:2014 Japanese Grand Prix

File:West straight of SUZUKA CIRCUIT.JPG]]

The 2014 Japanese Grand Prix was the 15th of the 19 races of the 2014 FIA Formula One World Championship, and the 30th running of the event as part of the Formula One World Championship. It was held on 5 October at the {{convert|5.807|km|mi|abbr=on}} 18-turn Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, Mie.{{Cite web|url=http://www.fia.com/news/japanese-grand-prix-2014-preview|title=Japanese Grand Prix 2014 – Preview|date=1 October 2014|publisher=Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006135947/http://www.fia.com/news/japanese-grand-prix-2014-preview|archive-date=6 October 2014|access-date=23 July 2016}} The event's official name was the 2014 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix, and it was scheduled to last 53 laps over a distance of {{Convert|307.471|km|mi|abbr=on}}.

Tyre supplier Pirelli brought four types of tyre to the race: two dry compounds (the white-banded medium "options" and the orange-banded hard "primes") and two wet-weather compounds (intermediate and full wet).{{Cite journal|last=Rowlinson|first=Anthony|title=Japanese Grand Prix stats|journal=F1 Racing|publisher=Haymarket Publications|volume=November 2014|issue=225|pages=114}} The drag reduction system (DRS) had one activation zone for the race, on the straight linking the final and first corners. The circuit underwent changes following the previous year's race; parts of the track between the 14th and 15th turns were resurfaced, TecPro barriers were installed on the inside after the exit of turn 15 and lamp posts near debris fences outside turns 13 and 14 were moved back.

Going into the race, Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton led the Drivers' Championship with 241 points, three ahead of teammate Nico Rosberg, with Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo third with 181. Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso was fourth with 133, followed by Ricciardo's teammate Sebastian Vettel with 124.{{Cite book|last=Jones|first=Bruce|url=https://archive.org/details/formulaone2015of0000jone/page/n3/mode/2up|title=The Official BBC Sport Guide: Formula One 2015|chapter=Final Results 2014|publisher=Carlton Books|year=2015|isbn=978-1-78097-607-5|location=London, England|pages=116–117|url-access=registration|via=Internet Archive}} Mercedes led the Constructors' Championship with 479 points, having won eleven of the previous fourteen races of the season, while Red Bull were second with 305 points, having won the other three races; they were followed by Williams (187), Ferrari (178) and Force India (117). Mercedes had to outscore Red Bull by 41 points to clinch the Constructors' title in Japan.{{Cite web|url=http://motorsports.nbcsports.com/tag/formula-1-2014/page/29/|title=Hamilton and Rosberg Delighted With Mercedes' Suzuka Pace|last=Smith|first=Luke|date=3 October 2014|website=NBC Sports|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160724090444/http://motorsports.nbcsports.com/tag/formula-1-2014/page/29/|archive-date=24 July 2016|access-date=23 July 2016}}

File:Charlie Whiting 2010 Japan.jpg (pictured in 2010) suggested to race organisers that the start time be moved to avoid heavy rain from Typhoon Phanfone.]]

Despite reclaiming the Drivers' Championship lead at the preceding {{F1 GP|2014|Singapore}}, Hamilton said that he was not relieved because of the closeness of the race. He said that he would take Rosberg's race-by-race approach and was happy to be performing well.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/316605/hamilton-not-relieved-to-be-back-top-in-title-race/|title=Hamilton not relieved to be on top in title race|date=23 September 2014|website=GPUpdate|publisher=JHED Media BV|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150323155204/http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/316605/hamilton-not-relieved-to-be-back-top-in-title-race/|archive-date=23 March 2015|access-date=23 July 2016}} Hamilton, who had yet to win the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, aimed for a victory at the circuit.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/29304082|title=Lewis Hamilton targets first Japanese GP win at Suzuka|date=27 September 2014|website=BBC Sport|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141002062112/http://bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/29304082|archive-date=2 October 2014|access-date=4 August 2016}} Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said that the championship was out of their reach, although he hoped further reliability problems with the Mercedes cars would prolong the battle. Horner ruled out team orders favouring one driver over the other.{{Cite web|url=http://en.espn.co.uk/redbull/motorsport/story/176485.html|title=Red Bull still avoiding team orders|date=22 September 2014|website=ESPN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160724090711/http://en.espn.co.uk/redbull/motorsport/story/176485.html|archive-date=24 July 2016|access-date=23 July 2016}} Rosberg said he was looking forward to the race, and his car's speed gave him hope for a good result.{{Cite news|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/10/02/more-sports/auto-racing/hamilton-vie-third-japanese-gp-title/#.V5SeZPkrLIU|title=Hamilton to vie for third Japanese GP title|last=Armstrong|first=Jim|date=2 October 2014|work=The Japan Times|agency=Associated Press|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160724105906/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/10/02/more-sports/auto-racing/hamilton-vie-third-japanese-gp-title/#.V5SfkPkrLIV|archive-date=24 July 2016|access-date=24 July 2016}}

Typhoon Phanfone, classified as a category-four storm, was forecast to make landfall over the eastern Japanese coast on race day with heavy rain and winds of up to {{Convert|240|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}. Although the storm was predicted to miss Suzuka, heavy rain from its northern edge was expected to drench the circuit.{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-motor-racing-prix-typhoon-idUSKCN0HR1AT20141002|title=Typhoon threatens Formula One's Japanese Grand Prix|last=Takle|first=Abhishek|date=2 October 2014|work=Reuters|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160520114057/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-motor-racing-prix-typhoon-idUSKCN0HR1AT20141002|archive-date=20 May 2016|access-date=23 July 2016}} The {{F1 GP|2014|Russian}}, scheduled for the following week, made it impossible for the Japanese Grand Prix to be postponed until Monday due to freight schedules to Russia for the teams' equipment. Bernie Ecclestone, owner of Formula One's commercial rights, raised the possibility of moving up the start time,{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/formulaone/11135912/Japanese-Grand-Prix-2014-Typhoon-Phanfone-threatens-to-blow-Lewis-Hamilton-and-Nico-Rosberg-duel-off-course.html|title=Japanese Grand Prix 2014: Typhoon Phanfone threatens to blow Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg duel off course|last=Johnson|first=Daniel|date=2 October 2014|work=The Daily Telegraph|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030154057/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/formulaone/11135912/Japanese-Grand-Prix-2014-Typhoon-Phanfone-threatens-to-blow-Lewis-Hamilton-and-Nico-Rosberg-duel-off-course.html|archive-date=30 October 2014|access-date=23 July 2016}} but later said that the event would proceed as planned.{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/csylt/2014/10/03/typhoon-wont-stop-japanese-grand-prix-says-ecclestone/#321cc3fe3fab|title=Typhoon Won't Stop Japanese Grand Prix Says Ecclestone|last=Sylt|first=Christian|date=3 October 2014|work=Forbes|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112185530/http://www.forbes.com/sites/csylt/2014/10/03/typhoon-wont-stop-japanese-grand-prix-says-ecclestone/#321cc3fe3fab|archive-date=12 November 2014|access-date=23 July 2016}} The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) race director, Charlie Whiting, suggested to race organisers that the start time be moved and warned them that the race would not take place unless it was declared safe, but they refused. Honda, the owners of the track, reportedly rejected the start time change to allow spectators to arrive at Suzuka in time for the start.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2014/oct/05/jules-bianchi-crash-f1|title=Jules Bianchi crash sends F1 into another period of self-examination|last=Richards|first=Giles|date=5 October 2014|work=The Guardian|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006050744/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2014/oct/05/jules-bianchi-crash-f1|archive-date=6 October 2014|access-date=26 August 2016}} Whiting was also overruled by senior FIA officials, who opposed the disruption of the event's worldwide television coverage.{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/12/automobiles/a-horrific-crash-spurs-soul-searching-in-formula-one.html?_r=0 |title=A Horrific Crash Spurs Soul-Searching in Formula One |last=Burns |first=John F. |date=11 October 2014 |work=The New York Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023012705/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/12/automobiles/a-horrific-crash-spurs-soul-searching-in-formula-one.html?_r=0 |archive-date=23 October 2017 |access-date=21 August 2016 |url-status=dead}}

