2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Suzuka, April 04 - 06

[MtthsMlw]

Tyre selection
C1 - C2 - C3

2024 Results
Qualifying


Race



2024 Pole Lap
2024 Race Highlights
Schedule and more information

[Wouter]

Thanx @Mtths! It seems there will be rain showers during the whole day on Sunday.

[chrisc90]

I believe the kerbs have been re-profiled too.

[f1onions]

New tarmac in sector 1 and new exit kerbs in some corners. New asphalt should provide more grip

[Zynerji]

LETS GO, YUKI!

[Seanspeed]

Thanx @Mtths! It seems there will be rain showers during the whole day on Sunday.

Rain forecasts seven days out mean almost nothing.

[TeamKoolGreen]

Big changes have been made to the Suzuka track. Smaller runoff areas with new gravel traps added. Along with a complete resurfacing. Which won't help the new Pirelli tires.



Thanks to the RacingBlind Youtube channel

[MassaRondo]

Does anybody remember the tire strat last year for Leclerc? Did he go one stop while the others went for 2?

[SB15]

Thanx @Mtths! It seems there will be rain showers during the whole day on Sunday.

Accuweather has it at a 25% chance for Sunday. But still, be on the lookout.

[venkyhere]

Chunks of time sit in sector1, T9 and T11. If the kerb smoothening allows the cars to run lower than last year, Ferrari will be in the game. Otherwise, given their limitation that disallows a stiff rear, they might suffer in sector1.

[Vettel165]

I had a dream last night with Max taking the win, Piastri in second place, Yuki in third...

In reality S1,S2 should suit Red Bull with all of medium-high speed corners. But the key will be the race pace with keeping tyres alive.

[dren]

I had a dream last night with Max taking the win, Piastri in second place, Yuki in third...

In reality S1,S2 should suit Red Bull with all of medium-high speed corners. But the key will be the race pace with keeping tyres alive.

I can get behind that.

[venkyhere]

The Suzuka dream that turned to reality in 2024 can quite become the nightmare in 2025. Even Max will be happy if he manages podium. The inherent 'baked in' characteristic of the Redbull could make it keep up with the McLarens in S1 snake and 130R, but struggle with T9 Degner and T11 long hairpin of sector2. Maybe Max can do something in 'skill zones' like the T11 hairpin and the spoon, but the Redbull will lose massive time in the final chicane (T16-17) before the pit straight. There is a lot of kerb riding needed there to have enough speed to carry into Sector1, and I don't think Redbull have solved their kerb riding - even if brute forced through the kerbs, the car will not have the compusure needed to carry optimal speed through the final righthander before the pit straight. Mercedes could be the dark horse in this circuit this year.

Btw, expecting plenty of T9 (degner2) track limit violations in Q and R this weekend.

[ispano6]

Thanx @Mtths! It seems there will be rain showers during the whole day on Sunday.

Accuweather has it at a 25% chance for Sunday. But still, be on the lookout.

Japan's regional weather forecasting models are pretty accurate too (they have a supercomputer).
So far, it looks like a dry-ish race day but ~2mm of overnight showers between Sat and Sunday.
It will warm up on Sunday and humidity will drop from 90% to around 49% by the time the race starts. Still, there is a 40% chance of rain during the race but it should be only spitting rain and go from overcast to partially sunny by 4pm and about 19 degrees Celsius.

[langedweil]

Saw some video about the track changes, and aside from quite a lot less runoff in Degner, Hairpin etc, it seems there hardly any grass left. Just sand ..

Was apparently from a few weeks ago, so maybe it's coming up by now .. which I doubt actually, as spring still has to start?
Looked kinda weird ..