Formula One makes its long-awaited return to Suzuka Circuit this weekend, with motorheads from across the nation descending upon the Honda-owned 5.8-km figure-eight track in Mie Prefecture.
Those joining the sold-out crowds, however, might be disappointed if they are expecting a Japanese Grand Prix that resembles the titanic title-deciding battles between legends Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost in 1989 and 1990.
Max Verstappen and his Red Bull team have all but locked up the drivers’ and constructors’ titles, with the Dutch phenom poised to repeat as champion, perhaps as soon as this weekend, and Red Bull nearly assured of breaking Mercedes’ hold on the team title.
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