1986 Formula 1 Racing Season
Nigel Mansell Lost the Title to Alain Prost in Final Grand Prix
Dec 17, 2008
After defeating his title rivals in the Portuguese Grand Prix Nigel Mansell led the Formula 1 World Championship by a significant margin. The next was the Mexican Grand Prix, held at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City. Alain Prost and Nelson Piquet desperately needed to finish ahead of Mansell in order to keep their own title hopes alive.
Berger and Benetton Score Maiden Formula 1 Victory
Benetton driver Teo Fabi had already demonstrated of the BMW powered car in 1986, taking two pole positions. In Mexico it was the turn of Gerhard Berger to shine. Ayrton Senna claimed his customary pole position but could only finish third in the Grand Prix.
Mansell gave his title rivals a break when he struggled to get off the line, dropping to the back of the field. While the Goodyear runners stopped for tyres Berger elected not to change his Pirelli rubber. It was a gamble which paid off as no one was able to catch the Austrian after their pit stops. It was Berger’s first Grand Prix victory and also the first for his Benetton team. Ironically, Berger would also score the last Formula 1 victory for a Benetton 11 years later. Prost gained useful points by finishing second, while Piquet finished fourth, one place ahead of team-mate Mansell.
Thrilling Formula 1 Title Decider in Australia
Adelaide was the setting for one of the most incredible endings to a Formula 1 season. Mansell entered the race as a firm favourite to take the title, with a six point lead over Prost. Piquet was a point further back in the standings. The weekend started well for Mansell, as he stormed to pole position, but his race ended spectacularly.
Prost’s team-mate Keke Rosberg led early on and set a blistering pace, forcing the Williams drivers to push hard. The Finn retired from the race with a blown tyre, and tyres were to play a crucial role in the World Championship outcome.
Mansell was in a position to take the title when, within 20 laps of the finish, his left rear tyre exploded spectacularly. He grappled for control of the Williams, sliding down an escape road and retiring from the race. Prost also had tyre issues during the race. The Frenchman picked up a puncture, but managed to make it back to the pits. He rejoined and, in the closing laps, was lying second behind Piquet. Despite being on course for the title the Williams team was extremely worried about Piquet’s tyres and brought him in for a cautionary change. The decision handed the World Championship to Prost, who won the race by just over four seconds from Piquet with Stefan Johansson’s Ferrari third.
Prost had successfully defended his title against unlikely odds. In 1987 Piquet and Mansell would be more determined than ever to wrest the title away from the brilliant Frenchman.
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