Japan: the history of the Prost – Senna duels

In 1989: Cheers champion
The year is 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.

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, 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 McLarens harass each other with 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 last chicane, Senna dives on the inside, the wheels of the two cars come into contact like in gear and finish braking off-road. Prost retires, Senna leaves, goes to his stand and takes first place from Nannini and wins the Japanese Grand Prix.

Boss of the two drivers, Ron Dennis will file a protest to disqualify Senna. Ten days later, the sanction falls. Senna loses his victory, Prost wins a third title.

1990: Senna champion
The circumstances are completely different a year later. Alain Prost left McLaren for Ferrari. And that year, before the last Grand Prix of the season, Prost had to win to take the title from Senna.

But for a few seconds an air of déjà vu takes over televisions around the world. Placed on pole, Senna skates and sees Prost overtake him.

This time, the McLaren driver will not wait 47 laps to launch his attack. He throws himself inside and there is another collision, eight seconds after the start. The tension between the two pilots is at its height and the world is divided into two parts. The pro-Prost and the pro-Senna who, twenty years later, have not changed their arguments.