Nearly all the drivers are superstitious: they have amulets, horns, screws hanging from golden chains by their side and they often knock wood. Some (Ayrton Senna at the beginning of his career, for example) confessed that they are not able to get in the car without always having the same pair of gloves on. This time, however, Riccardo Patrese cannot refrain himself from accepting the speech, even if he takes it away. In fact, on Sunday, 15th July, 1990, at Silverstone, on the fastest Formula 1 track, he will celebrate his 200th race in the history of the world driver's championship. It has been 14 years since the Paduan driver has stepped onto the stage, and that is without considering his career in karting and minor formulas.
"Yeah, it feels nice to reach this milestone. A record, at the very least. And I'm already expecting a cake with little candles on it. But don't you call me old: I feel in great shape, just like a kid, even if a lot of time has already passed. Extraordinary moments and dark periods. It's been nice though overall".
Sure, the thrilling races with cars that were not exactly the most performing ones, the victories (at Montecarlo in 1982 and in South Africa in 1983 with Brabham, and then the most emotional one at Imola this year). And the difficulties as well. That years-long trial, ended with full acquittal, for Peterson's incident at Monza, his colleagues' ostracism, The 1983 San Marino Grand Prix's debacle, when an error gifted Tambay and Ferrari the victory. An experience gained step by step, on the track, the fame of a harsh driver, difficult to scrub away. And then again, the dedication to this profession, to the team, in the good and the bad. Here is one of the reasons why Patrese became an esteemed champion: it is rare to hear any complaint whatsoever in his voice, nor an excuse, and neither any attempt at justifying a bad performance by blaming the car's problems.
"In this job, however, what matters is only the present. Thinking about the past or the future makes no sense whatsoever. I feel alright because I'm always fast, and therefore competitive. And I feel calm. I'm a serious person. If the rumours surrounding me were true, I would have been away from Williams for two years already. These rumours go away with time".
In the last two races, Mexico and France, the ambitions of Williams and consequently those of Patrese seem to have been scaled down. It seemed that the team could reach the top, however, there has been a turnaround. But the veteran doesn't let himself break down, even if deep down he certainly suffers.
"McLaren is always the strongest and therefore the favourite. Then came Ferrari too. For us it's becoming more difficult. But we're working like crazy to catch up. We have a lot of new things to try on the cars".
A remarkable grit, and a determination that leaves no room for doubt. But what has changed in all these years?
"I've become more calculating, even if I always give it my all in the race and in qualifying. Sometimes you have to know how to aim for a minor result, it's useless to do crazy things".
As a driver, Riccardo Patrese has already had great recognition. But are there still, at the age of 36, desires to yet be fulfilled?
"Of course there are. I would like to have the chance to fight for the world title with a competitive cad throughout the season. After all, I'm the driver who has raced the most in any era, and yet I'm not the oldest".
And at this point his most repressed dream comes out overwhelmingly:
"Why don't they give me a Ferrari to prove once and for all that even an Italian can win this title?"
In the meantime, speaking of Ferrari, on Wednesday, 11th July, 1990, the test driver Gianni Morbidelli finished his work, concluding the tests on the new Ferrari 037 engine, at least for this week. The Pesarese driver completed around thirty laps of the Fiorano track, the fastest one being a good time of 1'04"50. It seems to be confirmed that, at Silverstone, this engine will only be used for qualifying and not in the race. If it were not for the fact that the English countryside is unmistakable, it would seem that Formula 1 landed in Kenya and not in Northamptonshire on Thursday, 12th July, 1990. A great sultry heat and scorching sun welcome the Circus torn, at least as far as the drivers are concerned, from the holidays on the Côte d'Azur, where almost everyone had stopped to unwind for a couple of days after the efforts of Le Castellet. The problem (of the high temperature) is not easy to solve on a very fast track like this, the fastest in the whole Championship where the average speed will exceed 250 km/h. Hot engines and many risks of breakage. But this is a difficulty that will eventually be discussed on Sunday during the race. The challenge, however, will begin on Friday morning, with the first day of practice and with the afternoon qualifying session which will kick off the hostilities of the British Grand Prix, the eighth round of a championship that has reached the exact half. After surprising its rivals in Mexico, and after confirming itself authoritatively in France, Ferrari is considered the favourite to win. But the Maranello team rightly rejects this role, which they still assign to McLaren. With the drivers absent (Mansell is still resting playing golf, Prost is in Paris, where he has to sort out some matters) Cesare Fiorio acts as spokesperson:
"McLaren is still leading the World Championship standings. This is an irrefutable fact. We think we have prepared in the right way and we shouldn't go wrong in this circuit. But every race presents something new: one time it's Williams then Benetton or March to challenge us. It's never easy to win and nothing is ever taken for granted. We must not let ourselves be carried away by easy enthusiasm, but only commit ourselves to the very maximum. Senna and Berger are always the men to beat".
They are cautious. And it cannot be otherwise. In motor racing, there are too many factors that can condition a race. In any case, the Maranello team seem to have prepared themselves well. In free practice a fortnight ago, Nigel Mansell achieved a fantastic lap record here: 1'07"89, using the standard engine because the new one broke after about fifteen laps. On Wednesday at Fiorano, Gianni Morbidelli tested the evolution engine until 9:00 p.m.: on 75 laps, the best time is a 1'03"0, a remarkable time if it is considered that the young man from Pesaro is certainly not Mansell or Prost, and that it was not only the speed response that was sought but the reliability. However, the fact remains that, on Thursday, two brand new engines arrive from Italy, mounted on the spare cars, for qualifying. Barring last-minute changes (due to extraordinary results), however, they should not be used in the Grand Prix. Ferrari, as was already planned before leaving for Le Castellet, is also bringing four cars to Silverstone, two for each driver. The event takes on particular importance for Nigel Mansell, and not just because the Isle of Man racer competes in front of his fans. The Englishman must absolutely seek the result of prestige, i.e. victory. In the face of three successes by Prost, the British driver, still dry of results when it comes to the first places, has to try to shorten the distances in order not to be mathematically cut out of the fight for the title which in any case already seems to be limited to just a few names: only Berger, at the moment, can think of joining the Senna-Prost duo in the great challenge. McLaren against Ferrari, and few chances for the other teams. Benetton will mount the new, fourth generation, more powerful Ford engine (approximately thirty horsepower). But debuts are always difficult. Williams hopes to make up for lost ground. Ivan Capelli, speaking for Leyton House, says that in this circuit, where the engine will count a lot, he hopes to be in the top ten but no further. A return of Tyrrell is also expected, which has excellent aerodynamics (Alesi was 1.2 seconds behind Mansell in testing) even if for Postlethwaite's cars there is the handicap of an eight-cylinder engine which cannot really do much.
