FORMULA 1 ARAMCO JAPANESE GRAND PRIX LIVE THREAD

Circuit: Suzuka International Racing Circuit
First race: 1987
Length: 3.608 miles (5.807 metres)
Race distance: 53 laps (191.054 miles / 307.471 km) Lap record: 1:26.983, Max Verstappen, 2025 Qualifying (Q3)
Race lap record: 1:30.965, Kimi Antonelli, Lap 50, 2025 race

F1 Schedule - All Times EDT:

THURSDAY
2000-2045: Ferrari Challenge FP1
2230-2330: F1 FP1

FRIDAY
0000-0045: Porsche Carrera Cup FP1
0200-0300: F1 FP2
0330-0400: Ferrari Challenge Qualifying
2120-2150: Porsche Carrera Cup Qualifying
2230-2330: F1 FP3

SATURDAY
0010-0045: Ferrari Challenge Race 1 (30 minutes and one lap)
0200-0300: F1 Qualifying
2040-2115: Ferrari Challenge Race 2 (30 minutes and one lap)
2155-2230: Porsche Carrera Cup Race (12 laps with a 30 minute time limit)

SUNDAY
0100-0300: F1 Aramco Japanese Grand Prix (53 laps with a 120 minute time limit)

When I saw that the 2026 regs allowed cars to expend more battery power per lap than they could recover, it was blatantly PAINFULLY obvious that that would force the teams to be stingy with battery use else risk being overtaken by someone who had. I.E., Maria Kart racing.

Now the jeanyuses in the FIA think they'll fix that problem BY MAKING IT WORSE. The TR (C5.2.10) allows recovering 8.5 MJ (2.4 kWh)* and they're reducing that to 8.0 MJ (2.2 kWh) for the qualies at Suzuka. It's also going to exaggerate Mercedes' power advantage because, as was feared before the season began, (and my post above shows) Mercedes has a distinct advantage in ICE horsepower.

Of course it won't produce more see-saw overtaking because there isn't supposed to be any overtaking in the qualies. But if you wanted to guarantee Mercedes is going to lock out the front row -- and it ain't like they needed help in that regard -- this ought to do it.

*All the news reports I've come across say the existing limit was 9 MJ/lap but I'm reading from a copy of the TR dated 27 Feb of this year and the limit is 8.5 MJ, NOT 9.

RE: The FIA lowering the recovery to 8 MJ:
Gary Anderson proves that the FIA doesn't know how to add and subract.

Oliver Bearman offers blunt response to crucial F1 rule change

For a teenager, he's got a pretty good grasp of things (and he isn't what I'd call 'complimentary' of the rule change).

The Canal+ (FR) promo for the Aramco GP features a Mario Kart inspired promo.

https://x.com/MV33Racing/status/2034026917993513378

With roughly 320 km (two formation laps (one exiting pit road to the start line, and one before the race start) + 305km race + cool down lap) and 75 litres, and a 1 litre mandate at the end of the race, cars effectively are required to run 11 MPG or use 73 litres. That’s twice as efficient as an Indy car on a natural terrain road course. They’re running 19 gallons of fuel for 200 miles total in a race day when the tanks can carry 19.5 gallons, they can only use 19.

That’s for 200 miles they use 19 gallons. INDYCAR has 18.5 gallons of alcohol fuel and you need about 70 gallons for its longest natural terrain race. For a 400 mile oval race such as Nashville, you need four stops (five full tanks, about 100 gallons allowed). For a 500 mile race they have five stops (about 125 gallons of fuel required).

So, not knowing anything about F-1 except that I watched the movie—I tuned into the F-1 Series on Apple TV for the 2025 season. It was 8 episodes and highlighted all the drivers, drama and races...So it was a primer for me.

Now I got hooked. Frankly, I am sort of Kimi fan only because he is such a young pup out there in his now second season for Mercedes. I am no fan of particular racing team itself but it is looking like Mercedes is having a great start in the early part of the season. McLaren was the It Girl last year so we will see what happends this year. And then there is Max Verstappen...as well as Lewis Hamilton, now with Ferrari.

