SCHLEGELMILCH

Recalling one of the great Formula 1 title performances

Ayrton Senna’s first and second Formula 1 world titles, beating Alain Prost in the iconic McLaren MP4/4 in 1988 and then ruthlessly removing his rival from the Japanese Grand Prix two years later, are better known, but his third crown was arguably the best.

It’s now 30 years since Senna embarked on a campaign during which Williams-Renault would seriously challenge McLaren-Honda’s domination. As we argue in this 1991 special, starting on page 18, the Brazilian’s ultimate success against Nigel Mansell was about much more than a good start and a rearguard action.

As well as Senna’s own virtuosity, McLaren and Honda threw everything they had at the MP4/6 as it battled the FW14 (p24). It’s hard to disagree with Williams co-founder Patrick Head (p28) when he says that 1991 was a missed opportunity, but the story of the contest is all the more interesting because of the twists and turns.

Away from the championship battle, we also speak to Jean Alesi about the worsening situation at Ferrari during the era (p32), pick out some of the midfield heroes, and look back at the worst cars that ‘graced’ the grid – or never got on it (p38). Outside F1, Michael Andretti was superb in Indycar (p43), while Ross Brawn’s brilliant Jaguar XJR-14 moved the goalposts in sportscar racing (p48). Perhaps it should have been Autosport’s Racing Car of the Year, rather than the Jordan 191.

Kevin Turner Chief Editor kevin.turner@autosport.com

NEXT WEEK 21 JANUARY F1 2021 revealed What to expect from the rule tweaks and driver

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COVER IMAGES Motorsport Images/Colombo; Sutton

PIT & PADDOCK 4 Imola gets F1 slot as China postponed 6 Joest returns to World Endurance arena 8 Chilton gets a British Touring Car BMW 11 Dakar Rally interim report 13 Opinion: Alex Kalinauckas 15 Opinion: Lewis Duncan 17 Feedback: your letters

1991 SPECIAL 18 Senna’s greatest F1 title? 24 How McLaren held off Williams 28 Patrick Head on Mansell’s missed chance 32 Alesi’s view on the shambles at Ferrari 36 Unsung heroes of the season 38 Stories of the point-less cars 43 The best driver outside F1? 48 Elsewhere in the motorsport world 50 A legendary rivalry on two wheels

INSIGHT 54 Tandy’s endurance classics collection

CLUB AUTOSPORT 66 Jaguar XJ Super Saloon to return 68 Obituary: Ricky Parker-Morris 71 Opinion: James Newbold 72 2020 National Driver Rankings

FINISHING STRAIGHT 76 What’s on this week 78 Win Lewis Hamilton’s gloves 79 What could have been: Mitch Evans 80 From the archive: 1981 Le Mans 82 In defence of: Vauxhall Astra Coupe

SUBSCRIPTION OFFER 46 Special offers for Autosport

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