1992 Formula 1 Racing Season
Mansell Won the Title and Schumacher Won a Grand Prix
Nigel Mansell headed to the 1992 Hungarian Grand Prix with a chance of clinching the Formula 1 World Championship. He had come agonisingly close to winning the title in 1986, only to see it slip through his fingers due to a spectacular tyre failure in the final race.
Mansell Crowned Formula 1 World Champion
For a change Riccardo Patrese qualified ahead of his Williams team-mate Mansell at the Hungaroring, starting from pole. Mansell joined him on the front row, and then came Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, Gerhard Berger and Martin Brundle.
Patrese led away, but Mansell had a dreadful start, falling behind both Senna and Berger. Further back the Ligier drivers did not endear themselves to the team by colliding with each other. Johnny Herbert’s Lotus and Gabriele Tarquini’s Fondmetal were also caught up in the melee.
Mansell passed Berger, but the Austrian fought back and regained the position. Eventually, Mansell made a decisive move into third position, but his partner Patrese was not having such a good time. The Italian spun his Williams and then retired for good a short time later. It meant that Mansell only needed to finish second to be assured of his maiden World Championship.
In the closing stages of the Grand Prix Mansell had to show his fighting spirit, after a pit stop dropped him to sixth. He passed Mika Hakkinen, Brundle and Berger on the track. Schumacher exited the race in spectacular fashion when his Benetton’s rear wing failed. Mansell was in the position he needed and crossed the line 40 seconds behind the winner, Senna. Berger finished third, with Hakkinen and impressive fourth for Lotus.
Schumacher’s First Grand Prix Victory
The main talking point in the Spa-Francorchamps paddock was the arrest of Andrea Moda owner Andrea Sassetti on fraud charges. His inept operation was eventually thrown out of the World Championship for bringing the sport into disrepute.
Erik Comas was fortunate to survive a massive crash on the Friday. Senna stopped his car and ran back to the unconscious Frenchman’s aid. Due to heavy rain on Saturday the Friday times decide the grid, with Mansell on pole, Senna in second and Schumacher third.
Senna led early on, but Mansell quickly found a way through into the lead. The McLaren driver delayed his pit stop when it started to rain and subsequently fell down the field. As the track dried Schumacher went off at Stavelot, rejoining behind his team-mate Brundle. The German noted the worn condition of Brundle’s tyres and stopped for fresh rubber. It was an inspired decision, and Schumacher went on to score his first ever victory in Formula 1. He described his feelings in the 1994 biography, “Schumacher, The Life of the New Formula 1 Champion”, written by Timothy Collings and published by Bloomsbury;
“It was a great race and my only regret was that my mother was not there to see me win, but back at home in Germany. It was a very emotional win for me. I could hardly believe it.”
The two Williams drivers joined Schumacher on the podium, with Mansell finishing second and Patrese third. There was little doubt in the paddock that a new star had been discovered.
Williams driver Riccardo Patrese
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