Formula 1 has returned to Japan for the first time since 2019, with Red Bull driver Max Verstappen on the verge of securing his second consecutive drivers’ championship.
All three practice sessions have been completed at the Suzuka Circuit, so it’s time for qualifying.
MORE: How can Max Verstappen be crowned F1 world champion at the Japanese Grand Prix?
F1 Japanese Grand Prix qualifying updates, highlights
1 hour to go: Verstappen set the standard in the final practice session and is favourite to take pole position for Sunday’s race.
However, Charles Leclerc is chasing his 10th pole of the season, with the Ferrari driver posing as a big threat.
The veteran, Fernando Alonso, finished in fourth during the third practice session and will be attempting to spring a shock, while Lewis Hamilton and his Mercedes struggled to make an impression.
1 hour 15 mins to go: F1 returns to Japan for the first time in three years!
Verstappen led the third and final practice session with the quickest lap time of 1:30.671 seconds.
Fastest in FP3 ⏱ Max tops Final Practice with Checo in P5 🏁 #JapaneseGP 🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/M61x2888BM
— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) October 8, 2022
Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc trailed behind him, with Sainz 0.294s off the top spot on the time sheets.
Stay tuned as we bring you all the latest news from today’s qualifying.
What must Max Verstappen do to be crowned F1 world champion this weekend?
There are several ways in which Red Bull’s Verstappen could claim his second successive world championship victory at the Japanese Grand Prix this weekend.
The most simple would be if he won the race and took the extra point for fastest lap along the way. That would see the Dutchman crowned world champion irregardless of where his title rivals finish.
Verstappen could also be crowned champion if he finishes first, doesn’t record the fastest lap but Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finishes lower than P2.
Equally, if either Leclerc or teammate Sergio Perez finish ahead of him, Verstappen cannot be crowned champion in Japan.
The other complicated permutations can be viewed here.
What channel is the F1 race on?
- Race: Japanese Grand Prix
- Date: Sunday, Oct. 9
- TV channel: ESPN
- Live stream: fuboTV
The ESPN family of networks will broadcast all 2022 F1 races in the United States using Sky Sports’ feed, with select races airing on ABC. You can also stream Formula 1 races live in the U.S. with fuboTV, which offers a free trial.
ESPN Deportes serves as the exclusive Spanish-language home for all 2022 F1 races in the U.S.
What time does the F1 race start?
- Date: Sunday, Oct. 9
- Start time: 1 a.m. ET / 6 a.m. BST (2 p.m. local time)
Sunday’s 2022 Japanese Grand Prix is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. local time. Lights out will likely take place just after 1 a.m. ET. ESPN’s prerace show typically airs the hour before the start of the race.
Below is the complete TV schedule for the weekend’s F1 events at the Japanese Grand Prix. All times are Eastern.
| Date | Event | Time (ET) | Time (BST) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday, Oct. 6 | Practice 1 | 11 p.m. | 4 a.m.* | ESPN/ESPN2 |
| Friday, Oct. 7 | Practice 2 | 2 a.m. | 7 a.m. | ESPN/ESPN2 |
| Friday, Oct. 7 | Practice 3 | 11 p.m. | 4 a.m.* | ESPN/ESPN2 |
| Saturday, Oct. 8 | Qualifying | 2 a.m. | 7 a.m. | ESPN/ESPN2 |
| Sunday, Oct. 9 | Race | 1 a.m. | 6 a.m. | ESPN |
* + 1 day
Formula 1 live stream for the Singapore Grand Prix
For those who don’t have a cable or satellite subscription, five major OTT TV streaming options carry the ESPN networks — fuboTV, Sling, Hulu, YouTubeTV and DirecTV Stream.
For those who do have a cable or satellite subscription but won’t be in front of a TV, Formula 1 races in 2022 can be streamed live via phones, tablets and other devices on the ESPN app with authentication.
Formula 1 schedule 2022
There are 22 scheduled events on the F1 docket for 2022, one race shy of tying the mark for longest F1 calendar.
The season started in Bahrain on March 20 and will end with the customary Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, although a bit earlier than usual, in November. If the schedule stands, this will be the earliest end of the Formula 1 season since it ended on Nov. 4 in 2013.
