1995 Japanese Grand Prix: F1 Race, Qualifying & Winners

Michael Schumacher followed his drivers’ title with another victory at Suzuka, helping Benetton secure its first constructors’ championship. Jean Alesi supplied a spectacular challenge in changing conditions before retiring, while Mika Häkkinen returned to the podium for McLaren.

Result	Driver / Time	Team
Pole position	Michael Schumacher	Benetton
Pole time	1:38.023
Fastest lap	Michael Schumacher	Benetton
Fastest-lap time	1:42.976 on lap 33
First	Michael Schumacher	Benetton
Second	Mika Häkkinen	McLaren
Third	Johnny Herbert	Benetton

Weekend Schedule

Date	Session	Local Time
27 October 1995	Practice 1	Morning; start time unconfirmed
27 October 1995	Qualifying 1	Afternoon; start time unconfirmed
28 October 1995	Practice 2	Morning; start time unconfirmed
28 October 1995	Qualifying 2	Afternoon; start time unconfirmed
29 October 1995	Warm-up	09:30–10:00
29 October 1995	Race	14:00

All times are local. The race time is the scheduled start; weather delays and interruptions are described below.

Championship background

Michael Schumacher arrived at round 16 leading the 1995 F1 World Championship on 92 points, with Damon Hill on 59. Benetton headed the constructors’ standings after the preceding race with 123 points.

Race entries

Häkkinen returned to McLaren after missing Aida, with Jan Magnussen stepping back into his reserve role. Sauber recalled Karl Wendlinger in place of Jean-Christophe Boullion for the final two races. Aguri Suzuki continued with Ligier for his home Grand Prix, although his weekend would end before race day.

Friday Free Practice

Michael Schumacher led Friday practice, with the returning Häkkinen close behind. McLaren‘s latest engine development and a circuit that suited its car gave the Finn an encouraging platform. Footwork‘s revised exhaust arrangement proved less successful: problems forced the team to abandon it again after trying it on Gianni Morbidelli‘s car.

Friday Practice Classification

1995 Japanese Grand Prix Practice, 27 October 1995

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	1	Michael Schumacher	Benetton	1:40.410	19
2	8	Mika Hakkinen	McLaren	+0.284s	19
3	5	Damon Hill	Williams	+0.614s	22
4	27	Jean Alesi	Ferrari	+0.873s	14
5	6	David Coulthard	Williams	+1.082s	23
6	28	Gerhard Berger	Ferrari	+1.542s	15
7	14	Rubens Barrichello	Jordan	+1.737s	17
8	30	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	+1.884s	12
9	2	Johnny Herbert	Benetton	+1.971s	21
10	7	Mark Blundell	McLaren	+2.500s	21
11	26	Olivier Panis	Ligier	+2.635s	23
12	15	Eddie Irvine	Jordan	+3.250s	16
13	4	Mika Salo	Tyrrell	+4.004s	21
14	3	Ukyo Katayama	Tyrrell	+4.033s	21
15	29	Karl Wendlinger	Sauber	+4.400s	23
16	9	Gianni Morbidelli	Footwork	+4.496s	9
17	25	Aguri Suzuki	Ligier	+4.967s	20
18	10	Taki Inoue	Footwork	+5.461s	21
19	23	Pedro Lamy	Minardi	+5.491s	22
20	24	Luca Badoer	Minardi	+6.961s	16
21	17	Andrea Montermini	Pacific	+8.247s	9
22	21	Pedro Diniz	Forti	+8.467s	23
23	16	Bertrand Gachot	Pacific	+9.245s	17
24	22	Roberto Moreno	Forti	+36.788s	2

Friday Qualifying

Michael Schumacher headed Friday qualifying ahead of Damon Hill. Mark Blundell crashed before setting a time, leaving him dependent on Saturday until his further practice accident ruled that out. Jean Alesi also went off, making the first afternoon far from straightforward for several leading contenders.

