1996 Japanese Grand Prix

The 1996 Japanese Grand Prix, otherwise officially known as the XXII Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix (XXII フジテレビ日本グランプリ in Japanese), was the sixteenth and final round of the FIA Formula One World Championship, staged at the Suzuka Circuit in Mie Prefecture, Japan, on the 13 October.'Japanese GP, 1996', grandprix.com, (Inside F1 Inc., 2014), https://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr597.html, (Accessed 16/08/2019) The race would be dominated by Damon Hill, with the Brit also creating history by becoming the first son of a former Champion to win a World Championship.
The only man who could have denied Hill heading into the finale was his teammate Jacques Villeneuve, and it was the Canadian racer who claimed pole position ahead of Hill. Michael Schumacher was a second off the pace in third for , with a further second separating Schumacher from his teammate Eddie Irvine in sixth.
It had rained for most of the weekend, and so when it dawned bright and warm on Sunday there was some confusion over how to setup the cars. Regardless, Villeneuve had topped the warm-up to suggest he was in the best position, although he knew the fate of his title hopes would be settled at the start.
The start itself would be rather anti-climatic, largely because David Coulthard stalled and caused it to be aborted. The field were duly sent around on a second formation lap, with the Scot lining up at the back, with tensions rising again as they lined-up on the grid once again.
Ultimately it was Hill who mastered his nerves best, making a perfect getaway to launch into the lead, while Villeneuve made a miserable start. Indeed, as Hill disappeared into the first corner all on his own Villeneuve was swamped by Gerhard Berger, a fast starting Mika Häkkinen and the two s.
Hill instantly eased off the pace, allowing Berger and co. to remain with him during the early laps. That tactic may have been rather foolish as it left him vulnerable to attack, as proved by an overly ambitious lunge from Berger that resulted in the front wing of the getting chewed apart by the rear wheel of Hill's Williams.
Miraculously Hill escaped without picking up a puncture, and with Berger having to complete a full lap, was able to establish a four second lead. Berger, meanwhile, would stop at the end of lap four to replace his nose, promoting Häkkinen into second, and Villeneuve, having got ahead of Irvine, into fourth behind Schumacher.
The race would, however, develop into a procession, with Villeneuve unable to get ahead of the two drivers in front, while Hill was cruising out front. Indeed, the order would go unchanged through the first and second pit phases, before Villeneuve's title bid came to an end.
Indeed, five laps into his second stint the Canadian would be sent into a huge spin heading into turn one, his right-rear wheel having flown off the car. Villeneuve's hopes duly came to an end as he slid to a stop in huge cloud of gravel, leaving the Canadian to make a slow march back to the pits.
On track, meanwhile, Hill was left to claim an impressive victory, pacing himself against those behind to maintain a small lead to the chequered flag. Schumacher, meanwhile, would claim second having jumped Häkkinen at the stops, although the Finn did his best to harass the Ferrari through to the chequered flag.
That brought an end to the 1996 FIA Formula One World Championship, which had seen one man emulate his father, and another set himself on the path to best his father. It would also be the final race for , which would sell itself to a new project headlined by Alain Prost, as well as the end of BBC Sport's live television coverage of F1 until 2009.
==Background==
Jacques Villeneuve scored his fourth win of the season to keep his title hopes alive, although with Damon Hill finishing second the Canadian's task was made all the more difficult. Indeed, Hill held a nine point advantage heading into the finale in Japan, meaning he would win the title if he finished in the points, regardless of what Villeneuve could achieve. For Villeneuve, however, no result other than victory would earn him the title, with the Canadian racer also needing Hill to fail to score.
The Constructors Championship had seen open out a 100 point lead after their fifth one-two of the season, leaving Portugal on 165 points. Behind, however, there was just a point between in second and in third, with those two set to duel for the runner-up spot at the finale. , meanwhile, were out of the fight for second and third, but had secured fourth ahead of .