Ivan Capelli, the hero of Le Castellet, adds that he hopes for a good finish in the race, because he has put himself on the market (apparently Williams is interested):
"A year and a half of disappointments cannot be erased by just one race that ends well".
A sign that he is disappointed with his current team, even if Leyton House has already planned the adoption of the ten-cylinder Ilmor, under construction for the next year. Better to be on the safe side, if a good proposal arrives, than towards other unknowns.
"Worried? Not that much. At this point we can only do better than we did in the last two races".
The speaker is Ayrton Senna. Apparently calm, the Brazilian carefully examines the situation, with reference to the crisis - or alleged crisis - of McLaren. First up, the McLaren driver explains why he feels he lost in France:
"I already said it at Le Castellet and I repeat it. I don't know if Ferrari has a more suitable material for changing tyres: I'm not a technician. However it is evident that the Italian team is always very fast in this important manoeuvre. We have reached such a point of balance that nothing can be given away anymore. And we threw away a handful of seconds in the pits".
Just a tire problem?
"Not only that. Even if it's important. We were at the top in terms of car and engine in 1988. A fantastic complex, superior to all. Halfway through last season, Ferrari began to progress with the engine, as the chassis was already excellent And McLaren, which had made up for the car's deficiencies up to that point with the Honda engine, began to lose ground. During the winter, the Modenese technicians made further progress. Now we are equal in terms of engine, but behind with the car".
Then he returned to the tire issue and P3 in France:
"The fact that I lost time at Le Castellet forced me to get back on track to recover. I was in the middle of a series of cars to be lapped, I had to force and, once again, the tires deteriorated".
An opportunity to throw another dig at Prost:
"In the race he never overtook me, he won because I fell behind when changing tires. He finished first many other times without overtaking".
If it's not hate, we're close. But will there be a McLaren rematch in England?
"Our car should be quite good. In recent tests we haven't set any great time. But that doesn't mean much. I think we will be much faster, then. We can even win".
What about the World Championship?
"It's open. Ferrari has made considerable progress, the fight is on the edge of seconds. In the next races we'll have new material to test. We'll see. We need to work and hope that many things go well. In terms of reliability, we're still the strongest and this is always a small advantage. It is necessary not to waste anything".
We are in the contract renewal period: when will you let your decisions be known?
"At the right time".
An answer that must be interpreted. The only certain thing is that McLaren at this point will be obliged not to disappoint its champion again. Ferrari seeks a poker in England, home of rival teams by tradition. To be honest, the Maranello team, in the forecasts on the eve, as mentioned, did not issue challenges and proclamations as it had done more openly in France. Now it's best to be careful, let the opponents find out. Gerhard Berger says:
"It's useless to hide it, the Italian team has made great progress. But we need to be honest and objective: Ferrari is the emerging force in the Formula 1 World Championship. They have proved it and unfortunately I think the worst for us is yet to come. For years my current team has given lessons, now it's up to us to try to catch up. We're not too far away, we just need a little luck and a few small steps forward in setting up the chassis".
The Austrian driver's analysis follows Ayrton Senna's by a few hours. Partly for the tires (and for the tire changes in the pits, for which he gave full credit to the mechanics of the Maranello team), partly because the set-up of his car leaves something to be desired. After all, the departure of John Barnard three years ago, that of Nichols this year, and also the shelving of Gordon Murray who has moved on to designing a fabulous GT car, have left their mark on McLaren. The current chief technical officer, Neal Oatley, may not yet have the experience and ability to do it all himself. Thus, while Riccardo Patrese, very reluctantly, for reasons of superstition, prepares to celebrate his record of 200 races run in Formula 1, while Nannini and Piquet dream of revenge, while Williams seeks a difficult recovery, the eighth round still presents the challenge between McLaren and Ferrari. But maybe it is not just a battle between two teams. The story is much more complicated: there is also Prost against Senna, but who at the same time must beware of his teammate Mansell, while the Brazilian must also contend with Berger. The two teammates do not want to abandon the idea of being able to fight for the title. As soon as he arrived on the track, Nigel Mansell said:
"On this track I feel like doing miracles. I know it like the streets of my home, I've always been strong here, in all conditions. If I'm not let down by the car, as happened in France, it will be very difficult to beat me on Sunday. My tooth is poisoned because everything has always gone wrong since the beginning of the year and I've been persecuted by bad luck that will have to end sooner or later".
The Briton does not want to disappoint his fans. But, above all, he is convinced that he is putting a good part of his future at stake this weekend. How will he be able to present himself at the negotiating table (with Ferrari or others) without even a victory? In Formula 1, nothing can be taken for granted. But it was easy to predict McLaren's reaction in England. Thus we shouldn't be surprised at Ayrton Senna's best time (1'08"071, at an average speed of 252.782 km/h, a new record for cars with naturally aspirated engines) obtained on Friday 13 July 1990, which placed himself ahead of teammate Gerhard Berger. However, if Ferrari does not confirm the time obtained in free practice two weeks ago (1'07"890), Nigel Mansell's third place should not be underestimated. Especially if we consider that the Maranello team, apart from Le Castellet, has never emerged in qualifying this year.