There were 11 teams (each representing a different constructor) entering two race drivers for the event and two free practice session participants. Red Bull selected Formula Three driver Max Verstappen to replace Jean-Éric Vergne to test him as part of his preparation for a full-time seat at Toro Rosso in the {{f1|2015}} season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/29408212|title=Max Verstappen: Teenager to drive in practice at Japanese Grand Prix|last=Benson|first=Andrew|date=29 September 2014|website=BBC Sport|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160601084502/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/29408212|archive-date=1 June 2016|access-date=23 July 2016}}{{cite web|last=Vording|first=Ronald|title=Ten years on: Revisiting Max Verstappen's shock Japan F1 practice debut|url=https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/ten-years-on-revisiting-max-verstappens-shock-japan-f1-practice-debut/10594111/|work=Autosport|publisher=Motorsport Network|date=3 April 2024|access-date=3 April 2024|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240403125751/https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/ten-years-on-revisiting-max-verstappens-shock-japan-f1-practice-debut/10594111/|archive-date=3 April 2024}} Aged 17 years and three days, Verstappen was the youngest person in history to participate in a Formula One race weekend.{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing/japanese-grand-prix-2014-history-maker-max-verstappen-flies-like-the-wind-as-typhoon-zooms-closer-9773924.html|title=Japanese Grand Prix 2014: History-maker Max Verstappen flies like the wind as typhoon zooms closer|last=Tremayne|first=David|date=3 October 2014|work=The Independent|author-link=David Tremayne|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160724110219/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing/japanese-grand-prix-2014-history-maker-max-verstappen-flies-like-the-wind-as-typhoon-zooms-closer-9773924.html|archive-date=24 July 2016|access-date=23 July 2016}} Caterham confirmed that Roberto Merhi would replace Marcus Ericsson, and Kamui Kobayashi would drive in the race.{{Cite web|url=http://en.espn.co.uk/caterham/motorsport/story/177127.html|title=Kobayashi retains seat for home GP|date=1 October 2014|website=ESPN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160724110326/http://en.espn.co.uk/caterham/motorsport/story/177127.html|archive-date=24 July 2016|access-date=23 July 2016}} Formula Renault 3.5 Series driver Will Stevens was announced as participating in the first practice session in Max Chilton's car,{{Cite web|url=http://www.speedcafe.com/2014/10/02/stevens-set-join-marussia-friday-test/|title=Stevens set to join Marussia for Friday test|date=2 October 2014|website=Speedcafe|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141004175137/http://www.speedcafe.com/2014/10/02/stevens-set-join-marussia-friday-test|archive-date=4 October 2014|access-date=23 July 2016}} but a problem with paperwork sent to the FIA Contract Recognition Board due to an industrial action in Germany prevented him from driving.{{Cite web|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/116129|title=Japanese GP: Will Stevens joins Marussia but misses Suzuka FP1 run|last=Noble|first=Jonathan|date=3 October 2014|website=Autosport|publisher=Haymarket Publications|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723171925/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/116129|archive-date=23 July 2015|access-date=23 July 2016}}

File:Hamilton crash qualifying.jpg after damaging his car in an accident during the third practice session|alt=Picture of a damaged silver Formula One car being removed from the track|left]]

There were three practice sessions – two on Friday and a third on Saturday – preceding Sunday's race. The Friday morning and afternoon sessions lasted ninety minutes each; the third, one-hour session was held on Saturday morning.{{cite web|url=http://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/regulation/file/1-2014%20SPORTING%20REGULATIONS%202014-02-28.pdf|title=2014 Formula One Sporting Regulations|date=12 March 2014|publisher=Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile|pages=17, 25–26, 29 & 37|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140421081828/http://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/regulation/file/1-2014%20SPORTING%20REGULATIONS%202014-02-28.pdf|archive-date=21 April 2014|access-date=30 July 2014}} Mercedes conducted race simulations to see how the cars would behave with a heavy fuel load.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/29471111 |title=Nico Rosberg heads Lewis Hamilton in Japan practice |last=Benson |first=Andrew |date=3 October 2014 |website=BBC Sport |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181214120845/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/29471111 |archive-date=14 December 2018 |access-date=23 July 2016 |url-status=dead }} Rosberg was fastest in the first practice session with a lap time of 1 minute, 35.461 seconds, ahead of teammate Hamilton in second. Alonso was third-fastest, ahead of Valtteri Bottas, Kimi Räikkönen, Kevin Magnussen, Ricciardo, Jenson Button, Vettel and Daniil Kvyat.{{Cite web|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/116130|title=Japanese GP: Nico Rosberg leads first Suzuka practice for Mercedes|last=Anderson|first=Ben|date=3 October 2014|website=Autosport|publisher=Haymarket Publications|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321134526/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/116130|archive-date=21 March 2015|access-date=23 July 2016}} Verstappen's run ended early when he pulled over to the side of the track at the S curves with smoke billowing from his engine because of a broken exhaust valve,{{Cite web|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/features/2014/10/Friday-analysis---even-Mercedes-surprised-by-level-of-dominance.html|title=Friday analysis – even Mercedes surprised by level of dominance|date=3 October 2014|website=Formula1.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170123084144/https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/features/2014/10/Friday-analysis---even-Mercedes-surprised-by-level-of-dominance.html|archive-date=23 January 2017|access-date=23 January 2017}} while Merhi spun at turn 13, causing Bottas to swerve to avoid him.

