User:Brickie/Sandbox/F1 1991

Defending champion Ayrton Senna won a second consecutive title with McLaren.
Nigel Mansell finished as runner-up with Williams.
Mansell's team-mate Riccardo Patrese ended the season ranked third.

The 1991 Formula One season was the 42nd FIA Formula One World Championship season. It commenced on March 10, 1991, and ended on November 3 after sixteen races. Ayrton Senna won his third Drivers' World Championship, and his McLaren team were Constructors' champions.

Pre-Season edit

Amid the political turmoil of the Gulf War and attendant fears of terrorism, not to mention a global recession, some questions were raised as to whether the 1991 Formula One season ought to go ahead at all. [1] However, even despite this, 18 teams had entered a total of 34 cars, and racing went ahead.

Driver and team changes edit

In all, ten drivers from the previous year would not find drives in 1991, with a number of new drivers making debuts.

The McLaren team kept their successful 1990 pairing of Ayrton Senna and Gerhard Berger, while Nigel Mansell rejoined Williams after two years at Ferrari. The Italian team replaced the departing Englishman with Jean Alesi who had impressed for the Tyrrell team the previous year. He would partner Alain Prost. Triple champion Nelson Piquet remained at the Benetton team and was initially partnered by his childhood friend Roberto Moreno, though future star Michael Schumacher would replace Moreno partway through the season.

The Arrows team took the name Footwork for the season, and the Osella team likewise became Fondmetal, both for sponsorship reasons. Team Lotus had been completely relaunched in the wake of their disastrous 1990, a management buyout, and the loss of title sponsor Camel.

There were two new teams on the grid for 1991: One was Jordan Grand Prix, making the step up from International Formula 3000 with Andrea de Cesaris and Bertrand Gachot their initial drivers. Less successful would be Modena, who were in all but name the works team for Lamborghini.

Rules and technical changes edit

For 1991, two amendments were made to the scoring system. Firstly, the number of points awarded for a race win was increased from 9 to 10, and secondly, points from all the driver's races would now be counted, instead of only the best eleven results.

Wing sizes had been reduced, and the rear wing was required to be mounted further forwards, both in an attempt to reduce downforce, but testing showed that, regardless, the cars were faster rather than slower than previously [2]

Season Summary edit

The 1991 season was initially dominated by Ayrton Senna, the defending champion winning the first four races from pole position. An eventful fifth race of the season in Canada saw Nelson Piquet win, and the following four races were won by Williams drivers: Riccardo Patrese in Mexico and Nigel Mansell in France, Britain and Germany. Senna's fight-back came with back-to-back wins in the next two races, but then Mansell won two of the next three races to keep his challenge alive despite his disqualification in Portugal. Ayrton Senna clinched the World Championship at the penultimate race in Japan (at which he allowed his team-mate Gerhard Berger to take the race win in recognition of his efforts for the team). The final race of the season, in Australia, was conducted in torrential rain and abandoned after just 14 laps with half-points being awarded.

The Ferrari team endured a torrid season, and star driver Alain Prost became more and more vocal in his criticism of the car, culminating in his dismissal prior to the last race of the season. He would take a "sabbatical" year in 1992.[3]

Belgian driver Bertrand Gachot was charged with assault after an incident involving a London taxi driver, and his replacement at Jordan was promising Mercedes sports-car driver Michael Schumacher. Schumacher made an impressive debut at the Belgian Grand Prix, qualifying seventh and running well until he retired. Following this, he controversially moved to Benetton, and although Eddie Jordan claimed he had an agreement from Mercedes for Schumacher to remain with him, the German signed a multiple-year contract with Benetton and would go on to win two championships with them. [4]

On 9 October, Max Mosley was elected the new president of FISA, the first Englishman to hold the post. He took over from Jean-Marie Balestre.

Teams and Drivers edit

The following teams and drivers competed in the 1991 FIA Formula One World Championship.

