F1 Japanese GP: Hamilton on pole, race start time, TV channel, betting odds

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton was dominant in practice and qualifying in Japan

(Image credit: Behrouz Mehri/AFP/Getty Images)

last updated 5 October 2018

2018 F1 Japanese Grand Prix

When: Sunday 7 October
Where: Suzuka International Racing Course
Race start time: 6.10am on Sunday (UK time)
2017 podium: 1st Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes); 2nd Max Verstappen (Red Bull); 3rd Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull)

2018 F1 season guide: final drivers’ and constructors’ standings

With five races remaining this season, including Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix, Mercedes’ Hamilton has a 50-point advantage over Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel.

British driver Hamilton was triumphant last year at Suzuka and comes into this year’s race with wins in the previous three grands prix - in Italy, Singapore and Russia. Another victory in Japan would put him a step closer to fifth career F1 title.

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The time difference with Japan means it’s a very early start for F1 fans watching in the UK. Don’t forget to set your alarm clocks - the race starts at 6.10am (UK time) on Sunday morning.

80th career pole for Hamilton

Hamilton will start on the front row in Japan with Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas after the reigning world champion secured his 80th career pole position.

After finishing fastest in all three practice sessions at Suzuka, Hamilton took his pace into qualifying on Saturday morning. With Bottas joining Hamilton at the front for Sunday’s race, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen will start in third.

“The team have done an amazing job all weekend,” said Hamilton. It’s my 80th [pole] and I can’t believe I’ve got 80. We have worked so hard to refine and improve this car and the same for ourselves on the way we work as a team. I am so proud to be on this journey with them. Every team has smart people, but it is about how you perform together under pressure.”

For Ferrari and Vettel, Hamilton’s rival for the F1 title, it was a “disastrous” qualifying session as the weather changed at Suzuka, says Sky Sports. The German will start in ninth place in Japan after a Ferrari mix-up with the choice of tyres.

The BBC says Ferrari “sent the drivers out on treaded tyres in the dry at the start, and Vettel failed to get in a time after switching to dry-weather ‘slick’ tyres”.

With Hamilton 50 points ahead of Vettel with five races remaining, the Independent asks if the errors in Japan will mark the point when Vettel’s slim title hopes finally slipped away?