Bettingpro's guide to the Japanese Grand Prix and it's host venue, the Suzuka International Racing Course.
Circuit Guide
The Suzuka International Racing Course has featured on the Formula 1 calendar since 1987, with the Japanese Grand Prix only moving away from this circuit in 2007 and 2008 while renovations were made to make it compliant for the 2009 Formula 1 season. It boasts a series of challenging corners that require drivers to be at their best at all times, while limited run-off areas mean drivers will often find themselves out of the race if they make the slightest mistake. Suzuka is easily one of the toughest – if not the toughest – courses on the Formula 1 calendar and therefore it is no surprise that it remains popular with both drivers and fans. Lewis Hamilton has won the race in four of the past six seasons to take his Japanese Grand Prix tally to five wins, and that means he is now just one behind record-setter Michael Schumacher, who won this race for the sixth and final time in 2004. Remarkably, since then no Ferrari driver has won this race!
Location: Suzuka International Racing Course, Suzuka, Japan
Number Of Laps: 53
Lap Length: 3.608 milers
Lap Record: Lewis Hamilton, 1 minute 30.983 seconds (2019)
Japanese Grand Prix Winners
YEAR | DRIVER | TEAM | CIRCUIT |
1976 | Mario Andretti | Lotus-Ford | Fuji |
1977 | James Hunt | McLaren-Ford | Fuji |
1987 | Gerhard Berger | Ferrari | Suzuka |
1988 | Ayrton Senna | McLaren-Honda | Suzuka |
1989 | Alessandro Nannini | Benetton-Ford | Suzuka |
1990 | Nelson Piquet | Benetton-Ford | Suzuka |
1991 | Gerhard Berger | McLaren-Honda | Suzuka |
1992 | Riccardo Patrese | Williams-Renault | Suzuka |
1993 | Ayrton Senna | McLaren-Ford | Suzuka |
1994 | Damon Hill | Williams-Renault | Suzuka |
1995 | Michael Schumacher | Benetton-Renault | Suzuka |
1996 | Damon Hill | Williams-Renault | Suzuka |
1997 | Michael Schumacher | Ferrari | Suzuka |
1998 | Mika Hakkinen | McLaren-Mercedes | Suzuka |
1999 | Mika Hakkinen | McLaren-Mercedes | Suzuka |
2000 | Michael Schumacher | Ferrari | Suzuka |
2001 | Michael Schumacher | Ferrari | Suzuka |
2002 | Michael Schumacher | Ferrari | Suzuka |
2003 | Rubens Barrichello | Ferrari | Suzuka |
2004 | Michael Schumacher | Ferrari | Suzuka |
2005 | Kimi Raikkonen | McLaren-Mercedes | Suzuka |
2006 | Fernando Alonso | Renault | Suzuka |
2007 | Lewis Hamilton | McLaren-Mercedes | Fuji |
2008 | Fernando Alonso | Renault | Fuji |
2009 | Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull-Renault | Suzuka |
2010 | Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull-Renault | Suzuka |
2011 | Jenson Button | McLaren-Mercedes | Suzuka |
2012 | Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull-Renault | Suzuka |
2013 | Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull-Renault | Suzuka |
2014 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | Suzuka |
2015 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | Suzuka |
2016 | Nico Rosberg | Mercedes | Suzuka |
2017 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | Suzuka |
2018 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | Suzuka |
2019 | Valtteri Bottas | Mercedes | Suzuka |