Japanese Grand Prix facts for kids
| Suzuka Circuit (Intermittently; 1966–1976, 1987–present) |
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| Race information | |
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| Number of times held | 49 |
| First held | 1963 |
| Most wins (drivers) |  Michael Schumacher (6) |
| Most wins (constructors) |  McLaren (9) |
| Circuit length | 5.807 km (3.608 mi) |
| Race length | 307.471 km (191.053 mi) |
| Laps | 53 |
| Last race (2024) | |
| Pole position | |
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| Podium | |
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| Fastest lap | |
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The Japanese Grand Prix (Japanese: 日本グランプリ, romanized: Nihon-guranpuri) is an exciting motor racing event. It's a big part of the Formula One World Championship calendar. For many years, this race has been held near the end of the F1 season. This means it has often been the place where the World Champion driver is decided! In fact, 13 champions have won their titles at the Japanese Grand Prix.
Japan was the first country in Asia to host a Formula One race. This was true until Malaysia joined the F1 calendar in 1999.
The first two Formula One Japanese Grands Prix were held at the Fuji Speedway in 1976 and 1977. After that, the race took a break from the F1 calendar. It came back in 1987 at the Suzuka Circuit. Suzuka hosted the Grand Prix for 20 years straight. It became known as one of the most challenging and exciting F1 tracks.
In 1994 and 1995, Japan also hosted another F1 race called the Pacific Grand Prix. This race was held at the TI Circuit. This made Japan one of only a few countries to host more than one Grand Prix in the same season.
In 2007, the Japanese Grand Prix moved back to the newly updated Fuji Speedway. After one more race at Fuji in 2008, the event returned to Suzuka in 2009. This was part of an agreement between Toyota (who owned Fuji) and Honda (who owned Suzuka). However, Toyota decided not to host the race at Fuji after 2009. So, Suzuka has hosted the Japanese Grand Prix every year since 2009. The only exceptions were 2020 and 2021, when the races were cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Japanese Grand Prix is planned to stay at the Suzuka Circuit until at least 2029.
Contents
The History of the Japanese Grand Prix
Early Days of Racing
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The very first Japanese Grand Prix was a sports car race. It took place at the Suzuka Circuit in May 1963. Suzuka is about 80 kilometers (50 miles) southwest of Nagoya. The race was held at Suzuka again in 1964. These early races helped kick off serious motor racing in Japan.
For the next eight races, the Grand Prix was held at the Fuji Speedway. Fuji is about 64 kilometers (40 miles) west of Yokohama. It's also about 106 kilometers (66 miles) west of Tokyo, Japan's capital. Back then, the Fuji track had a very fast, banked turn called Daiichi. This turn was known for many serious accidents and was later removed in 1974. During these years, the Japanese Grand Prix featured different types of racing. These included Formula 2, sports cars, and Can-Am-style sprint races.
Formula One Racing Begins
Exciting Races at Fuji
The first Formula One Japanese Grand Prix happened in 1976. It was held at the fast Fuji Speedway. This race became famous because it decided the championship between James Hunt and Niki Lauda. The race took place in very heavy rain. Lauda, who had been in a terrible crash earlier that year, decided to stop racing. He felt it was too dangerous. Other drivers also pulled out.
The rain eventually stopped. Hunt, after a slow pit stop, drove incredibly hard. He moved up to third place, which gave him enough points to win the championship by just one point over Lauda. American driver Mario Andretti won the race.
The next year, in 1977, James Hunt won again. But this race also had a serious accident. Gilles Villeneuve and Ronnie Peterson crashed. Villeneuve's Ferrari car went off the track and sadly, two spectators were killed. After this, the Japanese Grand Prix was not on the Formula One calendar for ten years.
Suzuka's Famous Track
Formula One returned to Japan in 1987. The Grand Prix found a new home at the updated Suzuka Circuit. This track is unique because it's the only one on the F1 calendar shaped like a figure-eight. It was designed by John Hugenholtz and is owned by Honda. Drivers and fans love Suzuka because it's very challenging and fast. Many dramatic moments in Formula One history have happened here.
The 1987 race was a classic right away. It decided another World Championship. Nigel Mansell crashed his Williams-Honda car during practice. He couldn't start the race, which meant his teammate Nelson Piquet won the championship. Austrian driver Gerhard Berger won the race for Ferrari.
The Rivalry of Prost and Senna
Suzuka was the stage for some intense battles between French driver Alain Prost and Brazilian driver Ayrton Senna. They were both considered the best drivers of their time. Their rivalry was very famous and often controversial.
