging, and unpredictable weather has produced unforgettable races.

Key Facts

Has been decisive in multiple title fights, including the famous clashes between Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost in 1989 and 1990.
In 1998, Mika Häkkinen secured his first world championship at Suzuka.
Michael Schumacher is the most successful driver here, with six victories.
Lewis Hamilton holds the fastest race lap with 1:30.983 (2019, Mercedes).
The race was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic but returned to the calendar in 2022.
Suzuka is the only circuit on the Formula 1 calendar that features a figure-eight layout, with a track crossover where one section passes over another. It was designed by Dutch architect John Hugenholtz and was a test track for Honda.