The third Grand Prix of the 2026 Formula 1 season is at the Suzuka Circuit in Japan, and you can follow it with ESPN.
After taking pole for the second consecutive race, Mercedes’ kmy antonelli Will lead the pack into Turn 1 – will be followed by his teammate george russell.
oscar piastri And charles leclerc Whereas, right behind them will be max verstappen Starts in 11th after crashing out of Q2, leaving him feeling ‘beyond disappointed’.
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Recent history at this grand prix has belonged entirely to Verstappen, who has won the last four from 2022-2025, but a fifth consecutive win on Sunday would be quite extraordinary after Red Bull’s early struggles this season.
Mercedes will fancy their chances of scoring a third win out of three this year by keeping their drivers on the front row. In 2025, Antonelli broke two records in Japan, as the then 18-year-old became the youngest driver in history to set the fastest lap and lead the race.
The 18-turn course, the Suzuka Circuit, remains a fan favourite, known for its unique ‘figure of eight’ layout – the only one of its kind on the calendar.
It is a constant test for the drivers, especially through the “aces” – turns 3 to 6 – and the famous corner spins and 130R.
