The 2018 Japanese Grand Prix (formally known as the Formula 1 2018 Honda Japanese Grand Prix) was a Formula One racing event held on 7 October 2018 at the Suzuka International Racing Course in Suzuka in the Mie Prefecture, Japan.

The race was the seventeenth round of the 2018 FIA Formula One World Championship and marked the 44th running of the Japanese Grand Prix.

Ferrari introduced a new livery, carrying the logo of Mission Winnow, a joint promotion with major sponsor Philip Morris International.

[3] Pirelli opted to bring the supersoft, the soft, and the medium tire to the 2018 Japanese Grand Prix.

His teammate Valtteri Bottas finished second, and together they achieved Mercedes’ fifth one two in qualifying in a row at Suzuka.

Hamilton’s main title rival, Sebastian Vettel, as well as his teammate Kimi Raikkonen, was sent out by Ferrari on Intermediates.

Vettel would start 8th after Esteban Ocon received a 3 place grid penalty for ignoring red flags in Free Practice 3.

Daniel Ricciardo failed to set a time in Q2 due to power unit issues and started 15th as a result.

The noteworthy incident of qualifying, apart from he rain, was Marcus Ericsson, who hit the Barriers in Q1 and brought out the red flag.

[7] On lap 3, the safety car was deployed to allow marshals to clear up debris from the incident between Charles Leclerc and Kevin Magnussen on the pit straight.

Magnussen's lap to return to the pits with his puncture created much of the debris that needed to be cleaned up during the safety car period.

Hamilton picked up his 71st career victory, and his ninth win of the season, having led every lap of the race.

Beating Vettel by 8 points in the next round in the United States would win Hamilton his fifth Driver’s World Championship.

[10] In post race interviews, Vettel blamed his spin on Verstappen, stating that he had not been left “enough room”.

[11] Verstappen put the blame on Vettel, claiming that the Spoon curve, where the incident occurred, is not a spot to overtake.