2012 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix - Suzuka - Round 15
A country who loves cars and motorsports. This one of the best ways to define Japan as we approach to another Japanese GP.
The history of the Japanese GP began in 1976 at the Fuji Speedway. A race that's still alive in the memory of many people, the race that gave James Hunt his only title in F1. Niki Lauda coming from his terrible crash at the Nordschleife refused to race in the soaking wet Fuji and after a very complicated race where nothing was decided until the last moment, James Hunt with a 3rd place, got the title by one point and wrote his name in the F1 books.
One year later, in 1977, the newcomer Gilles Villeneuve was involved in a terrible crash that killed two spectators. After that F1 leave the circuit and Japan would only receive a race again 10 years later, in 1987 in the Suzuka Circuit. A circuit that in just a few years would become one of the most important places in the series, a place where the champipnships were decided from 1987 to 1991. A remarkable place for Ayrton Senna who won all his 3 titles there and where he lost to Prost in 1989 in one of the most controversial decisions in F1 over its years.
After 5 championships were decided at the japanese track, Suzuka would only see a new decision in 1996. From 1992 to 1995, even without having the champiopnship decided there, Suzuka saw important and exciting races. In 1992, the last victory of Riccardo Patrese in F1, his only one in 1992, a year totally dominated by Williams-Renault. In 1993, Ayrton Senna beat Alain Prost in a race that had everything, including rain, that was allways welcome for the brazilian. This race was also the first one of Irvine in F1, the driver showed all his skills in a track that he knew a lot from the Japanese F3000 and impressed the F1 world scoring a point with the 6th place, in a day where Rubens Barrichello scored his first points too, with a 5th place.
In 1994, Damon Hill has done one of his best races in F1. Under extremely wet conditions, he beat Schumacher in the track conditions that the german always performed so well. That lead the championship to the final battle at Adelaide where Schumacher would win his first title. The Japanese GP in 1994 was a crash fest. The wet conditions made it almost impossible to keep the car in a straight line. Mansell and Alesi fought bravely during a long time, giving the public a reason to stay at the track even at such difficult conditions.
The 1995 race was held with the championship already in the hands of Michael Schumacher, the race had again the well knowed rain. It was the 3rd year in a row that the Japanese GP had wet conditions at last in one part of it.
In 1996 the championship was decided again at Suzuka. Damon Hill won the title, after Jacques Villeneuve retired from the race due to a wheel that came out. It was the first and only title of Damon Hill in F1.
The 1997 season was not decided at Suzuka, but the race was important as it was there where Villeneuve got a suspension, after an incident in the Warmup with Jos Verstappen, Villeneuve was already with a “suspended suspension” and the incident with Verstappen gave Schumacher the chance to come to Jerez with a little advantage, but Villeneuve would turn out to be the champion. Schumacher after trying to crash him out of the race was disqualified from the championship and the 2nd place in the championship felt in the hands of Heinz-Harald Frentzen.
From 1998 to 2000 the championship would be again decided at Suzuka. In 1998 and 1999, Mika Hakkinen won his two titles in F1. Against Schumacher in 1998 and against Irvine in 1999. Two special years for the finnish driver. Mika Hakkinen after his horrible crash at Adelaide in 1995 has improved a lot and became one of the best drivers in the F1 grid at that time, with a very fast car in his hands, Mika took McLaren to the first title after Ayrton Senna’s era. It was a remarkable achievement for the driver.
In 2000, after 21 years, Ferrari finally made a driver again World Champion. Michael Schumacher won at Suzuka and secured the championship with one race to go. Mika Hakkinen this time ended with the 2nd place in the championship.
It was another finnish who would fight Schumacher again and provide Suzuka its next decision. Kimi Raikkonen in 2003 in the same McLaren. A very unusual championship where Raikkonen had the chance to win the season with only a single victory, in the 2nd race of the season at Malaysia. But Schumacher managed to win again. It was the 6th title of the german driver, the title that put Fangio’s 5 championship records behind. Again a very special occasion for Suzuka.
