Japanese Grand Prix gets five-year extension at Suzuka
The Japanese Grand Prix has been safeguarded for the foreseeable future with Formula 1 officials inking a five-year extension to the current deal, ensuring the event’s presence on the calendar until at least 2029.
The Suzuka track has witnessed numerous title showdowns, hosting the dramatic rivalry between Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost in the late-1980s and early-1990s, and most recently witnessing Max Verstappen’s title-sealing triumph in 2022.
A crowd of 222,000 watched Verstappen win the Japanese GP last September.
BREAKING: The Japanese Grand Prix remains on the calendar until 2029! 🇯🇵🙌#F1 #JapaneseGP @suzuka_event pic.twitter.com/GPxJs7BJul
— Formula 1 (@F1) February 2, 2024
Starting this year, the race will be positioned in a new slot in April, sandwiched between the races in Australia and China. This move is part of Formula 1’s broader initiative to optimise its calendar for greater efficiency.
“Suzuka is a special circuit and part of the fabric of the sport, so I am delighted that F1 will continue to race there until at least 2029,” Formula 1 president Stefano Domenicali stated.
The decision to extend the contract comes amid speculation that Osaka was vying to host the Japanese Grand Prix in the future, reflecting a trend of Formula 1 exploring opportunities to stage races in urban centres rather than traditional circuits. Madrid was recently awarded the Spanish Grand Prix from 2026-35, ousting long-time host Barcelona and showcasing Formula 1’s evolving approach to race locations.
Commenting on the potential for Osaka to host the Grand Prix, Hiroshi Mizohata, chairman of the city’s tourism bureau, stated, “F1 will be the perfect catalyst for Osaka to become an international tourist city.
“In order for Osaka to achieve that, it is important to attract wealthy people from Europe, America, and Australia.
“We also believe that F1 will be the perfect catalyst for attracting luxury hotels and revitalising the night-time economy.
“I went to watch the Singapore Grand Prix, and it was completely different from the image I had of F1. There were live events going on, and there were business meetings for luxury brands at nearby hotels.”
While Osaka remains hopeful for its chance to feature on Formula 1’s calendar, the extension of the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka means that the city will have to wait until at least 2029 before its ambitions of hosting are acted on.