Friday Qualifying Classification

1995 Japanese Grand Prix first qualifying session, 27 October 1995

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time	Laps
1	1	Michael Schumacher	Benetton	1:38.428	9
2	5	Damon Hill	Williams	1:39.032	11
3	8	Mika Hakkinen	McLaren	1:39.127	9
4	27	Jean Alesi	Ferrari	1:39.142	11
5	6	David Coulthard	Williams	1:39.155	11
6	30	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	1:40.010	10
7	15	Eddie Irvine	Jordan	1:40.153	9
8	28	Gerhard Berger	Ferrari	1:40.305	4
9	2	Johnny Herbert	Benetton	1:40.349	6
10	14	Rubens Barrichello	Jordan	1:40.381	11
11	26	Olivier Panis	Ligier	1:40.838	10
12	4	Mika Salo	Tyrrell	1:41.355	11
13	3	Ukyo Katayama	Tyrrell	1:41.977	9
14	25	Aguri Suzuki	Ligier	1:42.561	11
15	9	Gianni Morbidelli	Footwork	1:42.623	7
16	23	Pedro Lamy	Minardi	1:43.387	12
17	29	Karl Wendlinger	Sauber	1:43.634	12
18	24	Luca Badoer	Minardi	1:43.940	11
19	10	Taki Inoue	Footwork	1:44.386	11
20	21	Pedro Diniz	Forti	1:46.654	12
21	17	Andrea Montermini	Pacific	1:46.869	9
22	16	Bertrand Gachot	Pacific	1:48.824	8
23	22	Roberto Moreno	Forti	1:50.097	5
24	7	Mark Blundell	McLaren	16:42.640	1

Saturday Free Practice

Häkkinen topped Saturday practice, but Mark Blundell‘s heavy accident at 130R overshadowed McLaren‘s speed. Following medical advice, Mark Blundell missed the final qualifying session. Both Williams drivers also visited the gravel, while Heinz-Harald Frentzen‘s preparations were disrupted by engine failures across the two days. Suzuka punished even small interruptions to confidence and preparation.

Saturday Practice Classification

1995 Japanese Grand Prix Practice, 28 October 1995

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	8	Mika Hakkinen	McLaren	1:40.389	12
2	15	Eddie Irvine	Jordan	+0.285s	14
3	5	Damon Hill	Williams	+0.352s	15
4	1	Michael Schumacher	Benetton	+0.376s	20
5	27	Jean Alesi	Ferrari	+0.510s	17
6	30	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	+0.727s	8
7	6	David Coulthard	Williams	+0.762s	21
8	28	Gerhard Berger	Ferrari	+1.310s	22
9	7	Mark Blundell	McLaren	+1.400s	20
10	14	Rubens Barrichello	Jordan	+1.535s	21
11	26	Olivier Panis	Ligier	+1.628s	23
12	2	Johnny Herbert	Benetton	+2.360s	22
13	25	Aguri Suzuki	Ligier	+2.695s	20
14	3	Ukyo Katayama	Tyrrell	+2.920s	22
15	4	Mika Salo	Tyrrell	+2.935s	22
16	29	Karl Wendlinger	Sauber	+3.788s	23
17	9	Gianni Morbidelli	Footwork	+3.842s	16
18	10	Taki Inoue	Footwork	+4.503s	21
19	23	Pedro Lamy	Minardi	+4.621s	23
20	24	Luca Badoer	Minardi	+5.567s	20
21	17	Andrea Montermini	Pacific	+6.471s	10
22	22	Roberto Moreno	Forti	+7.659s	13
23	21	Pedro Diniz	Forti	+7.814s	21
24	16	Bertrand Gachot	Pacific	+8.795s	17

Saturday Qualifying

Michael Schumacher improved to take pole by a commanding margin from Jean Alesi, with Häkkinen third and Damon Hill fourth. Aguri Suzuki crashed heavily and suffered a broken rib, preventing him from starting. Mark Blundell was permitted to race from the back despite having no qualifying time, an important distinction from the regulations introduced the following season.

Saturday Qualifying Classification

1995 Japanese Grand Prix second qualifying session, 28 October 1995

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time	Laps
1	1	Michael Schumacher	Benetton	1:38.023	8
2	27	Jean Alesi	Ferrari	1:38.888	5
3	8	Mika Hakkinen	McLaren	1:38.954	7
4	28	Gerhard Berger	Ferrari	1:39.040	11
5	5	Damon Hill	Williams	1:39.158	8
6	6	David Coulthard	Williams	1:39.368	10
7	15	Eddie Irvine	Jordan	1:39.621	6
8	30	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	1:40.380	7
9	2	Johnny Herbert	Benetton	1:40.391	9
10	14	Rubens Barrichello	Jordan	1:40.413	12
11	26	Olivier Panis	Ligier	1:41.081	9
12	25	Aguri Suzuki	Ligier	1:41.592	9
13	4	Mika Salo	Tyrrell	1:41.637	10
14	9	Gianni Morbidelli	Footwork	1:42.059	9
15	3	Ukyo Katayama	Tyrrell	1:42.273	10
16	29	Karl Wendlinger	Sauber	1:42.912	9
17	23	Pedro Lamy	Minardi	1:43.102	10
18	24	Luca Badoer	Minardi	1:43.542	9
19	10	Taki Inoue	Footwork	1:44.074	10
20	17	Andrea Montermini	Pacific	1:46.097	7
21	21	Pedro Diniz	Forti	1:47.166	3
22	22	Roberto Moreno	Forti	1:48.267	5
23	16	Bertrand Gachot	Pacific	1:48.289	7