A McLaren that is therefore forcefully returning to its role as the leading actress and a Ferrari that is always competitive, even if a little tense and tormented, in every sense, by what has always been a problem: its relationship with the drivers. An outburst, just by Mansell, makes it clear that the situation isn't exactly the best. Immediately after practice, the Englishman, an intelligent man who knows how to take advantage of the right moments (here, he races at home with a favourable public opinion), after having made not too positive statements about his treatment at Ferrari in recent days, utters a few but dry and focused words.
"I've got nothing to say today. You should ask Ferrari. I had a smaller rear wing mounted on my car but I still recorded a lower top speed than Prost's".
A not too subtle accusation at his team. As if to say that he was supplied with a less powerful engine, as with a lower aerodynamic load he should have been faster on the straights. Compared to a speed of 321.580 km/h achieved by the McLaren of Gerhard Berger (the best) and 315.170 km/h by Alain Prost, the Englishman scored only the thirteenth top speed, reaching 310.770 km/h. A contingent episode, according to what Ferrari says (linked to an inadequate engine mapping), but the complaint is the symptom of a situation that Nigel does not seem to like. In essence, Nigel Mansell believes that he is not assisted enough, i.e. not as much as Alain Prost. Apart from the fact that, at this point in the championship, with the Frenchman only 3 points behind Senna and with three victories under his belt, it is difficult to criticise any action to support Prost, it can be assumed that Mansell's stance is also due to other factors. Last but not least, the renewal of the contract for the 1991 season. The sporting director of Ferrari, Cesare Fiorio, had to put on the role of fire chief to throw water on the flames of controversy.
"It's true, Mansell only reached 310 km/h. But we don't think we're in a bad situation. On the contrary, Ferrari is absolutely competitive here. If anything, we have to catch up with Prost who is in P6 and a second slower. Qualifying is not yet our forte. We are a little disappointed with the lap time, but we must also know that we had achieved that 1'07"890 after three days of testing. Now the track has changed. We still have to work to find the right settings".
Fiorio also avoids getting involved in another controversy. The English newspapers have taken up statements by Berger (from last season), according to which he too (like Mansell) had been abandoned in mid-season. In reality, Ferrari seems to be on its way to confirm both of its drivers. In fact, President Fusaro and Fiorio had long talks in the Marlboro van that pays for the drivers' salaries. Since Senna would have renewed for a year with McLaren, he will talk about it again in twelve months. Speaking of Senna, the Brazilian rider now seems calmer, being back on top, in front of everyone. A perfect ride, without smudging and giving the impression of not forcing it. But the Brazilian from McLaren is also convinced that there will be a tough fight during the race.
"We have improved the setup of our cars. Even the engine, compared to the beginning of the season, seems more valid to me. But it won't be a cakewalk. We are all very close, Ferrari should not be taken lightly".
This is an analysis which for once finds Prost in agreement.
"Yes, as for race tyres, we're not doing badly. But my Ferrari's settings aren't perfect yet, I don't quite have the best feeling with the car on this track, we still need to work. Also in qualifying I shifted a wrong gear in the chicane, putting the first gear instead of the second. I have the impression that in terms of engine we are very close to Honda which in any case must have brought more powerful ten cylinders here. I still have to find the right setup".
The Frenchman, while keeping an eye on the starting position, is thinking about the race on a circuit where he has already won three times. And being the record driver, he wants to increase the loot. Ayrton Senna or McLaren pulled out the competitiveness, to beat Ferrari in the British Grand Prix. Legitimate aspiration, that of the Brazilian champion. But it's not so certain that the Maranello team, with Prost and Mansell, is unable to respond, aiming for a third consecutive success, an almost historic result because one would have to go back many years in the history of Formula 1 to find a similar one. The challenge therefore repeats itself, obsessive and at the same time exciting, because every time the panorama changes, we are faced with different situations, problems and questions. In Mexico there had been the issues of the 2,200-metre altitude and of the abrasive asphalt that peels off the tyres. The battle of set-ups, aerodynamic solutions and again tires took place on the Le Castellet circuit. This time the tires shouldn't have a determining factor: here, given the very fast track, with an average speed of 250 km/h, the engines and the ability of the drivers to make thrilling overtakings will count above all. But Ayrton Senna adds:
"In any case, however, the setting of the car will be very important. So far I've only won three races, but I've always been in the lead in the seven races I've run. I think that this time too I will be able to start at the lead. Then we'll see: with Ferrari we are very close in terms of performance, the fight is very close and balanced. Nor should we forget my teammate Berger. He's had a lot of bad luck, but it could also be his day".
A little diplomacy never hurts. But it is clear that Senna is aiming for full success. His hated rival Alain Prost is in his sights, the driver who beat him last year with the same car, even with means that the South American deems illicit, such as controversy. But above all with the collision in Suzuka, when Senna also risked a long disqualification. Ayrton is not the type to forget, this is a story that he will carry with him for the rest of his life and on Sunday the prize will not be so much success in the British Grand Prix, but rather the possibility of stopping the Frenchman in his ascent to the top of the standings. In the meantime, Prost goes his own way serenely. While Mansell gets nervous and creates thoughts about Ferrari (with his indirect accusations of favouritism towards the transalpine), the world champion thinks about the tactics to adopt to beat Senna once again. Will he go on the attack right away or will he try to come out at range?
"I don't know yet, I'll decide based on the performance of the car in the morning's free practice. A lot depends on the set-up I'll be able to give to my Ferrari. In terms of top speed we are not the best, which is why I will try to find another weak point from the McLaren. Every race is a pain in the neck. But I hope to suffer to the end. It will be important to get some good points in this match, waiting for Hockenheim. For the German Grand Prix we might even have the new engine available. This eventuality would put us in an advantageous position compared to the current situation, or it could be the right time to launch the decisive attack. But unfortunately it is a must to wait: it is always difficult in our sport to do the en plein. We have to live from day to day, hoping that our opponents don't suddenly find winning solutions. But the same argument also applies to the others, who must hope that Ferrari does not make any progress".
