Circuit
Suzuka International Racing Course
Suzuka, Japan
Suzuka is one of very few circuits in the world laid out as a figure of eight, with the track crossing over itself via a bridge. Its opening sector is a continuous run of linked esses that flows like almost nothing else in racing, a rhythmic sequence where each corner sets up the next and a single mistake ruins the whole lap. Later the fearsome 130R and the tightening final hairpin add their own demands.
A classic Japanese circuit revered by drivers, it rewards precision, commitment and a car that flows through fast direction changes. The connected nature of the lap means there is nowhere to hide, which is exactly why a great lap of Suzuka is so prized.
The gap, in metres
2026 Qualifying here. Each driver’s time gap converted to the distance it actually puts them behind at racing speed.
| # | Driver | Gap | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kimi Antonelli | reference | — |
| 2 | George Russell | +0.298 | 23.3 m |
| 3 | Oscar Piastri | +0.354 | 27.7 m |
| 4 | Charles Leclerc | +0.627 | 49.1 m |
| 5 | Lando Norris | +0.631 | 49.4 m |
| 6 | Lewis Hamilton | +0.789 | 61.8 m |
| 7 | Pierre Gasly | +0.913 | 71.5 m |
| 8 | Isack Hadjar | +1.200 | 94.0 m |
| 9 | Max Verstappen | +1.484 | 116.2 m |
| 10 | Gabriel Bortoleto | +1.496 | 117.2 m |
Across the full field, Kimi Antonelli to Lance Stroll covers 324.5 m.
See the full 2026 Qualifying drawn to scaleOn the radio here
1,249 messages recorded at this circuit, 2018 to 2025.
- “That's perfection. Just perfection, Max. Fantastic. Wow. Thank you, guys. Wow. Oh, mate, what an unbelievable weekend. What a great turnaround after the difficult start. You see, we never give up. We keep pushing together. Well done, everyone. Max, that was one of your finest weekends. That was a truly inspirational performance. So, as you say, never, ever give up. All the play for. Well done, mate. Exactly that. We keep pushing. Yeah, unbelievable. What a great, great weekend for us.”Max VERSTAPPEN · 2025 Race
- “These shifts are so bad. What have we done to them? It's been **** at the start, it's been **** now. Okay, can you be a bit more specific as to where it is? I'll try and help. Yeah, the same. The same I've been talking about all the time. Okay.”Alexander ALBON · 2025 Race
- “Okay Lando they said no further action on the pit exit just means we'll have to overtake him on track Doing a good job with the tires better job than he is”Lando NORRIS · 2025 Race
- “I'd really like some info where I'm slowing Turn 8, 9 And 13, 14 Okay, but how much? Yeah, I'll tell you Yeah, 1, 10, 8 and 9”Lewis HAMILTON · 2025 Race