Entrant Constructor Chassis Engine Tyre No Driver Test Driver(s)
  Honda Marlboro McLaren McLaren MP4/6 Honda RA121E 3.5 V12 G 1   Ayrton Senna   Allan McNish
  Jonathan Palmer
  Stefan Johansson
  Roberto Moreno
  Emanuele Pirro
  Mark Blundell
2   Gerhard Berger
  Braun Tyrrell Honda Tyrrell 020 Honda RA101E 3.5 V10 P 3   Satoru Nakajima   Johnny Herbert
  Volker Weidler
4   Stefano Modena
  Canon Williams Team Williams FW14 Renault RS3 3.5 V10 G 5   Nigel Mansell   Mark Blundell
  Damon Hill
6   Riccardo Patrese
  Motor Racing Developments Ltd. Brabham BT60Y Yamaha OX99 3.5 V12 P 7   Martin Brundle n/a
8   Mark Blundell
  Footwork Grand Prix International Footwork FA11C
FA12
Porsche 3512 3.5 V12
Ford DFR 3.5 V8
G 9   Michele Alboreto n/a
10   Alex Caffi
  Stefan Johansson
  Team Lotus Lotus 102B Judd EV 3.5 V8 G 11   Mika Häkkinen   Johnny Herbert
12   Julian Bailey
  Johnny Herbert
  Michael Bartels
  Fondmetal F1 SpA Fondmetal FA1M-E
Fomet-1
Ford DFR 3.5 V8 G 14   Olivier Grouillard   Marco Greco
  Gabriele Tarquini
  Leyton House Racing Leyton House CG911 Ilmor 2175A V10 G 15   Maurício Gugelmin n/a
16   Karl Wendlinger
  Ivan Capelli
  Automobiles Gonfaronaise Sportive AGS JH25
JH25B
JH27
Ford DFR 3.5 V8 G 17   Gabriele Tarquini n/a
  Olivier Grouillard
18   Stefan Johansson
  Fabrizio Barbazza
  Camel Benetton Ford Benetton B190B
B191
Ford HB5 3.5 V8 P 19   Roberto Moreno n/a
  Michael Schumacher
20   Nelson Piquet
  Scuderia Italia SpA Dallara 191 Judd GV 3.5 V10 P 21   Emanuele Pirro n/a
22   Jyrki Järvilehto
  Minardi Team Minardi M191 Ferrari 037 3.5 V12 G 23   Pierluigi Martini n/a
24   Gianni Morbidelli
  Roberto Moreno
  Ligier Gitanes Ligier JS35
JS35B
Lamborghini 3512 3.5 V12 G 25   Thierry Boutsen   Emmanuel Collard
26   Érik Comas
  Scuderia Ferrari SpA Ferrari 642
642/2
643
Ferrari 037 3.5 V12 G 27   Alain Prost   Gianni Morbidelli
  Andrea Montermini
  Dario Benuzzi
  Gianni Morbidelli
28   Jean Alesi
  Larrousse F1 Lola LC91 Ford DFR V8 G 29   Éric Bernard n/a
  Aguri Suzuki
30   Bertrand Gachot
  Coloni Racing Srl Coloni C4 Ford DFR V8 G 31   Pedro Chaves n/a
  Naoki Hattori
  Team 7UP Jordan Jordan 191 Ford HB4 V8 G 32   Bertrand Gachot n/a
  Michael Schumacher
  Roberto Moreno
  Alessandro Zanardi
33   Andrea de Cesaris
  Modena Team SpA Lambo 291 Lamborghini 3512 V12 G 34   Nicola Larini   Mauro Baldi
  Marco Apicella
35   Eric van de Poele

Formula One 1991 race schedule edit

Round Race Date Location
1   United States Grand Prix March 10 Phoenix
2   Brazilian Grand Prix March 24 Interlagos
3   San Marino Grand Prix April 28 Imola
4   Monaco Grand Prix May 12 Monaco
5   Canadian Grand Prix June 2 Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
6   Mexican Grand Prix June 16 Hermanos Rodriguez
7   French Grand Prix July 7 Magny-Cours
8   British Grand Prix July 14 Silverstone
9   German Grand Prix July 28 Hockenheimring
10   Hungarian Grand Prix August 11 Hungaroring
11   Belgian Grand Prix August 25 Spa-Francorchamps
12   Italian Grand Prix September 8 Monza
13   Portuguese Grand Prix September 22 Estoril
14   Spanish Grand Prix September 29 Catalunya
15   Japanese Grand Prix October 20 Suzuka
16   Australian Grand Prix November 3 Adelaide