Saturday, 14 July, 1990, Nigel Mansell brings Ferrari to pole position, and the Englishman swallows his complaints and criticisms. For the second consecutive time, a car from Maranello will start in front of everyone: after France, Great Britain too was conquered, at least in terms of speed performance per lap, by the Italian team. An important result on a technical and psychological level, regardless of what happens in the race. Mansell (pole number 14 in his career) sends the fans into raptures with one of those laps that make you shiver: 1'07"428, at an average speed of 255.192 km/h, one of the fastest ever recorded in Formula 1. In the corners to be tackled at 300 km/h, in this circuit built over an old military airport, the Englishman leaves everyone amazed, allowing Ferrari to overtake McLaren. Gerhard Berger and Ayrton Senna do not go beyond the fifth and eighth times. Good for them that had gone better on Friday, so the Brazilian will start in the front row anyway and the Austrian in second.
Another blow to pride, especially for Senna. Alain Prost, despite improving both in result (by almost a second) and in position (from P6 to P5), fails to be particularly brilliant. The Frenchman, however, did not appear worried, and blamed the tires a little, praising Mansell and saying that he is thinking above all of the points up for grabs at Silverstone, i.e. the World Championship. Apart from Mansell's exploits, the qualifiers hold no surprises. If the McLarens still show some chassis tuning problems, Williams is the third wheel. But on this occasion the fastest is Thierry Boutsen (P4), while Patrese, with a car that is suddenly less balanced, does not go beyond P7. The usual Jean Alesi precedes him, always unleashed with his Tyrrell which does not have much horsepower despite clearly having excellent aerodynamics. The Frenchman leads the platoon of Pirelli-shod cars from a distance. Further back, the Larrousses of Bernard and Suzuki follow, demonstrating the progress made by the Lamborghini engines designed by Mauro Forghieri, now firmly among the most competitive, and by the cars conceived by the old Ducarouge. Then Capelli, Piquet, Nakajima, Nannini and Donnelly with the Lotus. This long list to identify what the surprise of the British Grand Prix will be, since now there is one every time. We can hazard a prediction: battle between Ferrari and McLaren for victory, Williams and Benetton in the role of outsiders. Piquet and Nannini can also be placed among the likely protagonists, even if their laps in qualifying are not very fast (P11 for the Brazilian, P13 for the Italian). A vote of encouragement, therefore, considering that for the first time they will adopt the new Ford engine on the Benettons, the 8-cylinder now in its fourth generation. It should be more powerful, even if there is always the risk of lack of reliability, since they are at their debut. At the end of the tests Nigel Mansell, who can't hide his joy and emotion, talks about an attack race. The Englishman, now galvanised and revved more than his engine, will certainly do everything possible to stay in the lead from the first lap. But he will have to contend with the two McLarens who are usually more agile at the start. And he will also have to deal with his teammate Prost, who, from the front lines, will be looking for the fourth victory of the season. After all, Ferrari would be able to give Nigel Mansell the task of taking pole positions away from McLaren, and Alain Prost the task of winning the races: not a bad strategy. With the rehearsals over, Nigel Mansell is high over heels:
"I believe this has been my fastest, most fantastic, most everything lap of my career".
Says the British driver, who got out of the car and walked nervously up and down the pits without being able to contain his emotions of joy, after he had gone under the McLaren awning on Friday just to be seen by the men of his team, while he was talking with opponents. Mansell seems to want to say to Ferrari: if you don't want me, there are many people who want me, who court me, so make up your mind, either you give me the 7.000.000 dollars I'm asking for the renewal of the contract, or I leave. I'm going, I don't want to stay at Ferrari with the prospect of being Alain Prost's chauffeur. But the answer from Fiorio and Fusaro was immediately ready, as they went to see Senna in his motorhome, flaunting great happiness at the time of farewell. As early as the Brazilian Grand Prix, Cesare Fiorio had begun to discuss the details of the contract that would have brought Ayrton Senna to Ferrari. And subsequently, Cesare and Ayrton had met again in Monte-Carlo, where practically everything had been decided: only the formalisation of the contract was missing, but the two had only shaken hands before parting. How many flattering adjectives Nigel Mansell uses this time to describe his Ferrari:
"Magical, fantastic, unique, prestigious".
All they need is for the English driver to go and kiss the asphalt as he did on the occasion of his first victory in Formula 1 (Brands Hatch, 1985) and then the drama would be complete. But he is like this, more emotional than a Latin, with a fragile character, subject to continuous ups and downs of mood. And when he is strong, he is a lion.
"It was perhaps the best lap of my career".
Mansell, eager to embrace his wife Rosanne and children Cloe, Greg and Leo, proud of the presence of friends such as the Prince of Kent and the famous golfer Greg Norman, adds:
"I had set up the car very well, balanced throughout the circuit. An extraordinary car, an exceptional engine. And I pushed hard, passing the corners of Copse, Becketts, Stowe and Club as if they were straightaways. When I saw the time, I realised that no one could have surpassed me. The team was incredible. Ferrari did the impossible. The race? I just know that I will attack. With a victory I could re-enter the fight for the World Championship".
And then:
"I was so happy that if I didn't have the seat belts, I would have jumped out of the car. I had had a hellish week, I was nervous. I have to apologise to Ferrari for Friday's statements, but I wanted this pole at all costs. There's too much politics in Formula 1, and maybe I'm not smart enough to lie or manipulate the truth. In any case, my performance is not linked to the renewal of the contract: I'm fine with the Maranello team, I'll wait to see if they reconfirm me".
Prost, relaxed, appears confident:
"Mansell was superb. He is very fast, when he wants. He was in front of his fans, it's only right that he's on pole. I had two sets of qualifying tyres: one was mediocre, the other bad, so much so that I did another lap and the tires didn't even warm up. There are differences. But it doesn't matter. I think I'm in good shape for the race".
The Frenchman can be very subtle.
