2019 Japanese Grand Prix

Championship standings

Hamilton leads Bottas by 73 points. Leclerc is third with 215 points, ahead of Verstappen and Vettel. Mercedes leads Ferrari by 162 in the Constructors’.

Previous race

Hamilton won Russia, with Bottas second — the first Mercedes 1–2 since the British Grand Prix. Vettel retired after an MGU-K failure on his out-lap from his first pit stop, demanding the return of V12 engines over the team radio as he coasted to a halt. Leclerc started from pole for the fourth consecutive race but could only finish third. A pre-race agreement had designated Vettel to yield to Leclerc after building a gap; Vettel did not comply at the start, taking the lead via a slipstream.

Entrants

Naoki Yamamoto drives in the first practice session for Toro Rosso, replacing Gasly. Yamamoto becomes the first Japanese driver to appear in a Formula One session since Kamui Kobayashi.

Ferrari’s Mission Winnow branding returns this weekend, having been absent from the cars since Monaco for legal reasons.

Weather

Typhoon Hagibis has led to the cancellation of all Saturday events, including FP3 and qualifying. Qualifying has been rescheduled for Sunday morning, a few hours before the race. The skies are expected to be clear after the typhoon passes, though heavy winds may still be affecting the circuit during qualifying.