Ayrton Senna continued to face difficulties with the Renault turbo engine. While powerful, it consumed significantly more fuel compared to McLaren’s Porsche-TAG, Brabham’s BMW, and Williams’ Honda engines.
Moreover, his race plan had to take into account the Lotus fuel consumption disparity with his competitors.
In Holland at Circuit Zandvoort, he managed to get a car that was more stable, placing 4th on the grid and coming in third in the race behind McLarens’ Niki Lauda and Alain Prost.
Instead of celebrating just another podium, Senna demanded more engine testing for the following races.
“I want the chance to win and not have to keep swimming against the tide, worrying about fuel consumption all the time.”
The complaint seemed to have had an effect: with a more stabilized car, Senna had fewer mechanical failures and, from there on, scored important points for the championship.
Dutch gp
1º
N. Piquet
2º
K. Rosberg
3º
A. Prost
4º
Ayrton Senna
5º
T. Fabi
6º
P. Tambay
7º
N. Mansell
8º
T. Boutsen
9º
M. Surer
10º
N. Lauda
11º
E. de Angelis
12º
D. Warwick
13º
J. Laffite
14º
G. Berger
15º
P. Ghinzani
16º
M. Alboreto
17º
S. Johansson
18º
A. de Cesaris
19º
R. Patrese
20º
E. Cheever
21º
M. Brundle
22º
S. Bellof
23º
J. Palmer
24º
P. Martini
25º
P. Alliot
26º
H. Rothengatter
71
laps
26
cars
16
Retirements
1’16”538
fastest lap
1º
Sunny weather
podium
1º
N. Lauda
2º
A. Prost
3º
Ayrton Senna
3º
final position
4º
position in championship following the race
4º
starting place
4
championship points accumulated
1’17”835
best lap
It was a very hard race, especially at the end, when I was trying to hold off (Michele) Alboreto, and I was loosing too much power of the car.
