The 2023 Japanese Grand Prix weekend is upon us with Red Bull looking to bounce back after a poor showing in Singapore.
While Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez were off the pace at Marina Bay, Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz became the first non-Red Bull driver to stand atop the podium after turning his pole position into a second career F1 victory.
F1 now heads to Suzuka to cap off back-to-back weekends of action, a track that is a favourite of drivers and fans thanks to its high-speed corners.
The weather has played a big role in past races in Japan, especially last season’s race, which was won by Max Verstappen in what was a rain-shortened event.
Only 29 of the 53 scheduled laps were completed due to heavy rain, though it was all the Dutchman needed to seal his second World Championsip.
What is the weather forecast for the 2023 Japanese Grand Prix? Let’s take a look.
Friday: Practice 1 and 2
While most of the weekend is expected to be dry, there is a chance rain could affect Friday’s on-track action.
There is a higher chance of rain falling in FP1 than FP2, and though the threat of active weather remains throughout the day, chances of precipitation have fallen from 70% earlier in the week to just 40%.
Temperatures are expected to hit a high of 30 degree Celsius.
Saturday: Practice 3 and Qualifying
Saturday’s action at Suzuka is expected to take place under sunny skies, with a gentle breeze expected.
Chances of rain currently sit at just 14% with temperatures expected to hit 29 degrees Celsius.
Sunday: Race
Temperatures will drop for Sunday’s race, with a high of 27 degrees Celsius expected and southeast winds of 7 mph.
The forecast calls for some clouds, but plenty of sun, with the chance of rain currently sitting at just 10%.
