31 years ago, Nigel Mansell became F1 world champion

We were waiting for the Williams in the corner of the woods but it's a McLaren who wins. We feared a fragile Mansell would soon reach the goal of his life. He was solid as a rock. And wise as one Cheers. He knew how to come second to be first. Ecclestone can breathe. 

Symbols galore!

What images! Unforgettable and reassuring. Sobering after the weeks of political-administrative chaos that we had just experienced. Could we dream of anything better than this podium bringing together, on the same step, the outgoing champion and his successor? A passing of the baton worthy of Barcelona. Could we dream of anything better than seeing Mansell rush to his box to thank his men. The first to be congratulated was not the result of chance but the unfortunate mechanic who, last year at Estoril, had incorrectly fixed Nigel's right rear wheel. Yes, they fell into each other's arms. Could we dream of anything better than seeing Frank Williams, his face more tense than ever, no doubt to better hide his emotion, waiting for his pilot standing. Strapped up, his back pressed against a curious machine for the disabled. This Hungarian GP, ​​added to the fact that it was one of the liveliest of the season, will remain a strong image. Not just for the charming Rosanne and her splendid blaser/blue skirt-pants ensemble. Or blue tea…

It is almost XNUMX p.m. when Mansell, preceded and followed by a swarm of photographers, slips under the awning of the motorhome Renault. " Where is Christian? he shouts to the general public. Hay, Bernard. Thank you, thank you. » The flashes crackle, the champagne flows, the glasses clink. What wish? " Later ! ». On to the next title, of course. Are they really aware, these three intertwined men (Contzen, Mansell and the Dudots) that they have just reached their life's goal? Yes because the figures are there and we told them. No, because time has not yet done its work.

Should we really believe in Mansell's victory? First there is this cabal against special essences. Without ever mentioning a name, the Williams were targeted. So they arrived with their jerrycan filled with “fuelus vulgarus”. To change what? Despite everything, they monopolized each of the test sessions, warm up Sunday morning close. But, let us note, with much less ease than they did before: 0″79 separates Patrese from Senna on the grid… A trifle of multiple origins.

For many, including Ron Dennis, the introduction of a leukemic essence tightened the forces. For many, including Ron Dennis, the few modifications made to the McLarens (new rear wing, reworked flat bottom and the advent of the anti-skid system) did a lot. For some, including the folks at Williams, the FW14 was not on its favorite turf here. “Our car likes fast circuits, long high-speed curves, not medium and low speeds. Her characteristics are that she loves the great outdoors. Budapest is made for McLarens… We will never tire of saying it! »

Mansell, the leader

Which in no way stopped our mustachioed man from planning a rosy Sunday and walking his carcass in an almost deserted paddock while whistling. Okay, Patrese is on pole, not him. Okay, Patrese is dying to finally win a race. But he, Nigel, is the boss. It is him that his team will preserve. Since the French GP, we know that the on-board radio is not only used to talk technical. However, he had to be wary. “I always said that knowing Mansell was fighting for the world title wouldn't stop me from winning a few races! admitted Patrese on Saturday evening. This time things are looking pretty good for me. Starting from pole is an advantage. And if I manage to stay ahead in the first corner, I'll get a second. » These stable orders? These great starts from Silverstone and Hockenheim that he was never able to exploit? We will only know what will happen after the green. “Let me get a good start, take the first turn in the lead and stay in command. If it's possible... Then we'll see. As for team instructions, I don't fear them. I can assure you that I will do everything to beat this race. But my experience of this circuit forces me to point out that we should only talk about victory once the finish line is crossed. »

This assurance was not without foundation insofar as any tactical order in favor of Mansell is obviously suspended on the real conditions of the race. Namely that if an intruder managed to slip between the two McLarens, Patrese had to help a Williams/Renault win. A scenario that arose from the first hundred meters of this Hungarian GP! Located on the right, therefore dirty, part of the track, it skated too much. Unlike the two McLarens which did the exterior in one bite. Berger was not a problem. The Austrian bent three times, and in the same place, under the attacks of a Mansell little intimidated by a McLaren having each time a curious tendency to jam the Williams dangerously against the pit wall.

