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On Wednesday, March 10, 1993, here they are, in South Africa, our heroes: lying on the edge of a swimming pool, toasting in the sun. These are scenes immutable over time. That was the case a decade or more earlier with Niki Lauda, Mario Andretti, Carlos Reutemann, Gilles Villeneuve and Nelson Piquet holding court. Now playing jokes, throwing everyone into the water, are Michael Schumacher, Mika Hakkinen and Christian Fittipaldi, the young advancing drivers of the moment. The last day of light-heartedness before the storm. On Friday 12 March 1993, the Formula 1 World Championship kicks off with practice for the South African Grand Prix and there will be little room left to play. The circuit is there, a few kilometres away, on the plateau surrounding Johannesburg. There are the Circus tents. From afara muffled rumble can be heard, which is lost in the calm of the countryside. Everything seems to be calm and in order, even if the daily newspapers speak of serious racial clashes in huge headlines. But the top of Formula 1 does not let himself be touched by certain topics: he lives in luxury hotels, moving to the track only when necessary. During the day, the drivers also visit the racetrack to see the mechanics put the finishing touches on the newly assembled cars. Among these also Ayrton Senna, who agrees to race just one day before the deadline for registration, but not before calling his manager Jakobi, who is in charge of checking that his account has been paid the 1.000.000 dollars agreed for each race:
"I am here. Did you think you would never see me again? No, at least for this race we'll be together".
It does not go beyond that: he will explain all the programs on Thursday during a press conference. But first Senna also spoke at length with Gerhard Berger, who remained one of his best friends.
"Ayrton understood that he had an excellent single-seater at his disposal. I think we'll see him throughout the championship and I also think he can aim for his fourth world championship. Everyone says that Prost is the favourite: maybe that's true, but the South American will put good pressure on the Frenchman from race to race".
What everyone is waiting for to relaunch Formula 1 that has become boring. But journalists take advantage of Gerhard Berger's presence to ask him what Ferrari's role will be: the Austrian driver is not the type to hide behind words.
"We are behind, far behind. The problem is that we need to do laps to progress, but there's so much new stuff that we can't do it. I've already decided that next week I won't go sunbathing in Brazil, but I'll go back to Italy to carry out some tests".
Is the situation as heavy as they say?
"Here, hopefully, we will be able to fight in qualifying around P12. Let's not delude ourselves, because in the absence of reliability, anything can happen. It's the first time since I've been in a team worthy of its name that I haven't done a race simulation before the start of the season".
So recriminations for returning to Maranello?
"This no. I am very motivated and I think we will be able to re-emerge. But it will be very hard and it will take everyone's global commitment. We've made some small progress with the active suspension, let's wait to see what happens with the engines. Unfortunately there aren't many people at Ferrari who work in this sector: at Honda they rotated around ten technicians every race. And everything changed quickly".
And how did McLaren manage to prepare a competitive car in two months?
"They bought the engine. Everything else had already been tried for years. And then it's no mystery: McLaren's organisation is the best".
So what does Gerhard Berger expect from this championship? Montezemolo said that the real recovery will take place only in 1994.
"I drive and live for the day. I can't think what will happen in sixteen races. I would be happy if we qualified P12 here and if we were P10 a fortnight later in Brazil. It would be the best symptom of recovery for Ferrari".
Thursday 11 March 1993, Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost don't even look at each other, even if their pits are next to each other. Downcast eyes and exaggerated concentration on the single-seaters lined up in front of the pit road. Indeed, as soon as he landed at the airport, Alain Prost had replied with short but concise sentences to journalists who asked him for an opinion on Ayrton Senna:
"Senna will never change".
Then, referring to the offences he would have caused to the Circus and for which he risks a disqualification, he added:
"I am honest and have only said honest things".
Senna, on the other hand, doesn't drink, doesn't eat, doesn't play golf, doesn't expose himself: he'll race in South Africa just to see how this car is doing, and otherwise he'll stay in Brazil for a year. Thus Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost begin their umpteenth challenge. One, the Frenchman, who returns after a year of sabbatical rest, to drive the favourite Williams, the other, the Brazilian, who remained at McLaren, perhaps a little reluctantly. From Friday they will battle it out on the track, in the Formula 1 World Championship which starts with the first day of practice for the South African Grand Prix. As always, they will face each other with animosity, with a malice that goes beyond pure competitive spirit, more like enemies than adversaries. Ayrton and Alain carefully avoid speaking against each other these days, they ignore each other. Some say that indifference is worse than open hatred, in some cases. But Alain Prost says:
"For me, nothing has changed. I don't have any particular tensions, except the normal ones at the beginning of the season. There is a lot of confusion about everything, about the rules of the game, what can be done and what is forbidden. Did McLaren set an outstanding time at Silverstone? Winter tests leave the time they find, often the results are denied. I am one hundred percent ready for the battle which will certainly be tough because there will be many who will want to hinder my intention to conquer a fourth world title".
