The Japanese Grand Prix held at Suzuka is right around the corner and there are several changes that the fans will be witnessing. The biggest story, coming into Japan, is Red Bull. Liam Lawson has been swapped for Yuki Tsunoda after just a two-race stint.
The Austrian team is also one of the two, besides Haas, that are introducing a new livery at Suzuka. Red Bull is bringing back the iconic white livery, while Haas is going with a new Sakura-style look. Japanese GP will be Tsunoda’s first official drive for Red Bull senior team.
Last year, Max Verstappen dominated at Suzuka, eventually scoring a “grand slam”. He took pole position after the qualifying, got the fastest lap and stood on the top podium after the race. This year, McLaren look to be the favourites to win the race.
FP1 Rookies at the Japanese Grand Prix
Formula 1 always pushes its talent to improve whenever possible. Teams are required to swap out one of their drivers for a rookie at any of the Free Practices in the calendar. Japan is bound to be one of the first of the year for the campaign.
Driving at home 🇯🇵🏡
At this weekend’s #JapaneseGP, @ryohirakawa will be getting his first taste of 2025 machinery during Friday’s FP1 session. pic.twitter.com/44DWSfLBgx
— BWT Alpine Formula One Team (@AlpineF1Team) April 1, 2025
Alpine has decided to switch out Jack Doohan for Ryo Hirakawa for FP1 at Suzuka. The Japanese driver might be an F1 rookie but he is a very well established driver in his own right. He has several accomplishments under his belt including multiple Le Mans championships.
Home town hero Yuki Tsunoda
Yuki Tsunoda is on a high right now. The Japanese driver has been signed into the Red Bull seat to partner Max Verstappen. This comes after Tsunoda spent 4 years with the junior team and was snubbed out of the selection before the 2025 season started.
This race is going to be a big moment for Yuki as he is in the top seat, at his home race, powered by a Honda engine. He has a lot to prove and a lot of eyes on him for the race. With Liam Lawson back in the RB, Tsunoda has to showcase his skills and adapt to the RB21.
Yuki Tsunoda on his First Home race with @redbullracing:
“I don’t want to raise expectations too much, but for this Japanese Grand Prix, I want to finish on the podium. That said, I know it won’t be easy right from the start.”
[📰 @autosport ]
[📸 Getty Images]#F1 #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/ZDizabwgi5— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) March 30, 2025
Yuki Tsunoda is still without a seat for the 2026 season. If the young driver manages to impress in the following races, we might see him get a contract extension or we might not see him on the grid at all.
Suzuka track changes
The Suzuka track is well beloved by fans and drivers alike. It has great turns and a beautiful straight. The track is fast, has a flow, and rewards bravery. There are a lot of overtaking opportunities, which makes for an interesting race for the fans as well.
This year, Suzuka might feel grippy but degrading. Several parts of the track have been resurfaced including one of the infamous esses of the track. This means more grip but also more tyre degradation.
Suzuka Circuit Undergoes Major Track Changes Ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix
Another major change comes to Turn 9. The single kerb at the turn has been changed to a double kerb. This poses a threat to car floors, making the drivers vary. Another notable change at the track are gravel traps at turns 2,7,9,14, and 17.
Japanese Grand Prix weather prediction
The Suzuka track is in for a variable and volatile weather for the weekend. There are chances of extreme wetness for the main race which might bring back the trauma from Australia.
On Friday, the expected max temperature is 16 Celsius while the minimum temperature is 7 Celsius. There is a 0% chance of rain for the FP1 and FP2. Saturday is a slightly different story with the temperatures in the 6-16 Celsius range. There is a small chance of rain with a probability of 20%.
🇯🇵| A partly new surface, loads of history and an iconic track!
Here’s the track guide to the Suzuka circuit:#F1 #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/u0PaEYhVDq
— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) April 2, 2025
Sunday might flip the game completely for the drivers. The temperatures expected are between 11 to 18 Celsius. The biggest surprise is the 80% probability of rain. Suzuka has a tendency of becoming a tough track when its wet.
There is a lot to be excited about this weekend. We will see Tsunoda’s debut in a highly probable rainy race. One thing is for sure, it is going to be entertaining for the fans and fun for the drivers.