Returning to the 2022 F1 slate are the Canadian and Japanese Grand Prix, both of which were canceled in 2021 amid fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.
The calendar also holds the maiden voyage for the Miami Grand Prix, the first of two races in the United States in 2022, with the customary United States GP taking place in October.
The Russian Grand Prix, originally scheduled for Sept. 25, was canceled because of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Here’s the latest schedule (subject to change):
| Date | Race | Track | Start time | TV channel | Winner (Team) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 20 | Bahrain Grand Prix | Bahrain International Circuit | 11 a.m. | ESPN | Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) |
| March 27 | Saudi Arabian Grand Prix | Jeddah Street Circuit | 1 p.m. | ESPN | Max Verstappen (Red Bull) |
| April 10 | Australian Grand Prix | Albert Park Circuit | 1 a.m. | ESPN | Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) |
| April 24 | Emilia Romagna Grand Prix | Imola Circuit | 9 a.m. | ESPN | Max Verstappen (Red Bull) |
| May 8 | Miami Grand Prix | Miami International Autodrome | 3:30 p.m. | ABC | Max Verstappen (Red Bull) |
| May 22 | Spanish Grand Prix | Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya | 9 a.m. | ESPN2 | Max Verstappen (Red Bull) |
| May 29 | Monaco Grand Prix | Circuit de Monaco | 9 a.m. | ESPN | Sergio Perez (Red Bull) |
| June 12 | Azerbaijan Grand Prix | Baku City Circuit | 7 a.m. | ESPN | Max Verstappen (Red Bull) |
| June 19 | Canadian Grand Prix | Circuit Gillies-Villenueve | 2 p.m. | ABC | Max Verstappen (Red Bull) |
| July 3 | British Grand Prix | Silverstone Circuit | 10 a.m. | ESPN | Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) |
| July 10 | Austrian Grand Prix | Red Bull Ring | 9 a.m. | ESPN | Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) |
| July 24 | French Grand Prix | Circuit Paul Ricard | 9 a.m. | ESPN | Max Verstappen (Red Bull) |
| July 31 | Hungarian Grand Prix | Hungaroring | 9 a.m. | ESPN | Max Verstappen (Red Bull) |
| Aug. 28 | Belgian Grand Prix | Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps | 9 a.m. | ESPN | Max Verstappen (Red Bull) |
| Sept. 4 | Dutch Grand Prix | Circuit Zandvoort | 9 a.m. | ESPN | Max Verstappen (Red Bull) |
| Sept. 11 | Italian Grand Prix | Autodromo Nazionale Monza | 9 a.m. | ESPN | Max Verstappen (Red Bull) |
| Oct. 2 | Singapore Grand Prix | Marina Bay Street Circuit | 8 a.m. | ESPN | Sergio Perez (Red Bull) |
| Oct. 9 | Japanese Grand Prix | Suzuka International Racing Course | 1 a.m. | TBD | TBD |
| Oct. 23 | United States Grand Prix | Circuit of the Americas | 3 p.m. | TBD | TBD |
| Oct. 30 | Mexico City Grand Prix | Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez | 4 p.m. | TBD | TBD |
| Nov. 13 | Sao Paulo Grand Prix | Interlagos Circuit | 2 p.m. | TBD | TBD |
| Nov. 20 | Abu Dhabi Grand Prix | Yas Marina Circuit | 8 a.m. | TBD | TBD |
How to watch Formula 1 in Canada
- TV channel: TSN (English); RDS (French)
- Live stream: TSN Direct
For fans in Canada, TSN will carry the English-language telecast of races. For those looking for the French-language broadcast, RDS will have you covered.
Races can also be streamed via TSN’s streaming service, TSN Direct.
How to watch Formula 1 in the United Kingdom
- TV channel: Sky Sports F1
- Live stream: NOW TV
Viewers in the United Kingdom can catch all F1 action on Sky Sports F1, the dedicated F1 channel. For viewers planning to live stream F1 in 2022, you can purchase a Sky Sports Pass on NOW TV.
How to watch Formula 1 in Australia
- TV channel: Fox Sports; Channel 10
- Live stream: Kayo
Fox Sports will carry all races in Australia, with Channel 10 broadcasting the Australian GP.
