1988 Japanese Grand Prix

The 1988 Japanese Grand Prix, otherwise officially known as the XIV Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix (XIV Fujiterebi Nipponguranpuri in Japanese), was the fifteenth and penultimate round of the FIA Formula One World Championship, staged at the Suzuka Circuit in Mie Prefecture, Japan, on the 30 October 1988.'Japanese GP, 1987', grandprix.com, (Inside F1 Inc., 2015), http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr467.html, (Accessed 15/04/2019) The race would see Ayrton Senna secure victory and his first World Championship title, as point scoring rules made it impossible for rival Alain Prost to beat his tally.
Qualifying had seen Senna emerge ahead of Prost in their usual fight for pole position, with claiming another front-row lockout. Best of the rest proved to be Gerhard Berger in third for , while Ivan Capelli was a surprisingly strong fourth in his , the best of the naturally aspirated cars.
Senna stalled his car at the start of the race, although due to the camber of the Suzuka circuit was effectively able to bump-start his McLaren. He hence tumbled down to fourteenth as he scrambled into action, as teammate Prost entered the first corner in an unopposed lead.
Prost was initially able to escape up the road from Berger, although the Austrian soon slipped behind Capelli who duly went chasing off after Prost. Senna, meanwhile, would quickly carve his way back into the top end of the field, grabbing fourth behind Berger as the field completed the fourth lap.
Rain began to fall on Suzuka as the race ticked past the fourteenth lap, allowing Capelli to sweep into the lead on lap sixteen. That move meant that Capelli became the first driver to lead a race in a non-turbo charged car since the 1983 Detroit Grand Prix.
Unfortunately for Capelli his lead was not to last, with Prost powering back past as they came to the end of the start/finish straight a few moments later. Capelli's hopes would subsequently expire a few laps later with an electrical failure, leaving Prost on his own out front.
However, all was not well with Prost's McLaren, with the Frenchman having picked up a worsening gearbox issue shortly before his fight with Capelli. This allowed Senna to sweep onto his tail with ease, and duly claimed the lead as the pair lapped Andrea de Cesaris.
With that the race, and ultimately Championship, was run, with Senna dancing away to claim victory with a succession of fastest laps. Prost claimed second thirteen seconds behind, while Thierry Boutsen survived well to claim third ahead of a distant Berger.
Because of the dropped score rule used in 1988, Prost effectively scored no points in Japan, and could only claim three, with victory, in Australia. That would only draw him level with Senna if the Brazilian failed to score, with the Brazilian holding eight wins to the Frenchman's seven, ensuring Senna would win on count-back.
==Background==
Surprisingly there had been no change in the situation at the head of the Championship after the Spanish Grand Prix, with dropped scores coming into play. As such, Alain Prost only gained three points for his sixth victory of the season, by virtue of losing a second place worth six points from earlier in the campaign. That meant that Ayrton Senna, who would also begin losing old scores in Japan, had effectively lost no ground in Spain, in spite of finishing fourth.
Furthermore, the Brazilian racer could take the title in Japan, if he claimed victory at Suzuka. That would leave him three ahead of Prost, with the Frenchman only able to match his tally, before losing the title on count-back with seven wins to the Brazilian's eight. Conversely, Prost was unable to take the title in Japan, for he could only move eight clear of the Brazilian.
In the Constructors' Championship, meanwhile, it had been yet another strong weekend for , with the Anglo-Japanese alliance moving 107 points clear. Indeed, had all but secured second in Spain in spite of the colossal gap to the leaders, moving 24 points clear with 30 left to fight for. were the only team capable of beating them to the runner-up spot, with an eighteen point gap separating them from in fourth.
