The 1991 McLaren would be retired and would have it’s farewell race in Mexico. Compared to the Williams, it was two seconds slower per lap.
To worsen the prognosis for the race, the circuit had the longest straight in Formula 1 as well as many fast corners. No driver could overcome all of this just on skill.
What was he to do?
“Ok. Let’s watch the video from last year, when Williams was already faster than us and we came in third.”
As if a replay of past events, Mansell won and Riccardo Patrese was second, set apart from the other drivers. But Michael Schumacher (Benetton) took Ayrton Senna’s place, coming in third.
Senna, who hadn’t started in sixth on the grid in years, retired on lap 11 because of a failed transmission.
It was a sad farewell for the McLaren MP4-6.
mexican gp
1º
N. Mansell
2º
R. Patrese
3º
M. Schumacher
4º
M. Brundle
5º
G. Berger
6º
Ayrton Senna
7º
J. Lehto
8º
M. Gugelmin
9º
P. Martini
10º
J. Alesi
11º
A. de Cesaris
12º
J. Herbert
13º
B. Gachot
14º
G. Tarquini
15º
S. Modena
16º
O. Grouillard
17º
C. Fittipaldi
18º
M. Hakkinen
19º
K. Wendlinger
20º
I. Capelli
21º
G. Morbidelli
22º
T. Boutsen
23º
A. Chiesa
24º
U. Katayama
25º
M. Alboreto
26º
E. Comas
69
turns
26
cars
13
leaving
1’17”711
fastest
lap
cloudy weather
podium
1º
N. Mansell
2º
R. Patrese
3º
M. Schumacher
–
final position
5º
Championship position after the race
6º
starting position
–
Points added to the Championship
1’20”721
best lap
It was really dangerous to be driving under these conditions. In fifth gear and over a roughness on the track surface, the car could suddenly change course without me knowing where it was going. Therefore, I decided to retire from the race and wait for the active suspension promised me for the Spanish Grand Prix.
