What you should know as Formula 1 returns to Japan - the Land of the rising Sun

The Japanese Grand Prix makes its return to the Formula 1 calendar after Covid-19 prevented its running in 2020 and 2021. The race, a favourite among many drivers, will be staged again at its spiritual home, the Suzuka Circuit.

Though this year's running will be the race's 36th, it is one of the youngest "old school' circuits. Built in 1962 by Honda founder Soichiro Honda, the circuit was designed for the Japanese automaker to test its vehicles. Some 25 years later, in 1987 - ten years after the first Japanese GP - the track would make its F1 debut.

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Suzuka would host the Japanese GP 31 times, while Fuji, another circuit in the Land of the Rising Sun, would do so on four occasions. 2022 is the 32nd running of the event at Suzuka.

Japan first hosted an F1 race in 1976 and 1977 at Fuji, with the same venue returning in 2007 and 2008.

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Imagine going one-handed through 130R ??Well... that's what @Charles_Leclerc did back in 2019! ??#JapaneseGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/IzOgr2Xih0

The track itself

The Suzuka Circuit has a unique layout, and is it the only one on the calendar designed as an '8'. Coming out of Turn 9, the circuit runs underneath the straight between Turns 14 and 15. And Turn 15 is one of the most famous of all. Called 130R, drivers must keep a cool head as they go around it at full throttle.

The original circuit passed over and under itself on three occasions, but has been adapted to only do so once.

At 5.807km, the race is run over 53 laps for a total race distance of 307.471km. In 2019, the last time the F1 Circus visited Japan, Lewis Hamilton set the fastest race