Motorsport maniacs have three chances to see the F1 stars in their stunning cars on United States soil this year, at the Miami Grand Prix (May), United States Grand Prix (October), and Las Vegas Grand Prix (November). However, we are getting ahead of ourselves, as first things first, or next up, we head to the Suzuka Circuit on Sunday, April 6 for the Japanese Grand Prix. You’ll have to pace yourself though, as it’s going to be a very early/late start, (depending on your sleeping habits). The lights go green at 2 am ET. It’s the third grand prix of an action-packed 24-race season that goes all the way through until December and the curtain-closer in Abu Dhabi.
Max Verstappen has been the dominant force at Suzuka in recent times and the Red Bull Racing legend will be attempting to become the first driver to win four successive Japanese GPs this time around. The dynamic Dutchman has recorded dominant victories from pole position in each of the last three years, winning by 27 seconds in 2022, by 19 seconds in 2023, and 12 seconds last year. Despite his recent domination, Verstappen still finds himself behind the likes of Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, and Sebastian Vettel on the all-time Japanese GP winners’ list. Michael Schumacher tops the table with six wins at Suzuka between 1995-2004.
Before last year’s race, the Japanese GP had always been one of the season-ending events in the calendar, since being incorporated into the F1 schedule in the late 1970s. Therefore, over the years, the Suzuka spectators have been treated to some scintillating and memorable grand prix races, the results of which have often decided the outcome of the F1 drivers’ championship title. There were several enthralling and nail-biting clashes between Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost in the late 1980s, which helped boost attendance at the track as well as TV viewing figures.
Japan’s staging of a race weekend (including the Pacific GP) was of great importance, as up until 1999 when Malaysia joined the F1 party, it was the only Asian nation to host an F1 grand prix. The first two Japanese GPs, in 1976 and 1977, were held at the Fuji Speedway in Oyama, and it proved to be an epic occasion from the off. The 1976 race became famous for the title decider between James Hunt and Niki Lauda, which was held in monsoon conditions.
Getty ImagesLauda, who had survived a near-fatal crash earlier in the season had withdrawn from the race, but Hunt’s battling qualities came to the fore as he weaved his way through the field to grab third place and claim the 4 points he needed to win the title. Due to traveling, financial, and safety concerns, the following year’s race (1977) would be the last Japanese GP to appear on the F1 schedule until it returned to Suzuka in 1987. Suzuka has held the GP every year since, apart from a two-year stint back at Fuji (2007 & 2008) and the two years lost to the COVID-19 pandemic (2020 & 2021).
Locals in the Suzuka crowd will be cheering on homegrown star, Yuki Tsunoda, of course. The Racing Bulls-Honda RBPT driver has made steady progress, finishing 13th, 12th, and 10th in the last three editions of the Japanese Grand Prix. He will be dreaming of emulating previous Japanese driving talents, such as Kamui Kobayashi, Aguri Suzuki, and Takuma Sato who all podiumed once during their F1 careers.
It’s shaping up to be a spectacular weekend of action at the Suzuka Circuit, but how can you ensure that you see every minute of action on the track? Below, GOAL guides you through where to watch the Japanese Grand Prix 2025, including practice, qualification, and the race itself.
How to watch the Japanese Grand Prix 2025
Getty ImagesThe Japanese Grand Prix will air live on Sunday, April 6 at 2 am ET on ESPN. ESPN is the home of F1 once again this season, with all 24 races airing on either ESPN or ESPN2. ESPN's F1 coverage also includes a dedicated site that reports on the championship all year, with reporters on-site at every race. ESPN's F1 reporters also contribute to the video podcast program ‘Unlapped’, which appears year-round on the ESPN YouTube channel. Spanish-language broadcasts appear primarily on ESPN Deportes, while ESPNews and ESPNU carry extra F1 programming, including some qualifying and practice sessions.
The Japanese Grand Prix will also be streamed live on ESPN+. An ESPN+ subscription grants you access to exclusive ESPN+ content including live events, fantasy sports tools, and premium ESPN+ articles. You can stream ESPN+ through an app on your smart TV, phone, tablet, or computer and ESPN.com. The stand-alone streaming service is a must-have accessory for F1 fanatics. An ESPN+ subscription costs $11.99 a month (or $119.99 a year). You can also stream certain simulcasts and F2 races via ESPN+.
FuboTV also offers a top-quality streaming service with access to the Japanese Grand Prix and a whole world of sports. Fubo subscription plans start from $84.99 per month as part of a rolling contract. Fubo offers a free 7-day trial to new subscribers. With over 200 channels, no contract, no hidden fees, and the option to cancel anytime, Fubo is a no-brainer for F1 and general sports fans.
Where is the Japanese Grand Prix 2025 held?
Getty ImagesThe F1 Japanese Grand Prix is held at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka and has been staged there every year since 1987, aside from a two-year stint back at the Fuji Speedway (2007 & 2008) and the two years lost to the COVID-19 pandemic (2020 & 2021).
Suzuka is the only figure-eight race track to appear on the F1 calendar. The demanding and fast Japanese circuit has become very popular among drivers and fans and numerous dramatic and memorable moments in Formula One history have occurred there, including the duels between Senna and Prost.
Japanese Grand Prix 2025 Weekend Schedule
The 2025 Japanese Grand Prix runs over the full weekend, from Thursday, April 3 through Sunday, April 6, with practice, qualifying, and the race itself spread out over three days.
Below, you can find the timings for each practice session, qualifying, and the Grand Prix, as well as which channel to watch them on:
Date | Phase | Time (ET) | Channel | Stream |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Thursday, April 3 | Practice 1 | 11:30 pm | ESPNEWS | |
Friday, April 4 | Practice 2 | 3 am | ESPN2 | |
Friday, April 4 | Practice 3 | 11:30 pm | ESPNEWS | |
Saturday, April 5 | Qualifying | 3 am | ESPN2 | |
Sunday, April 6 | Grand Prix | 2 am | ESPN |
Can I watch the Japanese Grand Prix 2025 on F1 TV?
Getty ImagesAn F1 TV Pro subscription lets you stream every F1 race live, plus all the practices, qualifying races and pre-race shows. It also gives you access to over 650 archived races for nostalgic viewing. While F1 TV offers two plans (F1 TV Access and F1 TV Pro), you’ll want F1 TV Pro to get all the live content. The plan costs $10.99 per month or $84.99 per year. Additional perks include onboard camera views, live tracking data, and team radio feeds and you can switch between channels for different race action and commentary in other languages. The F1 TV app is available on popular streaming devices like Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast with Google TV, and Roku, as well as Android and iOS mobile devices.
Can I watch the Japanese Grand Prix 2025 on demand?
Getty ImagesIf you have an ESPN or F1 TV subscription, you can watch a re-run of the Japanese Grand Prix on demand after the race has finished through the channel's digital and online options. For mobile devices and personal tablets, the ESPN app will allow viewers to watch back the race in full, allowing fans to revisit the event in total or bite-sized highlights packages. Likewise, the F1 TV service allows subscribers to enjoy full replays of every race during the 2025 Formula One season.
How to watch the Japanese Grand Prix 2025 from anywhere with a VPN
You may need a different way to watch the race if you cannot view the Japanese Grand Prix locally. That's where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on race day by encrypting your traffic, and it's also a great idea if you're travelling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network. You want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins. With a VPN, you can virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to Grand Prix.
We highly recommend using NordVPN, but you can also check out our detailed VPN guide for other options.
