1995 Japanese Grand Prix
The 1995 Japanese Grand Prix (formally the XXI Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix) was a Formula One motor race held at the Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka on 29 October 1995. It was the sixteenth and penultimate race of the 1995 Formula One World Championship. The 53-lap race was won from pole position by German Michael Schumacher, driving a Benetton-Renault, with Finn Mika Häkkinen second in a McLaren-Mercedes and Schumacher's British teammate Johnny Herbert third.
| 1995 Japanese Grand Prix | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Race 16 of 17 in the 1995 Formula One World Championship
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| Race details | |||||
| Date | 29 October 1995 | ||||
| Official name | XXI Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix | ||||
| Location |
Suzuka Circuit Suzuka, Mie, Japan | ||||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||||
| Course length | 5.859 km (3.641 miles) | ||||
| Distance | 53 laps, 310.588 km (192.990 miles) | ||||
| Weather | Rain, later dried out | ||||
| Attendance | 330,000 | ||||
| Pole position | |||||
| Driver | Benetton-Renault | ||||
| Time | 1:38.023 | ||||
| Fastest lap | |||||
| Driver | Michael Schumacher | Benetton-Renault | |||
| Time | 1:42.976 on lap 33 | ||||
| Podium | |||||
| First | Benetton-Renault | ||||
| Second | McLaren-Mercedes | ||||
| Third | Benetton-Renault | ||||
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Lap leaders | |||||
Jean Alesi, driving for Ferrari, started second, alongside Schumacher. However, Alesi was forced to serve a 10-second stop-and-go penalty because his car moved forward before the start. Alesi climbed back up to second, before retiring on lap 25. Schumacher's rival in the Drivers' Championship, Damon Hill, started fourth amidst pressure from the British media after poor performances at previous races. Hill moved up to second because of Alesi's retirement, but spun off the track on lap 40.
Schumacher's win was his ninth of the season, matching the record set in 1992 by Nigel Mansell. Benetton was confirmed Constructors' Champions as Williams could not pass its points total in the one remaining race.