Race Results edit

Round Grand Prix Pole Position Fastest Lap Winning Driver Winning Constructor Report
1   United States Grand Prix   Ayrton Senna   Jean Alesi   Ayrton Senna   McLaren-Honda Report
2   Brazilian Grand Prix   Ayrton Senna   Nigel Mansell   Ayrton Senna   McLaren-Honda Report
3   San Marino Grand Prix   Ayrton Senna   Gerhard Berger   Ayrton Senna   McLaren-Honda Report
4   Monaco Grand Prix   Ayrton Senna   Alain Prost   Ayrton Senna   McLaren-Honda Report
5   Canadian Grand Prix   Riccardo Patrese   Nigel Mansell   Nelson Piquet   Benetton-Ford Report
6   Mexican Grand Prix   Riccardo Patrese   Nigel Mansell   Riccardo Patrese   Williams-Renault Report
7   French Grand Prix   Riccardo Patrese   Nigel Mansell   Nigel Mansell   Williams-Renault Report
8   British Grand Prix   Nigel Mansell   Nigel Mansell   Nigel Mansell   Williams-Renault Report
9   German Grand Prix   Nigel Mansell   Riccardo Patrese   Nigel Mansell   Williams-Renault Report
10   Hungarian Grand Prix   Ayrton Senna   Bertrand Gachot   Ayrton Senna   McLaren-Honda Report
11   Belgian Grand Prix   Ayrton Senna   Roberto Moreno   Ayrton Senna   McLaren-Honda Report
12   Italian Grand Prix   Ayrton Senna   Ayrton Senna   Nigel Mansell   Williams-Renault Report
13   Portuguese Grand Prix   Riccardo Patrese   Nigel Mansell   Riccardo Patrese   Williams-Renault Report
14   Spanish Grand Prix   Gerhard Berger   Riccardo Patrese   Nigel Mansell   Williams-Renault Report
15   Japanese Grand Prix   Gerhard Berger   Ayrton Senna   Gerhard Berger   McLaren-Honda Report
16   Australian Grand Prix   Ayrton Senna   Gerhard Berger   Ayrton Senna   McLaren-Honda Report

1991 Constructors Championship final standings edit

Place Constructor Chassis Engine Tyre Points Wins Podiums Poles
1   McLaren-Honda MP4/6 Honda RA121E G 139 8 18 10
2   Williams-Renault FW14 Renault RS3 G 125 7 17 6
3   Ferrari F1-91
F1-91B
Ferrari 037 G 55.5 8
4   Benetton-Ford B190B
B191
Ford HBA5
Ford HBA6
P 38.5 1 3
5   Jordan-Ford 191 Ford HBB4 G 13
6   Tyrrell-Honda 020 Honda RA109E P 12 1
7   Minardi-Ferrari M191 Ferrari 037 G 6
8   Dallara-Judd F191 Judd GV P 5 1
9   Brabham-Yamaha BT59Y
BT60Y
Yamaha OX99 P 3
10   Lotus-Judd 102B Judd EV G 3
11   Lola-Ford LC91 Ford DFR G 2
12   Leyton House-Ilmor CG911 Ilmor 2175A G 1
13   Lambo-Lamborghini 291 Lamborghini 3512 G
14   Fondmetal-Ford FA1ME-90 Ford DFR G
15   Ligier-Lamborghini JS35
JS35B
Lamborghini 3512 G
16   Coloni-Ford C4 Ford DFR G
17   AGS-Ford JH25B
JH27
Ford DFR G
18   Footwork-Porsche
Footwork-Ford
A11C
FA12
Porsche V12
Ford DFR
G

