Japanese Grand Prix 1996 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Damon Hill clinched the 1996 World Championship with a commanding victory at the Japanese Grand Prix, finally achieving the title that had eluded him in 1994 and 1995. The Englishman led from start to finish at Suzuka, controlling the race despite Jacques Villeneuve's best efforts to apply pressure and wrapping up the championship with one race remaining.

Michael Schumacher finished second for Ferrari after a strong drive, while Mika Hakkinen completed the podium for McLaren-Mercedes in third place. Villeneuve could only finish fifth after struggling with car setup, his championship hopes effectively ending in Japan. Hill's victory and Villeneuve's poor result meant the Englishman secured the title by 19 points, delivering Williams their eighth drivers' championship and crowning Hill as a worthy world champion.

The emotional scenes in the Williams garage after the race were tempered by the knowledge that Hill had already been dropped for 1997, replaced by Heinz-Harald Frentzen in a controversial decision by team principal Frank Williams. Nevertheless, Hill's championship triumph was thoroughly deserved, his eight victories and consistent points-scoring throughout the season proving decisive. The victory at Suzuka was particularly sweet, coming at the circuit where his father Graham had won two races in the 1960s. Hill had finally emerged from his father's shadow and established his own place in Formula 1 history as a world champion.