In 1988, Senna and Prost were teammates at McLaren. The Japanese Grand Prix was the championship decider. Senna had a bad start, but he managed to get his car going. He dropped to 14th place while Prost took the lead. Then it started to rain. Senna, who was amazing in wet conditions, drove incredibly fast. He passed many cars and eventually caught Prost. Prost's car had a problem, and Senna passed him to win the race and his first Drivers' Championship.
The 1989 race was also unforgettable. Prost and Senna were still teammates, but their relationship was very difficult. Prost was ahead in the championship points. Senna needed to win at Suzuka to have any chance of winning the title. Senna started from pole position, meaning he was fastest in qualifying.
During the race, Prost got ahead at the start. The two McLarens pulled far away from the other cars. On lap 47, Senna tried to pass Prost at a corner called the Casio chicane. Prost turned into the corner, and their cars crashed into each other. Both cars stopped on the track. Prost got out, thinking he had won the championship. But marshals helped Senna get his car moving again. Senna drove off, even with a damaged car. He pitted to fix his car and then drove incredibly fast to catch up. He passed Alessandro Nannini and crossed the finish line first.
However, after the race, Senna was disqualified. Officials said he had cut the chicane and gained an advantage. This decision was very controversial. Nannini was given the win instead. Prost won the Drivers' Championship that year.
The 1990 race was just as dramatic. Senna and Prost were again fighting for the championship. Senna was on pole position. He wanted to start on a cleaner part of the track, but his request was denied. This made him very angry. At the start, Prost got ahead. But Senna drove into the first corner and crashed into Prost's car. Both cars went off the track and crashed into the tire wall. Neither driver was hurt. This crash meant Senna won his second World Championship. The crash was very debated, but it was called a "racing incident."
From 1991 to 2006
In 1991, the Japanese Grand Prix again decided the championship. This time it was between Senna and Nigel Mansell. Mansell went off the track early in the race, and Senna won his third Drivers' Championship. Senna let his teammate, Gerhard Berger, win the race as a thank you. After the race, Senna admitted that his actions in the 1990 crash were intentional.
The 1992 race was the first time Suzuka did not decide the championship. Mansell had already won the title earlier. In 1993, Senna won the race in changing weather conditions. He was known for being excellent in the rain. After the race, Senna had a heated argument with a new driver, Eddie Irvine.
By 1994, Prost had retired, and Senna had sadly passed away earlier that year. The 1994 Japanese Grand Prix saw Damon Hill and Michael Schumacher battle for the championship. Hill won the race in very heavy rain. In 1995, Jean Alesi drove an amazing race in tricky conditions, but his car later broke down. Schumacher won that race.
In 1996, Damon Hill won the championship at Suzuka. His teammate, Jacques Villeneuve, had to retire from the race. This was Hill's only F1 championship.
In 1997, Michael Schumacher won. In 1998, another exciting championship battle happened between Schumacher and Mika Häkkinen. Häkkinen won the race and his first championship after Schumacher had a problem with his car. Häkkinen then won his second championship in 1999.
Ferrari dominated the next few years. Michael Schumacher won in 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2004. His teammate, Rubens Barrichello, won in 2003. In 2000, Schumacher won his third title at Suzuka, which was Ferrari's first drivers' championship in 21 years. In 2003, Schumacher won his sixth World Drivers' Championship, breaking a record. The qualifying session for the 2004 race was moved to Sunday because of a typhoon.
The 2005 race was very exciting. McLaren driver Kimi Räikkönen won after starting from 17th place! He passed Giancarlo Fisichella on the very last lap. In 2006, Michael Schumacher had an engine problem, which helped Fernando Alonso win the championship.
Fuji Speedway's Comeback
In 2006, it was announced that the Japanese Grand Prix would return to the redesigned Fuji Speedway. Fuji was now owned by Toyota. Many drivers and fans preferred Suzuka, but the race moved to Fuji for 2007 and 2008.
The 2007 race was held in very heavy rain. Lewis Hamilton won, and his teammate Fernando Alonso crashed. In 2008, Fernando Alonso won again for Renault.
Back to Suzuka
In 2009, Toyota announced that Fuji Speedway would no longer host the Japanese Grand Prix. So, the race returned to Suzuka in 2010 and has been there ever since.
Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull Racing dominated the 2009 and 2010 races. In 2011, Vettel secured his second World Championship at Suzuka. Jenson Button won that race, wearing a special helmet to honor the people affected by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.