On the other hand, Ayrton Senna talks about his decision to race:
"I had a good feeling with the new McLaren. After so many years a driver understands if a car is good, discreet or a can. I think that this time the first case is valid. Above all, there is enormous development potential. We don't know anything about reliability, about endurance in the race, about many new details such as the automatic gearbox and active suspension. But I think we are on the right track. Don't ask me more. For now I'm playing this race, then we'll see what to do. If I would like to drive a Williams? I won't answer, you wouldn't believe me anyway".
The tension that is felt in the challenge between Prost and Senna is not the only one that animates the eve of the South African Grand Prix. Once, at the start of the great motor races, the starter said:
"Gentlemen, start your engines".
But the sentence that could be uttered now is:
"Gentlemen, continue with the controversy".
In fact, the championship begins under the banner of other uncertainties, doubts, a dispute that this time starts from the top, from the most titled teams, i.e. Williams and McLaren. The two teams that have dominated in recent years have not accepted the regulatory changes imposed by the Federation, and indirectly threaten actions of all kinds if their expectations are disregarded. Ron Dennis, owner of McLaren, says:
"The reason for our team's existence is in victory. We want regulatory stability and clarity. This, on the other hand, is no longer Formula 1. The mere fact of having reduced the practice sessions by a quarter of an hour is a clear violation of the Concorde pact".
The English manager does not go further, indeed upon specific question he replies that he will do nothing to obtain justice. At the same time, however, he takes precautions and if things don't go well for him, he can always challenge the old rules and perhaps go to court. Of the same opinion is Frank Williams, who accepts for now the diktat of FISA but is not at all satisfied. The truth is that everyone waits to see what the results of at least one race will be before acting according to convenience. McLaren is probably also looking for a coup d'état to try to solve the problem that is currently besetting it. He has three drivers and would like them all to race: Ayrton Senna, Michael Andretti and Mika Hakkinen (sporting code rules allow him to keep one driver, probably Senna, and to alternate the other two on the second single-seater). However, the intention would be to put three cars on the track, considering that the number of entries has barely reached the number of twenty-eight cars and that March, not having the money to pay for the engines, does not show up in South Africa. Which is why the qualifications will only be platonic, as well as being valid for determining the line-up, as all the competitors will be admitted to the race. And hopefully the Grand Prix will be spectacular enough to make everyone forget everything else.
On Friday, 12 March 1993, the ineffable Alain Prost immediately hit Ayrton Senna. In fact, the Frenchman took the provisional pole position at the end of the first qualifying session of the South African Grand Prix. But the most awaited day, which was supposed to give important indications on what could happen during the season, makes it clear that this year there will be sparks on the track, not only those that the cars produce crawling on the asphalt: only 0.3 seconds separate Williams and McLaren, and Benetton too (with Michael Schumacher in the old car, the new one will arrive in about a month) are very close. In short, the predictions for an uncertain battle and spectacular races for the moment are respected. Also because Ayrton Senna has not yet expressed himself to the fullest and on Saturday the situation could also be reversed by the Brazilian champion. The real surprise, however, comes from Ferrari, which places Jean Alesi in P5. It may be that the Maranello team had announced that it didn't have high hopes, it may be that the fiery and generous French driver brings his entire class into play in some heart-pounding laps, the fact is that the result can be considered a half-miracle. Nothing exceptional, without deluding oneself and exalting oneself, but the premises are discreet. And, at the end of the rehearsals, Jean Alesi says:
"The car shows good qualities. It was the first time I'd ridden it looking for its limits, and I realised that it's light, easy to hold when cornering. I'm not pissed off, but I'm happy. It promises well, we can improve a lot, as soon as we manage to find a minimum of reliability".
Even Gerhard Berger, who finished the practice only in P14, draws good omens from the performance of his teammate.
"I had some problems with the active suspension. In the morning I had used a modified type that should be the best and I stopped. In the afternoon, history repeated itself almost immediately with the previous system. But I'm mildly optimistic. I'd rather do tests of this kind working for the future than stubbornly looking for the time. Jean's result is an injection of confidence for the whole team".
The two Ferrari drivers don't talk about the engines; but, apart from the reliability of the car in general, the main problem of the F93A seems to be the engines which, having been deeply renewed, are taking their first steps and need constant development. There are few data to know the situation, but it suffices to know that Alesi recorded the P5 obtaining the eighteenth top speed (241.290 kmh, against Alain Prost's 250.580 km/h) and number 22 on the finish line in acceleration (223.050 km/h against the 233.970 km/h of the Williams driver). Returning to talk about the other drivers, there is not a good debut for the teammates of the great protagonists: Damon Hill is a second away from Alain Prost, Michael Andretti 1.7 seconds from Ayrton Senna ("I have to drive better"), and Riccardo Patrese (in P9), 1.8 seconds from Michael Schumacher (the Paduan encounters some electrical and gearbox problems). Fabrizio Barbazza also went off the track, damaging his Minardi, while Christian Fittipaldi scored an encouraging goal which earned him P12 with the team's car from Romagna ; and a cover-up for de Cesaris, whose foot slips off the brake on a bump. The Lola-Ferrari of Scuderia Italia were far behind, with the cars of Michele Alboreto and Luca Badoer still needing considerable set-up work. Finally, Ivan Capelli's debut on the Jordan was not too good: P21 (P15, however, for his teammate, the young Rubens Barrichello) with several set-up difficulties. Saturday 13 March 1993, Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna bring motoring enthusiasts back to life one of those memorable days that seemed forgotten: a relentless challenge, with continuous twists and turns. In the end, Alain Prost has the upper hand, but what a struggle. In South Africa the Williams driver will start from pole position, the number 21 of his career. The professor had not tasted this joy for about four years. The last was in July 1989, on the Le Castellet circuit.
