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On Friday, Formula One announced a contract renewal with Suzuka circuit which locks in the Japanese GP until after the 2029 season.
The scene of countless historical Formula One moments, Suzuka International Racing Course has hosted 33 F1 Grands Prix since 1987, and is a favourite among fans for it’s exciting racing and challenging layout. The news was well received as it came not long after the announcement of the all-new Madrid Grand Prix, which brought controversy among some due to fears the sport was moving away from traditional race tracks and towards street-circuit alternatives.
This year sees Suzuka move from its usual mid-autumn spot on the calendar to round 4 in early April as part of F1’s bid to become more sustainable and decrease travel distances between races.
Speaking on the news, Formula One president and CEO Stefano Domenicali described Suzuka as “a special circuit and part of the fabric of the sport” and said that he is “delighted that F1 will continue to race there until at least 2029”. The contract renewal comes after a bid by the Osaka Convention and Tourism Bureau to host a Formula One race on public roads in Osaka city, which now seems unlikely to happen due to doubts that Formula One would host two Japanese Grands Prix.
The next two years mark the end of the current contracts for 9 F1 circuits: Silverstone, Spa, Monza, Monaco, Shanghai, Zandvoort, Las Vegas (however F1 will likely use an opt-in and continue with the planned 10-year deal), Imola, and Mexico City. It will be interesting to see the news unfold as to which tracks will be kept on and which we will see leave the calendar for the time being.
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