Suzuka Circuit is preparing for the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix; Large-scale asphalt renewal works have started on the track before the new Formula 1 season.

The Japan circuit has been home to F1 for many years and is considered one of the most difficult and favorite tracks among drivers. High speeds, technical configuration and variable weather conditions have repeatedly made Suzuka the venue for iconic championship moments.

The 2026 stage is scheduled for March 29 and will be the third stage in the season calendar.

The western part of the track, including the iconic Spoon Corner, is now completely closed. A new layer of asphalt was laid, which should change the properties of the coating.

The new surface is expected to have a low level of grip at the beginning of the weekend, but grip will gradually increase as the rubber accumulates; this can significantly affect the cars’ settings.

本日の #西コース路面張替え工事 pic.twitter.com/AbKkyGKgq9

— 鈴鹿サーキット Suzuka Circuit (@suzuka_event) December 27, 2025

Mercedes director of track engineering Andrew Schoulin commented on Lewis Hamilton’s impact on the car’s development a year after his departure.

Hamilton and Mercedes have formed the most successful partnership in F1 history, winning six drivers’ championships and eight constructors’ championships between 2014 and 2021.

But at the end of 2024, the Briton opted to switch to Ferrari, and in 2025 this turned out to be unsuccessful: Hamilton failed to reach the podium in a single Grand Prix.

The 40-year-old champion was replaced by Kimi Antonelli, who made significant progress alongside the experienced George Russell.

With his departure, Hamilton left the team leadership role to Russell. This allowed Antonelli to adapt to F1 without the pressure of being responsible for car feedback, although Shovlin stressed that his communication about the car was of a high standard.

“Honestly, George is fine. The important thing is that we don’t develop the car based solely on what the pilot says,” Shovlin said.

“Most of the work comes from simulations: we look for downforce, the stability of the car, we reduce aerodynamic drag and tune the suspension to ensure the car falls into the best aerodynamic window.

So most decisions are not based on the pilot saying “I need this” and we rush to find a solution. But it is very useful to have a consistent pilot like George. He knows these cars within those rules, so we didn’t have to worry about losing our mark in the development of the car.”

“Kimi also describes the behavior of the car perfectly, so there were no problems in that regard. The main thing is that we had a fantastic collaboration with Lewis and a lot of success, and then he decided to try a new challenge at Ferrari.”

“We always looked at Kimi as the future of the team and a training year was inevitable. We fully embraced that and overall I think it went well.”

Former Haas boss Henter Steiner says Isak Hajjar will be Max Verstappen’s teammate at Red Bull and will have the chance to avoid the problems faced by his predecessors.

The French driver took the hardest place in the peloton, as they say in F1. Following the departure of Daniel Ricciardo, many of Verstappen’s team-mates succumbed to the pressure: Pierre Gasly returned to Toro Rosso after a year and a half, Alex Albon lasted only a season and a half, Yuki Tsunoda lasted 22 races and Liam Lawson only two races. Sergio Perez, who stayed for four years, was an exception.

But Hajar has a special advantage: New technical rules force everyone to start from scratch.

“Isak is a very strong driver,” said Steiner

And most importantly, it will start at Red Bull with new rules. “This allows him to co-shape the car with Max, rather than getting into a car that is already built for a single driver.”