Will be tuning in tonight at 7 (west coast time) tonight. for a night of practice and fun. Go Speed Racer, Go! 🏎️

Free Practice 1:

The top four are Mercedes powered.

https://speedcafe.com/f1-news-2026-japanese-grand-prix-fp1-practice-results-mercedes-george-russell-kimi-antonelli-fastest/

Driver Time/Delta Laps Run
RUS 1:31.66x 27
ANT +.025 26
NOR +.132 20
PIA +.199 23
LEC +.289 25
HAM +.374 23
VER +.791 27
LAW +.863 27
OCO +.935 23
LIN +.999 29
BOR +1.093 27
HUL +1.132 26
HAD +1.137 27
BEA +1.234 27
GAS +1.312 25
COL +1.695 24
SAI +1.717 26
ALB +2.031 22
PER +2.555 18
BOT +2.824 24
STR +3.628 22
CRA +4.696 11

Free Practice 2:
The AMG works Mercedes are the meat in a McLaren sandwich. But only one McLaren start in four attempts this year. Can both take the lights Sunday?

https://speedcafe.com/f1-news-2026-japanese-grand-prix-fp2-practice-results-oscar-piastri-fastest-mclaren-mercedes/

FP2 Results:
PIA 1:30.133 29
ANT +.092 28
RUS +.205 29
NOR +.516 16A
LEC +.713 28
HAM +.847s 27
HUL +1.308 27
ALB +1.363 30
BEA +1.365 28
VER +1.376 29
OCO +.399 30
LAW +1.457 31
SAI +1.475 30
GAS +1.601 29
HAD +1.626 29
BOR +1.800 11
COL +2.305 28
BOT +2.482 28
ALO +3.463 24
PER +3.556 14
STR +3.818 21
LIN No Time 1

“Better off driving at 99%” in qualifying with new F1 cars

“Actually you’re better off just driving at 99 percent and doing consistent laps, which is a bit against our nature.” — Ollie Bearman

https://www.racefans.net/2026/03/27/better-off-driving-at-99-in-qualifying-with-new-f1-cars/

(It also bastardizes the nature of competition as it has been practiced in F1 for 75 years)

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Long-run analysis: Is Mercedes sandbagging in Japan?

McLaren ended up with the quickest time overall on Friday – yet that doesn’t say much about the true pecking order in Japan

One thing is clear: in terms of qualifying pace, Mercedes has likely not shown its full potential and therefore heads into the remainder of the weekend as the clear favourite. But where exactly is the Silver Arrows finding its lap time?

A look at the average sector times from the long runs shows that Mercedes gains most of its advantage over Ferrari in sectors one and three. In sector two, Leclerc was almost as quick. The key difference lies on the long straights in sectors one and three.

Mercedes achieves significantly higher top speeds – particularly on the run to Turn 1 and towards the final chicane. The advantage towards Turn 1 can reach up to 15km/h, and around 10km/h in the final sector. In the fast Esses of sector one, Ferrari is nearly level – the bulk of the time loss clearly occurs on the straights.

A similar pattern can be seen with McLaren: here too, most of the time is lost on the straights, despite the Woking team using the same engine. In addition, weaker performance in the corners compounds the deficit, leaving McLaren behind Ferrari.

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/long-runs-analysis-is-mercedes-sandbagging-in-japan/10808579/

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Has ‘super clipping’ really killed F1’s fast corners? Suzuka speeds analysed

https://www.racefans.net/2026/03/27/has-super-clipping-really-killed-f1s-fast-corners-suzuka-speeds-analysed/

(Yes, cornering speeds are off dramatically)

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FIA reveal why Mercedes escaped action over W17 front wing concerns

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/fia-reveal-why-mercedes-escaped-action-over-w17-front-wing-concerns

(It was a mechanical malfunction, and Mercedes weren’t the only sufferer)

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Why Ferrari isn’t using its ‘Macarena’ F1 wing at Japanese GP

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/why-ferraris-macarena-f1-wing-didnt-dance-in-suzuka/10808507/

(They’re blaming shipping weight & the budget cap but if the thing worked, you know Freddie would put it in his carry-on bag)

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