Five classic Suzuka moments!

Suzuka is one of those tracks where something ALWAYS happens. Here we will be going through five of the most memorable moments in F1 from the circuit.

Senna v Prost Part 1

Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost were in their first season as team mates and were battling it out for the title, driving the unbeatable McLaren MP4/4. Senna needed to win to claim his first world title, but stalled at the start, dropping to 14th. However, in typical style the Brazilian scythed his way back through the field, eventually overtaking his team mate and claiming his first title.

Senna v Prost Part 2

New season, same drivers, same team, same track, different outcome. Oh, and a lot of controversy. Prost was again leading and Senna again needing to overtake to win the title. Senna went for the move down the inside into the final chicane but was cut off by Prost and they touched. The Frenchman retired on the spot, but Senna, with the help of marshals, was able to get going again and re-joined the track via the escape road. He won the race but was disqualified for not completing the full race distance, leading to Prost winning the title.

Senna v Prost Part 3!

Yes, part three! For the third time in as many years, the title was decided at Suzuka, but this time, Prost had moved to Ferrari. Senna qualified on pole but felt aggrieved that the pole sitter was sat on the dirty side of the track, adding to the fire from the previous year. As expected, Prost had the better getaway from the clean side of the track. Leading into the first corner, he wasn’t leading on the way out. That’s because he was smashed into by Senna, taking them both out of the race and securing a second world title for Senna.

Alonso overtakes Schumacher at 130R

If there’s one way to stamp your authority over the man who has won the last five titles, it’s by overtaking him at 130R. On his way to his first world championship, Alonso caught up to the back of Schumacher’s Ferrari, pulled to the outside and swooped round the fast left hander in one of the bravest overtaking moves F1 has ever seen.

Kobayashi’s podium

Kamui Kobayashi was one of the most loved drivers during his short stay in F1, especially in his homeland of Japan, and Suzuka 2012 was his finest moment in an F1 car. Qualifying in fourth position in his Sauber, he was promoted to third after Jenson Button received a grid penalty. And that’s where he finished, holding off Button in the final laps to claim his first and only podium in Formula One.