Like the Chinese circuit, Suzuka was covered with new asphalt this winter

After China, the Formula 1 will travel to Japan for the third round of the season. Like the Shanghai circuit, the Suzuka circuit underwent a partial resurfacing this winter. The initial feedback from Super Formula, whose pre-season tests and first round took place on the Japanese track, is not reassuring. Is this enough to worry Formula 1?

then of the Chinese Grand Prix this weekend, the new asphalt has been the subject of much discussion. Indeed, the surface had to be approached in the best possible way by the teams in order to understand its new grip limits as well as the tyre degradation. Pirelli's chief engineer, Simone Berra, admitted that the grip levels of this new asphalt were " really impressive » but was also the cause of " significant degradation on the left tire, leading to a drop in performance. In response, the tire supplier decided to increase the minimum pressures to counter these inconveniences. While the teams managed the deterioration perfectly on Sunday, Saturday proved more difficult. On the new, abrasive asphalt, Oscar piastri, in pursuit of Lewis Hamilton during the Sprint race, was unable to catch the Briton due to his particularly damaged medium tires.

Thus, the characteristics of the surfaces are essential to take into account for the different teams. Like in China, similar work will have to be carried out in Japan, since the track in the Land of the Rising Sun will also be sporting a new livery. Carried out in early January, the work does not affect the entire circuit, but the pit lane and the East Course. That is, the section from the starting straight to the Dunlop curve, located at the end of the first sector, making it a total of about a third of the track.

Beginnings that raise questions

The Japanese single-seater Super Formula championship visited Suzuka for testing on February 18 and 19. During these two days, snow and new tires were part of it, complicating the potential analysis of the new surface. However, the presence of unwanted bumps at turns 3 and 7 was reported by several drivers, including Sho Tsuboi, the reigning champion of the discipline. Faced with these complaints and the dangers induced by these roughnesses, the Japanese circuit quickly reacted and the areas pointed out by the drivers were resurfaced.

These surface anomalies raise questions. If the Super Formula discipline has suffered from these defects, what will happen to Formula 1, with its far more advanced single-seaters? For comparison, Tomoki Nojiri's pole position in Super Formula was achieved in 1:36 in the first round of the 060 season, while Formula 2025 Max Verstappen took first place on the grid in 1'28″197 during the 2024 season: an abysmal difference. In addition, the current technical regulations of the premier class of motorsport are based on the principle of ground effect, which has the consequence of making these single-seaters particularly sensitive to the roughness of the asphalt. In conclusion, a good and rapid understanding of the new surface will be one of the keys to success for the teams.

Join us on Sunday, April 6th, at 7:00 a.m. (French time), for the third round of the Formula 1 season at Suzuka.

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