In the second session, Hamilton set the fastest lap of the day at 1 minute, 35.078 seconds. Rosberg, Bottas, Button, Vettel, Räikkönen, Alonso, Magnussen, Kvyat and Ricciardo completed the top ten.{{Cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-10-03/lewis-hamilton-leads-daniel-ricciardo-crashes-in-japan/5789932|title=Lewis Hamilton clocks fastest time, Daniel Ricciardo crashes in practice for Japanese Grand Prix|date=3 October 2014|work=ABC News|agency=Agence France-Presse|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113141343/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-10-03/lewis-hamilton-leads-daniel-ricciardo-crashes-in-japan/5789932|archive-date=13 November 2014|access-date=23 July 2016}} Some cars went off the track; Ricciardo disrupted the session for eight minutes when an oversteer sent him into a barrier at turn 18.{{Cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12528/9500401|title=2014 Japanese GP Practice Two: Lewis Hamilton hits back to finish Friday fastest|last=Esler|first=William|date=3 October 2014|website=Sky Sports|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160724110804/http://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12528/9500401|archive-date=24 July 2016|access-date=23 July 2016}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/116134|title=Japanese GP: Lewis Hamilton leads crash-strewn Suzuka practice|last=Straw|first=Edd|date=3 October 2016|website=Autosport|publisher=Haymarket Publications|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150320044903/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/116134|archive-date=20 March 2015|access-date=23 July 2016}} Kobayashi lost control of the rear of his Caterham at turn three, damaging his rear suspension and front wing,{{Cite web|url=http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2014/10/16425.html|title=FP2 – Hamilton reclaims the initiative in scrappy Suzuka session|date=3 October 2014|website=Formula1.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006112145/http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2014/10/16425.html|archive-date=6 October 2014|access-date=23 July 2016}} while Vergne stopped his car on the back straight after exiting the Spoon Curve with a fuel pump problem.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/29471687|title=Lewis Hamilton beats Nico Rosberg in Japanese GP practice|last=Benson|first=Andrew|date=3 October 2014|website=BBC Sport|access-date=23 July 2016|archive-date=25 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025055747/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/29471687|url-status=live}} Esteban Gutiérrez later lost control of his Sauber entering the Spoon Curve and crashed into a tyre barrier. Vergne stopped a second time with an electrical problem after exiting turn 14; this resulted in a second red flag stopping the session early due to limited time available. Rosberg recorded the fastest lap of the third session at 1 minute, 33.228 seconds, ahead of Hamilton and Alonso. Felipe Massa, Bottas, Ricciardo, Magnussen, Vergne, Kvyat and Button occupied positions four through ten. Hamilton drove quickly into the first turn but ran wide onto a run-off area and collided with a tyre barrier, damaging the left front quarter of his car. Gutiérrez lost control of his car's rear at the exit of turn 15 but avoided a crash.{{Cite web|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/116153|title=Japanese GP: Rosberg tops final practice as Hamilton crashes|last=Straw|first=Edd|date=4 October 2014|website=Autosport|publisher=Haymarket Publications|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321134514/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/116153|archive-date=21 March 2015|access-date=23 July 2016}}

File:Nico Rosberg Stars and Cars 2014 2 amk (cropped).jpg took the twelfth pole position of his career.]]

Saturday afternoon's qualifying session was divided into three parts. The first part ran for 18 minutes, eliminating cars that finished 17th or below. The 107% rule was in effect during this part, requiring drivers to set a time within 107 per cent of the fastest lap in order to qualify. The second part lasted 15 minutes, eliminating cars that finished 11th to 16th. The final session lasted 12 minutes and determined pole position to tenth. Cars who progressed to the final session were not allowed to change tyres for the race's start, using the tyres with which they set their quickest lap times in the second session. Rosberg set the fastest time in the second and third sessions to clinch his eighth pole position of the season, the twelfth of his career with a lap of 1 minute, 32.506 seconds.{{Cite news|url=http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2014/10/04/Rosberg-tops-Hamilton-for-Japanese-GP-pole/3691412423577/|title=Rosberg tops Hamilton for Japanese GP pole|date=4 October 2014|work=United Press International|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141004213521/http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2014/10/04/Rosberg-tops-Hamilton-for-Japanese-GP-pole/3691412423577/|archive-date=4 October 2014|access-date=23 July 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://www.formula1.com/results/season/2014/931/7406/|title=Japanese Grand Prix 2014 Qualifying Results|date=4 October 2014|work=formula1.com|access-date=4 October 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006030500/http://www.formula1.com/results/season/2014/931/7406/|archive-date=6 October 2014}} He was joined on the grid's front row by Hamilton, who missed out on pole position when, on his final lap, he hit the chicane curb before accelerating too fast into the final corner.{{Cite web|url=http://www.motorsportmagazine.com:80/f1/reports/2014-japanese-gp-report/ |title=2014 Japanese GP report |last=Hughes |first=Mark |author-link=Mark Hughes (motorsport) |date=6 October 2014 |website=Motor Sport |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006222755/http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/f1/reports/2014-japanese-gp-report/ |archive-date=6 October 2014 |url-status=dead |access-date=20 June 2017 }} Williams teammates Bottas and Massa qualified third and fourth, and Alonso and Ricciardo took fifth and sixth. Magnussen, whose mistakes on his quickest timed lap cost him time, took seventh. His McLaren teammate, Button, secured eighth and locked one of his tyres—flat-spotting it and slowing him. Vettel, struggling on corners due partially to Red Bull's use of wet tyres, took ninth. Räikkönen was tenth, encountering problems with his car's balance which prevented him from pushing.{{Cite web|url=http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2014/10/16438.html|title=Qualifying – selected team and driver quotes|date=4 October 2014|website=Formula1.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006130610/http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2014/10/16438.html|archive-date=6 October 2014|access-date=23 July 2016}}

Vergne was the fastest driver not to advance into the final session. Because his team had changed his engine, he received a ten-place grid penalty, his sixth of the season.{{Cite web|url=http://www.crash.net/f1/news/209359/1/vergne-hit-with-10place-grid-penalty.html#0Wg4HCWkpheOzz2u.99|title=F1 Japanese Grand Prix: Vergne hit with 10-place grid penalty|last=Medland|first=Chris|date=4 October 2014|website=crash.net|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150805182656/http://www.crash.net/f1/news/209359/1/vergne-hit-with-10place-grid-penalty.html#0Wg4HCWkpheOzz2u.99|archive-date=5 August 2015|access-date=23 July 2016}} This promoted Force India's Sergio Pérez to 11th position; he had encountered slower cars entering the final chicane, which forced him to slow and lose brake and tyre temperature. Kvyat's final timed lap was disrupted by slower cars; when he entered the first corner his tyres had not reached their optimum temperature, compromising his run and leaving him 12th. Nico Hülkenberg qualified 13th in the other Force India car after he locked his tyres at the final chicane. Adrian Sutil progressed to the second session after making balance set-up changes, and took 14th in its closing seconds; his Sauber teammate, Gutiérrez, struggled with tyre temperature and was delayed by traffic on his out-lap, leaving him 15th. Pastor Maldonado failed to advance beyond the first qualifying session, but Lotus installed a new engine (his sixth of the year) in his E22 chassis on Friday morning. Like Vergne, he incurred a ten-place grid penalty (carried over to the next race because he qualified within the top-ten bottom positions).{{Cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/f1/news/24231/9501252|title=Lotus's Pastor Maldonado becomes second driver to pick up ten-place engine grid drop|date=3 October 2014|website=Sky Sports|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151002164033/http://www.skysports.com/f1/news/24231/9501252|archive-date=2 October 2015|access-date=23 July 2016}} His teammate, Romain Grosjean, took over 16th position and aimed to qualify higher; however, a change in wind direction prevented him from recording a faster lap time. Ericsson and Jules Bianchi started from 17th and 18th, with Kobayashi 19th and Vergne 20th. Chilton lost control of his Marussia's rear, causing him to start 21st.

