1988 Japanese Grand Prix
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Results from the 1988 Formula One Japanese Grand Prix held at Suzuka on October 30, 1988.
[edit] Classification
[edit] Race summary
The McLaren front row was the 11th of the year, but its drivers suffering contrasting fortunes.Alain Prost led away from Gerhard Berger and Ivan Capelli. Ayrton Senna stalled on the grid, but was fortunate in that Suzuka is the only sloping grid of the year and he was able to bumpstart his car into action, albeit in 14th place. Derek Warwick and Nigel Mansell collided and had to pit for a puncture and a new nosecone respectively. Senna was driving meteorically and had gained 6 places by the start of lap 2 and then passed Riccardo Patrese, Thierry Boutsen, Alessandro Nannini and Michele Alboreto to be in 4th place on lap 4. Capelli had not only set the fastest lap but passed Berger, who was troubled with fuel consumption problems already on lap 5 to take a superb 2nd place. Alboreto spun out of 6th place. A classic duel between the non-turbo cars of Capelli, Boutsen and Nannini and the turbo cars of Prost, Berger and Senna was brewing. On lap 11 Piquet spun into the sand and was forced to retire. On lap 14 the weather started to come into contention as rain began on parts of the circuit, benefitting Senna, who is particularly skilled in wet conditions.
Ivan Capelli seized his historic chance on the following lap as he overtook Prost to take the lead - the first time a nonturbo car had led a Grand Prix for over 4 years. His lead only lasted for some 200 yards as the extra power of the McLaren enabled Prost to retake the lead going into the next corner, but the point had been made.
The March made several further attempts to overtake Prost who was wrestling with a faulty gearbox, before to intense disappointment Capelli retired with an electrical failure.
By now Senna was catching Prost rapidly, and with traffic, a malfunctioning car and a tricky wet/dry surface, conditions were favouring the Brazilian. On lap 27 as they attempted to lap Andrea de Cesaris, Satoru Nakajima and Mauricio Gugelmin, Senna managed to force his way through as Prost was delayed by the Rial. Senna then put in a succession of exceptional laps, breaking the lap record and building a lead of over 3 seconds, despite being delayed lapping Nakajima which allowed Prost to catch back up.
With slick tyres on a track that was now wet, Senna was gesturing for the race to be stopped but this was not the case. The race ran out its entire course and Senna led home from Prost - Honda were delighted with a 1-2 in their homeland. Boutsen took his customary 3rd place, whilst Berger recovered his 4th place after Alboreto held up Nannini who had to settle for 5th, and Patrese collected 6th.
Senna's 8th win of the season beat the record held by Jim Clark and Prost.
[edit] Notes
- Fastest Lap: Ayrton Senna 1'46.326
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FIA Formula One World Championship, 1988 season |
Next race: 1988 Australian Grand Prix |
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Japanese Grand Prix | Next race: 1989 Japanese Grand Prix |
