HOT F1 NEWS
ISSUE  15
01.11.95


Some current F1 news for those not able to get stories quickly.
My comments are in the braces(), and they are my personal opinions.

Regards,
Ian.

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Japanese GP Results - Suzuka 29/10/95
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1. Schumacher  (Benetton) *Pole *Fastest Lap
2. Hakkinen    (McLaren)
3. Herbert     (Benetton)
4. Irvine      (Jordan)
5. Panis       (Ligier)
6. Salo	       (Tyrrell)

Drivers 
Championshp: Schumacher 102, Hill 59, Coulthard 49, Herb 45, Alesi 42

Constructors 
Championshp: Benetton 137, Williams 102, Ferrari 73, McLaren 27

1 round to go. (Australia)

Drivers Champion     : Micheal Schumacher
Constructors Champion: Benetton


ALLEGEDLY ...  {

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* Micheal Schumacher underlined his superiority at Suzuka with a 
masterly drive in the dominant Benetton. Schumacher having qualified
on pole had brief pressure from the superb Jean Alesi but when this
subsided Schumacher won easily. His ninth win of the season means
he equals Nigel Mansell's 1992 record of 9 wins in a season. 
Micheal has called this season his "Season of Dreams" , and as well he
might because if he wins in Adelaide and Damon Hill fails to finish,
Schumacher will win the championship by the highest points margin ever.

With Johnny Herbert getting third it was a great weekend for Benneton
when they picked up the Constructors title for the first time on
the back of 9 wins fom Schumacher and 2 from Herbert. Johnny
has been linked with Tyrell for next season.

* Qualifying was quite a painfull affair at Suzuka. Poor Mark
Blundell had a horrifying 170mph shunt on day 1 and could not
drive on the Saturday and had to start from the back of the
grid. Aguri Suzuki has announced his retirement after a heavy
crash during qualifying on Saturday. This means that the
"Jordan bound" Martin Brundle will drive in Adelaide after all.

* It was a very good weekend for the McLaren team. Mark Blundell
drove an exceptional race to finish 7th after starting from the
back of the grid, however Mika Hakinnen was the hilight with
an amazing and deserved 2nd place , only 20 seconds behind 
Schumacher. This marks a signifcant step for Ron Dennis's team
as they fight to get back to the front. Mclaren haven't won
since Senna won the last race of 1993.

Mark Blundell will drive in Australia for his last race with
McLaren and not Jan Magnussen as has been suggested.


* The magical Jean Alesi made every one gasp with his thrilling
display around the Japanese circuit. Having qualified an excellent
2nd on the grid he suffered an early stop-go penalty for a 
"jump start" and a slight diversion on to the grass. He was then 
_again_ very quick using slicks on a damp track as he blasted past 
Hill and the other leading drivers to come within 1 second of 
Schumacher before a drive-shaft failure put an end to the 
Frenchman's challenge. 

Gehard Berger had a miserable race. He also had to come into the
pits early on for a 10 second stop-go penalty after an alledged
"jump start" and then retired with engine failure.

( When are they going to get these stupid jump start errors sorted
  out - neither driver gained anything by moving 2mm before the
  lights went green ! )

* Suzuka was a total disaster for the Williams team. They were never
really on the pace and Hill and Coulthard qualified in a relatively
poor 4th and 6th place. In the race neither driver could match
Alesi, Schumacher or even Hakkinen for pace and it all came to a
sorry end at the Spoon corner. Hill spun once and then having
regained his position on the track he spun again and ended his race
in what can only be described as driver error. Hill says that there
was oil and water on that part of the circuit which would explain
why Irvine and Blundell also got caught out at the same point of
the circuit. Irvine went on to finish 4th for Jordan and Blundell 7th.
David Coulthard also spun and "loaded" his side-pods with gravel but
regained the track. Unfortunately when he braked at the next corner all
the dirt was flung ahead of the car and David spun on the debris.

There where reportedly heated discussions between the drivers,
FW and Patrick Head on the weekend shambles. Damon quoted the 
phrase which FW always says "We win together and we lose together".
FW says that Damon has gone off the boil a few times this year but
is improving with every race. 

Reports of Damon Hill being ousted are not true. Next seasons line up
will be Damon Hill and the hot young Canadian, Jaques Villenueve.


* Other drivers are on the move. Pedro Diniz  will move from Forti to 
Ligier to partner the disapointing Panis.

* Jos Verstappaen the underatted Dutch ace will get another chance to 
impress next season as he moves to Arrows.

* Mark Blundell has been linked with a drive at Sauber to partner
Frentzen next year but may have a go at Indy Car. Sauber were mightily
unimpressed with Wendlingers return to F1. The excuse of not driving
in F1 for a long time didn't wash in the light of recent impressive
performances from Pedro Lamy and Jan Magnussen.


* And finally,  Mika Hakkinen summed up his feelings in the post-race 
interview after a well deserved runners-up spot on the podium:-

" I feel great. The car was great in qualifying, great at the start of
the race and great at the end.  In fact, everything is great ! "


}


A Note from the Editor
----------------------

HOT F1 News will continue next season, and I will produce reports
during the winter.

I will now post additionally to RAS.info.

Thanks for the support,
Ian.





ISSUE 16 After Australia

HOT F1 NEWS now available on the WWW with backissue archives.
http://www.zmall.com/sports/motorsports
Thanks to Mall of Cyberspace.

Copyright 1995 by Ian Howell.  Distribution for non-commercial 
purposes only permitted without the written prior consent of 
the author.


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