Senna Love-in

[heebeegeetee]

TO73074E said:

Senna was absolutely fked over by FISA and the stewards at the 1989 Suzuka GP. Prost clearly didn't have that corner, he turned in early. So then Senna has to go down the 'escape' road to rejoin the track. According to Ballestre, the stewards and FISA, this isn't allowed. It's more dangerous than turning back around and going the wrong way to rejoin the track apparently, or some bullst excuse about not completing race distance.

So for that he is disqualified from the race knowing it will hand the title to Prost. Ron Dennis argued against the ruling and even provided evidence of other drivers at other races using 'escape' roads with no penalties or disqualifications whatsoever. Disqualified from the race, lost out on the title, a suspended 6 month ban on Senna's licence and a $100,000 fine to rub his face in it.

Ballestre's words "Even if you are one of the biggest drivers in the world, you don't have the right to cause a stupid accident." Isn't Prost the stupid driver here who's cause the accident, no penalty for Prost and a title in the bag? Smacks of favouritism to me.

Even Nelson Piquet speaks about it at the 1990 Suzuka GP drivers meeting saying saying the whole escape road fiasco was a fk up and the other drivers agreed.

Fast forward to 1990 and if i'm in that same position as Senna I am absolutely taking Prost out knowing how you had been completely screwed over the last year. Was it dangerous, absolutely but I completely understand why he did it.

By the time of Suzuka 89 Senna had earned a reputation as a dirty driver (gained well before F1) whereas Prost had nothing but a reputation as a superb, very fast and perfectly fair driver. I'm not sure anyone had a bad word to say about him... except maybe Balestre.

It's a long time ago now but I don't recall ever reading about any dirty driving, gamesmanship, or complaints from other drivers regarding Prost.

Prost had made it clear that he'd got fed up with Senna's driving and wasn't going to keep out if his way any longer.

From what I recall, neither Senna nor Prost, nor pretty much anyone else got on well with Balestre. Apparently Balestre couldn't forgive Prost for being the most prominent Frenchman in motor racing.

Prost has said the biggest mistake he ever made was climbing out of his Mclaren after the collision. His car was undamaged and even if the marshals pushed started him after Senna, Prost would not have to pit and he would have won the race and that would have been the end of that.

At the time of the collision, I thought the push start was illegal, as did Prost hence his climbing out the car. I wasn't at all surprised that Senna was disqualified.