The fastest lap in each of the three sessions is denoted in bold.

Notes:

• {{note|1|1}}{{snd}}Pastor Maldonado and Jean-Éric Vergne both received a ten-place grid penalty for exceeding their quota of five engine components for the season.

There was a large amount of standing water on the track at the start, since Typhoon Phanfone had brought heavy rain to the area.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/formulaone/11141611/Japanese-Grand-Prix-2014-Lewis-Hamilton-wins-as-it-happened.html|title=Japanese Grand Prix 2014, Lewis Hamilton wins: as it happened|last=Lucas|first=Dan|date=5 October 2014|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=23 July 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921100215/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/formulaone/11141611/Japanese-Grand-Prix-2014-Lewis-Hamilton-wins-as-it-happened.html|archive-date=21 September 2016}} The air temperature was {{Convert|20|C|F}}, and the track temperature was {{Convert|24|C|F}}. About 142,000 people attended the race.{{Cite news|url=http://www.vanglaini.org/infiamna/43321|title=Formula 1 Japan-ah Lewis Hamilton tan fiahna|date=26 September 2015|work=Vanglaini|language=lus|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810132214/http://www.vanglaini.org/infiamna/43321|archive-date=10 August 2016|access-date=10 August 2016}} The standing water caused heavy spray and impaired visibility, and all cars used full wet tyres.{{cite web|url=http://live.autosport.com/commentary.php/id/788|title=As it happened: Sunday – Japanese Grand Prix|last2=Noble|first2=Jonathan|date=5 October 2014|publisher=Haymarket Publications|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007171102/http://live.autosport.com/commentary.php/id/788|archive-date=7 October 2014|last3=Straw|first3=Edd|last4=Freeman|first4=Glenn|last5=Anderson|first5=Ben|last1=Beer|first1=Matt|work=Autosport|access-date=23 July 2016}} The race began behind the safety car at 15:00 Japan Standard Time (UTC+09:00), with no formation lap; despite the slow speed, drivers struggled for grip on the wet surface.{{Cite web|url=http://www.fia.com/championship/fia-formula-1-world-championship/2014/2014-japanese-grand-prix-lap-chart|title=Lap Chart|date=5 October 2014|publisher=Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007184834/http://www.fia.com/championship/fia-formula-1-world-championship/2014/2014-japanese-grand-prix-lap-chart|archive-date=7 October 2014|access-date=23 July 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/formula1/29345351|title=Japanese GP as it happened|last=Barretto|first=Lawrence|date=5 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006003126/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/formula1/29345351|archive-date=6 October 2014|work=BBC Sport|access-date=23 July 2016}} Ericsson lost control of his car after accelerating out of the final turn, spinning into a gravel trap; marshals pushed his car out of the gravel, allowing him to keep driving. Following complaints from Hamilton about poor visibility, the race was suspended after two laps. The cars drove back into the pit lane, lined up in grid formation and their engines were shut off. Several cars had their ride heights raised to make them less prone to aquaplaning on their underbody planks. The race was restarted 20 minutes later behind the safety car, after the rain eased. Alonso stopped his car with an electrical issue – possibly a short circuit from the wet conditions{{Cite web|url=http://www.crash.net/f1/feature/209411/1/f1-driver-quotes-sunday-japanese-grand-prix.html#T033jeTy0yymYkFg.99|title=F1 Japanese Grand Prix: F1 Driver quotes – Sunday|date=5 October 2014|website=crash.net|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151002072535/http://www.crash.net/f1/feature/209411/1/f1-driver-quotes-sunday-japanese-grand-prix.html#T033jeTy0yymYkFg.99|archive-date=2 October 2015|access-date=23 July 2016}} – to become the race's first retirement on lap 3. His departure promoted Ricciardo to fifth place, with Magnussen sixth and Button seventh.

File:F1 2014 JAP Lewis Hamilton 4968.jpg won the shortened Grand Prix for Mercedes.|alt=Silver Formula One car in the rain; standing water on the track's surface is lifted by its tyres.|left]]

Although Hamilton became concerned about his Mercedes' brakes, he was told that it was a relatively minor sensor problem. He and Vergne reported that conditions had improved, but Vettel and Massa said that visibility remained poor. The safety car drove into the pit lane at the end of lap 9, and cars were allowed to overtake. Button immediately made a pit stop to fit intermediate tyres. Hamilton unsuccessfully attempted to overtake Rosberg heading into the first corner, while Vettel tried to pass Magnussen going into the hairpin, also without success; he then ran wide at the Spoon Curve but remained on the track. Pérez overtook Kvyat for ninth position on the lap. At the end of the first racing lap, Rosberg led Hamilton by 1.3 seconds; followed by Bottas, Massa, Ricciardo, Magnussen, Vettel, Räikkönen, Pérez and Kvyat.

Bottas, Ricciardo, Magnussen and Räikkönen made pit stops to change to intermediate tyres on lap 12. After his early pit stop, Button moved up to eighth place on the same lap. Massa and Vettel made their pit stops on lap 13, Vettel moving in front of Massa and rejoining ahead of teammate Ricciardo. Rosberg made his pit stop on lap 14 and rejoined in second position, 22 seconds behind Hamilton (who recorded fast sector times in an attempt to move ahead of Rosberg after the latter's pit stop). Hamilton went off onto the run-off area at the Spoon Curve, reducing the gap by one second. Rosberg reclaimed first position when Hamilton approached the exit of the pit lane after the latter's stop. He reported that his car was oversteering, and Button held a 6.5-second advantage over both Williams cars. The Red Bull cars reduced the gap to Massa in sixth by lap 16, with Vettel moving to the inside line and passing Massa with a narrow margin at the hairpin on this lap; Ricciardo then attempted a similar manoeuvre on the outside at the Spoon Curve, but Massa accelerated clear heading into 130R corner.

