F1
33 years ago, Prost won the title by clashing with Senna
Too bold an attack or a closed door? © DPPI
It is October 22, 1989. Fifteenth Grand Prix of the season and one driver against all. Ayrton Senna must win to be titled. In all other cases, it is his teammate, at McLaren, Alain Prost who wears the crown.
A few hours before departure, it is still time to celebrate the world title offered to Honda by Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost © DPPI
In the press, the two pilots warn each other. Senna affirms that he has nothing to lose while Prost announces without batting an eyelid that he will not let himself be overwhelmed. Master of qualifying, Senna took pole position, just ahead of Prost.
The Frenchman is betting everything on a small piece of straight line. He wants to be in the lead at the first corner... As the start is given, Senna misses and Prost takes off the best of his career thanks to settings specially adapted for the first meters of the race. For an hour, the two McLaren harass each other every few seconds. But it takes Senna forty laps to get back on Prost. However, the Brazilian is faster. On the 47th lap, he attempted his attack. Before the final chicane, Senna dives on the inside, the wheels of the two cars come into contact like in gear and finish their off-road braking. Prost gave up and left the seat of his McLaren, while Senna left with the help of the track marshals, went to his pit to change his front wing and began a dazzling comeback. Place after place, Ayrton Senna gets back on Alessando Nanini's Benetton to finally take back first place and win the Japanese Grand Prix. At this precise moment, Ayrton Senna is world champion.
In the meantime, the stewards met to discuss the legality of the Brazilian Champion's return to the track and the help he received from the stewards to restart his Honda engine. At the end of an interminable wait, Ayrton Senna was disqualified and Nanini climbed to the highest step of the podium, de facto validating the world title for Alain Prost.
Boss of the two drivers, Ron Dennis will appeal the disqualification of Senna following the Grand Prix. Ten days later, the sanction was confirmed and Ayrton Senna officially lost his victory, Prost won a third title and left for Ferrari with number 1. Neither man knows that their paths will cross again a year later, on the same circuit, still to win a world title.
ALSO READ > Ayrton Senna's last interview in AUTOhebdo
Gautier Calmels
Journalist MotoGP, Nascar, Rallye France, Endurance and Classic... Among others.
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REMY MERCIE
22/10/2022 at 06:32 a.m.
Thank you for not twisting the truth, even if Senna wins at Suzuka, he is not world champion. He must win in Australia to win the title. For Prost he must win at least one GP, the points count in force this year does not allow him to manage his lead in the championship (in 1989 only the 11 best results are taken into account).