1989 Japanese Grand Prix
The 1989 Japanese Grand Prix (formally the XV Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix) was a Formula One motor race held at Suzuka Circuit, Japan, on 22 October 1989. It was the 15th and penultimate round of the 1989 Formula One season. The 53-lap race was won by Alessandro Nannini for the Benetton team, from a sixth position start. Riccardo Patrese finished second for the Williams team, with Thierry Boutsen third in the other Williams car. It was Nannini's only win.
| 1989 Japanese Grand Prix | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 15 of 16 in the 1989 Formula One World Championship | |||
| Race details | |||
| Date | 22 October 1989 | ||
| Official name | XV Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix | ||
| Location | Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka, Japan | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 5.860 km (3.641 miles) | ||
| Distance | 53 laps, 310.580 km (192.985 miles) | ||
| Weather | Dry, warm, cloudy | ||
| Attendance | 283,000 | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | McLaren-Honda | ||
| Time | 1:38.041 | ||
| Fastest lap | |||
| Driver | Alain Prost | McLaren-Honda | |
| Time | 1:43.506 on lap 43 | ||
| Podium | |||
| First | Benetton-Ford | ||
| Second | Williams-Renault | ||
| Third | Williams-Renault | ||
|
Lap leaders | |||
The race is one of the most controversial in F1 history, as the culmination of Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna's tumultuous two-year rivalry as teammates at McLaren. The Japanese Grand Prix decided the 1989 Drivers' Championship in Prost's favour, after a collision on lap 47 at the final chicane between him and Senna put them both off the track. While Prost abandoned his stalled car, Senna restarted his, made a pit stop to change his front wing, and overhauled Alessandro Nannini to take victory. Following the race Senna was controversially disqualified for getting a push start from the marshals to rejoin the circuit, handing the title to Prost.