===Entry list===
The full entry list for the is outlined below:
No. 	Driver 	Entrant 	Constructor 	Chassis 	Engine 	Model 	Tyre
1 	Michael Schumacher 	Scuderia Ferrari 	 	F310 	 	046 3.0 V10 	
2 	Eddie Irvine 	Scuderia Ferrari 	 	F310 	 	046 3.0 V10 	
3 	Jean Alesi 	Mild Seven Benetton Renault 	 	B196 	 	RS8 3.0 V10 	
4 	Gerhard Berger 	Mild Seven Benetton Renault 	 	B196 	 	RS8 3.0 V10 	
5 	Damon Hill 	Rothmans Williams Renault 	 	FW18 	 	RS8 3.0 V10 	
6 	Jacques Villeneuve 	Rothmans Williams Renault 	 	FW18 	 	RS8 3.0 V10 	
7 	Mika Häkkinen 	Marlboro McLaren Mercedes 	 	MP4/11B 	 	FO 110D 3.0 V10 	
8 	David Coulthard 	Marlboro McLaren Mercedes 	 	MP4/11B 	 	FO 110D 3.0 V10 	
9 	Olivier Panis 	Equipe Ligier Gauloises Blondes 	 	JS43 	 	MF301HA 3.0 V10 	
10 	Pedro Diniz 	Equipe Ligier Gauloises Blondes 	 	JS43 	 	MF301HA 3.0 V10 	
11 	Rubens Barrichello 	B&H Total Jordan Peugeot 	 	196 	 	A12 3.0 V10 	
12 	Martin Brundle 	B&H Total Jordan Peugeot 	 	196 	 	A12 3.0 V10 	
14 	Johnny Herbert 	Red Bull Sauber Ford 	 	C15 	 	JD Zetec-R 3.0 V8 	
15 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	Red Bull Sauber Ford 	 	C15 	 	JD Zetec-R 3.0 V8 	
16 	Ricardo Rosset 	Footwork Hart 	 	FA17 	 	830 3.0 V8 	
17 	Jos Verstappen 	Footwork Hart 	 	FA17 	 	830 3.0 V8 	
18 	Ukyo Katayama 	Tyrrell Yamaha 	 	024 	 	OX11A 3.0 V10 	
19 	Mika Salo 	Tyrrell Yamaha 	 	024 	 	OX11A 3.0 V10 	
20 	Pedro Lamy 	Minardi F1 Team 	 	M195B 	 	EDM 3.0 V8 	
21 	Giovanni Lavaggi 	Minardi F1 Team 	 	M195B 	 	EDM 3.0 V8 	
Source:'Japan 1996: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/japon/engages.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Japan 1996: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/japon/engages.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Japan 1996: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/japon/engages.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Japan 1996: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/japon/engages.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Japan 1996: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/japon/engages.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Japan 1996: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/japon/engages.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Japan 1996: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/japon/engages.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Japan 1996: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/japon/engages.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)
==Practice Overview==
===Free Practice 1===
===Free Practice 2===
===Warm-Up===
===Practice Results===
The full practice results for the are outlined below:
No.	Driver 	Constructor	FP1 	 	FP2 	 	Warm-Up 	
No.	Driver 	Constructor	Time 	Pos.	Time 	Pos.	Time 	Pos.
1 	Michael Schumacher 	 	1:43.321	3 	1:42.368	7 	1:53.677 	7
2 	Eddie Irvine 	 	1:44.092	8 	1:41.916	4 	2:04.512 	15
3 	Jean Alesi 	 	1:43.860	7 	1:43.643	15 	1:49.373 	3
4 	Gerhard Berger 	 	1:42.350	1 	1:43.445	14 	1:58.753 	13
5 	Damon Hill 	 	1:43.747	5 	1:41.980	5 	1:51.390 	4
6 	Jacques Villeneuve 	 	1:43.372	4 	1:40.534	1 	1:48.664 	1
7 	Mika Häkkinen 	 	1:42.954	2 	1:41.136	2 	2:23.659 	17
8 	David Coulthard 	 	1:45.471	13 	1:42.009	6 	4:49.078 	18
9 	Olivier Panis 	 	1:45.893	15 	1:42.672	8 	1:53.537 	6
10 	Pedro Diniz 	 	2:02.130	20 	1:43.106	13 	1:54.526 	9
11 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	1:44.441	9 	1:41.842	3 	1:48.937 	2
12 	Martin Brundle 	 	1:43.845	6 	1:42.905	12 	1:56.763 	12
14 	Johnny Herbert 	 	1:45.194	12 	1:42.714	9 	2:02.452 	14
15 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	 	1:44.598	10 	1:42.839	11 	1:54.896 	11
16 	Ricardo Rosset 	 	1:47.285	17 	1:45.198	17 	23:38.561	19
