The clash in Mexico looked to be between the McLaren drivers. Ayrton Senna and Gerhard Berger battled fiercely for the pole position. Everything pointed to the first row being dominated by McLaren.
In the last minute of the qualifying session on Saturday however, Riccardo Patrese (Williams) placed himself between the two with a second best placing.
In the race, Ayrton Senna started from the front and opened an advantage over the rest of the competitors. Until the 60th lap, he was not threatened and looked like he would drive his McLaren to another victory; this time one of the easiest.
But then his car began to lose speed. The Brazilian was passed by Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell, Gerhard Berger and Alessandro Nannini all at once. Shortly afterwards, the problem with his McLaren was obvious and Ayrton Senna pulled over signaling the end of his race.
What had happened after all?
“It is disappointing when you let cars pass without being able to fight back”
“I felt my car getting heavier in the backend. The problem increased and I lost the advantage. It is disappointing when you let cars pass without being able to fight back. Mansell was the first to pass and then Prost and Berger, and when Alessandro Nannini passed me the right rear tire was already shredded. It is this kind of race where I leave the car and keep my helmet on for a long time so that no one can see my face.”
“It is this kind of race where I leave the car and keep my helmet on for a long time so that no one can see my face.”
MEXICAN GP
1º
G. Berger
2º
R. Patrese
3º
Ayrton Senna
4º
N. Mansell
5º
T. Boutsen
6º
J. Alesi
7º
P. Martini
8º
N. Piquet
9º
S. Nakajima
10º
S. Modena
11º
D. Warwick
12º
M. Donnelly
13º
A. Prost
14º
A. Nannini
15º
A. de Cesaris
16º
P. Barilla
17º
M. Alboreto
18º
E. Pirro
19º
A. Suzuki
20º
O. Grouillard
21º
D. Brabham
22º
P. Alliot
23º
G. Foitek
24º
N. Larini
25º
E. Bernard
26º
J. Lehto
69
laps
26
cars
6
Retirements
1’17”958
fastest lap
1º
cloudy weather
podium
1º
A. Prost
2º
N. Mansell
3º
G. Berger
–
final position (retired on lap 63)
1º
position in championship following the race
3º
starting place
0
championship points accumulated
1’19”062
best lap
This is the kind of race where I get out of the car and keep my helmet on for a long time so that no one can see my face.