"At this point I also have to think about the points for the World Championship. Let's also let the others fight each other to start in front. Of course, I would have preferred the second row, but overtaking is not impossible here. It depends on the set-up of the car and the choice of tyres, which as usual is very delicate".
Ferrari's joy can also be seen on Cesare Fiorio's face.
"You never get used to being in front. This result confirms that the trials at the beginning of July had been sincere. Unfortunately, this time too we noticed that there are differences in the performance of the tyres, excellent for Mansell and less so for Prost. But that's okay, even if we don't underestimate the opponents. Nigel didn't need to prove his skills. And I can also say that there will be no team orders: with nine races to go, the championship is still very long and Ferrari needs points from both drivers".
Ferrari is now faster than McLaren. This is also thanks to the new Goodyear tyres, which now work better, as also admitted by Cesare Fiorio:
"Yes, it's true, we have solved the problem of the qualifying tires that have been bothering us for a long time. What happened? Well, certainly Goodyear has begun to bring different tires to the circuits, nothing revolutionary but just enough to go better. But there are still some strange differences between rubber and tires. Let's take Prost. He too could have achieved pole position but he didn't do it because of the tyres".
While Riccardo Patrese is being celebrated because on Sunday, as mentioned, he will compete in his 200th Formula 1 race (yellow-black Renault balloons, souvenir plates, prizes, cake, champagne and a large water balloon from Alboreto and Nannini), in the McLaren van they are analysing the situation, particularly regarding the chassis of the cars of Senna and Berger, considered unstable. The Brazilian had previously said:
"I knew it was going to end like this. In the morning's practice sessions I realised that it would be necessary to go down to 1'07"5 to be on pole. And I realised that I wouldn't get there. I encountered terrible understeer with the first set of tires. So I went with the smaller wing to at least increase top speed. But it didn't help: halfway through the second lap I realised that I risked going off the track and I slowed down, only pushing in the final stages. But we're not beaten yet".
And Gerhard Berger added:
"I had problems with the gearbox. A couple of gears jumped and I stopped for repairs. When I restarted on the second set of tyres, I lightened the aero pressure again. By mid-lap the front tires were already out of order. I'm not happy with the setup of my McLaren".
Now the Anglo-Japanese team seems to be in crisis, just when Ron Dennis would have liked to conclude the matter of the contract with Senna from a position of strength. Just Saturday, a newspaper offers a sensational headline on the front page:
"Senna is asking for $17.000.000 to renew his contract for 1991".
The figure is inflated, but it should not be far from reality. However, there are two problems to solve: will the money now be enough to convince the Brazilian to stay at McLaren, if he hasn't already done so? But where can Senna go if he makes the sensational decision to leave his current team? Two pieces of news. The first concerns anti-doping controls. FISA informs with appreciated solicitude that the pilots Prost, Capelli, Mansell and Martini, who underwent the tests at Le Castellet, were negative, i.e. non-drugs. Anti-doping should also be carried out on Sunday. The second piece of information involves Gabriele Tarquini who qualified for the race (last time) exactly one year after his last participation. The Italian had been out in sixteen Grands Prix. And so among the thousand celebrations of these days there was also his, but with only one candle. Sunday, 15 July 1990, at the start of the British Grand Prix, Ayrton Senna surprises Nigel Mansell, who is in pole position. The Brazilian takes the lead ahead of the Englishman, followed by Gerhard Berger, Thierry Boutsen and Alain Prost. However, it is immediately clear that McLaren would not have had much to spend. During lap 8, Ferrari made its first attack at the chicane. But Mansell delays braking too much and is overtaken by Senna again. Meanwhile, he stops in the pits to change the tires. On lap 12 Nigel Mansell succeeds in his manoeuvre and Ayrton Senna, in an attempt to recover, ends up on a curb, performing a spectacular spin in which he damages the underbody of the car, and has to return to the pits to change tyres, passing from P5 to P10 immediately after. From now on Ayrton is only trying to go all the way to score points. In the leading group, Nannini (who, arriving long under braking during lap 15, collides with Patrese's Williams and has to leave the race) and Patrese himself have disappeared. The Italian, now hopelessly delayed and in difficulty with the broken rear chute, opens up the tussle between Nigel Mansell and Gerhard Berger. The Englishman, struggling with a gearbox control problem, lets the Austrian get past him, but after a few laps, when the system started working again, he overtakes the McLaren once more. Meanwhile, in the rear, Ivan Capelli, author of one lap record after another and Alain Prost make their way towards the front. In a short time the World Champion catches up with his team mate and overtakes him (lap 43). Mansell, in trouble, was seen being approached by Capelli, until the latter stopped during lap 48, also risking a fire in the car. Nine laps from the end, poor Nigel Mansell was forced to retire, followed shortly after by the second McLaren of Gerhard Berger, during lap 60.
And while Alain Prost flew away towards his umpteenth triumph, Thierry Boutsen and Ayrton Senna, without too much effort, found themselves on the podium. Behind them are the competitive Larrousse-Laniborghini of the young Éric Bernard, the Benetton-Ford of Nelson Piquet and the Japanese Suzuki, in the second Larrousse-Lamborghini. Alain Prost conquers his third consecutive victory at Silverstone and takes the lead in the Formula 1 World Championship thanks to successful overtaking of Ayrton Senna, who closes the British Grand Prix in third place (behind Belgian driver Thierry Boutsen). The Frenchman now has a 2-point lead over the Brazilian and, above all, great enthusiasm. And, in these conditions, everything can be easier. It is a happy moment for the team, which, after difficult months, sometimes furrowed by the venom of more or less consistent controversies, is going from success to success, demonstrating that work, commitment and proper cars (the millions of dollars and the technological resources that the Fiat Group makes available to the Maranello team should not be forgotten) bring their results. Prost had established himself at the beginning of the year in Brazil, now he is replicating with inexorable continuity: first in Mexico, first in France, first in Great Britain. Reliability finally marries competitiveness, as confirmed by the pole positions obtained at Le Castellet and on Saturday at Silverstone by Nigel Mansell. The British Grand Prix, eighth round of the World Championship, marked the halfway point. And Silverstone has shaken up the challenge for the title, rewarding Ferrari as it had done on another distant day. On Saturday, 14 July, 1951, 39 years earlier, on this very fast track created in an airport lost in the English countryside, the Argentinean Froilan Gonzalez had given the team its first success in a round of the World Championship. Simultaneously, Nigel Mansell began stripping on the floor, minutes after he was forced to retire. The gloves thrown in the middle of the crowd that applauds him moved and disappointed, then the fireproof cap. Thus Nigel Ernest James Mansell, who will turn 36 on the next 8th of August, perhaps ideally wanted to anticipate, by throwing away his tools, what he would later surprisingly say in front of the Ferrari motorhome. After speaking with his wife Rosanne, the English driver improvises a press conference. Upset, and with a trembling voice, the English pilot says:
"In Australia at the end of the championship I will have my last race. I've been running and taking risks since 1976. I've been thinking about retiring for a while. And I realised that I have to take care of my family, my three children Chloe, Leo and Greg".
