Scheduling: The 2017 Japanese Grand Prix

The eyes of the motor sport media will be on two places this weekend: Suzuka and Jerez, both circuits the site of Formula 1 championship deciders of years gone past.

Suzuka plays host to round 16 of the 2017 Formula One season. Whilst we will not see the champion crowned this weekend, the events of Sepang means that Lewis Hamilton now has one hand on his fourth championship. Meanwhile, in Jerez, rising star Charles Leclerc could claim the Formula Two title at some stage during the weekend.

Formula Two and the GP3 Series normally play support to Formula 1. This weekend, Formula Two is the lead category at Jerez, with GP3 Series and the Euroformula Championship (broadcast on BT Sport in the UK) supporting acts. I assume Alex Jacques will be on lead commentary as usual for Formula Two and GP3, but do not expect to see Davide Valsecchi alongside him as he will be with Sky Italia in Suzuka.

Channel 4’s coverage from Suzuka will not feature Lee McKenzie, who travelled back to the UK after the Malaysian Grand Prix.

Channel 4 F1
Sessions
07/10 – 13:00 to 14:30 – Qualifying Highlights
08/10 – 15:00 to 17:15 – Race Highlights

Sky Sports F1
Sessions
06/10 – 01:45 to 03:50 – Practice 1
06/10 – 05:45 to 08:00 – Practice 2 (also Sky Sports Main Event)
07/10 – 03:45 to 05:15 – Practice 3
07/10 – 06:00 to 08:40 – Qualifying (also Sky Sports Main Event)
08/10 – 04:30 to 09:15 – Race
=> 04:30 – Track Parade
=> 05:00 – Pit Lane Live (also Sky Sports Main Event)
=> 05:30 – Race (also Sky Sports Main Event)
=> 08:30 – Paddock Live (also Sky Sports Main Event)

Supplementary Programming
04/10 – 20:30 to 21:00 – F1 Report: Preview
05/10 – 07:00 to 07:30 – Driver Press Conference
05/10 – 21:15 to 21:30 – Paddock Uncut
06/10 – 08:00 to 08:50 – Team Press Conference
06/10 – 08:50 to 09:20 – The F1 Show
11/10 – 20:30 to 21:00 – F1 Report: Review

BBC Radio F1
04/10 – 21:00 to 22:00 – Preview (BBC Radio 5 Live)
06/10 – 01:55 to 03:35 – Practice 1 (BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra)
06/10 – 05:55 to 07:35 – Practice 2 (BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra)
07/10 – 03:55 to 05:05 – Practice 3 (BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra)
07/10 – 06:55 to 08:05 – Qualifying (BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra)
08/10 – 05:30 to 08:00 – Race (BBC Radio 5 Live)

Euroformula – Jerez (BT Sport/ESPN)
07/10 – 11:30 to 12:30 – Race 1
08/10 – 11:30 to 12:30 – Race 2

FIM CEV Repsol – Aragon (BT Sport/ESPN)
08/10 – 09:45 to 14:45 – Races

Formula Two – Jerez (Sky Sports F1)
06/10 – 14:30 to 15:00 – Qualifying
07/10 – 12:55 to 14:25 – Race 1
08/10 – 12:55 to 14:15 – Race 2

GP3 Series – Jerez (Sky Sports F1)
06/10 – 13:00 to 13:30 – Qualifying
07/10 – 09:55 to 10:55 – Race 1
08/10 – 09:55 to 10:45 – Race 2

Speedway Grand Prix – Poland (BT Sport 2)
07/10 – 17:45 to 21:15 – Races

World Rally Championship – Spain
06/10 – Day 1 Highlights
=> 22:00 to 22:30 (BT Sport 1)
=> 22:35 to 23:05 (Motorsport.tv)
07/10 – 12:00 to 13:00 – Stage 1 (BT Sport 3)
07/10 – Day 2 Highlights
=> 22:35 to 23:05 (Motorsport.tv)
=> 00:30 to 01:00 (BT Sport 1)
08/10 – 07:30 to 08:30 – Stage 2 (BT Sport 3)
08/10 – 11:00 to 12:30 – Power Stage (BT Sport 1)
08/10 – Day 3 Highlights
=> 22:35 to 23:05 (Motorsport.tv)
=> 01:30 to 02:00 (BT Sport 1)
09/10 – 19:00 to 20:00 – Highlights (Channel 5)

As always, if anything does change, I will update this post.

Update on October 4th – In what can only be described as a fairly major coup, the reigning Formula 1 champion Nico Rosberg will be joining the Sky Sports F1 line-up during the Japanese Grand Prix weekend. Rosberg will be part of Sky’s output in the UK, Italy and Germany. This weekend, Anthony Davidson is also part of Sky’s line-up, so a really strong presentation team overall.

Update on October 5th – Further great news is that Louise Goodman is Lee McKenzie’s super sub on Channel 4 for this weekend.