===Entry list===
The full entry list for the is outlined below:
No. 	Driver 	Entrant 	Constructor 	Chassis 	Engine 	Model 	Tyre
1 	Nelson Piquet 	Camel Team Lotus Honda 	 	100T 	 	RA168E 1.5 V6t 	
2 	Satoru Nakajima 	Camel Team Lotus Honda 	 	100T 	 	RA168E 1.5 V6t 	
3 	Jonathan Palmer 	Tyrrell Racing Organisation 	 	017 	 	DFZ 3.5 V8 	
4 	Julian Bailey 	Tyrrell Racing Organisation 	 	017 	 	DFZ 3.5 V8 	
5 	Nigel Mansell 	Canon Williams Team 	 	FW12 	 	CV 3.5 V8 	
6 	Riccardo Patrese 	Canon Williams Team 	 	FW12 	 	CV 3.5 V8 	
9 	Piercarlo Ghinzani 	West Zakspeed Racing 	 	881B 	 	1500/4 1.5 L4t 	
10 	Bernd Schneider 	West Zakspeed Racing 	 	881B 	 	1500/4 1.5 L4t 	
11 	Alain Prost 	Honda Marlboro McLaren 	 	MP4/4 	 	RA168E 1.5 V6t 	
12 	Ayrton Senna 	Honda Marlboro McLaren 	 	MP4/4 	 	RA168E 1.5 V6t 	
14 	Philippe Streiff 	AGS Racing 	 	JH23 	 	DFZ 3.5 V8 	
15 	Maurício Gugelmin 	Leyton House March Racing Team 	 	881 	 	CV 3.5 V8 	
16 	Ivan Capelli 	Leyton House March Racing Team 	 	881 	 	CV 3.5 V8 	
17 	Derek Warwick 	USF&G Arrows Megatron 	 	A10B 	 	M12/13 1.5 L4t 	
18 	Eddie Cheever 	USF&G Arrows Megatron 	 	A10B 	 	M12/13 1.5 L4t 	
19 	Alessandro Nannini 	Benetton Formula 	 	B188 	 	DFR 3.5 V8 	
20 	Thierry Boutsen 	Benetton Formula 	 	B188 	 	DFR 3.5 V8 	
21 	Nicola Larini 	Osella Squadra Corse 	 	FA1L 	 	890T 1.5 V8t 	
22 	Andrea de Cesaris 	Rial Racing 	 	ARC1 	 	DFZ 3.5 V8 	
23 	Pierluigi Martini 	Lois Minardi Team SpA 	 	M188 	 	DFZ 3.5 V8 	
24 	Luis Pérez-Sala 	Lois Minardi Team SpA 	 	M188 	 	DFZ 3.5 V8 	
25 	René Arnoux 	Ligier Loto 	 	JS31 	 	CV 3.5 V8 	
26 	Stefan Johansson 	Ligier Loto 	 	JS31 	 	CV 3.5 V8 	
27 	Michele Alboreto 	Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC 	 	F187/88C 	 	033E 1.5 V6t 	
28 	Gerhard Berger 	Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC 	 	F187/88C 	 	033E 1.5 V6t 	
29 	Aguri Suzuki 	Larrousse Camels 	 	LC88 	 	DFZ 3.5 V8 	
30 	Philippe Alliot 	Larrousse Camels 	 	LC88 	 	DFZ 3.5 V8 	
31 	Gabriele Tarquini 	Coloni SpA 	 	FC188B 	 	DFZ 3.5 V8 	
32 	Oscar Larrauri 	EuroBrun Racing 	 	ER188 	 	DFZ 3.5 V8 	
33 	Stefano Modena 	EuroBrun Racing 	 	ER188 	 	DFZ 3.5 V8 	
36 	Alex Caffi 	BMS Scuderia Italia 	 	F188 	 	DFZ 3.5 V8 	
Source:'Japan 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/japon/engages.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)	Source:'Japan 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/japon/engages.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)	Source:'Japan 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/japon/engages.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)	Source:'Japan 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/japon/engages.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)	Source:'Japan 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/japon/engages.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)	Source:'Japan 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/japon/engages.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)	Source:'Japan 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/japon/engages.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)	Source:'Japan 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/japon/engages.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)
==Practice Overview==
==Qualifying==
===Friday Qualifying===
===Saturday Qualifying===
===Qualifying Results===
The full qualifying results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Time 	Time 	Gap
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Q1 	Q2 	Gap
1 	12 	Ayrton Senna 	 	1:42.157 	1:41.853 	—
2 	11 	Alain Prost 	 	1:43.806 	1:42.177 	+0.324s
3 	28 	Gerhard Berger 	 	1:43.548 	1:43.353 	+1.500s
4 	16 	Ivan Capelli 	 	1:44.583 	1:43.605 	+1.752s
5 	1 	Nelson Piquet 	 	1:45.171 	1:43.693 	+1.840s
6 	2 	Satoru Nakajima 	 	1:45.156 	1:43.693 	+1.840s
7 	17 	Derek Warwick 	 	1:46.915 	1:43.816 	+1.963s
8 	5 	Nigel Mansell 	 	1:44.448 	1:43.893 	+2.040s
9 	27 	Michele Alboreto 	 	1:44.909 	1:43.972 	+2.119s
10 	20 	Thierry Boutsen 	 	1:44.882 	1:44.499 	+2.686s
11 	6 	Riccardo Patrese 	 	1:45.510 	1:44.555 	+2.702s
12 	19 	Alessandro Nannini 	 	1:45.047 	1:44.611 	+2.758s
13 	15 	Maurício Gugelmin 	 	1:45.138 	1:45.156 	+3.285s
14 	22 	Andrea de Cesaris 	 	1:48.393 	1:45.558 	+3.705s
15 	18 	Eddie Cheever 	 	1:45.845 	1:46.189 	+3.992s
