The Japanese Grand Prix first took place at Fuji in 1976 and played host to the famous showdown between James Hunt and Niki Lauda that year. After a nearly a decade away from the F1 calendar the race returned at the Suzuka circuit which was built by Honda. The Japanese giant were disappointed in that inaugural race as Gerhard Berger won for Ferrari despite a strong Honda presence.

Suzuka has seen its fair share of controversy over the years due to its traditional place on the calendar as the season finale. Ayrton Senna was a legendary presence at the track at during the late Eighties and Early-Nineties. He took his first title at Suzuka in '88, although he lost out a year later after the first of his famous clashes with Alain Prost. The Brazilian more than made up for this one year later when he collided with Prost at almost 160mph to cement his second world title. He scored his third title a year later when he gifted victory to team-mate Gerhard Berger after main rival Nigel Mansell crashed out.