Magnussen made a second pit stop at the end of lap 16 to change his steering wheel. On lap 17 Ricciardo went to the outside of Massa on the S-curves and moved inside, passing Massa to move into sixth. Vettel overtook Bottas around the outside for fourth place on lap 18; Bottas then fell to sixth on lap 19 when Ricciardo passed him around the outside at the S-curves. Vettel began to reduce the gap to third-place Button, with Ricciardo driving at a speed similar to his teammate. Bottas was caught by his Williams teammate Massa, who pulled away from Hülkenberg (who went off the track at the second turn). Both Red Bull drivers were the fastest by lap 21, but Vettel was still 13 seconds behind Button and a further five seconds behind Rosberg, who now led Hamilton by only one second having run off the track at 130R. A dry line began to emerge by this time as some drivers drove through standing water to keep their tyre temperatures down.{{Cite web|url=http://www.grandprix.com/race/r912racenotes.html|title=Japanese GP – Sunday – Race Notes|date=5 October 2014|website=GrandPrix.com|publisher=Inside F1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008021555/http://www.grandprix.com/race/r912racenotes.html|archive-date=8 October 2014|access-date=17 August 2016}}

File:Hülkenberg japan 2014 fp.jpg finished in eighth position for Force India.|alt=White, black and orange Formula One car turning left]]

DRS was enabled on lap 24. Although Hamilton had closed Rosberg's lead to half a second and used DRS, he could not pass his teammate. Räikkönen made a pit stop this lap, which went wrong as his mechanics struggled to install a right-front wheel nut correctly. Hamilton tried to pass Rosberg again the following lap by running in his slipstream, but Rosberg held the line and had enough acceleration to defend first place. Hamilton held a tighter line, while Rosberg complained of more oversteer on lap 26. On lap 27, Hamilton forgot to deactivate his DRS system and lost control of his rear; his brakes locked, and he went onto the turn one run-off area. However, he caught up to Rosberg and ran closely behind his teammate into the hairpin without trying to pass. Hamilton moved across the track during the lap in an attempt to pass; Rosberg's car shuddered, and Hamilton got a better run onto the pit-lane straight. He was in Rosberg's slipstream before passing him on the outside heading into the first turn to take the lead on lap 29. Hamilton pushed hard and pulled away from Rosberg, who lost control heading into the pit-lane straight.

Gutiérrez lost ninth position on lap 30 when he was passed by Kvyat, who drove through standing water on the inside of the pit lane straight and used DRS. Vettel made his second pit stop for intermediate tyres on the same lap, rejoining in fifth behind Ricciardo but ahead of both Williams cars. Button, still third, recorded faster lap times than Rosberg, closing the gap to 12.8 seconds by the beginning of lap 31. Pérez overtook Gutiérrez to take over tenth position on the same lap. Button made a second pit stop for new intermediate tyres at the end of lap 31; his pit crew also changed his steering wheel, lengthening the stop and putting him behind both Red Bull drivers. Vettel recorded a new fastest lap of the race at one minute and 51.915 seconds, 2.3 seconds quicker than Hamilton. Rosberg made his second pit stop, for new intermediate tyres, on lap 33 and came out behind Ricciardo. Magnussen experienced understeer and spun 360 degrees after running onto a run-off area. Hamilton made a pit stop at the end of lap 35 for new intermediate tyres, giving Ricciardo the lead. Heavy rain began to fall on lap 36; Ricciardo made his pit stop during this lap and rejoined fifth, behind Hamilton, Rosberg, Vettel and Button. On lap 38, Magnussen ran wide onto the first-turn run-off area, while Vergne went off the track at the second corner and Vettel drove into a gravel trap at the S-turns; all three drivers continued running. Ricciardo closed up to Button on the same lap and attempted to pass him around the inside at the hairpin; Button defended his position, and Ricciardo ran wide.

Hamilton recorded the overall fastest lap of the race on lap 39, at one minute and 51.600 seconds.{{Cite web|url=http://www.redbullracing.com/article/stat-centre-japanese-grand-prix|title=Stat Centre: The Japanese Grand Prix|date=8 October 2014|publisher=Red Bull Racing|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161014074155/http://www.redbullracing.com/article/stat-centre-japanese-grand-prix|archive-date=14 October 2016|access-date=14 October 2016}} Weather conditions continued to deteriorate, resulting in DRS being disabled on lap 41; visibility was reduced due to fading light and low cloud cover, while drivers were dazzled by the lights on their steering wheels.{{cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.com/motor/story/f1-sutil-gives-firsthand-account-of-bianchi-s-fateful-crash-100814|title=F1: Sutil gives firsthand account of conditions that led to Bianchi's fateful crash|last=Cooper|first=Adam|date=8 October 2014|website=Fox Sports|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010115817/http://www.foxsports.com/motor/story/f1-sutil-gives-firsthand-account-of-bianchi-s-fateful-crash-100814|archive-date=10 October 2014|access-date=22 September 2015}} Ricciardo attempted to overtake Button again that lap by taking the inside lane into the hairpin, but Button took a wide line. Ricciardo finally got past at the hairpin on lap 42, with Button then making a pit stop for full wet tyres. On the same lap, Sutil aquaplaned into the outside tyre barrier at the left-hand Dunlop Curve (turn seven) atop a hill.{{Cite book|last=Hamilton|first=Maurice|title=Formula 1: The Official History|publisher=Welbeck Publishing Group|year=2020|isbn=978-1-78739-496-4|location=London, England|pages=240–241}} Double yellow flags were waved at the corner to warn drivers about the incident,{{cite web|last=DeGroot|first=Nick|title=Yes, a green flag was waving, but know the whole story|url=http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/yes-a-green-flag-was-waving-but-know-the-whole-story/|work=motorsport.com|date=6 October 2014|access-date=26 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008011359/http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/yes-a-green-flag-was-waving-but-know-the-whole-story|archive-date=8 October 2014}} and Whiting did not use the safety car. Sutil's car was extracted from the track by a tractor crane that lap which turned backwards toward a gap in the barrier. Then, on lap 43,{{Cite journal |last=Straw |first=Edd |last2=Noble |first2=Jonathan |last3=Anderson |first3=Ben |last4=Anderson |first4=Gary |author-link4=Gary Anderson (motorsport) |date=9 October 2014 |title=Bianchi suffers severe head injury |url=https://porschecarshistory.com/wp-content/old/lib/magazines/autosport/2014/10/AS2014.10.09.pdf |journal=Autosport |volume=218 |issue=2 |pages=16-33 |access-date=3 January 2025}} Bianchi, who had ignored the yellow flags, lost control of his Marussia at {{Convert|213|km/h|mph|abbr=on}},{{cite news|url=https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/formula-1-bianchi-crash-impact-254g-103939864--f1.html|title=Jules Bianchi's Suzuka Formula 1 crash impact was 254g|last=Parkes|first=Ian|date=23 July 2015|work=Autosport|publisher=Eurosport|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723230530/https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/formula-1-bianchi-crash-impact-254g-103939864--f1.html|archive-date=23 July 2015|access-date=23 July 2015}} veering right towards the run-off area on the outside the Dunlop Curve. Although he applied his throttle and brake pedals simultaneously, his fail-safe system did not work because the settings of his brake-by-wire system were incompatible.

