The Suzuka International Racing Course is a track that tests our vocabulary as much as it does our cars - there simply aren’t enough adjectives in the English language to do it justice… it’s an iconic Formula 1 venue that has played host to some of the most famous moments in our 60 years of racing, featuring one of the most exhilarating layouts on the calendar and supported by one of F1’s most passionate fanbases, located in a beautiful country brimming with history and bursting with phenomenal food.

There have been so many memorable McLaren moments in the country over the years: James Hunt, Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost and Mika Häkkinen all clinched Championships at Japan in the past. The Japanese Grand Prix now takes place much earlier in the season, so is unlikely to decide a title fight anytime soon, but it has always produced entertaining races, and we’re expecting no different this weekend.

To prepare you for all of the action, we’ve gotten the thoughts of Lando, Oscar and Team Principal Andrea Stella. We’ve also attempted to sum up why we love this race so much and explored some of its biggest challenges.

“I’m excited to head back to Japan. It’s one of my favourite weekends on the calendar. The fans bring an amazing atmosphere. Suzuka as a circuit is also a great one to drive at.

“It was good to have a week off after a positive start to our season. We had the chance to go back to Woking and celebrate with everyone. I also spent time in the sim and with my engineers to prepare for this triple-header. We have learned many things from the first two races, so now it’s time to put it all into practice.”

“Suzuka is one of the most exciting circuits on the calendar for us as drivers. 130R is legendary and the combination of fast corners and the fact that the circuit has remained the same for so many years, means it’s an incredible feeling to race here.

“To arrive in Japan after a race win in China is a great feeling, but of course we’re aware that everything resets and we need to push again just as hard. It’s still extremely close at the front so we need to deliver in every area. I’m excited to get back on track and put on a great race for the incredibly passionate Japanese fans.”

“After a weekend of no racing, we’re excited to return to the track this week and happy that we head to Suzuka for the Japanese Grand Prix. Suzuka has a special atmosphere, not just because of the exciting challenge the circuit offers the drivers, but also due to the fans who are among the most passionate and energetic we see anywhere in the world.

“Last week we took time to come together as a team in Woking to celebrate our first two wins of the season, but attention has quickly turned to preparing for the triple header ahead of us. The Chinese Grand Prix demonstrated how close and competitive the field is and so we remain focused on ourselves and continuously improving our pace and standards. We look forward to putting on an exciting race for the papaya fans not only in the Suzuka grandstands but also around the world.”

Why we love the Japanese Grand Prix

The fans are among the best in the world. Wildly passionate and so, so much fun, they pack out the circuit from the moment the gates open and turn up wearing some wacky outfits, from full-on race suits to homemade T-shirts, but it’s their F1-themed headwear that is most famous.

From replica driver helmets to hats featuring operational DRS, model cars and F1’s famous breaking news graphic, we’ve seen it all over the years, even a recreation of the Suzuka circuit layout.

It makes for a colourful and lively arena in which to race.

What are the challenges?

Suzuka is a busy lap, but two particular challenges stand out, one in each half of the circuit and both very different in nature.

The famous ‘S’ curves run from Turns 3 to 7 and require rapid changes of direction in what is a more-technical start to the lap, as cars weave their way through a series of left- and right-handers. This is made more challenging by the grass and gravel traps that border a narrow section of circuit.

The second features in a high-speed second half of the lap. The 130R – named after its original 130-metre radius – is a key overtaking opportunity. As drivers head into the turn and through to the next chicane, they can line up a move whilst braking from around 190mph, directly ahead of a long DRS-enabled straight.

The two contrasting halves of the circuit also pose questions to our engineers about how they set up the cars and which section they prioritise.

The season so far

It’s been pretty special, albeit with some tricky challenges threaded through. For all of the hurdles we’ve faced in the opening two rounds, the numbers make for incredible reading. Our results in China marked the first time we’ve won the opening two rounds of a season since 2003 and the first time we’ve won three Grands Prix in a row since 2012.

As it stands, we sit top of the Constructors’ Championship and Lando leads the Drivers’ standings – the first time a McLaren driver has done so since Lewis Hamilton in 2012. Oscar – who has F1’s longest active points-scoring streak – is fourth, just 10 points off Lando, having become the 18th McLaren driver to take an F1 Pole.

The fit

We couldn’t go into this weekend’s race at Suzuka without a Japanese Grand Prix-themed cap from New Era, could we? This black-and-white 9Seventy Stretch Snap, featuring a dash of red, would work well as the finishing touch for a smart monochrome fit.