1990 Formula 1 Racing Season
Williams Driver Thierry Boutsen Won Thrilling Hungarian F1 Race
Dec 31, 2008
The revelation of the 1990 Formula season had been Tyrrell driver Jean Alesi. The young Frenchman had the audacity to fight for the lead with Ayrton Senna during the opening race in America and went on to produce a string of excellent performances. At Hockenheim, for the German Grand Prix, it emerged that Alesi had signed deals with both Williams and Ferrari for 1991. At the same time he still had a Tyrrell contract for the next season, leaving much work for the respective team’s lawyers.
Senna on Top in German Grand Prix
Subaru withdrew from Formula 1 before the Hockenheim weekend, after a disastrous partnership with Coloni. The Japanese firm had high hopes of breaking into Formula 1 as an engine supplier, but their power unit proved to be underpowered and unreliable. Following their withdrawal the Coloni team switched to Cosworth engines.
The grid for the German Grand Prix had a symmetrical look to it. McLaren claimed the front row, with Senna on pole ahead of Gerhard Berger. Then came the Ferrari drivers, with Alain Prost third and Nigel Mansell fourth. The third row was all Williams, Riccardo Patrese starting ahead of Thierry Boutsen.
Senna led away from the line, but behind him there was chaos. Stefano Modena’s stationary Brabham triggered a crash involving his team-mate David Brabham, Emanuele Pirro and Philippe Alliot. When Senna pitted the lead passed to Alessandro Nannini’s Benetton, but the Brazilian was soon back in front. Mansell had another race to forget, bouncing over the kerbs and retiring with a damaged undertray. Nelson Piquet showed well in the Benetton before dropping out with a broken engine. At the finish it was Senna in first, followed by Nannini and Berger. Senna's rival for the World Championship, Prost, finished fourth.
Boutsen Excels at the Hungaroring
Qualifying was critical at the Hungaroring, with overtaking being extremely difficult on the tight and dusty track. There was a surprise at the front, with Boutsen on pole and his Williams team-mate Patrese second.
Berger made an excellent start from third and moved up a place, behind race leader Boutsen. Senna, in fourth, had a less successful getaway and dropped a couple of positions. His chances of victory suffered a further setback when a pit stop to replace a punctured tyre dropped him further down the order.
Senna’s luck started to change as drivers ahead of him dropped out. Prost spun out of the race in his Ferrari, while Alesi collided with Pierluigi Martini’s Minardi. Berger pitted for fresh rubber and Mansell made a mistake while trying to pass Patrese. This allowed both Nannini and Senna to get past the Englishman.
When Senna attempted to pass Nannini there was contact, which ended the Italian’s race. Senna continued, and began to close on the leader, Boutsen. Berger and Mansell also collided, eliminating both of them. In the closing stages Senna put Boutsen under immense pressure but the Belgian maintained his composure and stayed ahead until the flag. A long way behind in third place was Piquet’s Benetton.
 |
