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Part 15
F1 26

Part 15

Master the Japan circuit in F1 26 with detailed driving instructions for every turn, including the tricky S curves and chicane.

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Master the Japan circuit in F1 26 with detailed driving instructions for every turn, including the tricky S curves and chicane.

Walkthrough
  1. 1
    Pit Straight: Achieve good speeds with strong acceleration out of the chicane. The Pit Lane rejoins the course from the right near the end of the Pit Straight.
  2. 2
    Turn 1 (Hairpin): Requires moderate braking on approach and likely light braking through the turn. Be careful not to run too wide on exit due to the uphill climb and limited visibility.
  3. 3
    Turns 2-5 (S Curves): This is the hardest section. The first 'S' can likely be taken at full speed. Use light or moderate braking for Turn 3, and consider light braking for Turn 4. Slam on the brakes for Turn 5, the tightest corner. Generous braking is essential throughout this uphill segment. This is a good place to pass slower cars during corner entry if your brakes are confident.
  4. 4
    Turn 6 (Dunlop Curve): This sweeping left-hand corner is the crest of the uphill segment and can be taken at full acceleration.
  5. 5
    Turn 7 (Degner): A right-hand turn anticipating the figure-eight. Light braking is likely needed, though high-downforce setups may allow full speed.
  6. 6
    Turn 8 (Degner): A tighter right-hand corner than Turn 7, requiring moderate braking and a steady racing line. This is another prime passing zone.
  7. 7
    Straightaway (under bridge): Accelerate strongly out of Degner to pass cars. The course fades right before the next hairpin.
  8. 8
    Turn 9 (Hairpin): A tight left-hand hairpin beginning the next uphill segment. A slight shortcut is possible but slows you down due to grass and hill angle. Avoid accelerating too soon to prevent going into the grass. A large patch of kitty litter is present for those who miss the turn.
  9. 9
    Turn 10: A wide right sweep continuing the uphill run. Braking here will cause you to lose track positions.
  10. 10
    Turns 11 and 12 (Spoon): A tricky pair of left-hand corners in a decreasing-radius 'U' formation. Turn 11 requires little to no braking. Turn 12 is tighter and slopes downhill, demanding judicious braking and a pristine racing line, especially for passing. Misjudging Turn 12 can lead to losing control, though recovery room is ample. Avoid rumble strips and inside grass on Turn 12 to prevent spinning.
  11. 11
    Straightaway (after Spoon): Power out of Spoon and accelerate along the straightaway, passing multiple cars, especially with a low-downforce setup. Begin thinking about the chicane after crossing the bridge.
  12. 12
    Turn 13 (130R): A gentle left turn shortly after the bridge. No braking is required, but watch for cars slowing for Pit Lane entry before the chicane.
  13. 13
    Turns 14-16 (Chicane): A tricky section starting with a moderate right turn, followed by a tight left-hand corner, and ending with a wider right turn onto the Pit Straight. Cutting the chicane results in a Stop-Go Penalty. Be careful not to go too wide exiting Turn 15 and hit the Pit Lane barrier.
  14. 14
    Pit Entry: Located to the right just before the Chicane. It is the SECOND patch of pavement to the right coming off the main course. Slow down significantly before entering to avoid damaging your car on the barrier.
Tips
  • A high-downforce setup may not be beneficial overall due to the course's long straightaways, despite being useful for certain corners.
  • Moderate braking is required for Turn 1 (Coca-Cola Curve) to avoid sliding off the course.
  • Cars may be slowing on approach to the Coca-Cola Curve to enter the Pit Lane.
  • Be extremely careful when entering Pit Lane; entering too fast will almost certainly damage the front of your car on the barrier.
  • The Pit Lane rejoins the course from the right near the end of the Pit Straight.
  • On exit of Turn 1, be careful not to run too wide and end up in the sand.
  • The 'S' section is a good place to pass slower cars if you have enough confidence in your brakes to pass during corner entry.
  • You will NOT survive the 'S' curves unless you use the brakes generously.
  • Cars with sufficient high-downforce setups can speed through Turn 7 (Degner) without braking.
  • Turn 8 (Degner) is another prime passing zone.
  • Accelerate strongly out of Degner to pass one or two cars under the bridge.
  • Be careful not to accelerate too soon out of Turn 9 (Hairpin), or you will be in the grass.
  • Braking at Turn 10 means losing track positions.
  • If you misjudge any single corner at Suzuka, it will be Turn 12; fortunately, there is plenty of recovery room on both sides of the pavement here.
  • Do not roll up on the rumble strips or the grass on the inside of Turn 12, as that will almost certainly cause you to lose control and likely spin.
  • Power out of Spoon and fly along the straightaway, passing multiple cars, especially if you have a low-downforce setup.
  • Look for cars slowing for the Pit Lane entry just before the chicane at Turn 13 (130R).
  • Cutting the chicane (Turns 14-16) results in a Stop-Go Penalty.
  • Be careful coming out of Turn 15 that you don't go too wide and bump the right-front tire on the Pit Lane barrier.
  • Note that the Pit Entry is the SECOND patch of pavement to the right coming off the main course.

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