The Japan Grand Prix is one of the stages that has had historical moments of Formula 1. In certain editions, the circuit has witnessed great rivalries such as Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost in the 1989 and 1990 season, or the outcome of the championship between Fernando Alonso and Michael Schumacher in 2006.
Japan Grand Prix of 1989
In 1989, in the Suzuka, Senna and Prost circuit they arrived as the main contestants to the F1 World Championship. At that time, the French pilot led the season at points and, to ensure the title, he needed to finish the race in the best possible position. However, Senna was the one who obtained the pole position. During the race, the Brazilian risk everything to win the race and continue with possibilities of the title, and ended up affecting Prost, which made his rival get out of the track and will end up abandoning the race.
Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost in the Brazil GP 1989.marca
While, Senna remained on the track and finished the race with a victory, which kept him in the fight for the title. But this would not last long and the FIA, after investigating the incident, decided to disqualify Senna for what happened, considering it as a deliberate maneuver to harm another pilot. Therefore, the Frenchman was crowned world champion of 1989, and the incident was one of the most chaotic and memorable in the history of F1. A rivalry that continues to grow, and would repeat again in the same circuit.
Japan Grand Prix of 1990
A year later, the rivalry between Senna and Prost would star again in the Suzuka circuit. Ferrari’s pilot led the championship and needed to ensure a good result for the title. While the Brazilian fought for the championship with McLaren. The only option for them was to win the race and wait for Prost not to end in a dot zone.
Senna and Prost Japan 1989 Collactionmarca
At the exit, Senna tried to overcome the French pilot in the first curve, but would end up in a clash that left both pilots outside the Japan GP. This incident would reflect a type of ‘revenge’ for what happened a season before, the rivalry had already reached its maximum level and crossed the limits. In 1990, Senna achieved a world title of F1. But both incidents in the Suzuka circuit continue to present today by all fans, due to the tension and rivalry it represented for the automobile category.
2006 Japan Grand Prix
In 2006, Schumacher and Alonso were fighting for the championship, in what would be the last season of German with Ferrari. During the race, in Tour 37, the German pilot suffered a mechanical failure in the engine of the Italian team that prevented him from winning the race, an unexpected situation that did not happen since six years ago.
Alonso and Schumacher greet each other in the last race of the 2006.Marca season
Schumacher to Retase, ended up moving away from the championship possibilities, Alonso won the victory in the Japan GP, and with this, he ended up being crowned world champion that year. Also, in 2006, the Kaiser would announce its first withdrawal within the category, and then return in the 2010 season, but now with Mercedes.