Most Successful Teams and Drivers at the Japanese Grand Prix
Formula 1 has always had intense moments shrouded in controversy and at the Japanese Grand Prix, those moments have occurred on more than one occasion. The Japanese GP which used to host the final race of the season for large parts of F1 history have given fans much to ponder with champions being crowned while their rivals burned with bitterness.
The race has been held since the 1970s on two tracks the Fuji Speedway and Suzuka International Racing Course. Suzuka, the primary home, provided fans and drivers with a track inspired by all the great circuits in F1 making it not only challenging but also fun to watch. To win in Japan might very well mean winning a driver’s or constructors championship making every race contested and was sure to be a heated event. Here is the list of the most successful teams and drivers at the Japanese Grand Prix.
MOST SUCCESSFUL F1 TEAMS IN JAPAN
| TEAM | COUNTRY | YEAR | WINS |
| MCLAREN | BRITAIN | 1977, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1998, 1999, 2005, 2007, 2011 | 9 |
| FERRARI | ITALY | 1987, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 | 7 |
| MERCEDES | GERMANY | 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 , 2018, 2019 | 6 |
| RED BULL | AUSTRIA | 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013 | 4 |
| BENETTON | BRITAIN | 1989, 1990, 1995 | 3 |
| WILLIAMS | BRITAIN | 1992, 1994, 199, | 3 |
| RENAULT | FRANCE | 2006, 2008 | 2 |
MOST SUCCESSFUL F1 DRIVERS IN JAPAN
| DRIVER | COUNTRY | TEAM | YEAR | WINS |
| MICHAEL SCHUMACHER | GERMANY | BENETTON, FERRARI | 1995, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004 | 6 |
| LEWIS HAMILTON | BRITAIN | MCLAREN, MERCEDES | 2007, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 | 5 |
| SEBASTIEN VETTEL | GERMANY | RED BULL | 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013 | 4 |
| AYRTON SENNA | BRAZIL | MCLAREN | 1988, 1993 | 2 |
| GERHARD BERGER | AUSTRIA | FERRARI, MCLAREN | 1987, 1991 | 2 |
| MIKA HAKKINEN | FINLAND | MCLAREN | 1998, 1999 | 2 |
| FERNANDO ALONSO | SPAIN | RENAULT | 2006, 2008 | 2 |
| DAMON HILL | BRITAIN | WILLIAMS | 1994, 1996 | 2 |
Looking at the winners list that is topped by Schumacher and Hamilton comes to no one’s surprise as both are multi-world Champs. Schumacher who has six wins on top of the list could still be matched by Hamilton who continues to race for at least one more season in 2022.
When it comes to the constructor’s titles, McLaren has been the most successful team in Japan with nine wins just ahead of Ferrari with seven. McLaren in Japan is famous for the in-team battle of Senna versus Prost whose war is still talked about today. The Japanese GP will return to the F1 schedule in 2022 after three years of delays due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