17 	Jos Verstappen 	 	1:46.105	16 	1:45.653	18 	2:05.863 	16
18 	Ukyo Katayama 	 	1:45.789	14 	1:44.340	16 	1:52.013 	5
19 	Mika Salo 	 	1:44.971	11 	1:42.759	10 	1:53.957 	8
20 	Pedro Lamy 	 	1:48.724	18 	1:48.082	20 	1:54.781 	10
21 	Giovanni Lavaggi 	 	1:50.227	19 	1:47.473	19 	 	
==Qualifying==
===Report===
===Qualifying Results===
The full qualifying results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Time 	Gap 	Ave. Speed
1 	6 	Jacques Villeneuve 	 	1:38.909 	 	213.433 km/h
2 	5 	Damon Hill 	 	1:39.370 	+0.461s 	212.442 km/h
3 	1 	Michael Schumacher 	 	1:40.071 	+1.162s 	210.954 km/h
4 	4 	Gerhard Berger 	 	1:40.364 	+1.455s 	210.338 km/h
5 	7 	Mika Häkkinen 	 	1:40.458 	+1.549s 	210.142 km/h
6 	2 	Eddie Irvine 	 	1:41.005 	+2.096s 	209.004 km/h
7 	15 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	 	1:41.277 	+2.368s 	208.442 km/h
8 	8 	David Coulthard 	 	1:41.384 	+2.475s 	208.222 km/h
9 	3 	Jean Alesi 	 	1:41.562 	+2.653s 	207.857 km/h
10 	12 	Martin Brundle 	 	1:41.600 	+2.691s 	207.780 km/h
11 	11 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	1:41.919 	+3.010s 	207.129 km/h
12 	9 	Olivier Panis 	 	1:42.206 	+3.297s 	206.548 km/h
13 	14 	Johnny Herbert 	 	1:42.658 	+3.749s 	205.638 km/h
14 	18 	Ukyo Katayama 	 	1:42.711 	+3.802s 	205.532 km/h
15 	19 	Mika Salo 	 	1:42.840 	+3.931s 	205.274 km/h
16 	10 	Pedro Diniz 	 	1:43.196 	+4.287s 	204.566 km/h
17 	17 	Jos Verstappen 	 	1:43.383 	+4.474s 	204.196 km/h
18 	20 	Pedro Lamy 	 	1:44.874 	+5.965s 	201.293 km/h
19 	16 	Ricardo Rosset 	 	1:45.412 	+6.503s 	200.266 km/h
107% time: 1:45.833 	107% time: 1:45.833 	107% time: 1:45.833 	107% time: 1:45.833 	107% time: 1:45.833 	107% time: 1:45.833 	107% time: 1:45.833
NC 	21 	Giovanni Lavaggi 	 	1:46.795T 	+7.886s 	196.672 km/h
Source:'Fuji TV Japanese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1996/races/653/japan/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 16/08/2019)'Japan 1996: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/japon/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Fuji TV Japanese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1996/races/653/japan/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 16/08/2019)'Japan 1996: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/japon/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Fuji TV Japanese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1996/races/653/japan/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 16/08/2019)'Japan 1996: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/japon/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Fuji TV Japanese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1996/races/653/japan/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 16/08/2019)'Japan 1996: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/japon/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Fuji TV Japanese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1996/races/653/japan/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 16/08/2019)'Japan 1996: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/japon/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Fuji TV Japanese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1996/races/653/japan/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 16/08/2019)'Japan 1996: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/japon/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Fuji TV Japanese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1996/races/653/japan/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 16/08/2019)'Japan 1996: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/japon/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car to set their best time in that session.
*Bold indicates a driver's best/qualifying time.
