The Japanese Grand Prix is one of the most decisive races in the Formula 1, as the event has crowned 13 World Drivers' Champions. First held in 1963, it became part of the F1 World Championship in 1976 at the Fuji Speedway, a track famous for its long straight and unpredictable weather conditions. The 1976 race at Fuji remains one of the most dramatic in F1 history, as persisent stormy conditions led James Hunt to secure the championship after Niki Lauda withdrew for safety reasons. The race returned to Fuji in 1977 before disappearing from the calendar, only to make a brief comeback at the circuit in 2007 and 2008 when Toyota owned the track. However, Suzuka Circuit, with its challenging figure-eight layout, has been the primary home of the race since 1987, hosting most of the editions and becoming synonymous with the event.
The race also holds significance for Japanese manufacturers like Honda and Toyota, who have used their home Grand Prix to demonstrate their engineering prowess in F1. From title-deciding clashes, such as Ayrton Senna vs. Alain Prost in 1989 and 1990 at Suzuka, to unpredictable weather creating thrilling spectacles, the Japanese Grand Prix remains one of the most exciting and historic events on the F1 calendar.
Japanese Grand Prix's winners year-by-year
The first Japanese Grand Prix, held in 1976 at Fuji Speedway, was won by Mario Andretti driving for Lotus, in a race marked by heavy rain and the dramatic championship battle between James Hunt and Niki Lauda. The latest edition of the race, held in 2024 at Suzuka Circuit, was won by Max Verstappen, who dominated the weekend to secure another victory for Red Bull Racing, as per Racing Reference.
| Year | Driver | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Mario Andretti | Fuji |
| 1977 | James Hunt | |
| 1978 –1986 | Not held | |
| 1987 | Gerhard Berger | Suzuka |
| 1988 | Ayrton Senna | |
| 1989 | Alessandro Nannini | |
| 1990 | Nelson Piquet | |
| 1991 | Gerhard Berger | |
| 1992 | Riccardo Patrese | |
| 1993 | Ayrton Senna | |
| 1994 | Damon Hill | |
| 1995 | Michael Schumacher | |
| 1996 | Damon Hill | |
| 1997 | Michael Schumacher | |
| 1998 | Mika Häkkinen | |
| 1999 | Mika Häkkinen | |
| 2000 | Michael Schumacher | |
| 2001 | Michael Schumacher | |
| 2002 | Michael Schumacher | |
| 2003 | Rubens Barrichello | |
| 2004 | Michael Schumacher | |
| 2005 | Kimi Räikkönen | |
| 2006 | Fernando Alonso | |
| 2007 | Lewis Hamilton | Fuji |
| 2008 | Fernando Alonso | |
| 2009 | Sebastian Vettel | Suzuka |
| 2010 | Sebastian Vettel | |
| 2011 | Jenson Button | |
| 2012 | Sebastian Vettel | |
| 2013 | Sebastian Vettel | |
| 2014 | Lewis Hamilton | |
| 2015 | Lewis Hamilton | |
| 2016 | Nico Rosberg | |
| 2017 | Lewis Hamilton | |
| 2018 | Lewis Hamilton | |
| 2019 | Valtteri Bottas | |
| 2020–2021 | Not held due to COVID-19 pandemic | |
| 2022 | Max Verstappen | Suzuka |
| 2023 | Max Verstappen | |
| 2024 | Max Verstappen | |
Japanese Grand Prix's constructor winners year-by-year
| Year | Car | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Lotus-Ford | Fuji |
| 1977 | McLaren-Ford | |
| 1978 –1986 | Not held | |
| 1987 | Ferrari | Suzuka |
| 1988 | McLaren-Honda | |
| 1989 | Benetton-Ford | |
| 1990 | Benetton-Ford | |
| 1991 | McLaren-Honda | |
| 1992 | Williams-Renault | |
| 1993 | McLaren-Ford | |
| 1994 | Williams-Renault | |
| 1995 | Benetton-Renault | |
| 1996 | Williams-Renault | |
| 1997 | Ferrari | |
| 1998 | McLaren-Mercedes | |
| 1999 | McLaren-Mercedes | |
| 2000 | Ferrari | |
| 2001 | Ferrari | |
| 2002 | Ferrari | |
| 2003 | Ferrari | |
| 2004 | Ferrari | |
| 2005 | McLaren-Mercedes | |
| 2006 | Renault | |
| 2007 | McLaren-Mercedes | Fuji |
| 2008 | Renault | |
| 2009 | Red Bull-Renault | Suzuka |
| 2010 | Red Bull-Renault | |
| 2011 | McLaren-Mercedes | |
| 2012 | Red Bull-Renault | |
| 2013 | Red Bull-Renault | |
| 2014 | Mercedes | |
| 2015 | Mercedes | |
| 2016 | Mercedes | |
| 2017 | Mercedes | |
| 2018 | Mercedes | |
| 2019 | Mercedes | |
| 2020–2021 | Not held due to COVID-19 pandemic | |
| 2022 | Red Bull-RBPT | Suzuka |
| 2023 | Red Bull-Honda RBPT | |
| 2024 | Red Bull-Honda RBPT | |
Japanese Grand Prix's multiple winners
As of March 2025, Michael Schumacher holds the record for the most Japanese Grand Prix victories, winning six times (1995, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004), all at Suzuka Circuit. Lewis Hamilton is second on the list with five wins (2007, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018) and is the only driver among the top winners to have triumphed at both Fuji Speedway and Suzuka Circuit, as per Racing Reference.
| Wins | Driver | Years won |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Michael Schumacher | 1995, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004 |
| 5 | Lewis Hamilton | 2007, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 |
| 4 | Sebastian Vettel | 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013 |
| 3 | Max Verstappen | 2022, 2023, 2024 |
| 2 | Gerhard Berger | 1987, 1991 |
| Ayrton Senna | 1988, 1993 | |
| Damon Hill | 1994, 1996 | |
| Mika Häkkinen | 1998, 1999 | |
| Fernando Alonso | 2006, 2008 |
Japanese Grand Prix's constructor multiple-time winners
| Wins | Constructor | Years won |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | McLaren | 1977, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1998, 1999, 2005, 2007, 2011 |
| 7 | Ferrari | 1987, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 |
| Red Bull | 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2022, 2023, 2024 | |
| 6 | Mercedes | 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 |
| 3 | Benetton | 1989, 1990, 1995 |
| Williams | 1992, 1994, 1996 | |
| 2 | Renault | 2006, 2008 |
FAQ's on Japanese Grand Prix Winners
A. The first Japanese Grand Prix was held in 1976 at Fuji Speedway, where Mario Andretti won for Lotus in a rain-affected race.
A. The race has been held at two circuits: Fuji Speedway (1976, 1977, 2007, 2008) and Suzuka Circuit, which has been the primary host since 1987.
A. Michael Schumacher holds the record with six wins (1995, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004), followed by Lewis Hamilton with five (2007, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018).
A. Lewis Hamilton is the only driver to win at both Fuji (2007) and Suzuka (2014, 2015, 2017, 2018).
A. The 2024 edition was won by Max Verstappen for Red Bull Racing, continuing their recent winning-streak in the modern F1 era.