Mansell had not hidden his intentions in recent times, especially from the English press. Some rumours had leaked, but had also been denied. The announcement therefore comes halfway between surprise and disbelief. Someone asks the driver if he is sure of this decision. Nigel replies:
"One hundred percent. Racing is important but it's only part of a man's life".
Did the disappointment of not having won at Silverstone, in front of 200.000 fans, influence the decision?
"No, the result has nothing to do with it. It is a situation that has matured over time. I dreamed of winning the World Championship before retiring. It went badly. I have nothing against Ferrari: it's a fantastic team, the best I've ever had and I don't want to look for another one".
Confused, the men of the Maranello team are amazed in the crowd. Who expected such an announcement? None, probably, and anyway not now and not in this way. But Nigel Mansell has always been the character of ups and downs, of emotional thrusts, of improvisations. He had already threatened to retire last year when he was disqualified for the Spanish Grand Prix after being punished for a manoeuvre (reversing into the pits during the race) in Portugal. He had brought his lawyers, he had threatened legal action, but also shadowed the possibility of abandonment. Fifteen victories since 1985, right in England at Brands Hatch, fourteen pole positions, the driver who lives on the Isle of Man is considered one of the bravest and most spectacular in Formula 1.
So far he has raced for Lotus, Williams and Ferrari. He has sometimes been accused of being an individualist and of having too much grit, of driving without using reason. He, just in these days, had given some explanations:
"I run on instinct, it's true. But this is my way of interpreting racing. In any case, for a driver to be faster than the others this is the most important thing. There is a particular reason for being considered an egoist, for not having many friends in the circle: I was bound by a deep friendship to a boy who had conquered me. His name was Elio De Angelis. When he had that tragic accident, I seemed to understand that in this profession it's better not to have great affections, and therefore I reserved them for my family, for some people who don't live in the racing world. Ours is a sport in which sincere relationships are impossible. We have witnessed too many shocking episodes to believe it anymore".
Mansell has had two exciting seasons so far, during which he could have even won the World Championship. Twice he finished in second place. In 1986 he was defeated by 2 points by Alain Prost, after being the victim of an accident in Japan, the following year it was his teammate Piquet who beat him in the last race, when in Australia a tire of his Williams exploded on the straight.
"Now, before the end of the championship I will still try to win some races. And if I can, if I need to, I will help Prost win his fourth world title. Then he will leave the company, to enjoy life".
And so saying, the British rider gets on a moped, carrying his wife Roxanne. He stops in front of Frank Williams, relegated to a wheelchair, and informs him of his intentions, also for fairness, given that the English manufacturer would have liked to take him back with him, if he had left Ferrari. When Mansell ends the conversation, Mrs. Roxanne can't resist being happy and she lets herself go into a long cry of joy, standing up on the saddle. A sign that in the family the retreat is welcomed with happiness. One doubt remains: Nigel on Friday criticised Ferrari under the pressure of moral depression for not having a good engine to take pole position.
The day after, having obtained the best time, he exalted the Maranello team. Ups and downs, they said. Who knows, maybe in the next few days he won't change his mind. Or that someone can't convince him that he's made a mistake. The announcement of Nigel Mansell's retirement, as mentioned, takes Ferrari by surprise, busy celebrating Alain Prost's victory. And Cesare Fiorio, when asked about it, is forced to submit himself to the journalists' questions again.
"What do you want me to tell you? We will try to change his mind. I'll call him at home, but also give us time to understand. It's only been 15 minutes since he said he was leaving racing at the end of the year. I will speak to him calmly. If we fail to convince him, however, it will be a great loss for Formula 1 because he is a very good driver. Any replacement? Don't worry, we won't be late".
The name of Riccardo Patrese is mentioned, but the Paduan, very nervous about his 200th race, badly celebrated with an abandonment, has already left on his motorbike. Thus begins the hunt for opinions, reactions, unfortunately few, because the pilots, once the race is over, if they don't have obligations for awards and interviews, get on their helicopters and quickly disappear over the horizon. One of the few left, Ayrton Senna, makes a startling statement. It should not be forgotten that a few years ago, in Belgium, the Brazilian and the Englishman fought after a collision.
"I hope he thinks it would be a serious loss for Formula 1. Mansell is a protagonist, a driver who puts on a show, particularly aggressive and with a fighting style. Maybe he made up his mind because of disappointment. Often in the heat we indulge in answers and comments that do not correspond to the real intentions. I hope he thinks about it and understands that this is really not the time to leave Ferrari. If he then confirms the decision, it means that at least he will give a jolt to the driver market, creating a new situation. We'll have to think about it".
In this regard, Ivan Capelli adds:
"Honestly, in the environment he was considered a departure for another road. So two places should remain free, one at Ferrari and another in the team where he should eventually have gone. This doesn't mean that I'm happy: he's a respectable, nice person, a strong and spectacular driver".