16 	3 	Jonathan Palmer 	 	1:47.828 	1:45.916 	+4.063s
17 	23 	Pierluigi Martini 	 	1:47.638 	1:46.449 	+4.596s
18 	14 	Philippe Streiff 	 	1:47.583 	1:46.486 	+4.633s
19 	30 	Philippe Alliot 	 	1:47.057 	1:46.521 	+4.668s
20 	29 	Aguri Suzuki 	 	1:48.448 	1:46.920 	+5.067s
21 	36 	Alex Caffi 	 	1:47.813 	1:46.982 	+5.129s
22 	24 	Luis Pérez-Sala 	 	1:48.769 	1:47.134 	+5.281s
23 	25 	René Arnoux 	 	1:49.165 	1:47.193 	+5.340s
24 	21 	Nicola Larini 	 	1:48.706 	1:47.547 	+5.694s
25 	10 	Bernd Schneider 	 	1:49.897 	1:47.599 	+5.746s
26 	4 	Julian Bailey 	 	1:49.420 	1:48.589 	+6.736s
DNQ 	26 	Stefan Johansson 	 	1:49.127 	1:48.716 	+6.863s
DNQ 	32 	Oscar Larrauri 	 	1:50.224 	1:49.265 	+7.412s
DNQ 	9 	Piercarlo Ghinzani 	 	1:49.706 	1:50.550 	+7.853s
DNQ 	33 	Stefano Modena 	 	1:49.812 	1:50.047 	+7.959s
DNPQ 	31 	Gabriele Tarquini 	 	1:52.234 	1:52.234 	1:52.234
Source:'Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/541/japan/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 15/04/2019)'Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/541/japan/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 15/04/2019)'Japan 1988: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/japon/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)	Source:'Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/541/japan/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 15/04/2019)'Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/541/japan/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 15/04/2019)'Japan 1988: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/japon/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)	Source:'Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/541/japan/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 15/04/2019)'Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/541/japan/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 15/04/2019)'Japan 1988: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/japon/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)	Source:'Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/541/japan/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 15/04/2019)'Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/541/japan/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 15/04/2019)'Japan 1988: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/japon/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)	Source:'Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/541/japan/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 15/04/2019)'Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/541/japan/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 15/04/2019)'Japan 1988: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/japon/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)	Source:'Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/541/japan/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 15/04/2019)'Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/541/japan/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 15/04/2019)'Japan 1988: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/japon/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)	Source:'Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/541/japan/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 15/04/2019)'Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/541/japan/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 15/04/2019)'Japan 1988: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/japon/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)
*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 	12 	Ayrton Senna 	 	51 	1:33:26.173 	1 	9
2 	11 	Alain Prost 	 	51 	+ 13.363s 	2 	6
3 	20 	Thierry Boutsen 	 	51 	+ 36.109s 	10 	4
4 	28 	Gerhard Berger 	 	51 	+ 1:26.714 	3 	3
5 	19 	Alessandro Nannini 	 	51 	+ 1:30.603 	12 	2
6 	6 	Riccardo Patrese 	 	51 	+ 1:37.615 	11 	1
7 	2 	Satoru Nakajima 	 	50 	+ 1 Lap 	6 	
8 	14 	Philippe Streiff 	 	50 	+ 1 Lap 	18 	
9 	30 	Philippe Alliot 	 	50 	+ 1 Lap 	19 	
10 	15 	Maurício Gugelmin 	 	50 	+ 1 Lap 	13 	
11 	27 	Michele Alboreto 	 	50 	+ 1 Lap 	9 	
12 	3 	Jonathan Palmer 	 	50 	+ 1 Lap 	16 	
13 	23 	Pierluigi Martini 	 	49 	+ 2 Laps 	17 	
14 	4 	Julian Bailey 	 	49 	+ 2 Laps 	26 	
15 	24 	Luis Pérez-Sala 	 	49 	+ 2 Laps 	22 	
