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The Suzuka Ferris Wheel is huge<\/p>\nWe preview this weekend\u2019s Japanese GP Formula 1 race at the historic 3.61-mile long Suzuka circuit, owned by Honda.<\/p>\n
\u2013by Mark Cipolloni\u2013<\/p>\n
Suzuka stands as one of the most spectacular and demanding circuits on the F1 calendar. It remains the only track with a true figure-of-eight layout, weaving through the rolling hills of Mie Prefecture. Honda\u2019s Suzuka factory, built in 1960, sits right next door \u2014 a fitting home for one of motorsport\u2019s greatest challenges.<\/p>\n
The 18-corner layout tests car and driver like few others. Iconic sections such as the Esses, the ultra-fast 130R, and the technical Spoon Curve have barely changed in decades, preserving the circuit\u2019s raw character. High-speed sweeps, rapid direction changes, heavy braking zones, and a tight chicane with aggressive curbs make Suzuka the ultimate all-in-one test. Pirelli has brought its hardest compounds (C1 Hard, C2 Medium, C3 Soft) \u2014 the perfect match for this high-energy track. Roughly 50% of the surface was resurfaced ahead of last year\u2019s event, with further work completed this season up to Turn 17, promising lower grip and evolving conditions.<\/p>\n
Universally loved by drivers, Suzuka carves through undulating Japanese countryside with long high-speed sections and lightning-quick direction changes. Tiny mistakes are punished instantly by grass, gravel, and unforgiving barriers. A strong aerodynamic package and total driver confidence are essential, while the high lateral loads make tire management critical. Grid position matters more than usual \u2014 clear air is gold on this narrow, overtaking-challenged layout.<\/p>\n
This weekend also marks the peak of cherry blossom (Sakura) season, painting the circuit in stunning pink. It\u2019s only the second time the Japanese Grand Prix has been held in early spring; the first Pacific Grand Prix ran at Aida in April 1994 before the event settled into its traditional October slot until the 2024 shift. Expect cooler temperatures than usual in Japan, with averages between 8\u00b0C and 13\u00b0C.<\/p>\n
Japan first hosted F1 at Fuji Speedway in 1976 \u2014 famous for the Hunt-Lauda title showdown \u2014 but disappeared from the calendar for a decade. When it returned in 1987, it landed at Suzuka, where it has stayed ever since. The circuit has crowned multiple world champions, often after dramatic collisions, and Max Verstappen became the latest when he sealed the 2022 title here. This will be the final Suzuka race in the current spring slot for some time as the calendar continues to evolve.<\/p>\n
Ask any driver, and Suzuka sits near the top of their favorite tracks. The lap begins with a high-speed right-hander into the flowing Esses, then plunges through Degner 1 and 2, Spoon Curve, and the breathtaking 130R. The hairpin and final chicane demand precision, while the proximity of the barriers keeps every lap on a knife-edge. Torrential rain and typhoons have disrupted proceedings before \u2014 qualifying was moved to Sunday morning in 2004, 2010, and 2019, and the 2022 race was shortened to just 28 laps because of persistent heavy rain.<\/p>\n
With an average speed of 240 km\/h (153 mph), Suzuka remains one of F1\u2019s quickest and most exhilarating venues. Drivers barely breathe from start to finish, walking a tightrope at the limit. The first sector\u2019s Esses rise and fall in rapid succession, while Spoon and 130R demand total commitment. A unique flyover adds to the spectacle: cars pass under the entry to 130R as they exit Degner 2.<\/p>\n
Overtaking isn\u2019t easy, but the racing is always thrilling once drivers find their rhythm through the Esses. Lap times improve dramatically once that flow clicks.<\/p>\n
The Suzuka Ferris Wheel is huge<\/p>\n
Japan initially joined Formula 1\u2019s schedule at Fuji Speedway in 1976, a race made famous for the title showdown between James Hunt and Niki Lauda, but after its second year the country was absent for a decade. When Formula 1 eventually returned to Japan, in 1987, it did so at the demanding figure-of-eight Suzuka Circuit.<\/p>\n
Its placement in the calendar means Suzuka has been the scene for the crowing of several world champions, some after high-profile collisions, while Max Verstappen became the latest world champion to secure a title at Suzuka, in 2022. It will be the last Suzuka race to take place in the fall for some time with the event due to shift to spring from 2024.<\/p>\n
Speak to any Formula 1 driver, and they will immediately place Suzuka among their favorite racetracks. The drivers cascade into the high-speed right-hander at turn 1 before plunging immediately into a sequence of Esses, undulating through the scenery with rapid changes of direction. Fast corners such as Degner 1 and Degner 2, Spoon Curve and 130R require inch-perfect precision, while more technical turns including the hairpin and chicane are also deceptively tricky. The close proximity of grass, gravel and unforgiving barriers means even minor errors can be heavily punished.<\/p>\n
