Official 2026 Japanese Grand Prix Thread ***SPOILERS***

[Piginapoke]

Round 3 and we’re in Japan. Enjoy it as it’s the last race for a month, thanks to DJT.

Goodness knows what to expect from the racing, as there’s less opportunity to recharge the battery compared to China and corners like 130R will be neutered. But there should be plenty of overtaking 2026 style with Ferrari just behind Mercedes.

Mercedes must be favorite again but Red Bull’s performance will be interesting after the China disaster. Kimi did well last time out and is my tip for the win.

Here’s to a great race.

Date(s): Friday 27 to Sunday 29 March 2026

UK Broadcast Timings (and track time)

All sessions are live on Sky F1. Channel 4 is showing highlights of all competitive sessions.





2025 Highlights: Max masterclass

https://youtu.be/Hml6MaRRkn8?si=83x6HrySbAduQk8i

Tyres:

Hard compounds: C1 C2 C3



2025 Result:

[Derek Smith]

Thanks, PiaP. I'm, as ever, grateful.

This one will have to last us all April! The thought of it is ghastly, let alone living through it.

[willy wombat]

Ditto - thanks PIAP.

[paulguitar]

This will be an interesting chance to see how 130R and the esses go with the current cars.

I really, really hope they are not going to be coasting into those classic corners.

[moffspeed]

Derek Smith said:

Thanks, PiaP. I'm, as ever, grateful.

This one will have to last us all April! The thought of it is ghastly, let alone living through it.

An opportune time to bring back a non-championship F1 race at Brands Hatch ?

(I think I’m joking).

[SturdyHSV]

paulguitar said:

This will be an interesting chance to see how 130R and the esses go with the current cars.

I really, really hope they are not going to be coasting into those classic corners.

The straights are more important to laptime than the corners now. You can imagine the driver skill involved in maximising the straights... hence why so many of them aren't big fans of the regs.

They will be harvesting wherever they can so I wouldn't hold your breath I'm afraid. Hope to be proven wrong!

[Blib]

I heard a discussion on a podcast that mentioned the death of the undercut.

The old method of pitting first, blasting out of the pits and lapping at qualifying pace, in order to overtake an opponent will no longer work, as a quali lap will deplete the battery and leave the 'undercutter' vulnerable to his opponent as they return to the track after their own pitstop.

[732NM]

It will be more like Australia than China, I can see them full throttle but losing speed from clipping through 130R. 400BHP F1 car speed.

[RGG]

moffspeed said:

Derek Smith said:

Thanks, PiaP. I'm, as ever, grateful.

This one will have to last us all April! The thought of it is ghastly, let alone living through it.

An opportune time to bring back a non-championship F1 race at Brands Hatch ?

(I think I m joking).

Or Mallory Park

I remember the F5000's there - the one that ended up in the lake.

[moffspeed]

Yes I remember watching the A1GP at Brands back in 2008.

Standing near Paddock I got the distinct impression that the catch fencing wasn’t that impressive & things could get messy for me personally if things went belly up on track.

I think it was a couple of years later that an MR2 (at probably half the A1’s speed) vaulted the fencing and landed next to the ice cream van behind the stand.

Back to the modern stuff. With a quick Haas beneath him and some early season mechanical fragility amongst the top 6 I suspect it’s only a matter of time before young Bearman is on the podium….

[paulguitar]

moffspeed said:

I think it was a couple of years later that an MR2 (at probably half the A1 s speed) vaulted the fencing and landed next to the ice cream van behind the stand.

[Piginapoke]

paulguitar said:

moffspeed said:

I think it was a couple of years later that an MR2 (at probably half the A1 s speed) vaulted the fencing and landed next to the ice cream van behind the stand.

Bloody hell!

[Inlineonline]

It didn’t vault the fencing there appeared to be a gap?

[732NM]

Inlineonline said:

It didn t vault the fencing there appeared to be a gap?

There is a gate where it came through, its the access point from the outer paddock road to the inner paddock where you drive across the circuit, used for high vehicles that wont fit through the tunnel and closed whilst the circuit is active.
You can see the gate in the thumbnail.

[SpudLink]

Want a marshal killed there 4 or 5 years ago because a car came through the same gap?

[Inlineonline]

Yes that makes sense

In any case Brands is never likely to host modern F1 cars I guess, too dangerous?

[732NM]

SpudLink said:

Want a marshal killed there 4 or 5 years ago because a car came through the same gap?

Robert Foote in 2021, he was at the marshal post and was hit by a car that did the same thing. Since that crash they no longer man the post, it's replaced by an LED sign board.

[732NM]

Brands will never host modern F1 again.

[HocusPocus]

Thanks PiaP.

Afraid I only see this as another MB 1-2, with a rejuvenated Hamilton in P3.

There will be more lap time optimisation by algorithm, so we're unlikely to see drivers attacking corners on the ragged edge

Maybe the 50/50 energy split management efficiency formula might be spiced up by unlimited fuel and flow rates into the ICE.

[paulguitar]

HocusPocus said:

Thanks PiaP.

Afraid I only see this as another MB 1-2, with a rejuvenated Hamilton in P3.

There will be more lap time optimisation by algorithm, so we're unlikely to see drivers attacking corners on the ragged edge

Maybe the 50/50 energy split management efficiency formula might be spiced up by unlimited fuel and flow rates into the ICE.

Interesting Motorsport Magazine podcast this week with Mark Hughes.

Sadly, he reckons there is no obvious fix for the very silly situation they have found themselves in during qualifying.