Combined Qualifying Classification

Each driver’s faster time from the two qualifying sessions determined the overall order.

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Friday Time	Saturday Time	Best Time	Laps
1	1	Michael Schumacher	Benetton	1:38.428	1:38.023	1:38.023	17
2	27	Jean Alesi	Ferrari	1:39.142	1:38.888	1:38.888	16
3	8	Mika Häkkinen	McLaren	1:39.127	1:38.954	1:38.954	16
4	5	Damon Hill	Williams	1:39.032	1:39.158	1:39.032	19
5	28	Gerhard Berger	Ferrari	1:40.305	1:39.040	1:39.040	15
6	6	David Coulthard	Williams	1:39.155	1:39.368	1:39.155	21
7	15	Eddie Irvine	Jordan	1:40.153	1:39.621	1:39.621	15
8	30	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	1:40.010	1:40.380	1:40.010	17
9	2	Johnny Herbert	Benetton	1:40.349	1:40.391	1:40.349	15
10	14	Rubens Barrichello	Jordan	1:40.381	1:40.413	1:40.381	23
11	26	Olivier Panis	Ligier	1:40.838	1:41.081	1:40.838	19
12	4	Mika Salo	Tyrrell	1:41.355	1:41.637	1:41.355	21
13	25	Aguri Suzuki	Ligier	1:42.561	1:41.592	1:41.592	20
14	3	Ukyo Katayama	Tyrrell	1:41.977	1:42.273	1:41.977	19
15	9	Gianni Morbidelli	Footwork	1:42.623	1:42.059	1:42.059	16
16	29	Karl Wendlinger	Sauber	1:43.634	1:42.912	1:42.912	21
17	23	Pedro Lamy	Minardi	1:43.387	1:43.102	1:43.102	22
18	24	Luca Badoer	Minardi	1:43.940	1:43.542	1:43.542	20
19	10	Taki Inoue	Footwork	1:44.386	1:44.074	1:44.074	21
20	17	Andrea Montermini	Pacific	1:46.869	1:46.097	1:46.097	16
21	21	Pedro Diniz	Forti	1:46.654	1:47.166	1:46.654	15
22	22	Roberto Moreno	Forti	1:50.097	1:48.267	1:48.267	10
23	16	Bertrand Gachot	Pacific	1:48.824	1:48.289	1:48.289	15
24	7	Mark Blundell	McLaren	16:42.640	no time	16:42.640	1

Sunday warm-up

Heavy rain changed the picture for the warm-up. Damon Hill set the fastest time, showing that Williams was more competitive in the wet than its qualifying positions suggested. The session provided important experience before a damp start, but the subsequent drying track would demand a different judgement about when to switch to slicks.

Warm-up Classification

1995 Japanese Grand Prix Warm-up, 29 October 1995

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	5	Damon Hill	Williams	2:00.025	11
2	1	Michael Schumacher	Benetton	+0.389s	9
3	6	David Coulthard	Williams	+0.634s	9
4	27	Jean Alesi	Ferrari	+0.825s	9
5	30	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	+1.044s	8
6	15	Eddie Irvine	Jordan	+1.932s	8
7	28	Gerhard Berger	Ferrari	+2.206s	9
8	2	Johnny Herbert	Benetton	+3.046s	8
9	8	Mika Hakkinen	McLaren	+3.440s	10
10	3	Ukyo Katayama	Tyrrell	+3.445s	11
11	7	Mark Blundell	McLaren	+3.661s	12
12	26	Olivier Panis	Ligier	+3.783s	12
13	23	Pedro Lamy	Minardi	+4.025s	10
14	4	Mika Salo	Tyrrell	+4.211s	9
15	14	Rubens Barrichello	Jordan	+4.288s	10
16	24	Luca Badoer	Minardi	+4.505s	11
17	29	Karl Wendlinger	Sauber	+5.212s	10
18	9	Gianni Morbidelli	Footwork	+6.198s	11
19	17	Andrea Montermini	Pacific	+8.537s	8
20	10	Taki Inoue	Footwork	+10.506s	9
21	16	Bertrand Gachot	Pacific	+10.626s	6
22	21	Pedro Diniz	Forti	+14.047s	8
23	22	Roberto Moreno	Forti	+547.725s	1

What happened in the 1995 Japanese Grand Prix?

