1987 Formula 1 World Championship
Memorable F1 Title Fight Between Williams Drivers Piquet and Mansell
Dec 18, 2008
Nelson Piquet headed to the 1987 Hungarian Grand Prix as the Formula 1 World Championship points leader, but the Brazilian was far from happy with his Williams team. Having already won two World Championships Piquet fully expected to be number one driver when he signed with Williams for the 1986 season. It soon became clear that his team-mate Nigel Mansell was not prepared to accept number two status. The relationship between the two drivers deteriorated and, by Hungary, Piquet had agreed a deal to move to Lotus for 1988.
Another major announcement over the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend was McLaren’s signing of Ayrton Senna for the 1988 season. The Lotus driver would partner Prost in the Honda powered cars, in what would become the bitterest rivalry in Formula 1 history.
Piquet Extends Lead with Hungarian Grand Prix Win
Mansell claimed pole position again at the Hungaroring, as he had done at the previous Grand Prix in Germany. Gerhard Berger showed that the Ferrari was improving by clocking the second fastest time. At the start Michele Alboreto in the other Ferrari moved into third place, but both Italian cars hit trouble and retired.
A handful of laps from the finish Mansell’s Williams lost a wheel nut and he was forced to retire. His team mate Piquet gratefully accepted the victory. Senna kept alive his title hopes by finishing second, with Prost’s McLaren third.
Johansson Survives Freak Crash at Austrian Grand Prix
McLaren driver Stefan Johansson had a miraculous escape during practice for the Austrian Grand Prix, when his car struck a deer running across the track. The Swede was left bruised and battered, while his McLaren was destroyed. It wasn’t enough to stop Johansson from competing in the Grand Prix, a race in which he finished seventh.
Piquet was fastest in qualifying, ahead of Mansell in second and Berger’s Ferrari in third. It took no less than three attempts to successfully get the Grand Prix underway. This was as a result of two multiple start line accidents, fortunately without injury to anyone.
As the race finally got going Senna stalled his Lotus. The Brazilian went on to have an eventful afternoon, recovering to fifth place despite a collision with Alboreto’s Ferrari. Berger, in the other Ferrari, was running strongly but ultimately retired with turbo failure. At the front Piquet led from Mansell but the Englishman eventually passed his team mate. In third place was a Benetton driven by Teo Fabi.
1987 Formula 1 season review continues.
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