Japanese Grand Prix 2026: Start time, grid positions, how to watch F1 and weather forecast

The Formula One circus descends on Suzuka this weekend as the early stages of the 2026 campaign continue.

Mercedes have so far dominated the start of a controversial new era for the sport that has heralded so many significant changes, with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli converting their pole positions into race wins in Australia and China respectively.

Early championship leader Russell was then fastest in FP1 on Friday, but Oscar Piastri then finished ahead of the Silver Arrows duo in FP2 to give hope of a challenge in Suzuka and a McLaren renaissance after a very difficult start to their constructors’ title defence and Lando Norris’ bid for back-to-back drivers’ triumphs.

But it was the teenager Antonelli who took top spot in qualifying, pipping his team-mate to pole position by nearly three-tenths of a second.

Max Verstappen’s early-season struggles have continued so far in Japan, with the four-time world champion only 10th-fastest in practice on Friday having also clashed with a British journalist during a tense media session on Thursday.

The 2026 Japanese Grand Prix takes place on Sunday, March 29 at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, Japan.

The race is due to begin at 6am GMT in the UK, which is 3pm local time.

The first two practice sessions for the Japanese Grand Prix took place on Friday, with FP3 following in the small hours of Saturday morning.

Qualifying took place on Saturday morning, with the race itself at 6am GMT on Sunday.

1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)

2. George Russell (Mercedes)

3. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

5. Lando Norris (McLaren)

6. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)

8. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull)

9. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi)

10. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls)

11. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

13. Nico Hulkenberg (Audi)

14. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)

15. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)

16. Carlos Sainz (Williams)

17. Alex Albon (Williams)

19. Sergio Perez (Cadillac)

20. Valterri Bottas (Cadillac)

21. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)

22. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)

TV channel: Every session from the Japanese Grand Prix is available to watch live in the UK on Sky Sports’ dedicated F1 channel, with coverage of Grand Prix Sunday from 5am GMT on Sunday morning.

Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers can also watch every session from Suzuka live online via the Sky Go app.

Free highlights: Channel 4 will show free-to-air highlights of the race from 1pm GMT on Sunday afternoon.

It will be warm and sunny across the race weekend in Suzuka, where some cloud is forecast for Sunday. There should be no rain, with a highest temperature of around 21 degrees on race day.