3. Senna and Prost collide part one – 1989
After 1988, the Senna and Prost rivalry really boiled over. It was the start of one of the fiercest rivalries the sport had ever seen, and still continues to be debated in great detail today.
In 1989 however, the pair returned to Suzuka, both with a chance of winning the title. Unlike the previous year, the odds were stacked in Prost’s favour, and Senna needed to win to ensure the title fight went to a final round decider in Australia.
The pair qualified on the front row once more, but it was Prost who took the lead. Then, after Senna had closed to within striking distance on his team mate, they collided. The Brazilian attempted to make a move into the final chicane, but instead collected his team mate. Prost jumped out of his car immediately, believing that both their races were over. However, Senna, aided by the marshals, was able to rejoin, and with a broken front wing, headed to the pits for repairs.
Alessandro Nannini took the lead in his Benetton, and looked to be heading for victory. But Senna, driving like a man possessed, quickly caught the Italian and re-passed him for the lead, and took the chequered flag.
That wasn’t the end of the story though, as Prost lobbied the stewards to take action against his team mate. The podium ceremony was delayed, and Senna was disqualified for the strangest of reasons – for rejoining the race via the escape road short cut. His disqualification meant Prost was crowned as the 1989 champion in highly controversial circumstances.
