The season was reaching its end with Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost in the race for the driver’s title. But it was Nigel Mansell who seemed to be enjoying the races. The Englishman from Ferrari seemed to get a certain pleasure from foiling the plans of his French team mate, who he had dueled with during the entire season. Whenever he could be a nuisance to Ayrton Senna, he also knew that he was upsetting Ron Dennis who he also didn’t get along with. In Portugal, Mansell killed two birds with one stone. He did the pole and made Prost and Senna start behind. During the race, he led for 12 laps until he was passed by the Brazilian. He chased the Mclaren driver for 46 laps and after a stop and re-start in the 61st lap, he regained the lead and won. Ayrton Senna was second and Prost, third. Of course the post-race press conference focused on the rivalry. Regarding this issue, Ayrton Senna said:
“The race that he competed was already won. And today’s was in my honor”
No one understood. Only afterwards did everyone learn that Ayrton Senna had turned down an invitation from Williams to race for the English team in 1991 and opened the door for Mansell to return to the team.
PORTUGUESE GP
1º
N. Mansell
2º
A. Prost
3º
Ayrton Senna
4º
G. Berger
5º
R. Patrese
6º
N. Piquet
7º
T. Boutsen
8º
J. Alesi
9º
A. Nannini
10º
E. Bernard
11º
A. Suzuki
12º
I. Capelli
13º
E. Pirro
14º
M. Gugelmin
15º
M. Donnelly
16º
P. Martini
17º
A. Caffi
18º
A. de Cesaris
19º
M. Alboreto
20º
P. Alliot
21º
D. Warwick
22º
N. Larini
23º
S. Modena
24º
Y. Dalmas
25º
D. Brabham
61
laps
25
cars
10
Retirements
1’18”306
fastest lap
1º
sunny weather
podium
1º
N. Mansell
2º
Ayrton Senna
3º
A. Prost
2º
final position
1º
position in championship following the race
3º
starting place
6
championship points accumulated
1’18”936
best lap
“The race that he (Nigel Mansell) was battling for had already been won. Today’s race was in my honor.” (letting it slip that his refusal to race for Williams had benefited the English driver).
