STRATEGY GUIDE: What are the tactical options for the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka?

Kimi Antonelli doubled down on his Shanghai pole position triumph with another here at Japan – and Suzuka is a good place to start in front. It’s a narrow, high-downforce monster of a circuit, where overtaking is going to be difficult and where seven of the last eight Japanese Grands Prix have been won from pole.

Granted, in 2026, the teams have more tools at their disposal to overtake on track, but if those aren’t proving particularly powerful, then the drivers are going to have to look to strategy to secure an advantage. So let’s take a look at the options…