Overcoming the Brazilian was going to be a different story! So difficult that Nigel never succeeded… Neither during his fight over the first thirty laps, nor in his fight at the end of the race. “Ayrton drove in an incredible way. He had made the right choice of tires and kept his margin. Just what was needed, when it was needed. An excellent tactic. » What we feared were the little surges that Mansell sometimes gives us. At one point, he missed a trajectory in a wide left. Berger came back. We feared seeing Montreal again. At another moment, putting his nose in the ass of Senna's McLaren, he lost his support and negotiated a rough right-hand slope. We feared to relive Suzuka 91... But no, our man was imperturbable. Aware that his Williams would not allow him to win without great risks, he changed tactics. Or program. “Yes, I must admit that today I thought about the title. I only ran for him. It worked. »

Wise and happy

His wisdom was real. In our eyes worrying. At 3″43 behind Senna on the 48th lap, the Williams was 17″ behind the McLaren ten laps later! Was his RS4 going to suffer the same fate as that of the unfortunate Patrese? Were his tires shot? No, Nigel's delicate buttocks had detected the beginnings of a puncture... Estimated his car not very honest. Following the big problempine from Patrese to the private tests at Imola, the Williams had been equipped with a puncture detector, with a light alert on the dashboard. Normal, the active suspension compensates for any parasitic movement and leaves its driver in the dark. The system subsequently rendered Mansell a proud service during the Monaco GP. At Hockenheim, strangely enough, the light came on for no reason. Hence Mansell's tire stop on lap 14 of the German GP. 8″11 lost for nothing.

After a few other unnecessary alerts during testing for this Hungarian GP, ​​Patrick Head made the decision to tape the lamp. Quite simply. Except that, this time, the puncture was real... “I immediately stood up, convinced that there was something wrong while I heard Patrick Head screaming on the radio.” “Get back to the pit, quickly!” You're heading towards a big problem. Go home ! ». On their telemetry screens, all the engineers had proof of the incident. Not Mansell. So, in addition to the radio calls, we gave him the sign “Puncture? ". Nigel had already headed to the pits… A bit of luck never hurt anyone.

Back on the track in 6th position, 13″10 behind Häkkinen, the Englishman will spend the last eleven laps looking for lost time. With shine but without splinters. To obtain a reward that he had never deserved as much as this year. Did he even like her? " No, of course. I went through this difficult weekend telling myself that it was just like all the previous ones. In fact, I felt like I was pulling a hundred tons of weight behind me. Everywhere I went. You still noticed that I was trying to keep smiling... This time it's for good. I just need to find the words to say it. I have often been criticized for this in the past! I was second twice behind Ayrton, once behind Alain. Sometimes you are convinced that nothing will happen to you, that you won't break down... Tell me again that I was second! I still can't believe it! You know, when you've already missed the goal three times, you tell yourself that you might never get there. Then, when you feel that it's close, you tell yourself that it will just be a victory like any other. But no, no doubt about it. Winning the world championship is one of the most beautiful things that life has given me! »

Senna the expert

No new world champion, sorry for TF1, without former world champion. In Budapest, Ayrton did not lose his in a poor way. Quite the contrary. Rather calm at the start of the race, he let Patrese escape. Then, finding himself in the lead after the Italian straddled a curb, he lengthened his stride. Until setting the best time (made provisional by the fresh tires of Patrese then Mansell) on the 51st lap! “I started with soft tires, which no one did. I knew there was a risk and that we would have to be careful during the first 20 or thirty laps.”

Caution which did not deprive Senna of a tire stop on lap 68. “They had picked up a pack of dead rubber, the vibrations were such that I couldn’t even see the track! I was especially worried that the electronics would not support this treatment. Afterwards, no problem, everything went well. I was lucky that Riccardo spun! When I saw that, I was like “ok, this is what you’ve been waiting for”. Now it's up to you to do everything you can to win. Your chance is here. And I went faster and faster. The only thing that bothered me was Nigel's position. I wasn't sure if 2nd place was enough for him to be world champion. I asked for it over the radio and Ron said yes. A few moments later, I really realized that he was 2nd, therefore champion. From then on, I knew he wouldn't take any risks to win. I told myself that we had to go there, widen the gap. I was too afraid of running out of tires at the end. So I did a good job of accelerating and stopping... I think I drove today like never before in my career and this kind of result is the result of good experience.". Yes, nice tactical race. One more. Even if the compliment came from the person concerned, it should be noted.

In the McLaren clan, the compliments towards Mansell have not been legion. Berger was the only one. Like Akimasa Yasuoka was the only one to share the joy of Williams/Renault. This was also their respective first sentence at the end of the race. “I would like to congratulate Nigel on his title, blurted the Austrian. Ayrton knows what victory means, I still know what wanting to win means…”. “After winning five consecutive drivers’ titles, we are handing over to Renault and I would like to congratulate Bernard Dudot and his men for this great result”. The Japanese are like that. It is through the quality of the fight that they establish respect for their opponent.

Patrick Camus, (AUTOhebdo n°843, August 19, 1992)

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