In 2012, Kamui Kobayashi finished third, becoming the first Japanese driver to be on the podium at his home race in 22 years. Vettel won again in 2013, his fourth win at Suzuka.
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The 2014 Japanese Grand Prix was affected by a typhoon. Lewis Hamilton won the race. However, the race was sadly marked by a serious accident involving driver Jules Bianchi. He crashed into a recovery vehicle that was on the track. Bianchi later passed away from his injuries. This tragic event led to important safety changes in Formula One.
The contract for the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka has been extended several times, now until at least 2029. The 2020 and 2021 races were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2022 Japanese Grand Prix was held in heavy rain. There was a controversial moment when a recovery vehicle was on the track while cars were still racing, which reminded everyone of Jules Bianchi's accident. This race also had some confusion about how points were awarded. Max Verstappen won the race and became the 2022 Formula One World Champion.
For the 2024 season, the Japanese Grand Prix moved from its usual autumn date to April. This is part of Formula One's plan to group races in the same region together.
Why the Japanese Grand Prix is Popular
Since it returned to the Formula One calendar in 1987, the Japanese Grand Prix has been very popular with fans. For the 1990 race, three million fans tried to get tickets for only 120,000 spots! This was because Honda was doing very well as an engine supplier. Also, Japan had its first full-time F1 driver, Satoru Nakajima, and Ayrton Senna was incredibly popular in Japan.
After Nakajima retired and Honda left F1, interest went down a bit. Even with the Pacific Grand Prix in Japan in 1994 and 1995, tickets for the 1995 Japanese Grand Prix didn't sell out. But then, new Japanese drivers like Takuma Sato appeared. Also, Honda and Toyota joined F1 as full teams. This brought back a lot of excitement and popularity to the event.
Honda and Toyota later left Formula One for economic reasons. However, Honda returned as an engine supplier in 2015 and has continued to be involved with teams like Red Bull Racing.
Winners of the Japanese Grand Prix
Drivers with Multiple Wins
These tables show the drivers, teams, and engine makers who have won the Japanese Grand Prix more than once. Drivers in bold are racing in Formula One this season. A pink background means the race was not part of the official Formula One World Championship.
| Wins | Driver | Years won |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Michael Schumacher |
1995, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004 |
| 5 | Lewis Hamilton |
2007, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 |
| 4 | Sebastian Vettel |
2009, 2010, 2012, 2013 |
| 3 |  Max Verstappen |
2022, 2023, 2024 |
| 2 |  Yoshikazu Sunako |
1966, 1969 |
| Motoharu Kurosawa |
1969, 1973 | |
 Gerhard Berger |
1987, 1991 | |
 Ayrton Senna |
1988, 1993 | |
| Damon Hill |
1994, 1996 | |
 Mika Häkkinen |
1998, 1999 | |
 Fernando Alonso |
2006, 2008 | |
| Source: | ||
Teams with Multiple Wins
Teams in bold are racing in Formula One this season. A pink background means the race was not part of the official Formula One World Championship.
| Wins | Constructor | Years won |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | McLaren |
1977, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1998, 1999, 2005, 2007, 2011 |
| 7 |  Ferrari |
1987, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 |
| Red Bull |
2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2022, 2023, 2024 | |
| 6 | Mercedes |
2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 |
| 3 | Benetton |
1989, 1990, 1995 |
| Williams |
1992, 1994, 1996 | |
| 2 | Lotus |
1963, 1976 |
| Nissan |
1968, 1969 | |
| March |
1973, 1975 | |
 Renault |
2006, 2008 | |
| Source: | ||
Engine Manufacturers with Multiple Wins
Manufacturers in bold are racing in Formula One this season. A pink background means the race was not part of the official Formula One World Championship.
| Wins | Manufacturer | Years won |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Mercedes * |
1998, 1999, 2005, 2007, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 |
| 10 | Renault |
1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013 |
| 8 |  Ford ** |
1963, 1964, 1972, 1976, 1977, 1989, 1990, 1993 |
| 7 | Ferrari |
1987, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 |
| 3 | BMW |
1973, 1975, 1976 |
| 2 | Honda |
1988, 1991 |
 Honda RBPT |
2023, 2024 | |
| Source: | ||
* Between 1998 and 2005 built by Ilmor
** Built by Cosworth
Winners by Year
This table lists all the winners of the Japanese Grand Prix over the years. A pink background means the race was not part of the official Formula One World Championship.
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See also
In Spanish: Gran Premio de Japón para niños