Bianchi collided with the left-rear wheel of the tractor crane, which caused extensive damage to his car; its roll bar was destroyed as it slid underneath.{{Cite news|url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/motorsport/jules-bianchi-crash-raises-concerns-over-f1-safety-1-3564694|title=Jules Bianchi crash raises concerns over F1 safety|last=Baldwin|first=Alan|date=7 October 2014|work=The Scotsman|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160724113326/http://www.scotsman.com/sport/motorsport/jules-bianchi-crash-raises-concerns-over-f1-safety-1-3564694|archive-date=24 July 2016|access-date=24 July 2016}} The impact briefly jolted the tractor crane off the ground, causing Sutil's car (suspended in the air by the crane) to fall to the ground.{{Cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-07-18/jules-bianchi-remembered-one-year-after-f1-death/7637096|title=Jules Bianchi remembered one year after Formula One death following Suzuka crash|last=Maasdorp|first=James|date=18 July 2016|work=ABC News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160719140809/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-07-18/jules-bianchi-remembered-one-year-after-f1-death/7637096|archive-date=19 July 2016|access-date=23 July 2016}} Marshals moved away from the scene to avoid being struck by Bianchi's Marussia.{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/allenstjohn/2014/10/07/graphic-video-of-jules-bianchis-serious-japanese-grand-prix-crash-emerges-along-with-safety-questions-about-formula-one/|title=Graphic Video of Jules Bianchi's Serious Japanese Grand Prix Crash Emerges, Along With Safety Questions About Formula One|last=St. John|first=Allen|date=7 October 2014|work=Forbes|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008185605/http://www.forbes.com/sites/allenstjohn/2014/10/07/graphic-video-of-jules-bianchis-serious-japanese-grand-prix-crash-emerges-along-with-safety-questions-about-formula-one/|archive-date=8 October 2014|access-date=26 August 2016}} Calculations in July 2015 indicated a peak of 254 g₀ (2,490 m/s²), and data from the FIA's World Accident Database, which sources information from racing accidents worldwide, indicate that Bianchi's impact occurred 2.61 seconds after loss of control, at a speed of {{convert|123|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} and an angle of 55 degrees. Bianchi was reported unconscious after not responding to a team radio call or marshals.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wired.com/2014/10/f1-safety-jules-bianchi/|title=After a Horrific Crash, F1 Ponders What More It Must Do To Protect Drivers|last=Golson|first=Jordan|date=10 October 2014|website=Wired|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141011195405/http://www.wired.com/2014/10/f1-safety-jules-bianchi/|archive-date=11 October 2014|access-date=24 July 2016}} Marshals reported the accident, and safety and medical cars were dispatched. Bianchi was extricated from his car and treated at the crash site before being taken by ambulance to the circuit's medical centre. Transport by helicopter was impossible due to the weather, so Bianchi was taken by ambulance with a police escort to Mie Prefectural General Medical Center in Yokkaichi, about 15 km (9.3 mi, a 32-minute drive) from the track.{{Cite web|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/116271|title=Jules Bianchi accident: Key questions answered|last=Noble|first=Jonathan|date=10 October 2014|website=Autosport|publisher=Haymarket Publications|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021022800/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/116271|archive-date=21 October 2014|access-date=23 July 2016}}

A second red flag was waved on lap 46, bringing the race to an early end; the results were taken from the running order at the end of lap 44. Hamilton thus won from teammate Rosberg by 9.1 seconds, with Vettel twenty seconds further back in third. Ricciardo finished just under ten seconds behind his Red Bull teammate, and nearly half a minute ahead of Button. Massa, Bottas, Hülkenberg, Vergne and Pérez rounded out the points-scoring positions. Kvyat, Räikkönen and Gutiérrez filled the next three positions, each one lap behind Hamilton, with Magnussen, Grosjean, Maldonado, Ericcson, Chilton and Kobayashi the last of the classified finishers who were not involved in any incident. Bianchi and Sutil were classified in 20th and 21st, despite their accidents. Hamilton and Rosberg both led on two occasions, with Rosberg leading 26 of the 44 laps and Hamilton the other 18.{{Cite web |url=http://www.racing-reference.info/race/2014-15/F |title=2014 Japanese Grand Prix |website=Racing-Reference |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822070634/http://www.racing-reference.info/race/2014-15/F |archive-date=22 August 2016 |access-date=21 August 2016 |url-status=dead}} Hamilton's victory was his eighth of the season and the 30th of his Formula One career.{{Cite news|url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/hamilton-wins-in-wet-japan-as-bianchi-hospitalised.aspx?pageID=238&nID=72566&NewsCatID=370|title=Hamilton wins in wet Japan as Bianchi hospitalised|date=5 October 2014|work=Hürriyet Daily News|agency=Agence France-Presse|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150916080311/http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/hamilton-wins-in-wet-japan-as-bianchi-hospitalised.aspx?pageID=238&nID=72566&NewsCatID=370|archive-date=16 September 2015|access-date=24 July 2016}}{{#tag:ref|Hamilton had previously won in Japan at the Fuji Speedway in 2007 while driving for McLaren.{{cite news|last=Takle|first=Abhishek|title=Hamilton wins wet Japanese Grand Prix|url=http://cyprus-mail.com/2014/10/05/hamilton-wins-wet-japanese-grand-prix/|work=Cyprus Mail|date=5 October 2014|access-date=7 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113023254/http://cyprus-mail.com/2014/10/05/hamilton-wins-wet-japanese-grand-prix/|archive-date=13 November 2014}}|group="n"}}

Out of respect for the seriously injured Bianchi, the top three finishers did not spray champagne. At the podium interviews, conducted by the {{F1|1992}} World Champion Nigel Mansell, Hamilton said that it had been a difficult race weekend and his speed near the end of the race was reminiscent of the 2008 British Grand Prix. Rosberg called it a good weekend for his team, and congratulated Hamilton on the victory. Vettel said that he was lucky that the safety car came out, and was happy with his performance.{{Cite web|url=http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2014/10/16449.html|title=FIA post-race press conference – Japan|date=5 October 2014|website=Formula1.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007115734/http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2014/10/16449.html|archive-date=7 October 2014|access-date=24 July 2016}} At a later press conference, Hamilton said that he was confident in his car's balance when he passed Rosberg on lap 28, and saw no difference in the amount of standing water on the track when more heavy rain fell. Although Rosberg's car was set up similar to Hamilton's, he was unhappy with its balance and tried to adjust it during his pit stop. According to Vettel, the weather was borderline and his team decided to make a pit stop when it deteriorated.

