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The 2015 Japanese GP preview

Everything you need to know about this weekend's race!

Lewis Hamilton

From the floodlights of Singapore, F1 heads to Japan for a very different challenge at Suzuka - the only figure-of-eight track on the calendar.

The venue staged its first grand prix in 1987 and has held all bar two since - in 2007 and 2008, when the race moved to Fuji.

So read on below as Sky Sports F1 provides your one-stop shop for everything you need to know about the grand prix weekend.

The 2015 Japanese GP in a nutshell

Track: Suzuka International Racing Course. Permanent circuit.

Race start time: 6am UK time Sunday (2pm local).

Laps: 53.

Track length: 5.807  km.

Also See:

Tyre allocation: Medium (white) and hard (orange).

DRS Zones: One (Pit straight).

Driver steward: Emanuele Pirro.

Lap record: Kimi Raikkonen - 1:31.540 (McLaren, 2005).

2014 pole: Nico Rosberg - 1:32.506 (Mercedes).

Nico Rosberg was on pole in 2014
Image: Nico Rosberg was on pole in 2014

Sky Sports F1's schedule

Thursday September 24

7am - Drivers' Press Conference - Live!

9am - Drivers' Press Conference replay

1pm - Drivers' Press Conference replay

4:30pm - Drivers' Press Conference replay

8:45pm - Paddock Uncut

Friday September 25

1:45am - Japanese GP Practice One - Live!

5:45am - Japanese GP Practice Two - Live!

8am - Team Principals' Press Conference - Live!

10am - The F1 Show - Live!

11am - Japanese GP Practice One replay

12:45pm - Japanese GP Practice Two replay

Saturday September 26

3:45am - Japanese GP Practice Three - Live!

6am - Japanese GP Qualifying - Live! (7am session start)

9:45am - Japanese GP Practice Three replay

11am - Japanese GP Qualifying replay

12:10pm - Ted's Qualifying Notebook.

Sunday September 27

4:30am - The 2015 Japanese GP - Track Parade - Live!

5am - The 2015 Japanese GP - Pit lane - Live!

5:30am - The 2015 Japanese GP - Race - Live!

8:30am - The 2015 Japanese GP - Paddock Live!

10:45am - Japanese GP highlights.

11:45am - Ted's Race Notebook.

1pm - 2015 Japanese GP replay

Form guide

Sebastian Vettel is the most successful of the current drivers in Japanese GP history with four wins to his name. Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton are the only other multiple winners in Japan still on the grid, with two wins apiece, while Jenson Button and Kimi Raikkonen have also been victorious.

2014 result: 1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes); 2. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes); 3. Sebastian Vettel, (Red Bull); 4. Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull); 5. Jenson Button (McLaren); 6. Valtteri Bottas (Williams); 7. Felipe Massa (Williams); 8. Nico Hulkenberg (Force India) 9. Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso); 10. Sergio Perez (Force India).

Last five winners at Suzuka: 2014: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes); 2013: Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull); 2012: Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull); 2011: Jenson Button (McLaren); 2010: Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull).

Lewis Hamilton celebrates victory in 2014
Image: Lewis Hamilton celebrates victory in 2014

Tyre allocation

Pirelli will bring the hardest tyres in their range - the white-marked medium and the orange-banded hard tyres to Japan.

The Italian firm say the choice "is to cater for the high-energy demands and fast corners of Suzuka, which ask a lot from the tyres. With the Japanese Grand Prix held earlier in the season compared to last year, conditions are expected to be slightly warmer".

Sky Bet odds

Despite his Singapore retirement, Lewis Hamilton remains favourite for the race victory with Sky Bet. Check out the latest full range of race and title odds here.

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