Michael Schumacher led from the start while both Ferraris received penalties for moving early. Jean Alesi responded with an adventurous early switch to slicks and charged back through the field, surviving a spin and rapidly closing on the leader. His pursuit ended with a transmission failure before the halfway point.

Williams then lost both cars as rain returned around Spoon. Damon Hill damaged his front wing, pitted and incurred a speeding penalty before spinning out. David Coulthard also ran through the gravel and subsequently lost control, ending the team’s remaining challenge. Michael Schumacher kept his Benetton clear of the trouble.

Häkkinen finished second and Johnny Herbert third, with Eddie Irvine, Olivier Panis and Mika Salo taking the remaining points. The result secured Benetton‘s constructors’ crown and gave Michael Schumacher a ninth victory of the season, matching Nigel Mansell‘s 1992 tally. It was also his final win for Benetton before his move to Ferrari.

After the race, Michael Schumacher headed the drivers’ standings with 102 points, followed by Damon Hill on 59. Benetton led the constructors’ table on 137, with Williams on 102.

1995 Japanese Grand Prix race results

The 1995 Japanese Grand Prix was held on 29 October 1995, with a scheduled start of 14:00 local time.

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time / Retired	Pts.
1	1	Michael Schumacher	Benetton	53	1:36:52.930	10
2	8	Mika Häkkinen	McLaren	53	+ 19.337	6
3	2	Johnny Herbert	Benetton	53	+ 1:23.804	4
4	15	Eddie Irvine	Jordan	53	+ 1:42.136	3
5	26	Olivier Panis	Ligier	52	+ 1 lap	2
6	4	Mika Salo	Tyrrell	52	+ 1 lap	1
7	7	Mark Blundell	McLaren	52	+ 1 lap	0
8	30	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	52	+ 1 lap	0
9	24	Luca Badoer	Minardi	51	+ 2 laps	0
10	29	Karl Wendlinger	Sauber	51	+ 2 laps	0
11	23	Pedro Lamy	Minardi	51	+ 2 laps	0
12	10	Taki Inoue	Footwork	51	+ 2 laps	0
Ret	5	Damon Hill	Williams	40	Spun off	0
Ret	6	David Coulthard	Williams	39	Spun off	0
Ret	21	Pedro Diniz	Forti	32	Spun off	0
Ret	27	Jean Alesi	Ferrari	24	Driveshaft	0
Ret	17	Andrea Montermini	Pacific	23	Spun off	0
Ret	28	Gerhard Berger	Ferrari	16	Electrical	0
Ret	14	Rubens Barrichello	Jordan	15	Spun off	0
Ret	3	Ukyo Katayama	Tyrrell	12	Spun off	0
Ret	16	Bertrand Gachot	Pacific	6	Halfshaft	0
Ret	22	Roberto Moreno	Forti	1	Gearbox	0
Ret	9	Gianni Morbidelli	Footwork	0	Spun off	0
DNS	25	Aguri Suzuki	Ligier	0	Accident	0

1995 Japanese Grand Prix Fastest Laps

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Lap	Time
1	1	Michael Schumacher	Benetton	33	1:42.976
2	6	David Coulthard	Williams	33	1:43.079
3	5	Damon Hill	Williams	31	1:43.193
4	8	Mika Hakkinen	McLaren	38	1:43.369
5	2	Johnny Herbert	Benetton	37	1:43.404
6	15	Eddie Irvine	Jordan	30	1:43.477
7	30	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	35	1:44.211
8	7	Mark Blundell	McLaren	50	1:44.287
9	27	Jean Alesi	Ferrari	23	1:44.370
10	4	Mika Salo	Tyrrell	51	1:45.625
11	26	Olivier Panis	Ligier	47	1:45.661
12	29	Karl Wendlinger	Sauber	43	1:45.824
13	10	Taki Inoue	Footwork	42	1:46.600
14	23	Pedro Lamy	Minardi	44	1:46.954
15	24	Luca Badoer	Minardi	47	1:47.025
16	17	Andrea Montermini	Pacific	21	1:49.985
17	21	Pedro Diniz	Forti	30	1:50.261
18	14	Rubens Barrichello	Jordan	13	1:51.343
19	28	Gerhard Berger	Ferrari	12	1:52.165
20	3	Ukyo Katayama	Tyrrell	12	1:56.404
21	16	Bertrand Gachot	Pacific	5	2:06.927

Only drivers with a recorded lap time appear. No fastest-lap bonus point was awarded.

