Japanese GP - facts and figures

    Suzuka is probably the Japanese word for "controversy" as rage and recrimination are often on the menu. In 1989, Ayrton Senna had to beat McLaren team-mate Alain Prost to have any chance of retaining his championship crown. He tried to pass the Frenchman at the tight chicane and the two cars ended up locked together. While Prost retired on the spot, Senna pitted for repairs and was first past the flag. However, he was disqualified and vowed never to talk to Prost again. The following year, it was Prost in a Ferrari who needed to win to keep his title hopes alive. Senna, on pole, was angry at not being allowed to start from the "clean" side of the track and to make sure of the title simply drove Prost off the road at the very first corner; a potentially lethal move, given the high speeds involved. The Brazilian, also out of the race, later admitted he did it deliberately. In the post race conference, he launched a scathing attack on the sport's governing body, liberally peppered with swear words, much to the bemusement of the crowd, who heard it all over the Public Address system!

    The 1990 race also marked the one and only F1 podium appearance of a Japanese driver, as Aguri Suzuki finished third. In 1993, Senna was at it again; punching F1 debutant Eddie Irvine for not showing enough respect when being lapped!

    Suzuka is the only track on the F1 calendar that uses a figure-of-eight course. Will that be an advantage for Ferrari? Their own private test track at Fiorano shares that unusual configuration.

    Three Japanese drivers share the honour of being the first to represent their country in a grand prix. Masahiro Hasemi, Kazuyoshi Hoshino and Noritake Takahara all took part in the 1976 edition of their home race. Takahara was ninth in a Surtees, Hasemi was eleventh and last in a Kojima and Hoshino retired in a Tyrrell.

    On nine occasions the Japanese GP, traditionally held towards the end of the season, has decided the outcome of the Drivers' World Championship: once at Mount Fuji and eight times at Suzuka.

    Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher are the only two drivers to have won the Japanese Grand Prix by starting from pole position, leading from start to finish and setting the fastest race lap: the Brazilian in 1988 for McLaren and the German in 1995 for Benetton.

    There has been an all-McLaren front row at this race on three occasions, in 1988, 1989 and 1991. The 1988 and 1991 races also gave them a one-two finish. Benetton finished first and second in 1990.

    The 1994 Japanese GP was stopped and re-started after 13 laps because of heavy rain. It was one of only eleven grands prix to have been run in two parts.

The Suzuka circuit

American Grand Prix Racing;
A Century of Drivers and Cars
by Tim Considine
Hardcover (1997)