Japanese Grand Prix 2019 — Weekend Preview

Round 17 of the 2019 Formula 1 World Championship takes the field to Suzuka, Japan. Japanese Grand Prix — The Driver's Circuit. Lewis Hamilton leads the championship with 322 points, 73 points ahead of Valtteri Bottas.

Driver Championship (entering R17):
P1: Lewis Hamilton — 322 pts (9W, 13P)
P2: Valtteri Bottas — 249 pts (2W, 12P)
P3: Charles Leclerc — 215 pts (2W, 9P)
P4: Max Verstappen — 212 pts (2W, 6P)
P5: Sebastian Vettel — 194 pts (1W, 7P)

Constructor Championship:
P1: Mercedes — 571 pts
P2: Ferrari — 409 pts
P3: Red Bull Racing — 311 pts
P4: McLaren — 101 pts
P5: Renault — 68 pts

Suzuka is technically demanding, steeped in motorsport history.

Recent winners at Suzuka:
- 2026: Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
- 2025: Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing)
- 2024: Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing)
- 2023: Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing)
- 2022: Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing)

Tyre strategy data will be available after practice sessions provide degradation information.

Battles to watch:

Championship battle: Lewis Hamilton vs Valtteri Bottas — 73 points separate them.

P3 vs P4: Charles Leclerc (215) vs Max Verstappen (212) — just 3 points apart.

Understand this race better:

- [Aero Balance](/f1/learning/tactical-intelligence/aero-balance)
- [Downforce](/f1/learning/tactical-intelligence/downforce)