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The 2014 Japanese GP preview: Everything you need to know about this week's race!

F1 returns to the unique figure-of-eight Suzuka circuit

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The 2014 Japanese GP preview: Everything you need to know about this weekend's race!

From the streets of Singapore, F1 heads to a very different challenge through the high-speed turns of Suzuka at the only figure-of-eight circuit on the calendar.

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

More from Japanese Gp 2014

The 2014 Japanese GP in a nutshell

Track: Suzuka International Racing Course. Permanent Circuit.

Race start time: 7am UK time Sunday (3pm local).

Laps: 53.

Track length: 5.807 km.

Tyre allocation: Hard (orange) and medium (white).

DRS Zones: One – pit straight (TBC).

Driver steward: TBA.

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

2013 pole: Mark Webber - 1:30.915 (Red Bull).

Mark Webber was on pole in 2013
Image: Mark Webber: On pole in 2013

Sky Sports F1's schedule

Thursday 2nd October
7am - Drivers' Press Conference - Live!
4pm – Gear Up for Japan.
9pm – Classic F1 – 1988 Japanese GP.

Friday 3rd October
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.
1:05pm – Japanese GP Practice Two replay.
9:40pm – Classic F1 – 1989 Japanese GP.

Saturday 4th October
2:45am – Japanese GP Practice Three - Live!
5am – Japanese GP Qualifying – Live!
9am – Japanese GP Qualifying replay.
11:45am – Ted’s Qualifying Notebook.
2:45pm – Japanese GP Qualifying replay.
9:15pm – Classic F1 – 1996 Japanese GP.

Sunday 5th October
5:30am – The 2014 Japanese GP – Track Parade – Live!
6am - The 2014 Japanese GP – Race – Live!
9:30am - The 2014 Japanese GP – Paddock Live!
1:15pm – Ted’s Race Notebook.
1:30pm – The 2014 Japanese GP replay.
6:30pm – 2014 Japanese GP Highlights.
9pm – Classic F1 – 1994 Japanese GP.

Form guide

Sebastian Vettel is the most successful of the current drivers at the Japanese GP with four victories to his name, but he still trails Michael Schumacher who was won the race six times. Fernando Alonso is the only other multiple winner still competing, whilst Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen have all also stood atop the podium.

2013 result: 1. Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull); 2. Mark Webber (Red Bull); 3. Romain Grosjean (Lotus); 4. Fernando Alonso (Ferrari); 5. Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus); 6. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber); 7. Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber); 8. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes); 9. Jenson Button (McLaren); 10. Felipe Massa (Ferrari).

Last five winners in Japan: 2013: Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull); 2012: Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull); 2011: Jenson Button (McLaren); 2010: Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull); 2009: Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull).

Sebastian Vettel: Winner in 2013
Image: Sebastian Vettel: Winner in 2013

Tyre allocation

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

The Italian firm say that Suzuka is “one of the most demanding tracks of the year in terms of lateral energy. For this reason, the two hardest compounds in the range have been selected: P Zero Orange hard and P Zero White medium, to cope with the high speeds, high abrasion and fast corners.”

Sky Bet odds

Lewis Hamilton is favourite for the Japanese Grand Prix with Sky Bet following his victory in Singapore. Check out the full range of odds here.

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