In the following years Suzuka provided some interesting moments. In 2004, the whole activity was cancelled in the Saturday due to a typhoon that hit the track. The qualifying was held on Sunday.
In 2005, one of the best races in the history of the circuit. After a wet qualifying that mixed up the grid, Raikkonen coming from the back of the grid won the race with a breath taking overtake in the last lap at the First Corner taking the lead from Fisichella. Probably the highest moment of that season. A race to remember forever.
In 2007 the Japanese GP changed its place, from Suzuka, back to Fuji after 31 years. As well as in the first race at the track in 1976, the 2007 race was held under very wet conditions. The race had a record of laps under the SC before the race was finally started. That championship was famous for his 3 drivers decision, where Raikkonen in his Ferrari beat the McLaren drivers, Alonso and Hamilton. At Fuji, the most memorable moment was the wheel to wheel battle between Felipe Massa and Robert Kubica. A fantastic battle at the very last corners of the circuit in the last lap.
The race would only comeback to Suzuka in 2009. In that year a crazy qualifying session caused injuries to Timmo Glock that made the german lost the rest of the season, that gave Kamui Kobayashi the chance to debut in the following race, since now the japanese is one of the most popular drivers in F1.
After the 2003 season, Suzuka never held again the decision of a championship, but in 2011, after a season where Vettel dominated in an incredible way, the championship again was decided at the japanese circuit. The best circuit possible to crown a champion. The most amazing circuit in the F1 calendar saw the youngest ever driver to win two championships in a row. Vettel wrote his name in F1 history and Suzuka is there too, forever.
The Suzuka Circuit is very challenging, it has everything, a sequence of turns that separates the boys from the men, incredible fast corners that take away your breathe. Slow corners, a hairpin, a chicane, straights, a spoon shaped corner. The circuit is the only one that crosses itself. Suzuka is a place for real men, the driving skills are tested at the limit in corners like Degner, Snake, Spoon, 130R and many others. A driver that wins at Suzuka shows he has real talent and can be very proud of that, as Suzuka is one of the only tracks that remains almost untouched after so many tracks in F1 calendar were changed and sometimes destroyed over the last years.
Japanese GP Winners:1976-1977 – Fuji
1976 – Mario Andretti – Lotus Ford
1977 – James Hunt – McLaren Ford
1987-2006 – Suzuka
1987 – Gerhard Berger – Ferrari
1988 – Ayrton Senna – McLaren Honda
1989 – Alessandro Nannini – Benetton Ford
1990 – Nelson Piquet – Benetton Ford
1991 – Gerhard Berger – McLaren Honda
1992 – Riccardo Patrese – Williams Renault
1993 – Ayrton Senna – McLaren Ford
1994 – Damon Hill – Williams Renault
1995 – Michael Schumacher – Benetton Renault
1996 – Damon Hill – Williams Renault
1997 – Michael Schumacher – Ferrari
1998 – Mika Hakkinen – McLaren Mercedes
1999 – Mika Hakkinen – McLaren Mercedes
2000 – Michael Schumacher – Ferrari
2001 – Michael Schumacher – Ferrari
2002 – Michael Schumacher – Ferrari
2003 – Rubens Barrichello – Ferrari
2004 – Michael Schumacher – Ferrari
