1988 Formula 1 World Championship
Ayrton Senna Scored Four Straight Grand Prix Wins for McLaren
Dec 19, 2008
By the time of the 1988 British Grand Prix there were only two drivers in contention for the World Championship. Alain Prost had won the previous race in France but a wet Silverstone provided a perfect stage for Ayrton Senna to demonstrate his ability in the rain.
Senna Romps to Victory in British Grand Prix
There was a major surprise in qualifying for the British Grand Prix. For the first time in 1988 there was no McLaren on the front row. Gerhard Berger claimed pole position with his Ferrari team-mate Michele Alboreto alongside. Senna lined up third, next to Prost in fourth. The symmetry continued on row three, where the Leyton House March drivers Mauricio Gugelmin and Ivan Capelli qualified fifth and sixth respectively.
It rained on race day and Senna’s reputation as a great wet weather driver was further enhanced with an accomplished drive. He passed Alboreto early and then took Berger for the lead. Prost, meanwhile, was not so happy. The Frenchman eventually retired his McLaren, citing handling problems. The British fans were kept entertained by Nigel Mansell, who progressed from 11th at the start to second behind Senna at the finish. Benetton’s Alessandro Nannini also made up several places, from eighth on the grid to third at the flag. Berger finished down in ninth while Alboreto ran out of fuel.
German and Hungarian Grands Prix Won by Senna
Normal service was resumed in qualifying at Hockenheim, where Senna took his customary pole position ahead of Prost. The Brazilian led away on a drying track, while his countryman Nelson Piquet quickly crashed out after taking a gamble by using slick tyres. No one was able to challenge Senna for the rest of the afternoon, leaving him to win comfortably from Prost. The final podium place went to Thierry Boutsen in the Benetton.
At the Hungaroring Mansell managed to drag his Williams onto the front row, alongside the pole-sitting McLaren of Senna. The tight circuit meant that his normally aspirated Judd engine was at less of a disadvantage compared to tracks like Hockenheim or Monza. The Englishman was unable to match Senna’s pace in the Grand Prix and spun trying to keep up, before retiring later on. Riccardo Patrese, in the other Williams, circulated in second for a while before a misfire slowed him. Prost passed Boutsen for second and set about catching his team-mate. At the chequered flag he was less than one second behind Senna, with Boutsen third.
1988 F1 season review continues.
 |
