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The Japan Grand Prix - F1 race at Suzuka

Japan Grand Prix: The Suzuka GP in Japan will take place on the weekend of September 22-24, 2023. The Formula One race will start following the Singapore Grand Prix. Formula 1's next stop will then be the Qatar Grand Prix - Doha.

Screenshot suzukacircuit.ja

Facts about the Japan Grand Prix

Motorsport races have been held under the name Japan Grand Prix since 1963. Originally, races were held at both the Suzuka track and Fuji Speedway.

It was only in 1976 and 1977 that the Japan Grand Prix first became part of the official Formula One racing calendar. These two races were still held on the Fuji circuit.

Between 2007 and 2008, Formula One returned to Fuji Speedway. The plan was for the race to alternate annually between Suzuka and Fuji starting in 2009. However, due to financial difficulties, Fuji Speedway's operator, Honda, cancelled.

From 1986 to 2006, the Japan Grand Prix was held exclusively at the Suzuka International Racing Course.

Since 2009, Suzuka has been the permanent venue for the Japan Grand Prix. Due to the global COVID pandemic, the race was not held in both 2020 and 2021.

Japan Grand Prix: The Suzuka International Racing Course

The Suzuka International Racing Course stretches over a length of 5.807 kilometers. During a race, 53 laps are completed, for a total distance of 307.573 kilometers.

The special feature of the Suzuka International Racing Course is its unique figure-8 design. It is the only track on the Formula One calendar to run in a loop in the shape of an eight. This layout is perhaps reminiscent of the Carrera tracks of our childhood.

Another outstanding feature of the track is the Esses Passage. Here, cars negotiate five consecutive turns at speeds of over 200 kilometers per hour. Shortly after comes the Dunlop Curve, followed by the treacherous Degner Curve.

The track is also known for its changeable weather conditions, which often make the race unpredictable and test the drivers' skills.

In summary, the Suzuka International Racing Course is a challenging, fast and fascinating track. Fans around the world especially love the Japanese Grand Prix races because of these unique features.

Screenshot suzukacircuit.ja

Top performances at the Japan Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton has once again set a track record for the fastest race lap at the Japan Grand Prix. He set a record time of 1:30.983 minutes in 2019.

The absolute fastest lap on this track was set by German driver Sebastian Vettel. In qualifying for the 2019 Suzuka Grand Prix, he clocked a record time of 1:27.064 minutes in his Ferrari.

Michael Schumacher leads in both most wins and pole positions at the Japan Grand Prix. He has won the race six times and has been on pole, the number one starting position, for the race a total of eight times.

Winners of the Formula 1 Japan Grand Prix

YearWinnerCircuit
2022Max Verstappen (Red Bull-Renault)Suzuka
2021No race due to corona pandemicSuzuka
2020No race due to corona pandemicSuzuka
2019Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)Suzuka
2018Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)Suzuka
2017Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)Suzuka
2016Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)Suzuka
2015Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)Suzuka
2014Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)Suzuka
2013Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull-Renault)Suzuka
2012Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull-Renault)Suzuka
2011Jenson Button (McLaren-Mercedes)Suzuka
2010Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull-Renault)Suzuka
2009Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull-Renault)Suzuka
2008Fernando Alonso (Renault)Fuji
2007Lewis Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes)Fuji
2006Fernando Alonso (Renault)Suzuka
2005Kimi Räikkönen (McLaren-Mercedes)Suzuka
2004Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)Suzuka
2003Rubens Barrichello (Ferrari)Suzuka
2002Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)Suzuka
2001Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)Suzuka
2000Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)Suzuka
1999Mika Häkkinen (McLaren-Mercedes)Suzuka
1998Mika Häkkinen (McLaren-Mercedes)Suzuka
1997Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)Suzuka
1996Damon Hill (Williams-Renault)Suzuka
1995Michael Schumacher (Benetton-Renault)Suzuka
1994Damon Hill (Williams-Renault)Suzuka
1993Ayrton Senna (McLaren-Ford)Suzuka
1992Riccardo Patrese (Williams-Renault)Suzuka
1991Gerhard Berger (McLaren-Honda)Suzuka
1990Nelson Piquet (Benetton-Ford)Suzuka
1989Alessandro Nannini (Benetton-Ford)Suzuka
1988Ayrton Senna (McLaren-Honda)Suzuka
1987Gerhard Berger (Ferrari)Suzuka
1978-1986No Japanese Grand Prix
1977James Hunt (McLaren-Ford)Fuji
1976Mario Andretti (Lotus-Ford)Fuji
1975Masahiro Hasemi (March)Fuji
1974No Japanese Grand Prix
1973Motoharu Kurosawa (March)Fuji
1972John Surtees (Surtees)Fuji
1971Kuniomi Nagamatsu (Mitsubishi)Fuji
1970No Japanese Grand Prix
1969Motoharu Kurosawa (Nissan)Fuji
1968Moto Kitano (Nissan)Fuji
1967Tetsu Ikuzawa (Porsche)Fuji
1966Yoshikazu Sunako (Prince)Fuji
1965No Japanese Grand Prix
1964Michael Knight (Brabham)Suzuka
1963Peter Warr (Lotus-Cosworth)Suzuka

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By: Michael Miller
Michael is the CEO of VPN Online, one of the fastest-growing media companies in the cyber-security space. VPN Online was started in 2019 after Michael consulted with many Fortune 500 companies and saw the lack of understanding about cybersecurity many of their employees had.