2011 Japanese Grand Prix programme

Have all the important information for this weekend?óÔé¼Ôäós Japanese Grand Prix at your fingertips with the F1 Fanatic race programme:

The race weekend

Suzuka hat-trick would be perfect coronation for Vettel – Vettel aiming for third consecutive win in Japan

How Vettel and Red Bull can win the titles in Japan – Just one more point will make Vettel champion

FIA confirms DRS zone details for Japan – The DRS activation zone for the race is on the start/finish straight

2011 F1 championship points – Full drivers and teams points standings heading into this weekend’s race

Reserve drivers

The following changes to the usual driver line-up will be made for first practice only:

Nico H?â??lkenberg will drive Adrian Sutil’s car at Force India.

Karun Chandhok will drive Heikki Kovalainen’s car at Lotus.

Narain Karthikeyan will drive Vitantonio Liuzzi’s car at HRT.

Tyres

Pirelli are supplying their medium (white colouring) and soft (yellow) tyres this weekend:

Stewards

Alan Jones, the 1980 F1 world champion, is the drivers’ advisor to the stewards this weekend.

Jones is on the panel with World Motor Sport Council member Garry Connelly and FIA vice president Jose Abed.

The track

Suzuka was an instant hit with many drivers when it first appeared on the Formula 1 calendar in 1987.

Little has changed since then and it’s only been missing from the calendar twice, in 2007 and 2008, when the Japanese Grand Prix was temporarily relocated to the vastly inferior, Hermann Tilke-reworked Fuji Speedway.

The fast, flowing, compact designs gives drivers little margin for error as Jenson Button explains: “You can?óÔé¼Ôäót make a mistake because it?óÔé¼Ôäós not asphalt in a lot of places, so you touch grass or you?óÔé¼Ôäóre into the gravel, you can end your day early.

“It?óÔé¼Ôäós very unforgiving in terms of stopping the car. It?óÔé¼Ôäós not unforgiving in terms of having a big accident, so the safety is not an issue here but I think we find it exciting knowing that if we do make a mistake then we get punished for it and that?óÔé¼Ôäós why a lot of drivers really enjoy racing around here.”

Suzuka, Japan ?óÔé¼ÔÇ£ circuit information – Fastest laps, pit stop strategy info and more

Changing tracks: Suzuka – Alterations made to the track since its first Grand Prix

The weather

It can rain heavily in Suzuka – it did last year and qualifying had to be postponed. But it’s expected to stay dry this year.

2011 Japanese Grand Prix weather – Rain should stay away at Suzuka

Following the race live

F1 Fanatic Live will be open for your comments during every session.

Join us for every lap of the race, qualifying and practice at these times:

Friday 7th October 2011

Japanese Grand Prix Free Practice 1: 10:00-11:30 (UK time: 2:00-3:30)
Japanese Grand Prix Free Practice 2: 14:00-15:30 (UK time: 6:00-7:30)

Saturday 8th October 2011

Japanese Grand Prix Free Practice 3: 11:00-12:00 (UK time: 3:00-4:00)
Japanese Grand Prix Qualifying: 14:00 (UK time: 6:00)

Sunday 9th October 2011

Japanese Grand Prix: 15:00 (UK time: 7:00)

More session times and live coverage details here: 2011 Japanese Grand Prix TV Times

You can follow F1 Fanatic on Twitter for updates throughout the race weekend:

• Follow F1 Fanatic on Twitter for news, comment and more
• Follow F1 Fanatic Live for updates during every session
• Follow F1 Fanatic Update so you never miss an article

And you can use the F1 Fanatic Live Twitter app to get updates from the drivers, teams and media at the circuit:

• F1 Fanatic Live Twitter app

2010 Japanese Grand Prix highlights

2010 Japanese Grand Prix
in pictures

Sebastian Vettel dominated the Japanese Grand Prix for the second year in a row in 2010.

Robert Kubica moved up to second at the start but retired during an early safety car period when a wheel fell off his Renault.

2010 Japanese Grand Prix qualifying – Vettel continues Suzuka dominance with pole

2010 Japanese Grand Prix review – Vettel romps to second Suzuka win

Previous Japanese Grands Prix

2009 Japanese Grand Prix: Vettel keeps title hopes alive at Suzuka
2008 Japanese Grand Prix: Alonso wins as Hamilton and Massa stumble
2007 Japanese Grand Prix: Mighty Hamilton takes crucial win
2006 Japanese Grand Prix: Advantage Alonso
2005 Japanese Grand Prix: Last-lap pass seals stunning win for Raikkonen
1990 Japanese Grand Prix: Senna champion after first-lap crash
1977 Japanese Grand Prix: Hunt wins but two die after horror crash
1976 Japanese Grand Prix: Hunt wins title after Lauda withdraws in downpour

Join in the 2011 F1 Fanatic Predictions Championship

There’s F1 races tickets DVDs and more to be won. Play for free by guessing the top five in each race.

You can enter and edit your predictions up to the start of qualifying on Saturday:

• F1 Fanatic Predictions Championship

Image design by PJ Tierney