Where is the Japanese Grand Prix held?

The Japanese Grand Prix returns this weekend, with Yuki Tsunoda promoted to Red Bull Racing for his home race, and all eyes will be on one special circuit.

Fans and drivers alike love the Japanese Grand Prix. Not only is the racing some of the best on the calendar, the unpredictable weather conditions and passionate fanbase make it one of the most anticipated tracks on the F1 calendar.

Held at the Suzuka International Racing Course, or just Suzuka, this 5.807 km (3.608 mi) circuit has been witness to several championship-defining moments over the years. From the controversial clashes between Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost in 1989 and 1990 to most recently Max Verstappen clinching his second drivers’ title in a rather confusing fashion.

Drivers adore it though, with Lewis Hamilton calling it “the best rollercoaster ride that I’ve felt in a Formula 1 car” and George Russell defining it as “one of the greats”

Honda owns the Suzuka circuit

This Japanese venue is named after the city it’s built in: Suzuka. Based in the Mie Prefecture of Japan, its nearest big city is Nagoya and is located about 375 km from the capital Tokyo.

The idea for the Suzuka that we know and love today was all down to Soichiro Honda, the founder of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. He wanted his own permanent circuit where he could test his latest machines, and brought in John Hugenholtz to help design it. Hugenholtz, who was also behind the Zolder circuit in Belgium and Jarama track in Spain among others, created Suzuka in 1962 and incorporated several unique features.

The track may be best-known for its figure-of-eight layout, and is the only circuit on the Formula 1 calendar to have this design. This can also lead to some unusual views, with cars racing on top of each other by means of a bridge or overpass.

It’s also home to some of the most special corners on the calendar, including the famous 130R and the wicked Esses complex.

When did Suzuka host its first F1 race?

The first Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka was in 1987 – won by Gerhard Berger.

Formula 1 was scheduled to race at the Suzuka circuit from 1985, however circuit modifications were taking too long and instead the decision was made to return two years later.

The first grand prix at the Suzuka circuit should have been a memorable one, with Williams team-mates Nigel Mansell and Nelson Piquet fighting for the championship at the penultimate round of the season. However, a nasty crash for Mansell during qualifying saw him ruled out of the race and Piquet crowned champ before the starting flag had even been shown with no chance of any elbows out racing on-track between the two.

Since then it has hosted races every season, apart from 2007 and 2008 when F1 headed to Fuji and two seasons during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Where else has hosted the Japanese Grand Prix?

The Japanese Grand Prix has been hosted at two venues, with a third Japanese circuit holding the Pacific grands prix during the mid-nineties.

The TI Circuit Aida, as it was formerly known, was used across two seasons of Formula 1 – 1994 and 1995 – and meant Japan held two races over a single season. Both these races were won by Michael Schumacher and Benetton.

In 2007 and 2008, the Japanese Grand Prix was held at the Toyota-owned Fuji Speedway after Suzuka was dropped from the calendar. An initial deal was then agreed that would see both Japanese venues alternate races on a yearly basis from 2009 onwards.

The first race at Fuji started under safety car conditions with very wet and misty conditions impacting the race. Lewis Hamilton won the race from pole position and secured the fastest lap too – a sensational victory in his rookie season. Fernando Alonso was the second and final winner at the circuit in Formula 1, winning for Renault in 2008.

The following year Fuji announced it would be stepping back from the calendar, blaming the “very severe deterioration of commercial conditions” which was affecting circuit-owner Toyota.

Suzuka was back as the sole-home of the Japanese Grand Prix from 2009, and last year signed a contract extension to keep it on the calendar until at least 2029.