===Grid===
==Race==
===Report===
===Results===
The full results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Laps 	Time/Retired 	Grid 	Points
1 	5 	Damon Hill 	 	52 	1:32:33.791 	2 	10
2 	1 	Michael Schumacher 	 	52 	+1.883s 	3 	6
3 	7 	Mika Häkkinen 	 	52 	+3.212s 	5 	4
4 	4 	Gerhard Berger 	 	52 	+26.526s 	4 	3
5 	12 	Martin Brundle 	 	52 	+1:07.120 	10 	2
6 	15 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	 	52 	+1:21.186 	7 	1
7 	9 	Olivier Panis 	 	52 	+1:24.510 	12 	
8 	8 	David Coulthard 	 	52 	+1:25.233 	8 	
9 	11 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	52 	+1:41.065 	11 	
10 	14 	Johnny Herbert 	 	52 	+1:41.799 	13 	
11 	17 	Jos Verstappen 	 	51 	+1 lap 	17 	
12 	20 	Pedro Lamy 	 	50 	+2 laps 	18 	
13 	16 	Ricardo Rosset 	 	50 	+2 laps 	19 	
Ret 	2 	Eddie Irvine 	 	39 	Collision 	6 	
Ret 	18 	Ukyo Katayama 	 	37 	Engine 	14 	
Ret 	6 	Jacques Villeneuve 	 	37 	Wheel 	1 	
Ret 	19 	Mika Salo 	 	20 	Engine 	15 	
Ret 	10 	Pedro Diniz 	 	13 	Spin 	16 	
Ret 	3 	Jean Alesi 	 	0 	Accident 	9 	
DNQ 	21 	Giovanni Lavaggi 	 	 	 	 	
Source:'Japan 1996: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/japon/classement.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Japan 1996: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/japon/classement.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Japan 1996: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/japon/classement.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Japan 1996: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/japon/classement.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Japan 1996: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/japon/classement.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Japan 1996: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/japon/classement.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Japan 1996: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/japon/classement.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Japan 1996: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/japon/classement.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car.
==Milestones==
* Damon Hill declared as the FIA Formula One World Championship Champion.
** Hill became the first son of a World Champion to win the World Championship.
* 326th and final race for as a constructor.'16. Japan 1996', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/japon.aspx, (Accessed 17/08/2019)
* 158th and final start for Martin Brundle.
* Tenth and final entry for Giovanni Lavaggi.'1996 Japanese GP', chicanef1.com, (Chicane F1, 2014), http://www.chicanef1.com/racetit.pl?year=1996&gp=Japanese%20GP&r=1, (Accessed 17/08/2019)
* 500th entry for a car entered using #14 as its race number.
* 21st career victory for Hill.
** This was also Hill's 40th podium finish.
* scored their 95th win as a constructor.
** powered a car to an 86th win.
* Mika Häkkinen claimed the 25th podium for a engine.
==Standings==
With that Damon Hill was crowned as the FIA Formula One World Championship Champion, ending the season on 97 points. The rookie Jacques Villeneuve ended the season nineteen behind in second on 78 points, while Michael Schumacher was a distant third on 59. Jean Alesi was next on 47 points, while Mika Häkkinen secured fifth on 31 points.
In the Constructors Championship would round out the season on a crushing tally of 175 points, 105 more than the team in second. That team was , who moved two points clear of on the final day to finish as runner-up to the Anglo-French effort, with Benetton-Renault hence slipping to third. were next in a lonely fourth, with completing the top five.
World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	Damon Hill 	97 	
2 	Jacques Villeneuve 	78 	
3 	Michael Schumacher 	59 	
4 	Jean Alesi 	47 	
5 	Mika Häkkinen 	31 	
6 	Gerhard Berger 	21 	
7 	David Coulthard 	18 	
8 	Rubens Barrichello 	14 	
9 	Olivier Panis 	13 	
10 	Eddie Irvine 	11 	
11 	Martin Brundle 	8 	1
12 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	7 	1
13 	Mika Salo 	5 	
14 	Johnny Herbert 	4 	
15 	Pedro Diniz 	2 	
16 	Jos Verstappen 	1 	
World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors
Pos. 	Team 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	 	175 	
2 	 	70 	1
3 	 	68 	1
4 	 	49 	
5 	 	22 	
6 	 	15 	
7 	 	11 	
8 	 	5 	
9 	 	1 	
Only point scoring drivers and constructors are shown.
==References==
Images and Videos:
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References:
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:Formula One races in Japan
Category:Japanese Grand Prix
Category:1996 Grands Prix