Japanese Grand Prix 2025: Qualifying and race UK start times, schedule and weather forecast
03/31/2025 07:31 AM
After a thrilling start to the season, Formula 1 returns this weekend with the Japanese Grand Prix at the notorious Suzuka circuit.
Lando Norris leads the championship after winning the dramatic season opener in Australia and finishing second in China behind McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri.
There’s work for Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari to do after he won the Shanghai sprint race but was disqualified from the main grand prix alongside Ferrari teammate Charlies Leclerc.
And Yuki Tsunoda will also make his Red Bull debut in front of his home fans after he was promoted from Racing Bulls to replace Liam Lawson who was brutally axed after just two races.
Here’s everything you need to know about the 2025 F1 Japanese Grand Prix including what time it starts in the UK, the latest weather forecast and how to watch on TV and live stream.
What time does the Japanese Grand Prix start in the UK?
Make sure your alarm clocks are set as it’s another early race start, with the Japanese Grand Prix getting underway on Sunday, April 6 at 6am (2pm local time).
Full Japanese Grand Prix schedule
Friday, April 4
Practice 1: 3.30am – 4.30am
Practice 2: 7am – 8am
Saturday, April 5
Practice 3: 3.30am – 4.30am
Qualifying: 7am – 8am
Sunday, April 6
Race: 6am
All UK times
How to watch the Japanese Grand Prix on TV and live stream
Sky Sports will be showing every session live, with their coverage of Sunday’s race beginning at 4.30am on Sky Sports F1 and Sky Sports Main Event.
You can also stream the grand prix live on Sky Go, but if you fancy a lie in instead, Channel 4 will be showing race highlights at 1pm.
Tsunoda's Red Bull promotion a mistake?
Much attention will be on the performance of Yuki Tsunoda on his Red Bull debut as he replaces Liam Lawson who was axed after just two races.
But former F1 grand prix winner Juan Pablo Montoya says he would not have promoted the Japanese driver from Racing Bulls.
‘I would have put Isack Hadjar in the Red Bull, more than Yuki Tsunoda. He would have been my choice,’ the former McLaren driver told Vision4Sport.
‘If I was Red Bull, I would have stated publicly that they were signing Hadjar for two years and guarantee him the seat without question whatever happens.
‘We don't know what the deal is with Yuki. One year? Two years? I think it’s for the whole season. Choosing Tsunoda now is an admission they got it wrong last year.’
Japanese Grand Prix weather forecast
The figure-of-eight Suzuka circuit is a favourite among F1 fans and drivers and one of the trickiest on the calendar. And it could be even tougher with rain threatening Sunday’s race.
The forecast for Friday and Saturday has little to no cloud cover with temperatures at 16C.
It’s set to be overcast on Sunday however, with temperatures rising slightly to 18C and a 50 per cent chance of rain.
Japanese Grand Prix winner odds
Lando Norris (McLaren) – 6/4
Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 7/4
Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 13/2
Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 12/1
George Russell (Mercedes) – 12/1
Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – 12/1
Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) – 40/1
Odds courtesy of Betfair
Who won the Japanese Grand Prix last year?
The 2024 Japanese Grand Prix was won by Max Verstappen ahead of Sergio Perez in a Red Bull 1-2, with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz in third.
Daniel Ricciardo and Alex Albon were involved in a hefty collision on the opening lap which marked the beginning of the end for the former’s F1 career.
Verstappen can achieve a record-breaking fourth consecutive win in Japan this weekend, while victory for Hamilton would make him the joint-most successful driver in the race’s history alongside Michael Schumacher.
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