2005 – Kimi Raikkonen – McLaren Mercedes
2006 – Fernando Alonso – Renault
2007-2008 – Fuji
2007 – Lewis Hamilton – McLaren Mercedes
2008 – Fernando Alonso – Renault
2009-present – Suzuka
2009 – Sebastian Vettel – Red Bull Renault
2010 – Sebastian Vettel – Red Bull Renault
2011 – Jenson Button – McLaren Mercedes
Japanese GP Pole Sitters:1976-1977 – Fuji
1976 – Mario Andretti – Lotus Ford
1977 – Mario Andretti – Lotus Ford
1987-2006 – Suzuka
1987 – Gerhard Berger – Ferrari
1988 – Ayrton Senna – McLaren Honda
1989 – Ayrton Senna – McLaren Honda
1990 – Ayrton Senna – McLaren Honda
1991 – Gerhard Berger – McLaren Honda
1992 – Nigel Mansell – Williams Renault
1993 – Alain Prost – Williams Renault
1994 – Michael Schumacher – Benetton Ford
1995 – Michael Schumacher – Benetton Renault
1996 – Jacques Villeneuve – Williams Renault
1997 – Jacques Villeneuve – Williams Renault
1998 – Michael Schumacher – Ferrari
1999 – Michael Schumacher – Ferrari
2000 – Michael Schumacher – Ferrari
2001 – Michael Schumacher – Ferrari
2002 – Michael Schumacher – Ferrari
2003 – Rubens Barrichello – Ferrari
2004 – Michael Schumacher – Ferrari
2005 – Ralf Schumacher – Toyota
2006 – Felipe Massa – Ferrari
2007-2008 – Fuji
2007 – Lewis Hamilton – McLaren Mercedes
2008 – Lewis Hamilton – McLaren Mercedes
2009-present – Suzuka
2009 – Sebastian Vettel – Red Bull Renault
2010 – Sebastian Vettel – Red Bull Renault
2011 – Sebastian Vettel – Red Bull Renault
Japanese GP Fastest Laps:1976-1977 – Fuji
1976 – Masahiro Hasemi – Kojima Ford
1977 – Jody Shceckter – Wolf Ford
1987-2006 – Suzuka
1987 – Alain Prost – McLaren TAG
1988 – Ayrton Senna – McLaren Honda
1989 – Alain Prost – McLaren Honda
1990 – Riccardo Patrese – Williams Renault
1991 – Ayrton Senna – McLaren Honda
1992 – Nigel Mansell – Williams Renault
1993 – Alain Prost – Williams Renault
1994 – Damon Hill – Williams Renault
1995 – Michael Schumacher – Benetton Renault
1996 – Jacques Villeneuve – Williams Renault
1997 – Heinz-Harald Frentzen – Williams Renault
1998 – Michael Schumacher – Ferrari
1999 – Michael Schumacher – Ferrari
2000 – Mika Hakkinen – McLaren Mercedes
2001 – Ralf Schumacher – Williams BMW
2002 – Michael Schumacher – Ferrari
2003 – Ralf Schumacher – Williams BMW
2004 – Rubens Barrichello – Ferrari
2005 – Kimi Raikkonen – McLaren Mercedes
2006 – Fernando Alonso – Renault
2007-2008 – Fuji
2007 – Lewis Hamilton – McLaren Mercedes
2008 – Felipe Massa – Ferrari
2009-present – Suzuka
2009 – Mark Webber – Red Bull Renault
2010 – Mark Webber – Red Bull Renault
2011 – Jenson Button – McLaren Mercedes
Track Information:Race Date: 07 Oct 2012
First Grand Prix: 1987
Number of Laps: 53
Circuit Length: 5.807 km
Race Distance: 307.471 km
Lap Record: 1:31.540 - K. Raikkonen (2005)
F1 2012 Championship Standings After Round 14:Driver’s Championship:01 – Fernando ALONSO – 194 Pts
02 – Sebastian VETTEL – 165 Pts
03 – Kimi RÄIKKÖNEN – 149 Pts
04 – Lewis HAMILTON – 142 Pts
05 – Mark WEBBER – 132 Pts
06 – Jenson BUTTON – 119 Pts
07 – Nico ROSBERG – 93 Pts
08 – Romain GROSJEAN – 82 Pts
09 – Sergio PEREZ – 66 Pts
10 – Felipe MASSA – 51 Pts
11 – Paul DI RESTA – 44 Pts
12 – Michael SCHUMACHER – 43 Pts
13 – Kamui KOBAYASHI – 35 Pts
14 – Nico HÜLKENBERG – 31 Pts
15 – Pastor MALDONADO – 29 Pts
16 – Bruno SENNA – 25 Pts
17 – Jean-Éric VERGNE – 08 Pts
