1992 Japanese Grand Prix

The 1992 Japanese Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Suzuka on 25 October 1992. It was the fifteenth race of the 1992 Formula One season.

Before the race
After the Portuguese Grand Prix, Ferrari replaced their driver Ivan Capelli with Nicola Larini. Karl Wendlinger was also dropped by the March team and replaced by Jan Lammers, making his first start for over 10 years, for this and the next race.

Qualifying
In qualifying, Willams' Nigel Mansell was again fastest, taking pole ahead of team mate Riccardo Patrese. The McLarens of Ayrton Senna and Gerhard Berger were next, ahead of Michael Schumacher's Benetton and the two Lotuses, with Johnny Herbert ahead of Mika Häkkinen.

Race
Mansell made a good start and led ahead of Patrese, Senna, Berger, Schumacher and Herbert. Larini, who had qualified 11th, started last, having stalled on the grid. Senna retired with engine failure on lap 3. Berger made an early stop and rejoined the race in sixth place. On lap 13, Schumacher had troubles with his gearbox and was forced to retire, his only mechanical retirement of the year. This elevated Herbert to third. However, on lap 15, he also retired because of gearbox trouble. After the pit stops, the order was Mansell, followed by Patrese, Berger, Häkkinen, Martin Brundle and Erik Comas. On lap 36, Mansell slowed and Patrese moved ahead. Mansell had an engine failure on lap 44 and was forced to retire. On the same lap, Häkkinen's Lotus suffered similar problem and he dropped out of the race. Patrese won ahead of Berger, Brundle in the Benetton, Andrea de Cesaris in the Tyrrell, Jean Alesi's Ferrari and Christian Fittipaldi, who scored his first points in Formula One. It was Patrese's last win in Formula One and last points of the season for the Williams team.

Standings after the race

 * Bold text indicates the World Champions.


 * Drivers' Championship standings


 * Constructors' Championship standings


 * Note: Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.