Following an off week for Easter, Formula 1 is set to be back in action this Sunday at Suzuka Circuit for the Japanese Grand Prix, a race which was one of the many casualties due to COVID-19-related restrictions in 2020 and 2021.
Instead of retaining its late-season date in its third year back on the schedule, the 53-lap race around the 18-turn, 3.609-mile (5.808-kilometer) road course in Suzuka, Mie Prefecture, Japan is the fourth of 24 races on this year's calendar.
Since the track debuted on the Formula 1 schedule in 1987, it had never been positioned before race number 15 on the calendar until now.
Three-time reigning world champion and current world championship leader Max Verstappen of Red Bull enters this weekend's race as the two-time reigning winner, having won it in both years following its return to the schedule.
He entered last year's Japanese Grand Prix after Ferrari's Carlos Sainz Jr. ended his record-breaking 10-race winning streak in Singapore. This year, he enters Suzuka Circuit after Sainz ended his nine-race winning streak in Melbourne, the streak he started in last year's Japanese Grand Prix. Can he start a similar streak again in the Land of the Rising Sun?
Keep tabs during Saturday's knockout qualifying session ahead of Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix.
Advanced to Q2
1st - Max Verstappen, Red Bull
2nd - Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
3rd - Sergio Perez, Red Bull
4th - Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
5th - Oscar Piastri, McLaren
6th - Carlos Sainz Jr., Ferrari
7th - Lando Norris, McLaren
8th - Valtteri Bottas, Sauber
9th - Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
10th - Daniel Ricciardo, RB
11th - Yuki Tsunoda, RB
12th - George Russell, Mercedes
13th - Esteban Ocon, Alpine
14th - Nico Hulkenberg, Haas
15th - Alex Albon, Williams
Eliminated in Q1
16th - Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
17th - Pierre Gasly, Alpine
18th - Kevin Magnussen, Haas
19th - Logan Sargeant, Williams
20th - Zhou Guanyu, Sauber
Advanced to Q3
1st - Max Verstappen, Red Bull
2nd - Sergio Perez, Red Bull
3rd - Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
4th - Lando Norris, McLaren
5th - Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
6th - Carlos Sainz Jr., Ferrari
7th - George Russell, Mercedes
8th - Oscar Piastri, McLaren
9th - Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
10th - Yuki Tsunoda, RB
Eliminated in Q2
11th - Daniel Ricciardo, RB
12th - Nico Hulkenberg, Haas
13th - Valtteri Bottas, Sauber
14th - Alex Albon, Williams
15th - Esteban Ocon, Alpine
Q3 results
1st - Max Verstappen, Red Bull
2nd - Sergio Perez, Red Bull
3rd - Lando Norris, McLaren
4th - Carlos Sainz Jr., Ferrari
5th - Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
6th - Oscar Piastri, McLaren
7th - Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
8th - Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
9th - George Russell, Mercedes
10th - Yuki Tsunoda, RB
Japanese Grand Prix starting lineup
1st - Max Verstappen, Red Bull
2nd - Sergio Perez, Red Bull
3rd - Lando Norris, McLaren
4th - Carlos Sainz Jr., Ferrari
5th - Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
6th - Oscar Piastri, McLaren
7th - Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
8th - Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
9th - George Russell, Mercedes
10th - Yuki Tsunoda, RB
11th - Daniel Ricciardo, RB
12th - Nico Hulkenberg, Haas
13th - Valtteri Bottas, Sauber
14th - Alex Albon, Williams
15th - Esteban Ocon, Alpine
16th - Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
17th - Pierre Gasly, Alpine
18th - Kevin Magnussen, Haas
19th - Logan Sargeant, Williams
20th - Zhou Guanyu, Sauber
FanDuel Sportsbook, which is giving fans the chance to claim a $200 bonus simply by placing any winning $5 bet, lists Verstappen as the heavy favorite to win a third consecutive Japanese Grand Prix and extend his lead atop the world championship standings.
Odds and availability subject to change
ESPN is set to provide live coverage of the Japanese Grand Prix from Suzuka Circuit beginning at 12:55 a.m. ET on Sunday, April 7. If you have yet to begin a free trial of FuboTV, take advantage of their current offer and do so today!