Red Bull’s Max Verstappen once again comes to Suzuka off a rare loss with the first practice for the rescheduled Japanese Grand Prix set for Friday.
Ferrari looks to build off a double-podium finish two weeks ago in Australia while Red Bull star Max Verstappen again comes to the Suzuka International Racing Course in Japan coming off a rare loss. The first practice for the Japanese Grand Prix runs on Friday (Thursday night in the U.S.). The race is the first on the 2024 calendar affected by Formula 1’s commitment for a less travel-heavy schedule, moving from September to April to follow the Australian Grand Prix. Carlos Sainz of Ferrari, 16 days off an emergency appendectomy, earned his first win of the season in Melbourne after Verstappen retired after just three laps due to brake problems.
How to Watch Japanese Grand Prix, Practice 1, in Formula 1 Today:
Date: April 4, 2024
Time: 10:25 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN U
Live stream Practice 1 for the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix on Fubo: Start your free trial today!
Sainz and teammate Charles Leclerc finished 1-2 in Australia, with Leclerc earning the extra point for running the fastest lap. Verstappen’s lead in the driver standings was dramatically cut by his DNF; he now leads Leclerc by just four points, with Red Bull’s Sergio Pérez five points behind and Sainz facing an 11-point gap. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri is fifth, 23 points behind.
Suzuka’s 3.608-mile layout includes 18 turns and is built for high speeds with snake-like “S” curves, a pair of Degner curves and the Spoon and 130R corners. Verstappen returns as the two-time defending winner at the track, beating McLaren’s Lando Norris to the finish by 19.387 seconds after starting from the pole position to clinch the 2023 Formula 1 championship, his third in a row.
Japan’s lone F1 driver, Yuki Tsunoda of RB Honda, placed ninth in September and picked up his first points of the season with a seventh-place run in Melbourne, moving up a spot after Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso was handed a 20-second penalty for his role in the crash that ended the race for Mercedes’ George Russell with two laps remaining.
Regional restrictions may apply.
