1992 Japanese Grand Prix

Championship standings

With two races remaining after Portugal, the battle for second in the championship is extremely close: Senna leads with 50 points, Schumacher has 47, and Patrese 46. Berger is fifth with 33 and Brundle sixth with 30.

Previous race

Mansell won in Portugal for his ninth victory of the season, setting new records for the most wins and most points in a single season. The race is remembered as much for a frightening accident: Patrese, running in Berger’s slipstream approaching the start/finish straight, swerved to avoid what he mistook for Berger moving to defend, and his right front wheel hit Berger’s left rear. The Williams was launched into the air and nearly struck a pedestrian bridge over the track. Patrese walked away unhurt. The debris caused punctures for Schumacher and Martini, and the driveshaft of the Williams penetrated the undertray of Lehto’s Dallara and struck his leg.

Between-race developments

Ferrari has dropped Ivan Capelli after his difficult season and promoted test driver Nicola Larini to a race seat. Larini is the Italian Touring Car Champion and has been instrumental in developing the Ferrari’s active suspension system. Karl Wendlinger leaves March to join Sauber’s preparatory programme ahead of the Swiss team’s 1993 debut. His replacement at March is Jan Lammers, making his first Formula One start in more than ten years.

Milestones

Mansell takes his 13th pole position of the season in qualifying, equalling the record set by Senna in both 1988 and 1989.