Round three of the 2026 Formula 1 season heads to Suzuka for the Japanese Grand Prix, from 27-29 March.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who has failed to start the opening two races of the campaign, was quickest in Friday’s second practice session in Japan.
The Australian topped the timesheets ahead of Chinese Grand Prix winner Kimi Antonelli and his Mercedes team-mate George Russell, who leads the Italian teenager in the drivers’ championship by four points.
Following Suzuka, F1 will have an unplanned five-week break because the conflict in the Middle East caused the cancellations of the races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
Lights out for Sunday’s grand prix is at 06:00 BST – after the clocks go forward.
- Piastri sets pace ahead of Mercedes in Japan
- Has Aston Martin’s Newey team principal project failed? F1 Q&A
- F1: Chequered Flag
Session start times and BBC coverage
Commentary of the race will be available across BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app.
You can also listen by asking most smart speakers to “play BBC Radio 5 Live” or “play BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra”.
Make sure to listen to every episode of the Chequered Flag podcast. For the first time this year, the post-race show for every grand prix is available to watch on BBC iPlayer and YouTube.
Times GMT on Saturday and BST on Sunday
Saturday, 28 March
Third practice: 02:30-03:30 (BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds and smart speakers)
Qualifying: 06:00-07:00 (BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds and smart speakers)
Sunday, 29 March
Race: 06:00 (build-up from 05:30 on BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Sounds and smart speakers)
What is the Suzuka weather forecast?
The weather forecast is settled for the final two days of track action at Suzuka.
For Saturday’s qualifying session, conditions will be sunny with light winds and temperatures reaching a high of 18C.
For the race on Sunday, which starts at 2pm local time, the temperature will be slightly warmer at 19C with some cloud cover at lights out.
Wheatley gone from Audi after two races
Just two races after entering F1, there has already been a change at the top at Audi.
Team boss Jonathan Wheatley left with immediate effect last week for “personal reasons”, according to an Audi statement.
The 58-year-old Englishman has been approached by Aston Martin to become their team principal.
Aston Martin team owner Lawrence Stroll wants Wheatley to run the race team under managing technical partner Adrian Newey.
Wheatley joined Audi a year ago and has been based at its chassis headquarters in Hinwil in Switzerland. Among the reasons for his desire to move on is said to be the appeal of a return to the UK.
For Audi, Mattia Binotto will take on the responsibilities of team principal in addition to his role as head of its F1 project.
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