Formula 1: Japanese Grand Prix not being broadcast on ESPN

The Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit is the first of five consecutive Formula 1 races that won’t be broadcast live on ESPN.

For the fifth time this Formula 1 season, a Grand Prix will not be broadcast live on ESPN. The Japanese Grand Prix, the 16th of 22 races on the 2023 schedule, is set to air live on ESPN2 from Suzuka Circuit this Sunday.

This 53-lap race around the 18-turn, 3.609-mile (5.808-kilometer) road course in Suzuka, Mie Prefecture, Japan is just the second race to be shown live on ESPN2 as opposed to ESPN or ABC this season. The first was the British Grand Prix, which took place at Silverstone Circuit back on Sunday, July 9.

The Japanese Grand Prix was supposed to be the third ESPN2 race of the year, but Imola Circuit’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was canceled back in May as a result of flooding in the area, and it was never rescheduled.

The Japanese Grand Prix is the first of five straight Formula 1 races that won’t be shown live on regular ESPN.

It is the first of three during that stretch which are set to air on ESPN2. The other two are set for ABC.

ESPN2 is also set to broadcast the Qatar Grand Prix live from Lusail International Circuit on Sunday, October 8 and the Sao Paulo Grand Prix live from Interlagos Circuit on Sunday, November 5. These two races are the third and fourth of four races on ESPN2’s portion of this year’s broadcast schedule.

ABC is set to broadcast the United States Grand Prix live from Circuit of the Americas on Sunday, October 22 and the Mexico City Grand Prix live from Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on Sunday, October 29. These two races are the fourth and fifth of five races on ABC’s portion of this year’s broadcast schedule.

Two-time reigning world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull is the reigning winner of the Japanese Grand Prix after it returned to the schedule for the first since 2019 last year. He sealed his second straight world title with his win in this rain-shortened race last year.

There was plenty of confusion after the race, as nobody really knew if Verstappen had mathematically clinched the title after his victory, given the lack of clarity surrounding the points format in a rain-shortened race.

Not only did he secure a second straight world title in Japan, doing so on Honda’s home turf, but the confusion led to an offseason rule change regarding the points format in shortened races. Of course, Verstappen would have won the title by a country mile anyway, since there were still four races remaining on the calendar afterward.

To avoid confusion this time around, it is worth noting that, despite his massive points lead, he cannot secure his third straight title in this year’s race.

FanDuel Sportsbook, which is giving fans an instant $200 just for signing up and betting $5, lists Verstappen as the favorite to win the Japanese Grand Prix after having watched Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jr. snap his 10-race winning streak in Singapore.

Odds and availability are subject to change, so lock in your $200 today before it’s too late!

The Japanese Grand Prix is set to be broadcast live on ESPN2 from Suzuka Circuit starting at 12:55 a.m. ET this coming Sunday, September 24. Begin a free trial of FuboTV now and be sure not to miss it!