The Formula 1 calendar rolls on to Suzuka, with the Japanese Grand Prix up next at one of the sport's most storied circuits.
As the third stop in the 2026 season, the venue carries a rich legacy of drama and decisive races, having frequently featured in the closing stretch of past championships.
However, this year's race comes amid divided opinion over the newly introduced regulations. While the Australian Grand Prix triggered initial doubts, the event in China has provided a measure of reassurance heading into this weekend.
It has been a dominant start for Mercedes, who have delivered back-to-back one-two results across the first two races, courtesy of wins for George Russell and Kimi Antonelli. Yet Ferrari is not far off the pace, with Lewis Hamilton, celebrating his first podium for the Scuderia in China, and Charles Leclerc engaged in an increasingly tight intra-team contest.
McLaren arrives at Suzuka seeking redemption following a double DNS (Did Not Start) in Shanghai that derailed their momentum. Elsewhere, Max Verstappen, a four-time consecutive winner in Japan, is bracing for another demanding race as concerns over his Red Bull car persist.
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Japanese Grand Prix 2026: Final Practice Results
Mercedes dominated the final practice session with Kimi Antonelli setting the fastest time, ahead of his team-mate George Russell, 0.254s behind. Charles LeClerc continued his recent form, finishing 3rd but was a distant 0.867s behind Antonelli. McLaren, who seemed to be back in action after a strong performance in earlier practice sessions, faced hurdles during the final practice session. World Champion Norris faced ERS battery issues during the final stint, leading him to finish 6th behind his teammate Piastri and Ferrari's Hamilton, who finished 4th and 5th respectively.
Former World Champion, Max Verstappen, continued his 2026 struggles after finishing 8th behind an impressive Hulkenburg, who moved his Audi to 7th during the final practice session.
| Driver | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1) Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:29.362 |
| 2) George Russell | Mercedes | +0.254 |
| 3) Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +0.867 |
| 4) Oscar Piastri | McLaren | +1.002 |
| 5) Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | +1.021 |
| 6) Lando Norris | McLaren | +1.238 |
| 7) Nico Hulkenberg | Audi | +1.296 |
| 8) Max Verstappen | Red Bull | +1.548 |
| 9) Gabriel Bortoleto | Audi | +1.638 |
| 10) Pierre Gasly | Alpine | +1.720 |
| 11) Isack Hadjar | Red Bull | +1.732 |
| 12) Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | +1.735 |
| 13) Arvid Lindblad | Racing Bulls | +1.926 |
| 14) Esteban Ocon | Haas | +1.964 |
| 15) Oliver Bearman | Haas | +2.196 |
| 16) Alex Albon | Williams | +2.371 |
| 17) Franco Colapinto | Alpine | +2.397 |
| 18) Carlos Sainz | Williams | +2.467 |
| 19) Valtteri Bottas | Cadillac | +3.141 |
| 20) Sergio Perez | Cadillac | +3.178 |
| 21) Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | +4.123 |
| 22) Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | +4.167 |
Japanese Grand Prix 2026: Race Schedule And Timings
The Japanese Grand Prix 2026 is scheduled from March 27-29. Here's a breakdown:
Saturday, March 28: Qualifying race from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. IST.
Sunday, March 29: The Japanese Grand Prix 2026 race starts at 10:30 a.m. IST.
Japanese Grand Prix 2026: Live Telecast In India
The Japanese Grand Prix 2026 will be telecast live in India on the TATA Play FanCode Sports channel.
Japanese Grand Prix 2026: Live Streaming In India
Fans in India can watch the Japanese Grand Prix on the FanCode app and website.
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Japanese Grand Prix 2026: Last Five Polesitters
- 2025 – Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- 2024 – Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- 2023 – Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- 2022 – Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- 2019 – Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
Japanese Grand Prix 2026: Last Five Winners
- 2025 – Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- 2024 – Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- 2023 – Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- 2022 – Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- 2019 – Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)
Japanese Grand Prix 2026: Statistics
According to the official website of Formula 1, here are important statistics for the Japanese Grand Prix:
- First Grand Prix – 1987
- Track Length – 5.807km
- Lap record – 1m 30.965s, Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, 2025
- Most pole positions – Michael Schumacher (8)
- Most wins – Michael Schumacher (6)
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