F1 heads to the iconic Suzuka circuit and the Japanese Grand Prix for the next race on the 2026 schedule before the sport takes an enforced rest for a month.
The current conflict in the Middle East means that the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix – both planned for April – have been cancelled.
So the action in Japan will be the last for F1 fans until the paddock regroups in Miami on the first weekend in May.
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Mercedes head for Suzuka in dominant form after claiming victories and 1-2s in both races so far, while Ferrari have emerged as their closest rivals.
The countdown to the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix starts here, and we have full details on the key schedule information.
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F1 session times and schedule
These are the confirmed Formula 1 sessions for the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix:
Session
Date
Local time (JST)
UK time (GMT/BST)
US Eastern (ET)
Free Practice 1
Friday March 27
11:30-12:30
02:30-03:30 (Fri)
22:30-23:30 (Thu)
Free Practice 2
Friday March 27
15:00-16:00
06:00-07:00 (Fri)
02:00-03:00 (Fri)
Free Practice 3
Saturday March 28
11:30-12:30
02:30-03:30 (Sat)
22:30-23:30 (Fri)
Qualifying
Saturday March 28
15:00-16:00
06:00-07:00 (Sat)
02:00-03:00 (Sat)
Grand Prix (Race)
Sunday March 29
14:00 (race start)
06:00 (Sun)
01:00 (Sun)
Japanese GP schedule for Friday March 27
Friday at Suzuka is the first chance to see the new F1 cars on track in Japan, with two Free Practice sessions as well as a busy support package. Teams will focus on baseline set-up work in FP1 before shifting towards Qualifying and Race simulations later in the day.
JST (local)
UK (GMT/BST)
ET (US)
Category
Session
09:00-09:45
00:00-00:45 (Fri)
19:00-19:45 (Thu)
Ferrari Challenge Japan
Practice
10:00-11:00
01:00-02:00 (Fri)
20:00-21:00 (Thu)
Formula 1
Car presentation / activities
11:30-12:30
02:30-03:30 (Fri)
22:30-23:30 (Thu)
Formula 1
Free Practice 1
13:00-13:45
04:00-04:45 (Fri)
23:00-23:45 (Thu)
Porsche Carrera Cup Japan
Practice
13:30-14:30
04:30-05:30 (Fri)
00:30-01:30 (Fri)
Formula 1
Teams’ press conference
15:00-16:00
06:00-07:00 (Fri)
02:00-03:00 (Fri)
Formula 1
Free Practice 2
16:30-17:00
07:30-08:00 (Fri)
03:30-04:00 (Fri)
Ferrari Challenge Japan
Qualifying
Japanese GP schedule for Saturday March 28
F1 qualifying takes centre stage on Saturday as the final Free Practice session is preceded by all the excitement of Qualifying. We also have more action from Ferrari Challenge and Porsche Carrera Cup:
JST (local)
UK (GMT/BST)
ET (US)
Category
Session
09:55-10:30
00:55-01:30 (Sat)
19:55-20:30 (Fri)
Ferrari Challenge Japan
Race 1 (30 mins + 1 lap)
11:30-12:30
02:30-03:30 (Sat)
22:30-23:30 (Fri)
Formula 1
Free Practice 3
13:00-13:30
04:00-04:30 (Sat)
00:00-00:30 (Sat)
Porsche Carrera Cup Japan
Qualifying
15:00-16:00
06:00-07:00 (Sat)
02:00-03:00 (Sat)
Formula 1
Qualifying
16:00-17:00
07:00-08:00 (Sat)
03:00-04:00 (Sat)
Formula 1
Press conference
17:15-18:15
08:15-09:15 (Sat)
04:15-05:15 (Sat)
F1 Experiences
Champions Club / grid walk
Japanese GP schedule for Sunday March 29
The waiting is over as Suzuka stages the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix over 53 laps of the 5.807km circuit. Before lights out, fans are treated to more support-race action, the traditional drivers’ parade and the national anthem ceremony:
JST (local)
UK (GMT/BST)
ET (US)
Category
Session
09:40-10:15
00:40-01:15 (Sun)
19:40-20:15 (Sat)
Ferrari Challenge Japan
Race 2 (30 mins + 1 lap)
10:55-11:30
01:55-02:30 (Sun)
20:55-21:30 (Sat)
Porsche Carrera Cup Japan
Race (10 laps or 30 mins + 1 lap)
12:00-12:30
03:00-03:30 (Sun)
22:00-22:30 (Sat)
Formula 1
Drivers’ parade
13:44-13:46
04:44-04:46 (Sun)
23:44-23:46 (Sat)
Formula 1
National anthem
14:00 (race start)
06:00 (Sun)
01:00 (Sun)
Formula 1
2026 Japanese Grand Prix (53 laps or 120 mins)
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