Suzuka International Racing Course

Suzuka International Racing Course
Suzuka Circuit

Suzuka , Japan
Route type:	permanent race track
Opening:	1962
Formula 1 venue :	since 1987
Time zone:	UTC + 9 ( JST )
Track layout
Route data
Important events:	formula 1
Route length:	5.807  km (3.61  mi )
Curves:	17th
Records
Track record: (Formula 1)	1: 30.983 min. ( Lewis Hamilton , Mercedes , 2019 )
http://www.suzukacircuit.jp/

Coordinates: 34 ° 50 ′ 40 ″  N , 136 ° 32 ′ 0 ″  E

The Suzuka International Racing Course ( Japanese 鈴鹿 サ ー キ ッ ト , Suzuka Sākitto for Suzuka Circuit ) is a race track near the city ​​of Suzuka in Japan , not far from Nagoya . The circuit was built in 1962 by the car manufacturer Honda according to a plan by the Dutch racetrack designer Hans Hugenholtz as a test track, including an amusement park called Motopia Park for employees and their families.

In its current form, the track is 5.807 km long and is considered to be one of the most demanding racetracks in the world because of its many changes of direction and almost all types of corners: slow, medium-speed and fast corners alternate in Suzuka. Especially the “S-Curves” behind the paddock and the fast left-hand bend “130R” after a long straight demand a lot of skill from the drivers. It is also one of the few self-crossing race tracks in the world with an overpass . It roughly describes the shape of an eight.

history

View over the route (2013); on the left the Ferris wheel

formula 1

In Suzuka so far 31 were from 1987 to 2019 Grand Prix of Japan of Formula 1 is discharged. Since this Grand Prix is ​​traditionally one of the last races in the Formula 1 World Championship calendar, the World Championship has already been decided eleven times. The duels between Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost , which met three times in the direct battle for the world championship in Suzuka and collided twice in the process, are legendary.

In 1987 Formula 1 made its first appearance in Suzuka and came to the penultimate race of the season with Nelson Piquet ( Williams-Honda ) as the championship leader. Piquet's team-mate Nigel Mansell was 12 points behind in the race for the world championship. A serious accident during training ended his ambitions, however, as Mansell was unable to take part in the race with bruises in his back. Piquet was already certain as the new world champion at the start of the Grand Prix.

In 1988 , the Frenchman Alain Prost ( McLaren-Honda ) was ahead of Ayrton Senna (also McLaren-Honda) in the championship before the penultimate race of the season in Japan. However, because of the cancellation rules, the Frenchman had to win in order to be able to get any points credited. Senna started from pole position , but stalled his engine and fell back to 14th place, while Prost took the lead. When it started to rain, the Brazilian caught up again, overtook Prost and won the race and the world championship.

In 1989 Prost (McLaren-Honda) held the championship lead again before the race in Suzuka. After the Frenchman had led the race by then, Senna's attempt to overtake on the 46th lap in the chicane in front of the start and finish straight resulted in a collision between the two teammates. Both cars went off the track and were locked together in the exit zone of the last chicane. While Prost got out, Senna let the marshals push her back onto the track and still won the race. However, the Brazilian was immediately disqualified because the FIA (International Motor Racing Association) considered shortening the chicane as a rule violation. So Senna could not defend his title and Alain Prost was the new world champion.

In 1990 Senna (McLaren-Honda) and Prost, who had since switched to Ferrari , clashed again. This time, however, the Frenchman was the one of the two who lagged behind in the championship and had to cross the finish line before his opponent. Having started from second place on the grid, he overtook Senna right at the start. At the entrance of the first corner, however, the latter torpedoed his rival in an attempt to overtake, and neither of them could continue the race. Senna was crowned the new world champion prematurely.

In 1991 the world championship was decided in Suzuka for the fifth time in a row. Ayrton Senna (McLaren-Honda) traveled to Japan as world championship leader ahead of his rival Nigel Mansell ( Williams-Renault ). However, the Brit spun off the track on the ninth lap and left Senna the world title.

In 1994 Michael Schumacher ( Benetton-Ford ) traveled to Suzuka as the leader in the world championship. His only rival for the title was the Briton Damon Hill (Williams-Renault), who won the race in the pouring rain and was only one point behind Schumacher before the last race.

In 1996 , the season finale took place in Suzuka for the first time. The favorite for the title was Damon Hill (Williams-Renault), who was leading in the world championship before his teammate Jacques Villeneuve . After Villeneuve had secured the pole position, however, he retired from the race, while Hill drove to a safe victory and also won the title as the first son of a Formula 1 world champion ( Graham Hill ).