And Pierluigi Martini concludes:
"From my point of view, Mansell is one of the most spectacular riders. As a fan, I'm sorry. For the rest, if he leaves, he leaves a place that could be filled by one of the emerging riders with a thirst for success. But I think anything can still happen".
Finally Alain Prost, rather calm in his commentary, says:
"Mansell is certainly a smart guy. I don't think he took such an initiative lightly. We have also seen more sudden and unexpected retirements, such as the one by Lauda who even left a race midway in Canada. I think a man should feel free to decide his future as he sees fit. But if he were to change his mind, everyone would ignore it".
Meanwhile, Ferrari celebrates the surprise victory in Brazil, the cunning one in Mexico, and the hard-fought success in France. If up to now the Maranello team had given the impression of being competitive without dominating, this time there is no doubt: in Great Britain they obtained the most beautiful and clearest affirmation: 39 seconds before Williams, 43 seconds before McLaren, 1'15"0 before Larousse, 1'24"0 before Benetton. A great race, almost always in the lead, except for the first laps, and an interlude of six laps when Nigel Mansell, in crisis due to the gearbox, had to let Gerhard Berger pass. The fourth success of the season still bears the signature of Alain Prost. The Frenchman has added another pearl to his necklace of affirmations, reaching 43. Prost may not be as spectacular as other drivers, but he is always in the right place at the right time and his throw-in guidance becomes the winning weapon at a distance. The real champions are those who use talent and brains: not for nothing was his master Niki Lauda. It was not easy at Silverstone to take away an announced victory from teammate Nigel Mansell. However Prost, even a little lucky, managed to do it without trauma, because the poor English driver was forced to retire after animating the first part of the race. This time, the control of the electronic gearbox has betrayed him (or perhaps the failure of the clutch as the final cause). Thus, Prost installed himself at the top of the World Championship standings, with a two-point lead over Senna. The Brazilian (preceded by Boutsen's Williams) can also thank, for his third place, the series of troubles and accidents that gradually eliminated numerous competitors. Otherwise he would not even have entered the top six. But for Senna, the result was equally negative, because he confirmed the McLaren crisis. Berger, in the final stages, while he was second, was forced to retire due to a broken accelerator control. The Anglo-Japanese cars still showed precarious road holding and the two drivers were forced to drive acrobatically to resist the attacks. On a very fast track (233.775 km/h is Prost's average), the British Grand Prix had only four protagonists at the top (Senna, Mansell, Berger and Prost), but at the same time it exalted two great pursuers: again Ivan Capelli, who only by bad luck was deprived of the podium, forced to step aside due to the collapse of a petrol pipe on his March, and Nelson Piquet. The Benetton Brazilian found himself with the engine off on the starting lap and started at the back of the grid, finishing in P5, albeit with a thousand problems, including going off the track on the first lap in which he damaged the front wing. The seal was precarious and the rear hood was coming off.
"The World Championship? It is open, and still very long. We are at a good point, in the sense that Ferrari is making continuous progress. But McLaren is always a tough nut to crack, somewhat superior to us in the engine".
This sentence contains all of Alain Prost, never fully satisfied. The Frenchman makes an accurate analysis of the race:
"Perhaps we could have gone faster, started with softer tires and taken some risks. Because now our chassis is the best and allows us to use the tires well. The driveability of the car made the comeback easier for me. But it wasn't a race they gave us, we earned it, suffering as always. I confess I have made plans. Mansell was in pole position, this was his Grand Prix. If things had gone differently, if he managed to keep his lead, I would have settled for second place. But I realised that he had some problems and I overtook him taking advantage of a favourable trail".
Ferrari this time gave the impression of being clearly superior to McLaren...
"I've already said what I think, we have to work. Let's hope for the new engine for the next German Grand Prix. I expect McLaren and Williams to be very competitive precisely because of the good use they can make of their engine on that type of track where there is a lot of acceleration and braking".
Let's go back to McLaren. Is it definitely in crisis?
"I don't think so. They can still come back to attack. They always have a good foundation. But we too will not be outdone. Our car is almost perfect and has further development possibilities, including for next year".
A sentence that does not respond in kind, but that is significant. Why would Prost care about the future if he had not already renewed his contract with the Maranello team? Fiorio explains Mansell's problems.
"We realised that there was something wrong with the operation of the gear control. But then the situation stabilised. We could also have stopped the Englishman to replace the steering wheel which incorporates the command system. But he would have lost precious positions. Of course, with hindsight, we should have done it, for two reasons: because the problem eventually got worse and because the others in front retired. So Mansell would have finished second. I am very sorry".
It must be said that in the hasty checks after the race, and on the basis of Mansell's explanations, the technicians of the Maranello team think of a clutch failure. We will see. Fiorio is asked what the pump-off signal displayed by the English pits almost halfway through the race means.
A conventional signal. We have our little secrets too. As for the championship, we conclude the first part with four victories out of eight races. A good budget. But we are under no illusions. We have to keep working".
However, the future looks good…
"The next two tests are not very favourable for our cars. We will go to Hockenheim on Thursday and Friday to test the new engine. If the tests are positive, we will bring some engines to use in the race in the German Grand Prix in two weeks' time. Otherwise we will move the date of the debut and we will do other tests in Monza on the 1st and 2nd August. In short, there is never a break".
Ayrton Senna, rewarded with a third place that he could not have won, says:
"Right from the start, as in practice, McLaren seemed unstable to me. I found it enormously difficult to keep up with Mansell's Ferrari and in the end I had to let the pace go. Our problem is in the chassis: I wore out the rear tires terribly and several times I risked going off the track. The technicians are working to try to find better set-ups. Luckily the engine always runs very well, which is why I'm not too pessimistic. Of course you shouldn't leave room for certain opponents".
Gerhard Berger ended a six-race streak in which he had always finished in the points.
"Our McLaren is too difficult to drive, and I thought I'd lose control of it in the fast corners, which would have been a big problem. In the end something broke in the accelerator mechanism and so I also lost the placement".
