All but one of the last 13 races at Suzuka have been won from the front row of the grid. Here’s everything you need to know about the history of each grid slot at the Japanese Grand Prix!
JAPANESE GRAND PRIX: SUZUKA GRID STATS IN BRIEF
- All top ten grid slots have finished on the podium
- 7th not retired since 1999
- 16th not classified in last five races
- Furthest back win from 17th
- 16th and 18th only scored once each
JAPANESE GRAND PRIX RESULTS: SUZUKA GRID OVERVIEW
| Grid | Last Win | Last Podium | Last Points | Last DNF | Best Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2023 | 2023 | 2023 | 1998 | 1st |
| 2 | 2015 | 2023 | 2023 | 2017 | 1st |
| 3 | 2019 | 2023 | 2023 | 2022 | 1st |
| 4 | - | 2022 | 2023 | 2012 | 2nd |
| 5 | 2006 | 2011 | 2022 | 2023 | 1st |
| 6 | 1990 | 2006 | 2023 | 2012 | 1st |
| 7 | - | 2003 | 2023 | 1999 | 2nd |
| 8 | - | 2003 | 2023 | 2004 | 2nd |
| 9 | - | 2014 | 2022 | 2010 | 3rd |
| 10 | - | 2012 | 2023 | 2018 | 2nd |
| 11 | - | - | 2018 | 2017 | 4th |
| 12 | - | - | 2023 | 2018 | 5th |
| 13 | - | 1992 | 2018 | 2023 | 3rd |
| 14 | - | - | 2023 | 2014 | 6th |
| 15 | - | - | 2018 | 2017 | 4th |
| 16 | - | 2005 | 2005 | 2023 | 3rd |
| 17 | 2005 | 2005 | 2019 | 2023 | 1st |
| 18 | - | - | 2010 | 2014 | 8th |
| 19 | - | - | 2022 | 2017 | 5th |
| 20 | - | - | 2014 | 2004 | 5th |
- Won five of the last six Suzuka races
- On the podium in all but one of last 21 Suzuka races
- Pole to win conversion just over 50%
- Only four DNFs
The polesitter has won five of the last six Japanese Grands Prix. The pole to win conversion rate here is just over 50%, with the polesitter being victorious in 17 of the 33 races held here so far.
The polesitter has finished on the podium in all but one of the last 21 races at the track, with Ralf Schumacher starting from pole but finishing only eighth in 2005.
Pole has provided more podium finishes than any other grid slot here but, strangely, Sebastian Vettel’s third place is the only time the polesitter has finished in third place at Suzuka.
There have been only four DNFs for a polesitter at Suzuka. The last driver to start from pole and fail to finish at Suzuka was Michael Schumacher back in 1998. His race was dogged with bad luck, having started from the back of the pack after stalling on the formation lap. He climbed through the field in the race but was forced to retire after picking up a puncture. Title rival Mika Hakkinen won the race and claimed his first World Championship as a result.
Aside from DNFs, both Ayrton Senna in 1989 and Jacques Villenueve in 1997 started from pole and were disqualified. Senna was controversially disqualified for using an escape road to re-join the race after colliding with title rival Alain Prost, while Villeneuve had been relegated to the back of the field for ignoring yellow flags. Williams appealed the decision and the Canadian started from the front, but was later disqualified.
LAST 10 RESULTS FROM POLE POSITION AT SUZUKA
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 |
| 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
- No wins since 2015
- Four podium finishes in last six Suzuka races
- 27 top ten finishes
The driver starting second on the grid won all three Japanese Grands Prix between 2013 and 2015, but has not won the event since.
In the last six Suzuka races, there have been four podium finishes, a sixth place for Charles Leclerc in 2019 and a retirement for Sebastian Vettel in 2017. The driver starting here has had 27 top ten finishes, which is the most along with the polesitter and fourth.