In 1997 , the World Championship leader Jacques Villeneuve (Williams-Renault) gambled away all chances of winning the title fight in his favor during training when he repeatedly failed to slow down during a yellow phase and was only allowed to compete with reservations. His competitor Michael Schumacher (Ferrari) won and took the championship lead from Villeneuve before the last race, while the Canadian was disqualified.

In 1998 there was a title showdown between Mika Häkkinen ( McLaren-Mercedes ) and Michael Schumacher (Ferrari), who absolutely had to win before his competitor. However, Schumacher could not use his pole position and fell back to the end of the field. Meanwhile, Häkkinen drove unhindered to victory and world title, while his rival had to give up because of a puncture.

In 1999 the Formula 1 World Championship was also decided on the Japanese Grand Prix course. This time Häkkinen (McLaren-Mercedes) traveled four points behind the world championship leader Eddie Irvine (Ferrari), but was able to push him out of the top of the world championship with an undisputed victory and secure the second title.

In 2000 Michael Schumacher (Ferrari) and Mika Häkkinen (McLaren-Mercedes) fought again for the world championship, which was to be decided in Suzuka. After a close duel in the race, Schumacher won ahead of Häkkinen and thus secured his third world title. For Ferrari it was the first driver's title in Formula 1 in 21 years.

In 2003 , two drivers still had a chance for the title before the last race in Suzuka: World Championship leader Michael Schumacher (Ferrari) and his rival Kimi Räikkönen (McLaren-Mercedes), who had to win nine points behind. Raikkonen finished the race in second just behind Schumacher's teammate Rubens Barrichello , while the German secured a point and the world title in eighth.

In 2006 , World Cup rivals Michael Schumacher (Ferrari) and Fernando Alonso ( Renault ) came to Suzuka for the penultimate race with equal points. The German already looked like the sure winner in the race. In the 36th lap, however, he rolled out lying in the lead with a technical defect, while Alonso drove towards victory and the sole championship lead.

In 2007 and 2008 the Japanese Grand Prix was held at Fuji Speedway , and since 2009 the race has been held annually on the Suzuka International Racing Course.

In 2011 , Sebastian Vettel ( Red Bull-Renault ) traveled to Suzuka with five races to go as the superior world championship leader and secured his second title there with third place.

2014 won Lewis Hamilton ahead of his Mercedes -Teamkollegen Nico Rosberg . The race was stopped by Jules Bianchi after a serious accident . Bianchi died nine months later as a result of the accident, the first fatal accident involving a Formula 1 driver on the Suzuka International Racing Course.

In 2020 the Japanese Grand Prix was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic .

motorcycle

Between 1962 and 1965 and from 1987 to 2003 Suzuka also hosted the Japanese Grand Prix of the Motorcycle World Championship . After the fatal accident of the Japanese 250 cm³ world champion Daijirō Katō , the FIM (International Motorcycle Sports Association) deleted the race track from the calendar after the renovation measures carried out as a result of the accident were judged to be inadequate. Since then, the Grand Prix has taken place on the Twin Ring in Motegi. Every year there is still a run for the motorcycle endurance world championship in the form of an 8-hour race . High-quality driver fields show the importance of this race, especially for the Japanese motorcycle manufacturers. 2013 drives u. a. the 1993 world champion in the 500 cm³ class Kevin Schwantz with the Japanese Noriyuki Haga .

