The circuit of Suzuka arises in Japan in the prefecture of My, the western area of the island overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It is one of the most famous and appreciated tracks in the world by the pilots themselves. The importance of the permanent Japanese route is the result of its unmistakable peculiarities.
The facility is located within a playground owned by the Honda whose visual testimony is represented by the iconic Ferris wheel that dominates the asphalt ribbon. The track, initially conceived as a stage for testing the cars produced by the Japanese motoring giant, became, in the 1980s, a fixed appointment for the Formula 1. Suzuka it is the headquarters of Japanese Grand Prix since 1987, with the exception of the 2007 and 2008 championships in which it was replaced by the renewed Fuji Speedway.
The Japanese track is a hymn to technical variety. It is no coincidence that it is a real stress test that rewards the most efficient single-seaters and those that manage to identify the necessary aero-mechanical compromise to overcome the challenges represented by the alternation of slow curves such as the hairpin Hairpin and fast corners like the 130R and the challenger Snake, historical folds accompanied by a true icon like the Spoon Curve. Suzuka it is the only track on the calendar to have a figure 8 shape, i.e. with an underpass and related overpass.
![Suzuka - Japanese GP](https://www.formulacritica.it/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Suzuka-Giappone.jpg)
Suzuka – Japan: numbers and useful information
Address:
7992 Inoucho, Suzuka, Mie 510-0295, Japan
Plant capacity: 155,000
Telephone: +81 59-378-1111
Number of laps in the race: 53
Circuit length: 5,807 kilometers.
Race distance: 307,471 kilometers.
Lap record:
In competition: 1:30.983 (Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes, 2019)
Qualifying: 1'27″064 (Sebastian Vettel – Ferrari, 2019)
Suzuka – Japan: F1 roll of honour
Season | Grand Prix | Winner | Stable |
1987 | Japan | Gerhard Berger | Ferrari |
1988 | Japan | Ayrton Senna | McLaren-Honda |
1989 | Japan | Alessandro Nannini | Benetton-Ford |
1990 | Japan | Nelson Piquet | Benetton-Ford |
1991 | Japan | Gerhard Berger | McLaren-Honda |
1992 | Japan | Riccardo Patrese | Williams-Renault |
1993 | Japan | Ayrton Senna | McLaren-Ford |
1994 | Japan | Damon Hill | Williams-Renault |
1995 | Japan | Michael Schumacher | Benetton-Renault |
1996 | Japan | Damon Hill | Williams-Renault |
1997 | Japan | Michael Schumacher | Ferrari |
1998 | Japan | Mika Häkkinen | McLaren-Mercedes |
1999 | Japan | Mika Häkkinen | McLaren-Mercedes |
2000 | Japan | Michael Schumacher | Ferrari |
2001 | Japan | Michael Schumacher | Ferrari |
2002 | Japan | Michael Schumacher | Ferrari |
2003 | Japan | Rubens Barrichello | Ferrari |
2004 | Japan | Michael Schumacher | Ferrari |
2005 | Japan | Kimi Räikkönen | McLaren-Mercedes |
2006 | Japan | Fernando Alonso | Renault |
2007 | Not disputed | ||
2008 | |||
2009 | Japan | Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull-Renault |
2010 | Japan | Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull-Renault |
2011 | Japan | Jenson Button | McLaren-Mercedes |
2012 | Japan | Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull-Renault |
2013 | Japan | Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull-Renault |
2014 | Japan | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes |
2015 | Japan | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes |
2016 | Japan | Nico Rosberg | Mercedes |
2017 | Japan | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes |
2018 | Japan | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes |
2019 | Japan | Valtteri Bottas | Mercedes |
2020 | Not disputed | ||
2021 | |||
2022 | Japan | Max Verstappen | Red Bull-RBPT |
2023 | Japan | Max Verstappen | Red Bull-Honda RBPT |
By Redazione
Photo credits: F1