The return from the summer break has taken a little while to get going, but as we head into the last five races of the season, things are really starting to brighten up. We've got a championship battle that is admittedly one-sided, but still open to change, and there are some fantastic racing circuits coming up - including this weekend's. The Suzuka track is a popular but tricky one, which can often produce great racing, but can also be hampered by the weather. How will it all pan out this weekend?

Event schedule

This time last week, I was talking about the battle Sebastian Vettel had on his hands to bring himself back firmly in contention with Lewis Hamilton for the championship. Seven days later and we're in a similar position, but it could all have been so much worse. Ferrari have had several power unit problems recently, on both their cars, and Vettel was lucky to get away with the damage limitation he did in Malaysia. Now he needs to do it all again, and hopefully better, to keep the title battle going.

Elsewhere, we have the second race for Pierre Gasly, who did a sturdy job for the Toro Rosso crew in his first race last weekend. He, and several other drivers, are racing to get their hands on a contract for next season, so the pressure is really starting to tell on the midfield and backmarker drivers.

Finally, it's worth looking out for the angst levels this weekends. The middle of the season saw teammates tangling constantly, but now it seems as though drivers are looking outside their own garages for rivals. Magnussen is not making any friends, whilst Stroll, Palmer and Alonso have all had fists shaken at them recently. Who'll be on the naughty step this time next week?

Support racing for this event includes Porsche Carrera Cup Japan and Super FJ.

Expected conditions

The weather for previous Japanese Grand Prix weekends has been unpredictable at best, and the conditions can change very quickly. There's often rain and the track temperatures can be high or drop down just as quickly. At this moment, it seems like there will be rain initially but things will start to dry out as the race start draws closer, but we will see!

Circuit history

Japan is hosting its 33rd Formula One Grand Prix this weekend, although it's only been at Suzuka since 1987 (with two years out for Fuji to host). The track has often been the setting for world championship battles to be decided, and has seen some real classics in the past. It's position in the calendar makes that an unlikely event in recent years, in fact the last title decided in Japan was Sebastian Vettel's in 2011.

The unique figure of eight layout of the track was traditionally designed as a test circuit and so it has a great mix of challenges - high speed sections, twisting corners, and some recognisable and infamous turns particularly at the start of the lap.

The track has worked well for McLaren and Ferrari in the past, both tied on the most successful team there (seven wins apiece). This year, there haven't been any major adjustments to the track but the now traditional improvements to barriers and kerbing.

Tyre compounds

One week on and we've got the same tyres in action that we saw in Sepang, although the two tracks will have quite different conditions. High levels of wear and degradation mean that two stop strategies were in favour last year, and are likely to be seen again this time round.

Boss at Pirelli, Mario Isola, says: "Suzuka is one of the most challenging tracks for tyres of the entire year, with a very big emphasis on lateral loads that can cause thermal degradation if the tyres are not properly managed... it's very possible that we will see another lap record fall and some truly impressive maximum g-force loadings."

Selected tyre sets per driver

Lewis Hamilton	1	5	7
Valtteri Bottas	2	4	7
Daniel Ricciardo	1	3	9
Max Verstappen	1	3	9
Sebastian Vettel	1	5	7
Kimi Räikkönen	2	4	7
Sergio Pérez	3	3	7
Esteban Ocon	3	3	7
Felipe Massa	1	4	8
Lance Stroll	1	4	8
Fernando Alonso	1	2	10
Stoffel Vandoorne	1	2	10
Carlos Sainz	1	3	9
Pierre Gasly	1	3	9
Romain Grosjean	2	4	7
Kevin Magnussen	1	5	7
Nico Hülkenberg	1	3	9
Jolyon Palmer	1	3	9
Pascal Wehrlein	1	3	9
Marcus Ericsson	1	3	9

Press conference schedule

Official press conferences are organised by the FIA and happen four times during the weekend. The qualifying and post race press conferences will take place after the television unilateral interviews.

Race stewards

The FIA stewarding process includes a former F1 driver to offer added insight. These stewards are overseeing the weekend's action.