JAPANESE GP

• Track features

  The first half of the track is highly technical and favours those with the best aerodynamics as cars wind through multiple changes of direction, including the iconic ‘S’ curves, and up and down its varying elevation changes.

  The second half is a high-speed thrill ride that features the famed 130R corner, which was previously named due to its 130-metre radius before later being tweaked for safety reasons. It remains one of the track’s best overtaking opportunities, with drivers able to put their foot down in the lead-up and make a move under braking. It’s immediately followed by a DRS zone down the pit straight, with passing possible into the opening corner.

  Combine it all, and you can get the iconic figure of eight layout, making it the only circuit with a track that crosses over itself.

  Equally as important are the fans. The drivers receive a real heroes welcome from the fans at Suzuka, who wear F1-themed hats and even make gifts for the teams.

• What's it like in Japan?

  Without a doubt one of our favourite locations on the calendar. The food, of course, is a massive highlight, with dishes such as sushi, tempura, sashimi, ramen and Kobe beef. Or if you’ve got a particularly sweet tooth, then we’d recommend trying dorayaki, dango and matcha cookies.

  It’s a little way to travel, but you can catch the famous bullet train – which travels at speeds of up to 200mph – from Suzuka to Tokyo, and it is well worth the journey. Like Singapore, Tokyo is exceptionally clean and packed full of amazing high-rise buildings. And between those stunning buildings are a million and one things to do, from the Senso-Ji Temple to the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden and even a robot restaurant.

• Stat pack

  • We are the most successful team in the history of the Japanese Grand Prix, with nine wins
  • James Hunt won our first Japanese Grand Prix at the Fuji Speedway in 1977
  • Hunt was crowned F1 World Champion at the 1976 Japanese Grand Prix
  • Jenson Button is our most recent Japanese Grand Prix winner, taking victory in 2011
  • Kimi Räikkönen won from 17th for McLaren in the 2005 Japanese Grand Prix
  • Ayrton Senna (1988, 1993), Gerhard Berger (1991), and Lewis Hamilton (2007) have also all won for us in Japan
  • Mika Häkkinen won both of his F1 World Championships (1998, ’99) at the Japanese Grand Prix
  • Prost sealed the 1989 Drivers' Championship following a collision with teammate Senna in the Japanese Grand Prix
  • Senna clinched the 1990 F1 title following a collision with Ferrari driver Prost the following year in the 1990 Japanese Grand Prix
  • Senna also took the title in Japan in 1988 and 1991