1995 Post-Race F1 Championship Standings

Championship standings after the 1995 Japanese Grand Prix.

1995 Post-Race F1 Drivers' Championship Standings

POS	Driver	Nationality	Car	PTS
1	Michael Schumacher	German	Benetton	102
2	Damon Hill	British	Williams	59
3	David Coulthard	British	Williams	49
4	Johnny Herbert	British	Benetton	45
5	Jean Alesi	French	Ferrari	42
6	Gerhard Berger	Austrian	Ferrari	31
7	Mika Häkkinen	Finnish	McLaren	17
8	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	German	Sauber	15
9	Rubens Barrichello	Brazilian	Jordan	11
10	Eddie Irvine	British	Jordan	10
11	Olivier Panis	French	Ligier	10
12	Mark Blundell	British	McLaren	10
13	Martin Brundle	British	Ligier	7
14	Mika Salo	Finnish	Tyrrell	3
15	Jean-Christophe Boullion	French	Sauber	3
16	Aguri Suzuki	Japanese	Ligier	1
17	Gianni Morbidelli	Italian	Footwork	1
–	Pierluigi Martini	Italian	Minardi	0
–	Ukyo Katayama	Japanese	Tyrrell	0
–	Massimiliano Papis	Italian	Footwork	0
–	Luca Badoer	Italian	Minardi	0
–	Taki Inoue	Japanese	Footwork	0
–	Andrea Montermini	Italian	Pacific	0
–	Pedro Lamy	Portuguese	Minardi	0
–	Pedro Diniz	Brazilian	Forti	0
–	Domenico Schiattarella	Italian	Simtek	0
–	Karl Wendlinger	Austrian	Sauber	0
–	Nigel Mansell	British	McLaren	0
–	Jan Magnussen	Danish	McLaren	0
–	Bertrand Gachot	Belgian	Pacific	0
–	Jos Verstappen	Dutch	Simtek	0
–	Roberto Moreno	Brazilian	Forti	0
–	Gabriele Tarquini	Italian	Tyrrell	0
–	Jean-Denis Délétraz	Swiss	Pacific	0
–	Giovanni Lavaggi	Italian	Pacific	0

1995 Post-Race F1 Constructors' Championship Standings

POS	Car	PTS
1	Benetton	137
2	Williams	102
3	Ferrari	73
4	McLaren	27
5	Jordan	21
6	Ligier	18
7	Sauber	18
8	Tyrrell	3
9	Footwork	1
10	Minardi	0
11	Pacific	0
12	Forti	0
13	Simtek	0

1995 Formula 1 Race Calendar

Round	Grand Prix	Circuit	Date
1	1995 Brazilian Grand Prix	Autódromo José Carlos Pace, São Paulo	26 March
2	1995 Argentine Grand Prix	Autódromo Oscar Alfredo Gálvez, Buenos Aires	9 April
3	1995 San Marino Grand Prix	Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola	30 April
4	1995 Spanish Grand Prix	Circuit de Catalunya, Montmeló	14 May
5	1995 Monaco Grand Prix	Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo	28 May
6	1995 Canadian Grand Prix	Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, Montréal	11 June
7	1995 French Grand Prix	Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, Magny-Cours	2 July
8	1995 British Grand Prix	Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone	16 July
9	1995 German Grand Prix	Hockenheimring, Hockenheim	30 July
10	1995 Hungarian Grand Prix	Hungaroring, Mogyoród	13 August
11	1995 Belgian Grand Prix	Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot	27 August
12	1995 Italian Grand Prix	Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza	10 September
13	1995 Portuguese Grand Prix	Autódromo do Estoril, Estoril	24 September
14	1995 European Grand Prix	Nürburgring, Nürburg	1 October
15	1995 Pacific Grand Prix	TI Circuit-Aida, Aida	22 October
16	1995 Japanese Grand Prix	Suzuka International Racing Course, Suzuka	29 October
17	1995 Australian Grand Prix	Adelaide Street Circuit, Adelaide	12 November