LAST 10 RESULTS FROM 2ND ON THE GRID AT SUZUKA
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 |
| 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | DNF | 2 | 6 | 3 | 3 |
- Just one win from third, in 2019
- Podiums in all but one of the last five Suzuka races
In 2019, Valtteri Bottas became the first driver to win the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka from the second row of the grid.
Third on the grid has provided podium finishes in all but one of the last five races – the exception being in 2022, when Carlos Sainz crashed out on the opening lap.
LAST 10 RESULTS FROM 3RD ON THE GRID AT SUZUKA
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 |
| 3 | DNF | 6 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | DNF | 2 |
- Podiums in five of last nine Suzuka races
- Just two non-scores since 1996
Fourth is a pretty good place to start the Japanese Grand Prix from, having given podium finishes at five of the last nine Japanese Grand Prix weekends.
Since 1996, Olivier Panis’ tenth place finish in 2003 and Romain Grosjean’s retirement in 2012 are the only times a driver starting from fourth has failed to score.
LAST 10 RESULTS FROM 4TH ON THE GRID AT SUZUKA
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 |
| DNF | 3 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
- One victory at Suzuka from fifth, in 2006
- Seven podiums in total
- Four DNFs in last 10 races
Fernando Alonso’s victory in 2006 is the only one at Suzuka to have come from fifth on the grid. Seven podium finishes have come from here in total, the most recent of which was also for Alonso in 2011.
In the last ten races at the track, fifth on the grid has scored only five times, with four of those non-scoring events being retirements.
LAST 10 RESULTS FROM 5TH ON THE GRID AT SUZUKA
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 |
| DNF | 10 | DNF | 17 | 7 | 6 | 8 | DNF | 4 | DNF |
- Points in seven of last eight Suzuka races
- Two wins from sixth on the grid
- Just two DNFs in last 18 races
In the last eight Suzuka races, the driver starting sixth has scored points seven times. All but two of those times have been fourth place finishes.
Sixth on the grid has won the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka twice, in 1989 and 1990. Since then, there have been two podium finishes from this grid slot – most recently a third place finish for Giancarlo Fisichella in 2006.
In the last 18 Suzuka races, the driver starting here has failed to finish only twice.
LAST 10 RESULTS FROM 6TH ON THE GRID AT SUZUKA
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 |
| DNF | 8 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
- No DNFs since 1999
- Two top five finishes in last three races
- No podiums since 2003
The positive news for the driver starting here is that there have been no retirements from this grid slot since Jarno Trulli in 1999. Since then, it has had two podium finishes – both third places, and both for David Coulthard in 2001 and 2003.
The driver starting here has recorded two top five results in the last three Japanese Grands Prix, but scored only once in the five races prior to that.
LAST 10 RESULTS FROM 7TH ON THE GRID AT SUZUKA
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 |
| 6 | 6 | 14 | 15 | 11 | 7 | 11 | 5 | 7 | 5 |
- One non-score since 2009
- Two podium finishes – most recent in 2003
2019 is the only time since 2009 that the driver starting eighth at Suzuka has failed to score.
Since 2005, the best finish for a driver starting here is fourth, for Jenson Button in 2012 and for Fernando Alonso in 2013.
The grid slot has taken two podium finishes, both second places, for Roberto Moreno in 1990 and Kimi Raikkonen in 2003.
LAST 10 RESULTS FROM 8TH ON THE GRID AT SUZUKA
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 |
| 4 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 10 | 6 | 11 | 8 | 7 |
- 11 consecutive finishes
- Last podium in 2014
- Only two DNFs since 1997
The ninth grid slot has had 11 consecutive Japanese Grands Prix without a DNF. During that time, the grid slot has had seven points-scoring races, including a podium finish for Sebastian Vettel, who finished third in 2014.
Since 1997, Jacques Villeneueve and Nico Hulkenberg are the only drivers to retire from this grid slot, doing so in 2002 and 2010 respectively.
