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User:Brickie/Sandbox/F1 1991

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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

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

Formula One 1991 race schedule

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

Race Results

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

1991 Constructors Championship final standings

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

1991 Drivers Championship final standings

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Pos Driver USA
United States
BRA
Brazil
SMR
San Marino
MON
Monaco
CAN
Canada
MEX
Mexico
FRA
France
GBR
United Kingdom
GER
Germany
HUN
Hungary
BEL
Belgium
ITA
Italy
POR
Portugal
ESP
Spain
JPN
Japan
AUS
Australia
Points
1 Brazil Ayrton Senna 1 1 1 1 Ret 3 3 4 7 1 1 2 2 5 2 1 96
2 United Kingdom Nigel Mansell Ret Ret Ret 2 6 2 1 1 1 2 Ret 1 DSQ 1 Ret 2 72
3 Italy Riccardo Patrese Ret 2 Ret Ret 3 1 5 Ret 2 3 5 Ret 1 3 3 5 53
4 Austria Gerhard Berger Ret 3 2 Ret Ret Ret Ret 2 4 4 2 4 Ret Ret 1 3 43
5 France Alain Prost 2 4 DNS 5 Ret Ret 2 3 Ret Ret Ret 3 Ret 2 4 34
6 Brazil Nelson Piquet 3 5 Ret Ret 1 Ret 8 5 Ret Ret 3 6 5 11 7 4 26.5
7 France Jean Alesi 12 6 Ret 3 Ret Ret 4 Ret 3 5 Ret Ret 3 4 Ret Ret 21
8 Italy Stefano Modena 4 Ret Ret Ret 2 11 Ret 7 13 12 Ret Ret Ret 16 6 10 10
9 Italy Andrea de Cesaris DNPQ Ret Ret Ret 4 4 6 Ret 5 7 13 7 8 Ret Ret 8 9
10 Brazil Roberto Moreno Ret 7 13 4 Ret 5 Ret Ret 8 8 4 Ret 10 16 8
11 Italy Pierluigi Martini 9 Ret 4 12 7 Ret 9 9 Ret Ret 12 Ret 4 13 Ret Ret 6
12 Finland Jyrki Järvilehto Ret Ret 3 11 Ret Ret Ret 13 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 8 Ret 12 4
13 Belgium Bertrand Gachot 10 13 Ret 8 5 Ret Ret 6 6 9 DNQ 4
14 Germany Michael Schumacher Ret 5 6 6 Ret Ret 4
15 Japan Satoru Nakajima 5 Ret Ret Ret 10 12 Ret 8 Ret 15 Ret Ret 13 17 Ret Ret 2
16 Finland Mika Häkkinen Ret 9 5 Ret Ret 9 DNQ 12 Ret 14 Ret 14 14 Ret Ret 19 2
17 United Kingdom Martin Brundle 11 12 11 DSQ Ret Ret Ret Ret 11 Ret 9 13 12 10 5 DNQ 2
18 Italy Emanuele Pirro Ret 11 DNPQ 6 9 DNPQ DNPQ 10 10 Ret 8 10 Ret 15 Ret 7 1
19 United Kingdom Mark Blundell Ret Ret 8 Ret DNQ Ret Ret Ret 12 Ret 6 12 Ret Ret DNPQ 17 1
20 Italy Ivan Capelli Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 6 Ret 8 17 Ret 1
21 France Éric Bernard Ret Ret Ret 9 Ret 6 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret DNQ Ret DNPQ 1
22 Japan Aguri Suzuki 6 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret DNQ DNQ Ret DNQ Ret DNQ 1
23 United Kingdom Julian Bailey DNQ DNQ 6 DNQ 1
24 Italy Gianni Morbidelli Ret 8 Ret Ret Ret 7 Ret 11 Ret 13 Ret 9 9 14 Ret 6 0.5
NC Brazil Maurício Gugelmin Ret Ret 12 Ret Ret Ret 7 Ret Ret 11 Ret 15 7 7 8 14 0
NC Belgium Thierry Boutsen Ret 10 7 7 Ret 8 12 Ret 9 17 11 Ret 16 Ret 9 Ret 0
NC United Kingdom Johnny Herbert DNQ 10 10 14 7 Ret Ret 11 0
NC Italy Nicola Larini 7 DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ Ret 16 DNQ 16 DNQ DNQ DNQ Ret 0
NC France Érik Comas DNQ Ret 10 10 8 DNQ 11 DNQ Ret 10 Ret 11 11 Ret Ret 18 0
NC Italy Gabriele Tarquini 8 Ret DNQ Ret DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNQ 12 11 DNPQ 0
NC Italy Alex Zanardi 9 Ret 9 0
NC Belgium Eric van de Poele DNPQ DNPQ 9 DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ 0
NC Italy Alex Caffi DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNPQ DNPQ DNQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ 10 15 0
NC France Olivier Grouillard DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ Ret Ret DNPQ DNPQ DNQ 10 Ret DNPQ DNPQ 0
NC Italy Michele Alboreto Ret DNQ DNQ Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret DNQ DNQ DNPQ DNQ 15 Ret DNQ 13 0
NC Austria Karl Wendlinger Ret 20 0
NC Sweden Stefan Johansson DNQ DNQ Ret DNQ DNQ DNQ 0
NC Portugal Pedro Chaves DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ 0
NC Italy Fabrizio Barbazza DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ 0
NC Germany Michael Bartels DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ 0
NC Japan Naoki Hattori DNPQ DNPQ 0
Pos Driver USA
United States
BRA
Brazil
SMR
San Marino
MON
Monaco
CAN
Canada
MEX
Mexico
FRA
France
GBR
United Kingdom
GER
Germany
HUN
Hungary
BEL
Belgium
ITA
Italy
POR
Portugal
ESP
Spain
JPN
Japan
AUS
Australia
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

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  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