1991 Japanese Grand Prix
The Grand Prix of Japan 1991 was held on 20 October in Suzuka and was the 15th race of the Formula 1 season 1991.
- 3.1 qualifying
- 3.2 race
- 4.1 Drivers' Championship
- 4.2 Constructors' Championship
Reports
Background
The Formula 1 newcomer Karl Wendlinger was taken for the last two races of the year from the financially Team Leyton House under contract because he could show sponsorship of Mercedes -Benz. For Ivan Capelli, entered in its place the Austrians, the 1991 season thus ended prematurely. Also from mainly financial reasons, AGS withdrew from Formula 1. Coloni, however, occurred in the final race on again after the Japanese Naoki Hattori debutant had come as a replacement for Pedro Chaves into the team. Johnny Herbert returned as the second driver of the Lotus team back into the peloton. Also on site again was Bertrand Gachot of it hoped after his release from prison, to be able to take its rightful place in Jordan again. One decided against him and finished the season with Alessandro Zanardi.
Training
During the pre-qualification accident Éric Bernard difficult. Because of his injuries he could not participate in the rest of the race weekend.
The leading in the championship standings with 16 points ahead of Ayrton Senna secured the second starting position behind his teammate Gerhard Berger, and before his only remaining title rival Nigel Mansell, who formed the second row in front of Riccardo Patrese and Jean Alesi with Alain Prost. The two Minardi drivers Pierluigi Martini and Gianni Morbidelli qualified for the fourth row in front of the two of Benetton and Michael Schumacher, Nelson Piquet.
Race
In the second round an engine failure at Alesis car led indirectly to a collision of several pilots. Andrea de Cesaris turned to oil spills, which JJ Lehto had to brake abruptly. Emanuele Pirro could not react in time and crashed into the rear of his teammates. When approaching other vehicles in the accident site, was about to de Cesaris rejoin the race. Karl Wendlinger had to avoid him and crashed likewise together with Lehto.
While Berger led the race, held Senna, who could not keep up the pace of his McLaren team-mate at first, the two Williams drivers Mansell and Patrese. Mansell had to win in order to preserve his chances in the World Cup duel, and therefore went to the limit and sometimes beyond that, to overtake the Brazilian. At the start of the tenth round, however, it was thereby a spin, which meant winning the 1991 World Series for him off and consequently for Senna.
On lap 18, Senna took the lead ahead of Berger. They both sat down significantly from the rest of the field, which was led by Patrese and Prost, from. After Schumacher and Martini were eliminated due to technical defects, Martin Brundle was in fifth place ahead of Stefano Modena.
Because misfires Berger fell slightly during the final laps against Senna. However, this remembered a decision taken before the race team-internal agreement, according to which in case of a prematurely decided in favor of Senna's World Championship, where possible one should win, who had been lying during the first laps in the lead. Since this had been Berger, Senna slowed down in the last turn, allowed the Austrians to happen and gave him the victory.
Message list
Classifications
Qualifying
Race
WM stands after the race
The first six of the race were 10, 6, 4, 3, 2 and 1 point (s).