2026 Japanese Grand Prix

Championship standings

Russell leads the Drivers’ Championship with 51 points, 4 ahead of Antonelli and 17 ahead of Leclerc. Mercedes lead the Constructors’ with 98 points, 31 clear of Ferrari and 80 ahead of McLaren.

Previous race

At Shanghai, Antonelli converted pole to his maiden Formula One victory, becoming the youngest polesitter in the sport’s history at 19 years old — breaking the record Sebastian Vettel set at the 2008 Italian Grand Prix — and the first Italian winner since Giancarlo Fisichella at the 2006 Malaysian Grand Prix. Russell finished second; Hamilton took his first podium for Ferrari in third. Norris, Piastri, Bortoleto, and Albon all failed to start the main race due to car issues.

Entrants

Fernando Alonso is replaced in the first free practice session by Jak Crawford, under the regulation requiring each team to field a driver with no more than two career race starts in one of the opening practice sessions on four occasions during the season.

Milestones

The 2026 Japanese Grand Prix is the 40th running of the race as a round of the World Championship, and the 36th time it has been held at Suzuka.

Tyre choices

Pirelli brings the C1, C2, and C3 compounds — the three hardest in their range — designated hard, medium, and soft respectively.

Practice

Antonelli topped FP3 ahead of Russell and Leclerc. Piastri had led FP2 ahead of Antonelli and Russell; Russell was fastest in FP1 ahead of Antonelli and Norris.