The Japanese Grand Prix carries a bit more weight this weekend, as it's the final race before a five-week break following the cancellation of the Middle East leg, including Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
Round three of the 2026 Formula 1 season takes place on Sunday, March 29, at the Suzuka Circuit. Check out the live streaming details below.
Once again, Kimi Antonelli starts on pole. It's his second consecutive pole position after his brilliant run in China, where he became the youngest pole-sitter in F1 history at just 19. He went on to win his maiden race in Shanghai, and today he lines up ahead of teammate George Russell, with Mercedes chasing a hat-trick of 1-2 finishes.
Japanese Grand Prix 2026: All You Need to Know
As reported, repair work is underway at Suzuka, particularly around Turn 12, following an incident in a support race earlier today. As a result, the race start has been delayed by 10 minutes.
| Event | Formula 1 Heineken Chinese Grand Prix 2026 |
| Venue | Suzuka International Circuit, Suzuka, Japan |
| Date | Sunday, March 29, 2026 |
| Race Distance | 53 laps (307.471 km) |
| Race Start (IST) | 10:30 AM IST (Delayed time - 10:40 AM IST) |
| Race Start (Local) | 02:00 PM CST (2:10 PM CST) |
| Race Start (GMT) | 05:00 AM GMT (5:10 AM GMT) |
Japanese GP 2026: Key Details
George Russell is leading the drivers' championship for the first time in his career. He is currently topping with 51 points just 4 points ahead of his teammate Kimi Antonelli. Today, there's a risk for the Briton to lose the leadership if the young Italian went on to win his second F1 race in Suzuka starting from Pole.
Mercedes are leading the constructors' championship with 98 points from two wins (both with 1-2 finish) ahead of who are second with 67 points with two podiums. Charles Leclerc finished third in Melbourne and Lewis Hamilton in Shanghai, securing his first top-three finish in Ferrari.
Japanese Grand Prix 2026 Live Streaming: Where to Watch F1 Race
| Region | TV Channel / Platform |
| India | FanCode (App & Website), F1 TV Pro (via FanCode) |
| United Kingdom | Sky Sports F1, Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Go |
| United States | Apple TV (Official Broadcaster), F1 TV Pro |
| Australia | Fox Sports, Kayo Sports |
| Canada | TSN, RDS |
What to Expect on Race Day?
Plenty of drama is expected today. Suzuka is a high-speed circuit, and corners like 130R always keep everyone on edge. One small mistake there can change everything. Kimi Antonelli comes in as the clear favourite, but it won't be straightforward. His teammate George Russell will be right there, and with the championship lead in play, there could be in for a proper intra-team fight at Mercedes.
History also plays a part here. Since 1991, no driver starting outside the front row has won the Japanese Grand Prix. That makes the front row battle crucial, and it's one Mercedes have already locked out. Behind them, the fight for P3 looks tight between McLaren and Ferrari. And then there's Max Verstappen. Starting from P11, he'll be looking to carve his way through the field and keep his four-race winning streak at Suzuka alive.