1991 Drivers Championship final standings edit

Pos Driver USA
 
BRA
 
SMR
 
MON
 
CAN
 
MEX
 
FRA
 
GBR
 
GER
 
HUN
 
BEL
 
ITA
 
POR
 
ESP
 
JPN
 
AUS
 
Points
1   Ayrton Senna 1 1 1 1 Ret 3 3 4 7 1 1 2 2 5 2 1 96
2   Nigel Mansell Ret Ret Ret 2 6 2 1 1 1 2 Ret 1 DSQ 1 Ret 2 72
3   Riccardo Patrese Ret 2 Ret Ret 3 1 5 Ret 2 3 5 Ret 1 3 3 5 53
4   Gerhard Berger Ret 3 2 Ret Ret Ret Ret 2 4 4 2 4 Ret Ret 1 3 43
5   Alain Prost 2 4 DNS 5 Ret Ret 2 3 Ret Ret Ret 3 Ret 2 4 34
6   Nelson Piquet 3 5 Ret Ret 1 Ret 8 5 Ret Ret 3 6 5 11 7 4 26.5
7   Jean Alesi 12 6 Ret 3 Ret Ret 4 Ret 3 5 Ret Ret 3 4 Ret Ret 21
8   Stefano Modena 4 Ret Ret Ret 2 11 Ret 7 13 12 Ret Ret Ret 16 6 10 10
9   Andrea de Cesaris DNPQ Ret Ret Ret 4 4 6 Ret 5 7 13 7 8 Ret Ret 8 9
10   Roberto Moreno Ret 7 13 4 Ret 5 Ret Ret 8 8 4 Ret 10 16 8
11   Pierluigi Martini 9 Ret 4 12 7 Ret 9 9 Ret Ret 12 Ret 4 13 Ret Ret 6
12   Jyrki Järvilehto Ret Ret 3 11 Ret Ret Ret 13 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 8 Ret 12 4
13   Bertrand Gachot 10 13 Ret 8 5 Ret Ret 6 6 9 DNQ 4
14   Michael Schumacher Ret 5 6 6 Ret Ret 4
15   Satoru Nakajima 5 Ret Ret Ret 10 12 Ret 8 Ret 15 Ret Ret 13 17 Ret Ret 2
16   Mika Häkkinen Ret 9 5 Ret Ret 9 DNQ 12 Ret 14 Ret 14 14 Ret Ret 19 2
17   Martin Brundle 11 12 11 DSQ Ret Ret Ret Ret 11 Ret 9 13 12 10 5 DNQ 2
18   Emanuele Pirro Ret 11 DNPQ 6 9 DNPQ DNPQ 10 10 Ret 8 10 Ret 15 Ret 7 1
19   Mark Blundell Ret Ret 8 Ret DNQ Ret Ret Ret 12 Ret 6 12 Ret Ret DNPQ 17 1
20   Ivan Capelli Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 6 Ret 8 17 Ret 1
21   Éric Bernard Ret Ret Ret 9 Ret 6 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret DNQ Ret DNPQ 1
22   Aguri Suzuki 6 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret DNQ DNQ Ret DNQ Ret DNQ 1
23   Julian Bailey DNQ DNQ 6 DNQ 1
24   Gianni Morbidelli Ret 8 Ret Ret Ret 7 Ret 11 Ret 13 Ret 9 9 14 Ret 6 0.5
NC   Maurício Gugelmin Ret Ret 12 Ret Ret Ret 7 Ret Ret 11 Ret 15 7 7 8 14 0
NC   Thierry Boutsen Ret 10 7 7 Ret 8 12 Ret 9 17 11 Ret 16 Ret 9 Ret 0
NC   Johnny Herbert DNQ 10 10 14 7 Ret Ret 11 0
NC   Nicola Larini 7 DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ Ret 16 DNQ 16 DNQ DNQ DNQ Ret 0
NC   Érik Comas DNQ Ret 10 10 8 DNQ 11 DNQ Ret 10 Ret 11 11 Ret Ret 18 0
NC   Gabriele Tarquini 8 Ret DNQ Ret DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNQ 12 11 DNPQ 0
NC   Alex Zanardi 9 Ret 9 0
NC   Eric van de Poele DNPQ DNPQ 9 DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ 0
NC   Alex Caffi DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNPQ DNPQ DNQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ 10 15 0
NC   Olivier Grouillard DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ Ret Ret DNPQ DNPQ DNQ 10 Ret DNPQ DNPQ 0
NC   Michele Alboreto Ret DNQ DNQ Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret DNQ DNQ DNPQ DNQ 15 Ret DNQ 13 0
NC   Karl Wendlinger Ret 20 0
NC   Stefan Johansson DNQ DNQ Ret DNQ DNQ DNQ 0
NC   Pedro Chaves DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ 0
NC   Fabrizio Barbazza DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ 0
NC   Michael Bartels DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ 0
NC   Naoki Hattori DNPQ DNPQ 0
Pos Driver USA
 
BRA
 
SMR
 
MON
 
CAN
 
MEX
 
FRA
 
GBR
 
GER
 
HUN
 
BEL
 
ITA
 
POR
 
ESP
 
JPN
 
AUS
 
Points
  • In Australian Grand Prix half points were awarded as the race was stopped after 14 out of 81 laps due to torrential rain.
  • This was the first season for which 10 points (rather than 9) were awarded for a win.
Key
Colour Result
Gold Winner
Silver Second place
Bronze Third place
Green Other points position
Blue Other classified position
Not classified, finished (NC)
Purple Not classified, retired (Ret)
Red Did not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
Black Disqualified (DSQ)
White Did not start (DNS)
Race cancelled (C)
Light blue Practiced only (PO)
Thursday/Friday test driver (TD)
(from 2003 onwards)
Blank Did not practice (DNP)
Excluded (EX)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Withdrawn (WD)
Text formatting Meaning
Bold Pole position
Italics Fastest lap
Superscript Sprint race result
Abbreviation Meaning
WDC World Drivers' Championship position
WCC World Constructors' Championship position
NC Not classified

References edit

  1. ^ "Murray Walker's Grand Prix Year: 1991", Hazleton Publishing 1991, p.8
  2. ^ Walker, p.10
  3. ^ Walker, p.143
  4. ^ Walker, p.101