18 – Daniel RICCIARDO – 06 Pts
Constructor’s Championship:01 – Red Bull Renault – 297 Pts
02 – McLaren Mercedes – 261 Pts
03 – Ferrari – 245 Pts
04 – Lotus Renault – 231 Pts
05 – Mercedes – 136 Pts
06 – Sauber Ferrari – 101 Pts
07 – Force India Mercedes – 75 Pts
08 – Williams Renault – 54 Pts
09 – Toro Rosso Ferrari – 14 Pts
Championship Standings in the old 10-6-4-3-2-1 System:Driver’s Championship:01 – Fernando ALONSO – 60 Pts
02 – Sebastian VETTEL – 50 Pts
03 – Lewis HAMILTON – 44 Pts
04 – Jenson BUTTON – 39 Pts
05 – Kimi RÄIKKÖNEN – 37 Pts
06 – Mark WEBBER – 36 Pts
07 – Nico ROSBERG – 22 Pts
08 – Romain GROSJEAN – 19 Pts
09 – Sergio PEREZ – 17 Pts
10 – Pastor MALDONADO – 10 Pts
11 – Felipe MASSA – 09 Pts
12 – Kamui KOBAYASHI – 06 Pts
13 – Michael SCHUMACHER – 05 Pts
14 – Nico HÜLKENBERG – 05 Pts
15 – Paul DI RESTA – 04 Pts
16 – Bruno SENNA – 01 Pt
Constructor’s Championship:01 – Red Bull Renault – 86 Pts
02 – McLaren Mercedes – 83 Pts
03 – Ferrari – 69 Pts
04 – Lotus Renault – 56 Pts
05 – Mercedes – 27 Pts
06 – Sauber Ferrari – 23 Pts
07 – Williams Renault – 11 Pts
08 – Force India Mercedes – 09 Pts
Complete Schedule:Thursday 4th October
Promoter Activity 3 Day Ticket Holders Only Pit Lane Walk 09:00 - 12:30
Promoter Activity Track Activities 09:30 - 11:00
Formula One Press Conference - Press Room 15:00
Promoter Activity Autograph Session 16:00 - 18:00
Friday 5th October
Formula Challenge Japan Practice Session 08:45 - 09:15
Formula One Practice 1 10:00 - 11:30
Porsche Carrera Cup Japan Practice Session 12:00 - 12:30
Formula One Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk 12:35 - 13:30
Promoter Activity 1 Lap Parade 12:35
Formula One Practice 2 14:00 - 15:30
Formula Challenge Japan Qualifying Session 15:55 - 16:25
Formula One Press Conference - Press Room 16:00 - 17:00
Porsche Carrera Cup Japan Qualifying Session 16:45 - 17:15
Promoter Activity Track Tours 17:30
Saturday 6th October
Formula One Pit Stop Practice 08:30 - 09:15
Formula One Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk 08:30 - 10:40
Formula Challenge Japan First Race (10 Laps or 25 Mins) 09:30 - 10:00
Formula One Practice 3 11:00 - 12:00
Formula One Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk 12:05 - 13:30
Promoter Activity 1 Lap Parade 12:05
Formula One Qualifying 14:00
Porsche Carrera Cup Japan First Race (10 Laps or 30 Mins) 15:40 - 16:15
Sunday 7th October
Promoter Activity 1 Parade Lap 09:45
Formula One Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk 10:40 - 12:00
Formula Challenge Japan Second Race (10 Laps or 25 Mins) 11:00 - 11:30
Porsche Carrera Cup Japan Second Race (10 Laps or 30 Mins) 12:15 - 12:50
Track Activity Formula One Legend Demonstration (TBC) 12:55 - 13:20
Formula One Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk 13:10 - 14:00
Formula One Drivers Track Parade 13:30
Formula One Starting Grid Presentation 13:45 - 14:15
Formula One National Anthem Performed Live on the Grid 14:46
Formula One Race 15:00
Promoter Activity Track Walk 17:30
Weather Forecast:The Weather Channel:
http://www.weather.com/weather/weekend/ ... X0112:1:JAAccuWeather:
http://www.accuweather.com/pt/jp/suzuka ... her/218916Tyre Choice:SOFT
HARD
INTERMEDIATE
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. Really informative and fun too read!