Torrential rain and typhoons can even interrupt proceedings at Suzuka. On three occasions (2004, 2010, 2019) qualifying was moved to Sunday morning following the threat of a typhoon, while in 2022 the race was shortened with only 28 of 53 scheduled laps completed due to persistent heavy rainfall.<\/p>\n
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With an average speed of 153mph (240km\/h), Suzuka is one of the quickest tracks on the F1 calendar.<\/p>\n
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Suzuka Track Map<\/p>\n
Suzuka is revered throughout the world as one of motorsport\u2019s finest permanent circuits, with drivers barely having time to breathe through the lap, as they walk a tightrope while pushing their machines to the limit. The first sector is dominated by the Esses, a sequence of narrow sweeping medium- and high-speed corners that rise and plummet, while corners such as Spoon and 130R require total commitment.<\/p>\n
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The peril is enhanced by the proximity of the grass, gravel traps and barriers, meaning mistakes are regularly punished. Suzuka is also the only circuit on the calendar to feature a flyover, with drivers passing underneath the entry to 130R as they negotiate the exit of Degner 2.<\/p>\n
Overtaking is not easy in Suzuka but it is possible and the racing is always good here. The drivers will need to quickly find a rhythm, especially through the Esses, but once they have that, the lap time can improve very quickly.<\/p>\n
A little history\u2026..The Degner Story<\/p>\n
Among Suzuka\u2019s 18 corners, Spoon, 130R, and the uphill Turns 2-7 are world-famous. Less celebrated \u2014 but equally significant \u2014 are Turns 8 and 9, named after Ernest Degner, the German motorcycle racer who helped put Japanese bikes on the global map.<\/p>\n
Born in 1931 in Gleiwitz (now Poland), Degner rose to prominence racing MZ two-stroke machines designed by Walter Kaaden, a brilliant engineer with a shadowy past at Peenem\u00fcnde during World War II. In 1960, Suzuki\u2019s first international outing at the Isle of Man TT was a disaster \u2014 15 minutes off the pace. A chance meeting the following year between Degner and Suzuki president Shunzo Suzuki changed everything. Degner, fed up with life in East Germany and constant Stasi surveillance, agreed to defect and help develop Suzuki\u2019s machines.<\/p>\n
With the Berlin Wall newly erected, smuggling his family out required ingenuity. During the 1961 Swedish Grand Prix weekend, a friend hid them in a secret compartment in a Lincoln Mercury\u2019s boot while the Stasi focused on Degner at the track. He retired early with engine failure, fled to West Germany, and reunited with his family before settling in Hamamatsu at Suzuki\u2019s headquarters. MZ promptly cancelled its overseas racing program.<\/p>\n
Degner won Suzuki\u2019s first world title in the 50cc class in 1962 \u2014 despite living in constant fear of Stasi reprisals. Tragedy struck the following year at Suzuka when he crashed at what is now the Degner Curves; his fuel tank exploded and he suffered horrific burns requiring more than 50 skin grafts. He returned in 1964 but was plagued by further accidents and retired in 1966. Chronic pain led to morphine addiction. Degner died in 1983 at just 51; the official cause was a heart attack, but many suspected overdose or even foul play. Either way, Suzuka\u2019s Degner Curves remain a lasting tribute to his pivotal role in Japanese motorcycle history.<\/p>\n
Last Year\u2019s 2025 Japanese GP<\/p>\n
Defending champion Max Verstappen delivered one of the drives of the season, holding off the faster McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to win the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka. Starting from pole in the inferior Red Bull-Honda<\/a>, Verstappen never put a wheel wrong and beat Norris by just 1.423 seconds \u2014 claiming a record fourth consecutive Japanese GP victory and breaking his tie with Michael Schumacher for the most successive wins here.<\/p>\n Lap after lap, the top three pulled clear. As the race wore on, all three drivers traded personal-best sectors, but Verstappen matched every challenge from behind, keeping the gap between 1.1 and 2.5 seconds for the entire 53 laps. It was a masterclass in defense on the purest driver\u2019s circuit in the world.<\/p>\n
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Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB18 on track during the F1 Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka International Racing Course on October 09, 2022 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Clive Mason\/Getty Images) \/\/ Getty Images \/ Red Bull Content Pool![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/tires1.jpg\")
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