Satoru Nakajima (中島 悟 in Japanese; born 23 February 1953 in Okazaki, Aichi, Japan) is a former Japanese Formula One driver who competed for Lotus from 1987 till 1989, and for Tyrrell from 1990 until 1991 as the teams' race driver. He is the father of former F1 driver, Kazuki Nakajima. His son has a younger brother, Daisuke Nakajima, who is currently competing in Super GT and Super Formula.
Nakajima whilst rarely competing among the drivers was remembered as a notoriously difficult driver to overtake whilst on-track. Most infamously, he was remembered as the driver whom prevented Ayrton Senna, his former teammate from taking victory at his home grand prix in the re-opening of the Interlagos circuit.
Senna attempted an ill-fated move on Nakajima, only to lose his front wing and drop to third position. Ironically at the very next race, Nakajima would once again play havoc with Senna when he indirectly caused the champion's retirement after Senna ran over a piece of debris from Nakajima's crashed car.
Formula One Career[]
Formula One Statistical Overview[]
Formula One Record[]
Year | Entrant | Team | WDC Points | WDC Pos. | Report |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1987 | Camel Team Lotus Honda | Lotus-Honda | 7 | 12th | Report |
1988 | Camel Team Lotus Honda | Lotus-Honda | 1 | 16th | Report |
1989 | Camel Team Lotus | Lotus-Judd | 3 | 21st | Report |
1990 | Tyrrell Racing Organisation | Tyrrell-Ford Cosworth | 3 | 15th | Report |
1991 | Braun Tyrrell Honda | Tyrrell-Honda | 2 | 15th | Report |
Career Statistics[]
Entries | 80 |
Starts | 74 |
Pole Positions | 0 |
Race Wins | 0 |
Podiums | 0 |
Fastest Laps | 1 |
Points | 16 |
Laps Raced | 3078 |
Distance Raced | 14,453 km (8,981 mi) |
Career Results[]
Complete Formula One Results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Pts | Pos | |||||||
1987 | 7 | 12th | |||||||||||||||||||||||
7th | 6th | 5th | 10th | Ret | NC | 4th | Ret | Ret | 13th | 11th | 8th | 9th | Ret | 6th | Ret | ||||||||||
1988 | 1 | 16th | |||||||||||||||||||||||
6th | 8th | DNQ | Ret | 11th | DNQ | 7th | 10th | 9th | 7th | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 7th | Ret | ||||||||||
1989 | 3 | 21st | |||||||||||||||||||||||
8th | NC | DNQ | Ret | Ret | DNQ | Ret | 8th | Ret | Ret | DNQ | 10th | 7th | Ret | Ret | 4th | ||||||||||
1990 | 3 | 15th | |||||||||||||||||||||||
6th | 8th | Ret | Ret | 11th | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 6th | DNS | Ret | 6th | Ret | ||||||||||
1991 | 2 | 15th | |||||||||||||||||||||||
5th | Ret | Ret | Ret | 10th | 12th | Ret | 8th | Ret | 15th | Ret | Ret | 13th | 17th | Ret | Ret [1] |
Key | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Symbol | Meaning | Symbol | Meaning | ||
1st | Winner | Ret | Retired | ||
2nd | Podium finish | DSQ | Disqualified | ||
3rd | DNQ | Did not qualify | |||
5th | Points finish | DNPQ | Did not pre-qualify | ||
14th | Non-points finish | TD | Test driver | ||
Italics | Fastest Lap | DNS | Did not start | ||
18th† | Classified finish (retired with >90% race distance) | NC | Non-classified finish (<90% race distance) | ||
4thP | Qualified for pole position | [+] More Symbols |
Notes[]
- ↑ Race stopped after 14/81 Laps. Half points awarded
Quotes[]
"It was Nakajima, the last car on the lead lap, you have no doubt deduced by now that it was Nakajima in the Tyrrell that he came together with." - Bob Varsha on Nakajima and Senna's collision. ESPN. 1990 Brazilian Grand Prix.
"Out of all people to try a trick like that with, Nakajima is the last guy out there to do that because he is not looking." - David Hobbs on Nakajima and Senna's collision. ESPN. 1990 Brazilian Grand Prix.
"The former Lotus driver carries number three and was in the points at Phoenix, but it was his teammate Jean Alesi who has proved the sensation of the season so far." Andrew Marriott. Eurosport. 1990 San Marino Grand Prix Build-Up.
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