Senna arrived in Rio ready to battle out his fourth Grand Prix in Jacarepaguá. His best result until then had been second place, obtained the year before.
It was a moment for debuts: the Lotus was now yellow, but remained no. 12. The new Honda engine was his great hope for a more competitive car that year. His teammate, the friendly Japanese driver Satoru Nakajima, made his Formula 1 debut.
Also new on the scene was semi-active suspension, one of the accessories most difficult to set up for the Rio de Janeiro circuit.
Faced with so many new elements, Ayrton Senna considered his performance during the qualifying session satisfactory, coming in third place, behind Nigel Mansell (Williams) and Nelson Piquet (Williams).
At the starting, he jumped out in front and led for four laps. Afterwards, he lost his position and secured third place until the 50th of 61 laps, when his engine overheated because of a blockage in the radiator. Alain Prost (McLaren) won, with Nelson Piquet (Williams) and Stefan Johansson (McLaren) completing the podium.
Despite the letdown, Ayrton Senna believed in his Lotus for 1987, mainly in the new engine:
“I know that it is competitive and resilient. I believe it’s going to make me very happy.”
BRAZILIAN GP
1º
N. Mansell
2º
N. Piquet
3º
Ayrton Senna
4º
T. Fabi
5º
A. Prost
6º
T. Boutsen
7º
G. Berger
8º
D. Warwick
9º
M. Alboreto
10º
S. Johansson
11º
R. Patrese
12º
S. Nakajima
13º
A. de Cesaris
14º
E. Cheever
15º
A. Nannini
16º
A. Campos
17º
C. Danner
18º
J. Palmer
19º
M. Brundle
20º
P. Streiff
21º
A. Caffi
22º
P. Barilla
23º
I. Capelli
61
laps
22
cars
9
Retirements
1’33”861
Fastest lap
1º
Sunny Weather
Podium
1º
A. Prost
2º
N. Piquet
3º
S. Johansson
–
final position (retired on lap 50)
7º
position in championship following the race
3º
starting place
–
championship points accumulated
1’35”312
melhor volta
I know that it (the Honda engine) is competitive and resilient. I believe it’s going to make me very happy.
