Suzuka International Racing Course
Suzuka International Racing Course
Track Sectors
The legendary Esses — a series of alternating left-right-left-right high-speed changes of direction that reward commitment and car balance.
Degner 1 and 2, the hairpin and the daunting Spoon curve — every corner is a setup for the next.
130R, one of F1's fastest corners taken near-flat, followed by the chicane and a short blast home.
About Suzuka International Racing Course
Suzuka is the only figure-of-eight on the F1 calendar, with the circuit crossing itself via an overpass between the Degners and the chicane. Drivers consistently rank it among the greatest in the world: every corner flows into the next, with few obvious braking zones, so rhythm and commitment define a lap. The Esses, 130R and the Spoon Curve are reference corners for the entire sport.
McLaren team-mates and title rivals tangled at the chicane with Prost ahead. Senna recovered to win on track but was disqualified — handing the title to Prost in one of F1's most disputed verdicts.
Starting 17th after a wet qualifying, Kimi Räikkönen dragged his McLaren to the front and took the lead from Fisichella into the very last corner of the very last lap — an all-time great drive.
Heavy rain and a recovery vehicle at Dunlop Curve led to Jules Bianchi's fatal Marussia accident. The crash drove the introduction of the virtual safety car and prompted a wholesale review of wet-race protocols.
Driver Records at Suzuka International Racing Course
Recent Grand Prix Winners
| Year | Winner | Results |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Kimi Antonelli | Full result → |
| 2025 | Max Verstappen | Full result → |
Once podium / pole / FL data per round is plumbed in, this table expands to a full P1 · P2 · P3 · Pole · FL row layout.
How Suzuka International Racing Course Compares
Head-to-head on the things that matter for race day.
| Circuit | Length | Top Speed | Avg Overtakes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suzuka International Racing Course · Japan | 5.807 km | 320 km/h | 12 |
| Spa · Belgium | 7.000 km | 340 km/h | 35 |
| Silverstone · UK | 5.890 km | 330 km/h | 30 |
| Interlagos · Brazil | 4.300 km | 325 km/h | 38 |