F1 action begins at Suzuka for the Japanese Grand Prix, the final race before a five-week summer break. Mercedes enters as the dominant team, with Ferrari admitting a pace deficit, while McLaren and Red Bull seek a trouble-free weekend to build momentum. Practice sessions kick off a demanding schedule for European viewers.
F1 returns to Suzuka with very early start times for European viewers. This guide covers all TV and streaming options in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland to catch Friday's practice sessions live, as teams assess their form against the dominant Mercedes on the challenging Japanese circuit.
Liam Lawson reveals F1's new cars demand a radical shift in focus from setup to strategic energy management, where mistakes carry severe penalties. He describes the racing as fundamentally different and admits adaptation is a difficult, ongoing challenge for all drivers.
Red Bull and Max Verstappen arrive at Suzuka in urgent need of a clean weekend to understand their RB22's fundamental balance problems. After a disastrous start with only eight points, the team views the Japanese GP as a critical data-gathering session before a five-week development break to fix the car and salvage their title defense.
Women have been part of Formula 1's fabric since the beginning, from early racers facing blatant sexism to vital support roles. Lella Lombardi made history as the only woman to score championship points, a feat achieved under tragic circumstances in 1975. Today, as women fill engineering and strategy positions, their growing presence represents a continuation of a long, overlooked legacy, not a sudden change.
Lewis Hamilton says he is enjoying F1's new 2026 cars, attributing his positive view to Ferrari's competitive form and the cars' nimble handling. This stance directly contrasts with critics like Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, highlighting a split between drivers based on their team's performance. Hamilton acknowledged specific flaws but believes the regulations are good for the sport overall.
Audi F1 team principal Jonathan Wheatley has left the team abruptly for personal reasons, creating a leadership crisis. Mattia Binotto will take over daily operations temporarily as the team, which is struggling in eighth place, must now reorganize its senior management structure during a critical phase of its development.
Oscar Piastri suggests the five-week F1 break could benefit McLaren by providing vital time to analyze data and develop their car. He acknowledges the team's slow start but is optimistic the pause will accelerate their understanding and improvements, particularly in collaboration with engine partner HPP.
Oscar Piastri suggests F1's five-week break could benefit McLaren by providing crucial time to analyze data and develop their car after a tough season start. He highlights a current data deficit but says the team has clear ideas for improvement, aiming to return stronger for the Miami Grand Prix.
Lance Stroll believes the Aston Martin AMR26 has hidden potential, identifying fixable power unit and high-speed corner issues as the main barriers. With these resolved, he and Adrian Newey suggest the car could compete strongly, offering hope for a mid-season turnaround.
Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli is racing with a supportive wrist brace for a ligament strain from a crash in Australia. The injury hasn't slowed him down, as he followed a P2 finish there by becoming F1's youngest-ever winner in China. He jokes the brace might be lucky as he prepares for Japan, with his historic victory boosting confidence in his and Mercedes' potential.
Haas F1 rookie Oliver Bearman has questioned the effectiveness of the FIA's new energy limit for qualifying in Japan, stating it slows the cars down. He argues for technical tweaks, like increasing the 'super clipping' harvest limit, and highlights how the current software-dependent systems punish drivers for pushing too hard, forcing an unnatural, conservative style in qualifying.