16 	29 	Aguri Suzuki 	 	48 	+ 3 Laps 	20 	
17 	25 	René Arnoux 	 	48 	+ 3 Laps 	23 	
Ret 	22 	Andrea de Cesaris 	 	36 	Overheating 	14 	
Ret 	18 	Eddie Cheever 	 	35 	Ignition 	15 	
Ret 	21 	Nicola Larini 	 	34 	Brakes 	24 	
Ret 	1 	Nelson Piquet 	 	34 	Driver ill 	5 	
Ret 	5 	Nigel Mansell 	 	24 	Collision 	8 	
Ret 	36 	Alex Caffi 	 	22 	Spun Off 	21 	
Ret 	16 	Ivan Capelli 	 	19 	Electrical 	4 	
Ret 	17 	Derek Warwick 	 	16 	Spun Off 	7 	
Ret 	10 	Bernd Schneider 	 	14 	Driver unfit 	25 	
DNQ 	26 	Stefan Johansson 	 	 	 	 	
DNQ 	32 	Oscar Larrauri 	 	 	 	 	
DNQ 	9 	Piercarlo Ghinzani 	 	 	 	 	
DNQ 	33 	Stefano Modena 	 	 	 	 	
DNPQ 	31 	Gabriele Tarquini 	 	 	 	 	
Source:'Japan 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/japon/classement.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)	Source:'Japan 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/japon/classement.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)	Source:'Japan 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/japon/classement.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)	Source:'Japan 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/japon/classement.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)	Source:'Japan 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/japon/classement.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)	Source:'Japan 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/japon/classement.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)	Source:'Japan 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/japon/classement.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)	Source:'Japan 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/japon/classement.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)
==Milestones==
* Ayrton Senna declared as the FIA Formula One World Championship Champion.
* 50th Grand Prix for as a constructor and engine supplier.'15. Japan 1988', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/japon.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)
* Debut race for Aguri Suzuki.'1988 Japanese GP', chicanef1.com, (Chicane F1, 2015), http://www.chicanef1.com/racetit.pl?year=1988&gp=Japanese%20GP&r=1, (Accessed 15/04/2019)
* Fourteenth career victory for Senna.
** Senna also broke the record for most race wins in a season - 8.
* claimed their 69th win as a constructor.
** secured their 41st victory as an engine supplier.
* Alain Prost set a new record for most races led - 54.
* Senna recorded his tenth fastest lap.
==Standings==
An eighth victory of the season ensured that Ayrton Senna was declared as the FIA Formula One World Championship Champion with a race to spare, with dropped scores having a major influence. Indeed, his major rival Alain Prost could only score three points in Australia, which would only bring him level with the Brazilian if Senna failed to score. Senna would therefore win the crown by virtue of his eight wins to the Frenchman's seven, despite the fact that Prost had outscored Senna across the entire season.
In the Constructors' Championship, meanwhile, had once again increased their record points tally, moving onto 184 points in Japan. They left Suzuka with a 119 point lead over second placed , who had officially secured the runner-up spot in Japan. had likewise secured third ahead of , with , and all in the fight for fourth.
 
World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	Ayrton Senna 	87 (88) 	1
2 	Alain Prost 	84 (96) 	1
3 	Gerhard Berger 	41 	
4 	Thierry Boutsen 	25 	1
5 	Michele Alboreto 	24 	1
6 	Nelson Piquet 	18 	
7 	Derek Warwick 	17 	
8 	Ivan Capelli 	16 	
9 	Nigel Mansell 	12 	
10 	Alessandro Nannini 	12 	
11 	Eddie Cheever 	6 	
12 	Maurício Gugelmin 	5 	
13 	Jonathan Palmer 	5 	
14 	Riccardo Patrese 	5 	
15 	Andrea de Cesaris 	3 	
16 	Satoru Nakajima 	1 	
17 	Pierluigi Martini 	1 	
World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors
Pos. 	Team 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	 	184 	
2 	 	65 	
3 	 	37 	
4 	 	23 	
5 	 	21 	
6 	 	19 	
7 	 	17 	
8 	 	5 	
9 	 	3 	
10 	 	1 	
Only point scoring drivers and constructors are shown.
==References==
Images and Videos:
* 
References:
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:1988 Grands Prix
Category:Japanese Grand Prix
Category:Formula One races in Japan