When, in the middle of last year, it became known that Ferrari would sign Alain Prost, many criticised the decision with these reasons:
"He's old, he's satisfied, he's a driver-accountant, he comes to Maranello just to guarantee himself a good pension".
Now, when it comes to balance, no one can complain. With the Frenchman, Ferrari has not only refreshed its enormous prestige in the racing world, achieving a series of records (100 victories, actually 101 by now), but has returned to an absolute level of competitiveness. Now it has once again become the team to beat, leaving the role of perennial outsider that it had seen for over ten years. It would be wrong to argue that the French champion was the only element in this resurrection. Intelligent, endowed with remarkable sensitivity, an excellent test driver of the cars, driver and agitator, Prost was the right joint at the right time. But it is clear that he too could have done nothing if Ferrari had not made progress hand in hand, reviewing its organisation, finding new stimuli and new men, with a global facelift operation that started from the mechanics and ended up at the top strategic and technical, under the direction of the president Piero Fusaro, a man who among other things had already revived the fate of the Ferrari factory in the past in a very delicate period of crisis. There have also been traumatic changes. The renunciation of John Barnard, for example, despite knowing that the English designer had created a highly competitive car, the 640. But the political situation with Barnard wanting to work in Guildford was untenable. The detachment from talented collaborators such as Postlethwaite and Migeot, the departure of the aerodynamics specialist Durand and finally the divorce from Enrique Scalabroni, necessary to give stability to the team itself. Cesare Fiorio, sporting director, moved amid a thousand difficulties, having among other things the rifle pointed at him, which is the most difficult situation. If he had not won he might have risked himself. Now the team structure (apart from the case of the pilots raised by Mansell) is perfect.
There is a technical manager in the person of the engineer Pier Guido Castelli under whom a designer of the calibre of the American Steve Nichols works, there is a whole series of young technicians, brought up at the Maranello school which promises very well. But above all there is stability, there are the conditions for an easier future, even if it is not excluded that some pieces of the mosaic still need to be inserted. After the halfway point of the championship, eight races, Ferrari is leading the World Drivers' Championship with Alain Prost who has a 2-point lead over Senna and is second in the constructor's championship, just ten points behind McLaren. It hasn't happened in years. Four victories, a fast car, a new engine that is about to arrive (the 037 will undergo definitive tests, to then be mounted in the race at Hockenheim, on Thursday and Friday on the German track). In this panorama Alain Prost has become the point of reference. His success last Sunday at Silverstone was another masterpiece of tactics and skill. But if the Frenchman was able to savour the joy of victory number 43, it is also because he now has a winning vehicle at his disposal. A Ferrari that allows him to win three consecutive races, which has become extremely reactive, which has rediscovered the will and mentality of the best moments. Of course, your opponents won't stand idly by. McLaren and Honda are enraged, and they will seek revenge. But they are also under pressure and thus it is easier to make mistakes.
After running away from the Silverstone circuit, on Monday, 16th July, 1990, Nigel Mansell spent the day at his villa in Port Erin, on the Isle of Man. Far from the clamour aroused by the sensational decision, announced without warning, to retire at the end of the season. In the middle of the week he's going to St. Andrew's, where the British Open golf tournament is held. The Ferrari driver also reiterated his intentions to British journalists on Monday:
"I'm not going back. I will help Prost to win the world championship, but I hope he will give me a hand to win at least two races. I'm at 15, I could get to 17, to overtake Stirling Moss who has won 16 races, and become the Englishman who has won the most successes in Formula 1".
It is however an intricate story, that of Nigel Mansell. In fact, various hypotheses can be made about his abandonment of him: he is truly determined to leave to be close to his family and look after his own interests; he is disappointed, he understands that he cannot aim for the world championship and under the emotional pressure he wanted to say a big farewell in front of his own audience; in this way he hopes to convince Ferrari to accept certain conditions, including financial ones, that he would have set for staying; knowing he had to stay still for a year leaving Maranello, he acted on the counterattack to find a painless solution. These are but the most likely possibilities although there may be others. Assuming that Mansell keeps his word, Ferrari is looking for a second driver to work alongside Alain Prost (provided that the latter does not throw a tantrum either, which in any case is unlikely, given the current results). The names of Riccardo Patrese and Jean Alesi should be the most probable. The easiest solution would be to hire an expert, determined, loyal Italian driver. As for the young Frenchman, these days he will put the case in the hands of his lawyers to free himself from the contract that binds him to Tyrrell. In reality, the contract of the Sicilian-born driver belongs to the English manufacturer Eddie Jordan, who made him race in Formula 3000 and who will make his Formula 1 debut next year. Jordan has recently signed a contract to have an official supply of engines from Ford which has an exclusive link with Benetton. What does this move mean? Maybe Alesi was used as a bargaining chip?
He could end up at Benetton, leaving Nannini or Piquet free to transfer one of the two to Ferrari, but there are also those who maintain that Jean Alesi has already signed for Ferrari. However, while leaving the widest margins of freedom of choice to Ferrari, we must also take into account Prost's wishes that he is certainly not the type to accept impositions that he does not like. The French champion can aim to win the World Championship, his fourth. And any success could increase his desire to win, to try to win a fifth world championship helmet next year and thus equal the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio. Thus, the road to alternative solutions opens. It is true that Ferrari should aim only for top drivers (and the one about Senna could be a projected speech for 1992), but to satisfy Prost it could also lead to the hiring of some promising drivers without immediate ambitions. In this case we would focus on different names: Stefano Modena, currently at Brabham, a talented rider that Fiorio has always liked; Gianni Morbidelli who already has a test driver role at the Maranello team (although it is more probable that he ends up at Minardi with Ferrari engines); Ivan Capelli, who has never been contacted but deserves consideration; Nicola Larini who boasts an option from the Maranello team until 1993. As you can see, there is a wide choice. Now we just have to wait to find out if Mansell will go back on his decision, and how Ferrari will move.