Overview[]
The S6 - Japanese Grand Prix was the fifteenth race of Masters Season 6.
Report[]
With the top seven separated by just 13 points with 24 on offer, the drivers championship was anyone's guess. It wasn't quite as tight in the constructors championship. In fact, Maestro Motorsport could afford to give away two points to M-Sport at Suzuka and be crowned champions such was their lead. It started off well for them as Lewis Hamilton took only his second pole position of the season with Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso following suit.
As has been the case for quite a few races this season, the race was an attritional frenzy and provided yet another unexpected result. Although he qualified down in 11th, David Coulthard got his race set-up absolutely spot on as he charged his way through the field to take his second win of the season. As for the other championship rivals, only Alonso finished, and it was a very useful 2nd place to move him back into the championship lead, albeit by just a single point from DC. Not only that, but with M-Sport, Gui Racing, and Pedersen failing to score, this gave Maestro their third constructors championship in a row. Meanwhile, Schumacher came home in 3rd place.
Qualifying[]
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Tyre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 |  Lewis Hamilton
|
Maestro-Ferrari (W)
|
|
| 2 | 21 |  Michael Schumacher
|
Willow Images-Ilmor (W)
|
|
| 3 | 1 |  Fernando Alonso
|
Maestro-Ferrari (W)
|
|
| 4 | 7 |  Ayrton Senna
|
Gui Racing-Renault (W)
|
|
| 5 | 17 |  Kimi Raikkonen
|
J Racing-Ferrari
|
|
| 6 | 15 | Nico Rosberg
|
AquinoPlus-Ferrari
|
|
| 7 | 11 | Damon Hill
|
 Pedersen-Mugen Honda
|
|
| 8 | 12 | Mika Hakkinen
|
Pedersen-Mugen Honda
|
|
| 9 | 16 |  Alain Prost
|
J Racing-Ferrari
|
|
| 10 | 4 |  Juan Pablo Montoya
|
 M-Sport-Mugen Honda
|
|
| 11 | 19 | David Coulthard
|
Super Alex-Mugen Honda
|
|
| 12 | 3 |  Jacques Villeneuve
|
M-Sport-Mugen Honda
|
|
| 13 | 6 | Felipe Massa
|
FJR-Renault (W)
|
|
| 14 | 14 | Jenson Button
|
AquinoPlus-Ferrari
|
|
| 15 | 20 | Heikki Kovalainen
|
Willow Images-Ilmor (W)
|
|
| 16 | 5 | Jean Alesi
|
FJR-Renault (W)
|
|
| 17 | 8 | Timo Glock
|
Gui Racing-Renault (W)
|
|
| 18 | 9 | Nigel Mansell
|
Dodgem-Ford (W)
|
|
| 19 | 10 | Martin Brundle
|
Dodgem-Ford (W)
|
|
| 20 | 18 |  Takuma Sato
|
Super Alex-Mugen Honda
|
|
| 21 | 22 |  Gerhard Berger
|
Ajay Motorsports-Ford
|
|
| 22 | 23 | Rubens Barrichello
|
Ajay Motorsports-Ford
|
|
Race[]
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Tyre | Grid | Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19 | David Coulthard
|
Super Alex-Mugen Honda
|
|
11 | 12 |
| 2 | 1 | Fernando Alonso
|
Maestro-Ferrari (W)
|
|
3 | 8 |
| 3 | 21 | Michael Schumacher
|
Willow Images-Ilmor (W)
|
|
2 | 6 |
| 4 | 18 | Takuma Sato
|
Super Alex-Mugen Honda
|
|
20 | 5 |
| 5 | 17 | Kimi Raikkonen
|
J Racing-Ferrari
|
|
5 | 4 |
| 6 | 10 | Martin Brundle
|
Dodgem-Ford (W)
|
|
19 | 3 |
| 7 | 20 | Heikki Kovalainen
|
Willow Images-Ilmor (W)
|
|
15 | 2 |
| 8 | 22 | Gerhard Berger
|
Ajay Motorsports-Ford
|
|
21 | 1 |
| 9 | 23 | Rubens Barrichello
|
Ajay Motorsports-Ford
|
|
22 | |
| Retirements | ||||||
| Ret | 7 | Ayrton Senna
|
Gui Racing-Renault (W)
|
|
4 | |
| Ret | 2 | Lewis Hamilton
|
Maestro-Ferrari (W)
|
|
1 | |
| Ret | 3 | Jacques Villeneuve
|
M-Sport-Mugen Honda
|
|
12 | |
| Ret | 16 | Alain Prost
|
J Racing-Ferrari
|
|
9 | |
| Ret | 12 | Mika Hakkinen
|
Pedersen-Mugen Honda
|
|
8 | |
| Ret | 11 | Damon Hill
|
Pedersen-Mugen Honda
|
|
7 | |
| Ret | 4 | Juan Pablo Montoya
|
M-Sport-Mugen Honda
|
|
10 | |
| Ret | 15 | Nico Rosberg
|
AquinoPlus-Ferrari
|
|
6 | |
| Ret | 8 | Timo Glock
|
Gui Racing-Renault (W)
|
|
17 | |
| Ret | 5 | Jean Alesi
|
FJR-Renault (W)
|
|
16 | |
| Ret | 14 | Jenson Button
|
AquinoPlus-Ferrari
|
|
14 | |
| Ret | 6 | Felipe Massa
|
FJR-Renault (W)
|
|
13 | |
| Ret | 9 | Nigel Mansell
|
Dodgem-Ford (W)
|
|
18 | |
Championship Standings[]
| Drivers Championship | Teams Championship | Engine Trophy | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Driver | Pts. | Wins | -/+ | Pos. | Team | Pts. | Wins | -/+ | Pos. | Engine | Pts. | Wins | -/+ |
| 1 | Fernando Alonso
|
62 | 3 |  1
|
1 | Maestro-Ferrari (W)
|
111 | 4 | = | 1 | Mugen Honda
|
200 | 5 | = |
| 2 | David Coulthard
|
61 | 2 | 1
|
2 | M-Sport-Mugen Honda
|
80 | 1 | = | 2 |  Ferrari
|
191 | 6 | = |
| 3 | Ayrton Senna
|
55 | 2 |  2
|
3 | Super Alex-Mugen Honda
|
76 | 2 | 3
|
3 | Renault
|
98 | 3 | = |
| 4 | Lewis Hamilton
|
49 | 1 | = | 4 | Pedersen-Mugen Honda
|
76 | 2 | 1
|
4 | Ilmor
|
42 | 1 | = |
| 5 | Jacques Villeneuve
|
47 | 1 | = | 5 | Gui Racing-Renault (W)
|
75 | 3 | 1
|
5 |  Ford
|
21 | = | |
| 6 | Alain Prost
|
46 | 2 | = | 6 | J Racing-Ferrari
|
70 | 2 | 1
|
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