Bianchi's crash overshadowed the race. His father, Philippe, initially reported to L'Équipe that Bianchi was in critical condition with a head injury and was undergoing an operation to reduce severe cranial bleeding.{{cite web|url=http://autosprint.corrieredellosport.it/2014/10/05/preoccupazione-per-dramma-bianchi/19381/|title=Bianchi operato per grave ematoma (update)|date=5 October 2014|publisher=Autosprint|language=it|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006153113/http://autosprint.corrieredellosport.it/2014/10/05/preoccupazione-per-dramma-bianchi/19381/|archive-date=6 October 2014|access-date=24 July 2016}} The FIA then said that CT scans indicated that Bianchi sustained a "severe head injury" in the crash, and would be admitted to the intensive care unit after surgery.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2014/10/05/formula-1-driver-jules-bianchi-suffers-severe-head-injury-in-crash-during-japanese-grand-prix/ |title=Formula 1 driver Jules Bianchi suffers 'severe head injury' in crash during Japanese Grand Prix |last=Boren |first=Cindy |date=5 October 2014 |newspaper=The Washington Post |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822154937/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2014/10/05/formula-1-driver-jules-bianchi-suffers-severe-head-injury-in-crash-during-japanese-grand-prix/ |archive-date=22 August 2016 |access-date=4 August 2016 |url-status=dead }} His family later reported that he had a diffuse axonal injury, a traumatic brain injury common in vehicle accidents involving quick deceleration.{{Cite news|url=http://www.theweek.co.uk/formula-1/f1-2014/60764/jules-bianchi-crash-details-what-is-diffuse-axonal-injury |title=Jules Bianchi crash details: what is diffuse axonal injury? |date=8 October 2014 |work=The Week |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010233409/http://www.theweek.co.uk/formula-1/f1-2014/60764/jules-bianchi-crash-details-what-is-diffuse-axonal-injury |archive-date=10 October 2014 |access-date=24 July 2016 |url-status=dead }} The first family update after Bianchi's emergency surgery was made by his father during the week of 13 October; the driver was reportedly in a "desperate" condition, with doctors saying that his survival would be a miracle. His father said that he drew hope from the emergence of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher from his coma.{{Cite news|url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/sport/256673/bianchi's-family-don't-give-up-hope |title=Bianchi's family don't give up hope |date=16 October 2014 |work=Radio New Zealand |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160726070106/http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/sport/256673/bianchi%27s-family-don%27t-give-up-hope |archive-date=26 July 2016 |access-date=26 July 2016 |url-status=dead }} Marussia also issued regular updates on Bianchi's condition, denying initial speculation about their role in the accident.{{cite web|url=http://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1617304/marussia-rejects-allegations-jules-bianchi-told-go-faster-crash|title=Marussia rejects allegations Jules Bianchi told to go faster before crash in Japan|date=15 October 2014|website=South China Morning Post|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821151918/http://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1617304/marussia-rejects-allegations-jules-bianchi-told-go-faster-crash|archive-date=21 August 2016|access-date=21 August 2016}} Former FIA president Max Mosley described it as a "freak accident".

File:Jules Bianchi 2012-1.JPG (pictured in 2012) was the first driver since Ayrton Senna to die in a Formula One accident, nine months after the race.|alt=Man in his early twenties with a head full of hair and smiling. He is wearing red racing overalls.]]

Controversy arose after an amateur video clip of Bianchi's crash, showing a marshal waving a green flag at the crash site, was uploaded to social media.{{#tag:ref|The video, recorded by a spectator in a nearby grandstand, was removed from social media sites upon the orders of Formula One Management officials. As of 2019, the company has not released any official video footage of the accident.|group="n"}} Four-time world champion Alain Prost said that the marshal should have moved away from the crash scene, but five-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Emanuele Pirro said that it was normal practice and anyone who said otherwise was "mistaken".{{Cite web|url=http://autoweek.com/article/formula-one/fia-battles-social-media-remove-julies-bianchi-crash-video#ixzz4FUqDaloz|title=Formula One Management battles social media to remove Jules Bianchi crash video|date=7 October 2014|website=Autoweek|publisher=Crain Communications|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008201917/http://autoweek.com/article/formula-one/fia-battles-social-media-remove-julies-bianchi-crash-video|archive-date=8 October 2014|access-date=26 July 2016}} According to several commentators, the marshal committed no infraction. Former driver and Sky Sports F1 announcer Martin Brundle called for recovery vehicles to be barred from driving on the track. Driver steward Mika Salo defended Whiting's decision not to deploy the safety car after Sutil's crash, and minimised claims that the race was stopped for intensifying rain. Rede Globo lead commentator Galvão Bueno, however, was vocal in his criticism of Whiting's decision, describing it as "the biggest mistake I've seen in 40 years in Formula One".

The FIA announced a ten-person review panel, composed of former drivers and team principals, to investigate the cause of the accident and published its findings four weeks later in Doha.{{#tag:ref| The panel was led by the FIA's safety commission president Peter Wright and included former team principals Ross Brawn and Stefano Domenicali, chief stewards' representative Gerd Ennser, FIA drivers' commission president and former World Champion Emerson Fittipaldi, World Endurance Championship race director and future Formula One race director Eduardo Freitas, the circuits commission president, Roger Peart, Antonio Rigozzi, judge at the FIA's International Court of Appeal, the FIA institute and medical commission president, Gérard Saillant, and the Grand Prix Drivers' Association president, Alexander Wurz.{{cite web|last=Estrada|first=Chris|title=FIA Creates Accident Panel to Investigate Jules Bianchi Crash|url=http://motorsports.nbcsports.com/2014/10/20/fia-creates-accident-panel-to-investigate-jules-bianchi-crash/|work=NBC Sports|date=20 October 2014|access-date=12 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319021705/http://motorsports.nbcsports.com/2014/10/20/fia-creates-accident-panel-to-investigate-jules-bianchi-crash/|archive-date=19 March 2016}}|group="n"}}{{Cite news|url=http://sports.ndtv.com/formula-1/news/231782-ten-man-panel-set-up-to-review-jules-bianchi-crash|title=Ten-Man Panel Set up to Review Jules Bianchi Crash|date=21 October 2014|work=NDTV Sports|agency=Associated Press|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221012726/http://sports.ndtv.com/formula-1/news/231782-ten-man-panel-set-up-to-review-jules-bianchi-crash|archive-date=21 December 2014|access-date=24 July 2016}} According to the report, there was no single cause of Bianchi's accident; contributing factors included track conditions, car speed and the presence of a recovery vehicle on the track. The report made several suggestions to improve safety when recovering disabled vehicles (which were introduced for 2015), and concluded that it would have been impossible to mitigate Bianchi's injuries with changes to cockpit design.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/formula1/30320914|title=Jules Bianchi: Key findings from FIA's crash report|last=Benson|first=Andrew|date=3 December 2014|work=BBC Sport|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141208235458/http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/formula1/30320914|archive-date=8 December 2014|access-date=24 July 2016}} Since 2015, for safety reasons, the FIA has required that the start time of certain Grands Prix be at least four hours before sunset or dusk (except for designated night races).{{Cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/9652791/five-2015-grands-prix-listed-with-one-hour-earlier-start-times-than-in-2014|title=Five 2015 Grands Prix listed with one-hour earlier start times than in 2014|date=20 January 2015|website=Sky Sports|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121205707/http://www1.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/9652791/five-2015-grands-prix-listed-with-one-hour-earlier-start-times-than-in-2014|archive-date=21 January 2015|access-date=24 July 2016}} FIA safety commission chairman Peter Wright was quoted in July 2015 as saying that a closed cockpit would not have prevented Bianchi's head injuries, and vice-president Andy Mellow confirmed that attaching impact protection to recovery vehicles was unfeasible.