LAST 10 RESULTS FROM 9TH ON THE GRID AT SUZUKA
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 |
| 5 | 5 | 3 | 12 | 8 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 12 |
- Last podium finish in 2012
- Four non-scores in last 13 races
Between 1998 and 2017, the driver starting tenth never failed to finish the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka. That run included a podium finish for Felipe Massa, who finished as runner-up in 2012. It was the second time that a driver has recorded a podium finish from this track, with Thierry Boutsen having finished third in 1988.
In the last 13 Japanese Grands Prix, there have been only four occasions that tenth on the grid has failed to supply a points-scoring finish.
LAST 10 RESULTS FROM 10TH ON THE GRID AT SUZUKA
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 |
| 2 | 9 | 12 | 10 | 20 | 5 | DNF | 13 | 10 | 8 |
- 50% points rate in last eight Suzuka races
- Never finished on the podium
- Only one DNF since 2003
The driver starting 11th has scored four times in the past eight Japanese Grands Prix – but has not scored since 2018.
This grid slot’s best ever finishing position is fourth, recorded by Nelson Piquet in 1989. Since then, it has had three fifth place finishes.
Since 2003, Nico Hulkenberg is the only driver to have retired from this grid slot, doing so in 2017.
LAST 10 RESULTS FROM 11TH ON THE GRID AT SUZUKA
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 |
| 12 | 15 | 10 | 8 | 10 | DNF | 9 | 14 | 11 | 11 |
- Points in four of last six Suzuka races
- Fifth is best ever result
- One DNF in last 12 events
12th on the grid has given four points finishes in the last six races at Suzuka. No one has finished above fifth place having started 12th at the circuit.
The grid slot has had two fifth place finishes, for Alessandro Nannini in 1988 and Rubens Barrichello in 1993. In the last 12 Suzuka races, Kevin Magnussen’s 2018 retirement has been the only time that the driver starting here has not finished the race.
LAST 10 RESULTS FROM 12TH ON THE GRID AT SUZUKA
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 |
| 8 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 8 | DNF | 9 | 15 | 10 |
- 2023 was first DNF since 2012
- Podium finish in 1992
13th on the grid has had four points-scoring finishes in the last eight Suzuka races, the best of those being Nico Hulkenberg’s sixth place finish for Force India in 2014.
In 2023, Alex Albon recorded a retirement from 13th on the grid in the Japanese Grand Prix – the first DNF for this grid slot since 2012.
Martin Brundle took a podium finish having started 13th in 1992 – the only podium recorded so far from this position.
LAST 10 RESULTS FROM 13TH ON THE GRID AT SUZUKA
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 |
| DNF | 17 | 8 | 6 | 13 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 13 | DNF |
- 13 DNFs in total, none since 2014
- Points twice in last three races
- Two top six finishes
There have been 13 retirements from 14th on the grid at Suzuka – but there have been no retirements recorded from here since 2014.
The driver starting here has scored points twice in the last three Suzuka races, with tenth place for Daniil Kvyat in 2019 and ninth for Esteban Ocon in 2023.
The best result from 14th on the grid is sixth, scored by Satoru Nakajima in 1990 and Stefano Modena in 1991.
LAST 10 RESULTS FROM 14TH ON THE GRID AT SUZUKA
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 |
| 10 | 7 | DNF | 16 | 17 | 13 | 17 | 10 | 16 | 9 |
- Two points-scoring races in last 27 Suzuka events
- Fourth is best result here, recorded in 2018
In the last 27 Japanese Grand Prix weekends to be held at Suzuka, the driver starting 15th has scored twice.
Nico Hulkenberg finished seventh in 2012, while Daniel Ricciardo finished fourth in 2018. Fourth place is the best ever result from here, bettering the fifth place scored by Jean Alesi in 1992.
