F1 Japanese Grand Prix 2026: How to watch, race and qualifying start times and weather forecast

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Formula 1 heads to Suzuka for the third round of the 2026 season, the Japanese Grand Prix. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of this weekend’s action.

Kimi Antonelli arrives in Japan riding a wave of momentum after claiming his maiden F1 victory in China. The young Italian made headlines all weekend, becoming the youngest driver in history to secure pole position before converting it into a win.

Despite Mercedes locking out the front row, it was Lewis Hamilton who made the strongest start, snatching the lead in the opening moments of the Chinese Grand Prix.

However, Antonelli quickly reasserted himself, reclaiming P1 on the second lap. His teammate George Russell followed suit soon after, overtaking Hamilton just two laps later.

A thrilling battle for the final podium place unfolded between Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, with the pair going wheel-to-wheel several times in the race. However, it was Hamilton who ultimately prevailed, securing his first podium finish for Ferrari.

Read More: Kimi Antonelli wins the Chinese Grand Prix with George Russell securing second one-two for Mercedes

When is the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix, including full weekend schedule

The 2026 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix will take place from 27–29 March, serving as the final race before the championship resumes in early May with the Miami Grand Prix. In the wake of the Chinese Grand Prix, the FIA confirmed that April’s scheduled races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have been cancelled due to the ongoing conflict in Iran.

Track action at Suzuka builds to lights out at 2pm local time on Sunday 29 March, with qualifying set for 3pm on Saturday.

How to watch the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix, including free highlights

Full details on how to watch the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix in your country can be found on the official Formula 1 website.

UK viewers can catch all the action from the Japanese Grand Prix on Sky Sports Main Event, with additional coverage, including practice, qualifying on the Sky Sports F1 channel. Sky Sports packages start at £22 per month. NOW TV customers can also access the race via the Sky Sports pass, with access starting from £27.99 a month.

Free-to-air highlights of the race in Suzuka will be shown on Channel 4 at 1pm on Sunday 29 March.

In the United States, Formula 1 is now available on Apple TV after the broadcaster secured the rights from ESPN last season. Fans who previously subscribed to F1 TV should see savings, having previously paid $129 per year last season compared to Apple TV’s $99 annual subscription.

In Australia, fans can watch the Japanese Grand Prix through Kayo or Foxtel. Kayo is a streaming platform that gives subscribers access to more than 50 live sports, including F1 coverage for $29.99 per month. Foxtel is currently offering a significant discount until 18 May 2026, with its packages starting from $69 per month.

Formula 1 will also upload race highlights from the Japanese Grand Prix to its official YouTube channel later on Sunday following the race.

What is the weather forecast for the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix?

At the time of writing, the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix weekend is expected to be sunny and warm, although there is a slight risk of rain on Saturday during qualifying.

Friday will reach highs of 18°C with light winds expected to hit the track from the south, although these will be lighter at around 3mph compared to the stronger winds in China previously.

Temperatures will stay the same on Saturday, although there will be an increasing chance of rain throughout the day, moving from a forecasted 8% risk in FP3 to 41% by qualifying. The light winds will slightly increase to 4mph, hitting the track from a south-easterly direction.

Sunday’s main grand prix in Suzuka should see the day’s highs of 19°C with no chance of rain. However light cloud cover could move over the track in the next hour. Similar to the previous two days, light 4mph winds will hit the track from the south-east.

What is the Pirelli tyre allocation for the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix?

Pirelli have announced the tyre allocation for the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix, with the supplier bringing the hardest trio in the range, the C1 Hard, C2 Medium and C3 Soft compounds.

With Suzuka being one of the most demanding circuits for tyres on the calendar, it is no surprise that the tyre selection remains unchanged from previous years. The track features eighteen medium and high speed corners, which put increased stress on the tyres.

In 2025, the track had undergone some resurfacing work from the exit of the first chicane to the end of the first sector, which continued after last year’s race. The substantial work has seen resurfacing up to Turn 17, and is expected to offer lower grip as a result.

It is expected that the race will run on a one-stop strategy for most teams if they can manage the thermal degradation and the impact that it has on performance.

Where is the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix held?

The 2026 Japanese Grand Prix will be held at the iconic Suzuka Circuit, a 5.807km track located in Mie Prefecture. Owned by Honda, Suzuka has been a staple of the Formula 1 calendar since 1987, missing only 2007 and 2008 when the race temporarily moved to the redeveloped Fuji Speedway.

Plans were initially put in place for Suzuka and Fuji to alternate hosting duties from 2009. However, those arrangements were abandoned after Toyota, then owners of Fuji, cited the global economic downturn as the reason for withdrawing from the agreement.

Historically, the Japanese Grand Prix has often featured towards the end of the season and has played a decisive role in the championship battle, with 13 drivers’ titles sealed at Suzuka.

Michael Schumacher holds the record for the most wins at the circuit, with six victories between 1995 and 2004, while Lewis Hamilton sits just one win behind.

In 2025, Kimi Antonelli set a new fastest lap record at Suzuka with a time of 1:30.965, surpassing the previous benchmark set by his Mercedes predecessor, Hamilton, in 2019. In doing so, Antonelli also became the youngest driver in Formula 1 history to record a fastest lap.

Who won the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix?

The 2025 Japanese Grand Prix was won by pole-sitter Max Verstappen, who secured his first victory of the season after fending off challenges from McLaren duo Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. The win also saw Verstappen become the first driver to claim four consecutive victories at Suzuka.

The Dutchman built an early advantage, but a slow pit stop brought Norris back into contention. The pair went side-by-side on pit exit, with the McLaren briefly forced onto the grass as they battled for track position.

Stewards chose not to investigate the incident, allowing Verstappen to retain the lead through to the chequered flag. In the closing stages, Piastri closed in on his teammate, but Norris responded to maintain his position and secure second place.

Further back, Isack Hadjar claimed the first points of his Formula 1 career with an eighth-place finish, coming home ahead of Alex Albon’s Williams.