Hospitalised in Yokkaichi, Bianchi remained in a critical but stable condition on a medical ventilator.{{Cite news|url=http://www.mediafax.ro/sport/primele-imagini-cu-accidentul-suferit-de-jules-bianchi-pilotul-in-stare-critica-fia-a-deschis-o-ancheta-in-acest-caz-video-13369281|title=Primele imagini cu accidentul suferit de Jules Bianchi. Pilotul, în stare critică. FIA a deschis o anchetă în acest caz|last=Petculescu|first=Adrian|date=7 October 2014|work=Mediafax|language=ro|trans-title=The first images of the accident of Jules Bianchi. The pilot in critical condition. FIA opened an investigation in this case|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010024615/http://www.mediafax.ro/sport/primele-imagini-cu-accidentul-suferit-de-jules-bianchi-pilotul-in-stare-critica-fia-a-deschis-o-ancheta-in-acest-caz-video-13369281|archive-date=10 October 2014|access-date=24 July 2016}} He was removed from his induced coma in November and began breathing unaided, enabling him to be transferred to the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice (CHU) in Nice.{{Cite news|url=http://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2014/11/20/1995187-jules-bianchi-transfere-au-chu-de-nice.html|title=Jules Bianchi transféré au CHU de Nice|date=20 November 2014|work=La Dépêche du Midi|language=fr|trans-title=Jules Bianchi transferred to the University Hospital of Nice|access-date=24 July 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820063618/http://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2014/11/20/1995187-jules-bianchi-transfere-au-chu-de-nice.html|archive-date=20 August 2016}} Bianchi remained unconscious in critical condition there, but his family were better able to visit.{{cite web|url=http://www.nicematin.com/brignoles/philippe-bianchi-se-confie-jules-se-bat-avec-force.2173226.html|title=Philippe Bianchi se confie: "Jules se bat avec force"|date=12 April 2015|publisher=Nice-Matin|language=fr|trans-title=Philippe Bianchi confides : " Jules is fighting force"|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150415004043/http://www.nicematin.com/brignoles/philippe-bianchi-se-confie-jules-se-bat-avec-force.2173226.html|archive-date=15 April 2015|access-date=24 July 2016}} On 13 July 2015, Bianchi's father said that he was "less optimistic" about his son's chances because of the lack of significant progress and the length of time since the accident.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/jul/13/jules-bianchi-coma-marussia-formula-one|title=Father fears F1 driver Jules Bianchi will never recover from injuries|date=13 July 2015|work=The Guardian|agency=Press Association|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926033152/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/jul/13/jules-bianchi-coma-marussia-formula-one|archive-date=26 September 2015|access-date=24 July 2016}} Bianchi died four days later, aged 25, thus becoming the first Formula One driver to be killed by injuries sustained during a Grand Prix since Ayrton Senna in 1994.{{Cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2015/07/18/motorsport/formula-one-jules-bianchi-dies/|title=Formula One driver Jules Bianchi dies from crash injuries|last=Smith-Spark|first=Laura|date=18 July 2015|work=CNN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721000451/http://edition.cnn.com/2015/07/18/motorsport/formula-one-jules-bianchi-dies|archive-date=21 July 2015|url-status=live|access-date=24 July 2016}}{{#tag:ref|Bianchi's granduncle, Lucien, was killed in a crash during a test session at the Circuit de la Sarthe in 1969.{{cite news|last1=Lines|first1=Chris|last2=Pugmire|first2=Jerome|title=Jules Bianchi dies from injuries sustained in 2014 Formula One crash|url=http://www.mcall.com/sports/motorracing/mc-jules-bianchi-dies-from-injuries-sustained-in-2014-formula-one-crash-20150718-story.html|work=The Morning Call|date=18 July 2015|access-date=26 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826125257/http://www.mcall.com/sports/motorracing/mc-jules-bianchi-dies-from-injuries-sustained-in-2014-formula-one-crash-20150718-story.html|archive-date=26 August 2016}}|group="n"}} Bianchi's funeral, on 21 July at Nice Cathedral, was attended by members of the Formula One community.{{Cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/sport/motorsport/formula-one-champions-say-farewell-to-jules-bianchi-at-funeral-in-france-20150721-gihlhe.html|title=Formula One champions say farewell to Jules Bianchi at funeral in France|last=Baldwin|first=Alan|date=22 July 2015|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|agency=Reuters|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725140434/http://www.smh.com.au/sport/motorsport/formula-one-champions-say-farewell-to-jules-bianchi-at-funeral-in-france-20150721-gihlhe.html|archive-date=25 July 2015|access-date=24 July 2016}}

The race result increased Hamilton's lead over Rosberg in the World Drivers' Championship to ten points. Ricciardo and Vettel maintained third and fourth place, and Alonso remained in fifth despite his retirement. Mercedes moved further ahead of Red Bull in the Constructors' Championship, with a 180-point lead over the Austrian team. Williams increased their advantage over Ferrari in the battle for third, and Force India retained fifth place with four races left in the season.

Drivers who scored championship points are denoted in bold.

Notes:

• {{note|1|1}}{{snd}}Pastor Maldonado received a 20-second post-race time penalty for speeding in the pit-lane.
• {{Note|2|2}}{{snd}}Jules Bianchi and Adrian Sutil were classified as they had completed 90% of the 44 laps used to determine the race result.
• {{note|3|3}}{{snd}}Jules Bianchi died on 17 July 2015 from injuries sustained during the accident.

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;Drivers' Championship standings

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;Constructors' Championship standings

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• {{small|Note: Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.}}
• Bold text and an asterisk indicates competitors who still had a theoretical chance of becoming World Champion.

• 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, the event of the previous fatal accident in Formula One.
• List of Formula One fatalities

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{{Spoken Wikipedia|date=2021-06-01|En-2014 Japanese Grand Prix-article.ogg}}

{{F1 race report

| Name_of_race = Japanese Grand Prix

| Year_of_race = 2014

| Previous_race_in_season = 2014 Singapore Grand Prix

| Next_race_in_season = 2014 Russian Grand Prix

| Previous_year's_race = 2013 Japanese Grand Prix

| Next_year's_race = 2015 Japanese Grand Prix

}}

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Japanese Grand Prix

Grand Prix

2014

Japanese Grand Prix

Category:Formula One controversies