1995 Japanese Grand Prix
| Race details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 16 of 17 in the 1995 Formula One season | |||
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| Date | 29 October 1995 | ||
| Official name | XXI Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix | ||
| Location | Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka, Mie, Japan | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 5.864 km (3.665 mi) | ||
| Distance | 53 laps, 310.792 km (194.245 mi) | ||
| Weather | Rain, later dried out | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Benetton-Renault | ||
| Time | 1:38.023 | ||
| Fastest lap | |||
| Driver |
 Michael Schumacher
|
Benetton-Renault | |
| Time | 1:42.976 on lap 33 | ||
| Podium | |||
| First | Benetton-Renault | ||
| Second | McLaren-Mercedes | ||
| Third | Benetton-Renault | ||
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The 1995 Japanese Grand Prix (formally the XXI Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix) was a Formula One motor race held on 29 October 1995, at the Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka. It was the sixteenth and penultimate round of the 1995 Formula One season. The 53-lap race was won by Michael Schumacher for the Benetton team after he started from pole position. Mika Häkkinen finished second in a McLaren, and Johnny Herbert third in the other Benetton car.
Jean Alesi, driving for Ferrari, started second, alongside Schumacher. However, Alesi was forced to serve a 10-second stop-and-go penalty because his car moved forward before the start. Alesi climbed back up to second, before retiring on lap 25. Schumacher's rival in the Drivers' Championship, Damon Hill, started fourth amidst pressure from the British media after poor performances at previous races. Hill moved up to second because of Alesi's retirement, but spun off the track on lap 40.
Schumacher's win was his ninth of the season, matching the record set in 1992 by Nigel Mansell. Benetton was confirmed Constructors' Champions as Williams could not pass its points total in the one remaining race.
Heading into the penultimate race of the season, Benetton driver Michael Schumacher had already won the season's Drivers' Championship, having clinched the title at the previous race, the Pacific Grand Prix. Schumacher led the championship with 92 points; Damon Hill was second with 59 points. A maximum of 20 points were available for the remaining two races, which meant that Hill could not catch Schumacher. Although the Drivers' Championship was decided, the Constructors' Championship was not. Benetton were leading on 123 points and Williams were second with 102 points heading into the 16th race, with a maximum of 32 points available. In the week leading up to the race, Hill was criticised by the British media after poor performances in previous races; there was continued speculation that Williams were going to replace him with Heinz-Harald Frentzen or Gerhard Berger for the 1996 season. Despite the rumours, Williams team boss Frank Williams gave Hill "an unequivocal vote of confidence" heading into the race.
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