Berger wins at Suzuka 39 years ago today to end Ferrari's 38-race drought

The 1987 Japanese Grand Prix, one of the notable stops in Formula 1 history, was held at Suzuka on 1 November 1987, 39 years ago today. Austrian Gerhard Berger won in a Ferrari F1/87, the fifteenth round of the season and the second-to-last race. The victory ended Ferrari's 38-race wait for a win.

Back at Suzuka

The Japanese Grand Prix was the first Formula 1 event held in the country since James Hunt won for McLaren at Fuji in 1977. This time the venue was Suzuka, owned by Honda. The circuit was originally built as a test facility for Honda's motorcycles and cars. Soichiro Honda placed great importance on the race and had told his engineers they had to win. Four teams raced with Honda engines: Senna and Nakajima in Lotus 99Ts, and Mansell and Piquet in Williams FW11Bs. According to Motor Sport, the drivers almost unanimously praised the new circuit.

Mansell's crash and Piquet's title

The championship was to be decided between Williams-Honda teammates and fierce rivals Nelson Piquet and Nigel Mansell. However, during qualifying on Friday, Mansell crashed heavily while trying to beat Piquet's time. He missed this race and the following Australian GP. As a result, Piquet secured his third and final world championship before the race had even begun.

Berger took pole position, his second of the season. Alain Prost was second in a McLaren-TAG and Thierry Boutsen third in a Benetton-Ford. Piquet started fifth, Senna seventh and Nakajima eleventh. With Mansell absent, everyone from eighth place down moved up one spot. This allowed Roberto Moreno to get the AGS into the race with the 27th-fastest time.

The race

Berger pulled away immediately after the start. Prost, seen as the only driver who could challenge him, burst a tyre on the first lap. He still recovered to finish just outside the points and took the fastest lap bonus. Boutsen was briefly second but could not keep pace and finished fifth. Piquet's Williams began leaking oil from the rear and he was forced into the pits.

Stefan Johansson of McLaren briefly closed in on Berger, but the Austrian responded and won by 17 seconds. Senna passed Johansson on the final lap to take second, leaving Johansson third. It was Team Lotus's last second-place finish. Johansson's podium was the 54th and final one for the TAG turbo V6, a Porsche-designed engine. Michele Alboreto recovered from a poor start to climb to fourth in the second Ferrari. Boutsen and Nakajima completed the points.

Berger's win was Ferrari's first since the 1985 German Grand Prix. It was also the second Grand Prix win of Berger's career, following his victory for Benetton at the 1986 Mexican Grand Prix.