statistics

All winners of Formula 1 races in Suzuka

No.	year	driver	constructor	engine	tires	time	Route length	Round	Ø pace	date	GP of
1	1987	Gerhard Berger	Ferrari	Ferrari	G	1: 32: 58.072 h	5.859 km	51	192.847 km / h	0Nov 1	Japan
2	1988	Ayrton Senna	McLaren	Honda	G	1: 33: 26,173 h	5.859 km	51	191.880 km / h	Oct. 30
3	1989	Alessandro Nannini	Benetton	ford	G	1: 35: 06.277 h	5.859 km	53	195.907 km / h	Oct. 22
4th	1990	Nelson Piquet	Benetton	ford	G	1: 34: 36.824 h	5.859 km	53	196.923 km / h	Oct 21
5	1991	Gerhard Berger	McLaren	Honda	G	1: 32: 10.695 h	5.864 km	53	202.298 km / h	Oct. 20
6th	1992	Riccardo Patrese	Williams	Renault	G	1: 33: 09.553 h	5.864 km	53	200.168 km / h	Oct 25
7th	1993	Ayrton Senna	McLaren	ford	G	1: 40: 27.912 h	5.864 km	53	185.612 km / h	Oct. 24
8th	1994	Damon Hill	Williams	Renault	G	1: 55: 53.532 h	5.864 km	50	151.796 km / h	0Nov 6
9	1995	Michael sSchumacher	Benetton	Renault	G	1: 36: 52.930 h	5.864 km	53	192.476 km / h	Oct 29
10	1996	Damon Hill	Williams	Renault	G	1: 32: 33.791 h	5.864 km	52	197.656 km / h	Oct 13
11	1997	Michael sSchumacher	Ferrari	Ferrari	G	1: 29: 48.446 h	5.860 km	53	207.497 km / h	Oct 12
12	1998	Mika Hakkinen	McLaren	Mercedes	B.	1: 27: 22.789 h	5.864 km	51	205.355 km / h	0Nov 1
13	1999	Mika Hakkinen	McLaren	Mercedes	B.	1: 31: 18.785 h	5.864 km	53	204.086 km / h	Oct 31
14th	2000	Michael sSchumacher	Ferrari	Ferrari	B.	1: 29: 53.435 h	5.864 km	53	207.316 km / h	0Oct 8
15th	2001	Michael sSchumacher	Ferrari	Ferrari	B.	1: 27: 33.298 h	5.859 km	53	212.665 km / h	Oct 14
16	2002	Michael sSchumacher	Ferrari	Ferrari	B.	1: 26: 59.698 h	5.821 km	53	212.645 km / h	Oct 13
17th	2003	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	Ferrari	B.	1: 25: 11.740 h	5.807 km	53	216.612 km / h	Oct 12
18th	2004	Michael sSchumacher	Ferrari	Ferrari	B.	1: 24: 26.985 h	5.807 km	53	218.525 km / h	Oct 10
19th	2005	Kimi Raikkonen	McLaren	Mercedes	M.	1: 29: 02,212 h	5.807 km	53	207.267 km / h	0Oct 9
20th	2006	Fernando Alonso	Renault	Renault	M.	1: 23: 53.413 h	5.807 km	53	219.983 km / h	0Oct 8
21st	2009	Sebastian Vettel	Red Bull	Renault	B.	1: 28: 20.443 h	5.807 km	53	208.900 km / h	04th Oct
22nd	2010	Sebastian Vettel	Red Bull	Renault	B.	1: 30: 27.323 h	5.807 km	53	203.949 km / h	Oct 10
23	2011	Jenson Button	McLaren	Mercedes	P	1: 30: 53.427 h	5.807 km	53	203.171 km / h	0Oct 9
24	2012	Sebastian Vettel	Red Bull	Renault	P	1: 28: 56.242 h	5.807 km	53	207.430 km / h	0Oct 7
25th	2013	Sebastian Vettel	Red Bull	Renault	P	1: 26: 49.301 h	5.807 km	53	212.123 km / h	Oct 13
26th	2014	Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes	Mercedes	P	1: 51: 43.021 h	5.807 km	44	137.065 km / h	0Oct. 5
27	2015	Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes	Mercedes	P	1: 28: 06.508 h	5.807 km	53	209.381 km / h	27 Sep
28	2016	Nico Rosberg	Mercedes	Mercedes	P	1: 26: 43.333 h	5.807 km	53	216.655 km / h	0Oct 9
29	2017	Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes	Mercedes	P	1: 27: 31.193 h	5.807 km	53	210.789 km / h	0Oct 8
30th	2018	Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes	Mercedes	P	1: 27: 17.062 h	5.807 km	53	211.358 km / h	0Oct 7
31	2019	Valtteri Bottas	Mercedes	Mercedes	P	1: 21: 46.755 h	5.807 km	52	221.326 km / h	Oct 13
-	2020	canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Record winner

• Driver: Michael Schumacher (6), Lewis Hamilton / Sebastian Vettel (4 each)
• Driver nations: Germany (11), Great Britain (7), Brazil / Finland (4 each)
• Constructors: Ferrari / McLaren (7 each), Mercedes (6)
• Engine manufacturer: Mercedes (10), Renault (9), Ferrari (7)
• Tire manufacturer: Goodyear (11), Bridgestone / Pirelli (9 each)

Web links

Commons : Suzuka International Racing Course  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• Circuit website (Japanese)
• Description of the race track with the operator (English)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ https://www.motorsport-total.com/formel-1/news/formel-1-2020-baku-singapur-und-suzuka-offiziell-abgesagt-20061203