2000 Japanese Grand Prix

Championship standings

Schumacher leads with 88 points. Häkkinen is second on 80 — he retired from the United States Grand Prix with a pneumatic valve failure, ceding the championship lead he had held since Belgium. With 20 points available across the final two races, Häkkinen can still win the title. Schumacher must win this race regardless of where Häkkinen finishes to avoid the title being decided in Malaysia. If they finish equal on points at season’s end, Schumacher wins on count-back.

Championship permutations

If Schumacher wins at Suzuka, the title is his regardless of Häkkinen’s result. If Häkkinen wins and Schumacher finishes second, the title goes to Malaysia. Ferrari leads the Constructors’ Championship by 10 points with 20 still available — the constructors’ title is still open.

Previous race

At Indianapolis, Schumacher won his 42nd career race. Häkkinen had been gaining on him with fastest laps when his pneumatic valve system catastrophically failed, flames and smoke billowing from the engine, costing him the championship lead. Afterwards he said: “I mean, this is not good, but we still have two races. Anything can happen.”

Between-race developments

The FIA announced at the Friday drivers’ briefing that any blocking manoeuvre that interferes with the championship battle will result in a waved black-and-white flag followed by a black flag — and potentially a three-race ban. Charlie Whiting cited Norberto Fontana’s 1997 European Grand Prix interference with Villeneuve as precedent. McLaren’s Ron Dennis publicly opposed the new rule, questioning its basis and objecting to the appointment of Italian lawyer Roberto Causo — who represented Ferrari at the 1999 Malaysian Grand Prix — as a race steward.

Teams were not permitted to test at Suzuka, so several drivers used Friday practice to check car systems. Ferrari introduces a rectangular front wing, replacing its previous arrow-shaped design. Honda supplies BAR with a more powerful version of its V10 for qualifying and the race.

Weather

Dry/wet.

Practice

Friday is dry and warm. Schumacher leads FP1 at 1:38.474 with two minutes remaining. Barrichello spins at the hairpin between turns ten and eleven and crashes into the fencing, drawing yellow flags. Villeneuve has a spin at Degner Curve at 130 mph, grass penetrating his radiators. Schumacher leads FP2 at 1:37.728. Barrichello struggles to select first gear on his final run. A magnitude 6.7 earthquake is felt at the circuit during the second session; no structural damage is reported and no one is injured.

Saturday is dry and warm. Schumacher leads FP3 at 1:37.176; Coulthard runs wide into the gravel at Spoon Curve but rejoins; Villeneuve spins into the gravel at the hairpin and walks to the pits. Diniz’s engine fails in FP4, producing smoke and fire from the rear of the car — oil is laid across the track and several drivers slide on it. With 15 minutes remaining, Häkkinen leads FP4 at 1:37.037, one-tenth faster than Schumacher. Ralf Schumacher has his fastest lap deleted for exceeding track limits at the chicane. Irvine has a throttle fault and runs wide into the Spoon Curve gravel. Villeneuve spins into the gravel for the fourth time across the weekend’s practice sessions.