LAST 10 RESULTS FROM 15TH ON THE GRID AT SUZUKA
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 |
| 7 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 16 | DNF | 4 | DSQ | 17 | 15 |
- Not classified in last five Suzuka races
- Scored once in 2005 with podium finish
In all of the last five Suzuka races, the driver starting from 16th on the grid has not been classified in the Japanese Grand Prix. Marcus Ericsson, Nico Hulkenberg, Alex Albon and Valtteri Bottas suffered retirements from the grid slot in 2017, 2018, 2022 and 2023 respectively.
In 2019, Daniel Ricciardo finished sixth, but was disqualified after the Renault was found to have illegal driver aids.
In the 33 races at the track, the grid slot has only scored once, doing so with a podium finish. Fernando Alonso took third place in the 2005 Japanese Grand Prix having started from 16th.
LAST 10 RESULTS FROM 16TH ON THE GRID AT SUZUKA
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 |
| 14 | 13 | 15 | DNF | 12 | DNF | DNF | DSQ | DNF | DNF |
- Furthest back grid slot to win at Suzuka
- First DNF since 2010 in 2023
The first time that the driver starting 17th scored at Suzuka was in 2005, when Kimi Raikkonen won the race.
The Finn’s win remains the furthest back grid slot from which a victory or podium finish has been taken at the Japanese Grand Prix.
Lance Stroll recorded the first DNF from this grid slot since 2010 in the 2023 Japanese Grand Prix. In the 11 races between its two most recent Suzuka retirements, the driver starting here scored points on three occasions.
LAST 10 RESULTS FROM 17TH ON THE GRID AT SUZUKA
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 |
| 15 | 12 | 17 | 9 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 8 | 14 | DNF |
- 2010 is only points-scoring race
- Finished eighth three times
In 2010, Sebastien Buemi finished in tenth place and scored one point having started from 18th on the grid at Suzuka. It’s the only time the driver starting here has picked up a point. The grid slot has suffered eight retirements and two non-starts.
The best result from the position is eighth on three occasions, though all before the finishing position offered any points. Philippe Streiff, Maurício Gugelmin and Christian Fittipaldi all finished eighth having started 18th in 1988, 1991 and 1994 respectively.
LAST 10 RESULTS FROM 18TH ON THE GRID AT SUZUKA
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 |
| 16 | 19 | DNF | 19 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 12 | 14 |
- 2022 was first points-scoring race since 1991
- Fifth is best ever result
In 2022, Nicholas Latifi became the first driver to pick up points having started 19th on the grid at Suzuka since Martin Brundle in 1991. While Latifi finished ninth, Brundle’s fifth place remains the best result from this grid slot.
There have been eight top ten finishes from this grid slot in total, but none of the other six have been in points paying positions.
LAST 10 RESULTS FROM 19TH ON THE GRID AT SUZUKA
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 |
| 13 | DNF | 19 | 18 | 19 | DNF | 15 | 15 | 9 | 13 |
- One points-scoring appearance in last 14 Suzuka races
- No one has started from 20th on the grid since 2018
In the last 14 races at Suzuka, Jean-Eric Vergne’s ninth place in 2014 is the only time that the driver starting 20th has scored at the track.
Jarno Trulli’s fifth place in the 2003 Japanese Grand Prix is the best result from 20th on the grid, and the only other time that a driver starting here has scored points.
Meanwhile, Maurício Gugelmin’s seventh place in 1989 is the only other occasion that this grid slot has provided a top ten result.
In better news, no one has retired from this position since 2004. Due to pit lane starts, this grid slot has been left clear in each of the last three Suzuka races.
LAST 10 RESULTS FROM 20TH ON THE GRID AT SUZUKA
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 |
| 18 | 18 | 9 | – | 21 | 11 | 12 | – | – | – |
Four pit lane starts have been made at Suzuka, with none of them resulting in points-scoring races. Daniil Kvyat finished 13th from the pit lane in 2015, Robert Kubica finished 17th having started from the pits in 2019, Pierre Gasly finished 18th having started from the pits in 2022 and Logan Sargeant retired having made a pit lane start in the 2023 Japanese Grand Prix.
