F1 travels to the Land of the Rising Sun this weekend for the Japanese Grand Prix; one of the most historic on the calendar, having witnessed everything from champions being crowned to life-ending accidents. It is also one of F1’s most iconic tracks with turns like 130R, the 'S curves’, and featuring the only crossover on the F1 calendar. This weekend’s race adds the variable of a typhoon making landfall nearby which could force qualifying to Sunday if conditions deteriorate enough.

Red Bull and Honda have taken all possible measures to enter the weekend prepared, particularly by ensuring that all cars have fresh Spec. 4 engines to run in order to maximize their chances of a good result at Honda’s home race. If Honda chooses to run the new engine at absolute maximum output a Red Bull win is a possibility, certainly a podium. Look for one, if not both Toro Rosso cars to finish in the points.

Elsewhere on the grid, a great battle has been taking shape between Ferrari’s newfound speed and Mercedes’ superior execution. It’s anyone’s guess which team will come out on top this weekend. Expect best-of-the-rest honors to go to a McLaren. From there we should expect a Renault to be doing battle with a Racing Point. Alfa Romeo and a Haas should be battling behind that group unless the latter can duplicate the pace it found in Russia. As has become normal for the past couple of years, Williams will bring up the back of the order.

US TV SCHEDULE:

Practice 1 – Thursday, October 11 – 8.55PM – ESPNEWS
Practice 2 – Friday, October 11 – 12.55AM – ESPN2
Practice 3 – Friday, October 11 – 10.55PM – ESPNU
Qualifying – Saturday, October 12 – 1.55AM – ESPN2
Pit-Lane Live – Saturday, October 12 – 11.30PM – ESPN3
On the Grid – Sunday, October 13 – 12.30AM – ESPNEWS
Race – Sunday, October 13 – 1.05AM – ESPN

CIRCUIT INFORMATION

Lap data
Lap length: 5.807km (3.608 miles)
Race laps: 53
Race distance: 307.471km (191.054 miles)
Pole position: Left-hand side of the track
Lap record: 1’27.319 by Lewis Hamilton, 2017
Fastest lap*: 1’28.954 (235.011 kph) by Michael Schumacher, 2006
Maximum speed: 314kph (195.11 mph)
DRS zone/s (race): Pit straight
Distance from grid to turn one: 545m
Car performance
Full throttle: 66%
Longest flat-out section: 994m
Downforce level: High
Gear changes per lap: 48
Fuel use per lap: 1.8kg
Time penalty per lap of fuel: 0.054s
Strategy
Quickest complete pit stop in 2013: 22.551s by Mercedes (see full list)
2018 tyre choices: Medium, Soft, Supersoft

*Fastest lap set during a Grand Prix
Data sources: FIA , Williams, Mercedes

2018 RESULTS

Stats
Pole position: Lewis Hamilton, 1:27.760
Race laps: 53
Fast race lap: Sebastian Vettel, 1:32.318
Podium
1. Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes
2. Valtteri Bottas – Mercedes
3. Max Verstappen – Red Bull

CURRENT STANDINGS

Drivers
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 322
2. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes, 249
3. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, 215
4. Max Verstappen, Red Bull, 212
5. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari, 194
6. Pierre Gasly, Toro Rosso, 69
7. Carlos Sainz, McLaren, 66
8. Alex Albon, Red Bull, 52
9. Lando Norris, McLaren, 35
10. Daniel Ricciardo, Renault, 34
Constructors
1. Mercedes, 571
2. Ferrari, 409
3. Red Bull, 311
4. McLaren, 101
5. Renault, 68
6. Toro Rosso, 55
7. Racing Point, 52
8. Alfa Romeo Racing, 35
9. Haas, 28
10. Williams, 1