Suzuka Circuit

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What is a lap of Suzuka Circuit like?

Suzuka is the only figure-of-eight layout on the F1 calendar: the track crosses over itself via a bridge, with the east half run clockwise and the west half anticlockwise. The lap is defined by the S Curves (Turns 3-6) climbing the hill, the two Degner right-handers, the Hairpin, the Spoon Curve and 130R, a fast left-hander that tends to be taken flat out. Only about 1.2 km of the 5.807 km lap is driven in a straight line, and in 2025 the single DRS zone was on the pit straight. 130R was reprofiled for safety for 2003, with the Casio Triangle chicane moved closer to it; the Degner Curve is named after Ernst Degner, who crashed there at the circuit's first race meeting in 1962.

Lap length

5.807 km

Turns

18

Direction

figure of eight (the track crosses over itself)

Downforce

High

Longest straight

about 870 m

Elevation change

40.4 m

DRS zones (to 2025)

1

Character

Technical (about 51% of the lap is cornering)

Layout described

Grand Prix Circuit, 5.807 km / 18 turns, in use since the 2003 revisions to 130R and the final chicane; used for the Japanese Grand Prix 2003-2006, 2009-2019 and 2022-2026

Sources for the checked facts (15)

• formula1.com/en/racing/2025/japan
• formula1.com/en/latest/article/circuit-guide-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-suzuka-
• en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzuka_Circuit
• racefans.net/f1-information/going-to-a-race/suzuka-circuit-japan/
• racingcircuits.info/asia/japan/suzuka.html
• formula1.com/en/racing/2026/japan
• formula1.com/en/latest/article/need-to-know-the-most-important-facts-stats-and-trivia-ahea
• si.com/onsi/f1/f1-japanese-grand-prix-suzuka-circuit-track-guide
• formula1.com/en/latest/article/highs-and-lows-which-f1-track-has-the-most-elevation-change
• tracktitan.io/post/suzuka-track-guide
• total-motorsport.com/japanese-grand-prix-track-guide-suzuka/
• crash.net/f1/feature/43764/1/jacques-villeneuves-lap-of-suzuka
• lightsoutblog.com/japanese-grand-prix-weekend-information/
• global.honda/en/F1/race/2026/Japan/preview/
• mercedesamgf1.com/races/japanese-grand-prix-2024

Map, character and grey values are approximate (measured from a GPS trace). Report a correction.

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Does pole position win at Suzuka Circuit?

The pole sitter has won 20 of 36 races here (56%). Across all circuits since 1950 the pole sitter wins 44% of races. The winner started from the front row (P1 or P2) in 31 of 36 races (86%) and from the top three in 32 (89%). Lowest grid position to win: 17th, Kimi Räikkönen in 2005.

Where the winner started, every race at this circuit. Pole sitter means the driver who set the fastest qualifying time (first on the grid where no qualifying data exists); a grid penalty can move the pole sitter back, and that race still counts for them. Compare every circuit.

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How are races at Suzuka Circuit won?

Since 2010

15 races; winners made 1 stop in 5, 2 stops in 7, 3 or more in 3; first stop at a median lap 16 (30% of the race)

1994 to 2009 (refuelling)

14 races; winners made 1 stop in 1, 2 stops in 11, 3 or more in 2; first stop at a median lap 18 (35% of the race)

Lap times over the years

All races at Suzuka Circuit