"It was very hard for many reasons. Because I hadn't driven for more than fifteen months in the tension of the race, because the car isn't perfect yet, because I felt enormous pressure on my shoulders. And the track was very slippery. In the end, the advantage margin was minimal, but I'm happy. The race? If Senna manages to take the lead, it will be very difficult to overtake him. But in a long race anything can happen".
At the moment, the French driver would perhaps like to have better relations with his South American rival. Alain Prost congratulates Ayrton Senna for the second time, but the Brazilian driver responds with a curt thank you. Someone asks Prost if he would be willing to make peace again.
"I've tried several times, but then he always talks to me back".
And anyone who goes to Ayrton to investigate his intentions in this regard is rudely rejected. Nothing to do: open warfare. As, moreover, you see on the track: the duelists outdo each other twice. And when Senna inflicts a considerable gap on his rival, so much so as to appear unassailable, Alain Prost completes a lap to the last gasp that earns him a time of 1'15"696, at an average speed of 202.696 km/h. Only 0.088 seconds better by Ayrton Senna, a breath.
"I'm happy, because I 've found all the motivation I had many years ago. When I was at Ferrari I knew I could fight for third place at best and I wasn't able to give one hundred percent. And I was very sad about that".
Motivations that Ayrton Senna finds with a McLaren that has proved to be very competitive. So much so that the Brazilian hopes to win:
"My goal? Take the lead at the first corner".
And, of course, stay there. A real threat for Alain Prost, because the South African circuit doesn't allow for easy overtaking. The show should be guaranteed, also because the usual early-season questions about the reliability of the cars hang over the race . And what's more, there is the unknown factor of the tyres: no one knows at the moment whether it will be possible to do the whole race with just one set of tires or if it will take even two or three stops to change them. In this sense, the tactics set by the pilots will be important. Even Jean Alesi, who brilliantly confirms his P5, driving his Ferrari beyond the limit, lets it be known that he will try to control himself to get to the end. An even more difficult task for Gerhard Berger who will start from P15, always struggling with active suspension failures. At the moment, however, one cannot expect too much from the Maranello team. Jean Alesi's qualifying result is already almost miraculous. For Alain Prost, among other things, any victory could be worth double. On Thursday, 18 March 1993, the Frenchman will be judged by the FIA World Council for some statements made to a couple of magazines that may undermine the image of Formula 1. Bernie Ecclestone says he would be surprised if Alain Prost is not punished severely, perhaps with a ban for a match or two (and there is even speculation that he could be replaced by Nigel Mansell…). Alain replies that he will not accept any kind of punishment, because it is unfair. And Frank Williams lets it be known that in the report for his driver's defence he will also include some statements by Luca Montezemolo (who had spoken of the crisis of credibility of Formula 1), in his opinion more negative than those of Alain Prost. The battle is also open in the legal field. And here the association of Formula 1 manufacturers, FOCA, makes a fool of themselves, going back on the new sporting regulations approved before the World Championship. Under pressure from the sponsors and the televisions, which had seen their video broadcasting space reduced, FOCA extended the duration of the practice and qualifying sessions: from 45 minutes in South Africa to an hour and a half of free practice in the morning and qualifying time in the afternoon in Brazil, in two weeks.
However, the drivers will only be able to complete, in the two stages, about twenty laps and two quick launches. While the reserve car, which could only be used on Sundays, will also be allowed in practice if it breaks down. Sunday, 14 March 1993, at the start of the South African Grand Prix, Alain Prost starts badly; Ayrton Senna, on the other hand, takes the lead of the race at the start, followed by Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill, who spins a few hundred metres later (he will restart in P12 and retire on lap 18 following a collision with Alessandro Zanardi), returning the third position to his teammate. Senna stretches, but soon has problems with the active suspension and thus begins to run in defence. On lap 13, Prost overtook Michael Schumacher and chased the Brazilian, who attacked for the first time on lap 15; The Frenchman will only be able to pass on lap 24 after a series of wheel-to-wheel duels. During the same lap, the Brazilian also let Michael Schumacher pass, just before the two returned to the pits: after the tire change, Ayrton Senna returned to the front. The German tries to attack on lap 40, but forces the brakes too much, touches the rear of the McLaren, turns and retires. In this way his teammate Riccardo Patrese becomes third, who 7 laps later also goes off the track and retires. Alain Prost commands the race, and the downpour that arrives in the final phase of the race doesn't disturb him, given that Ayrton Senna thinks of remotely administering his second position. Derek Warwick, on the other hand, pays the price, with his Footwork-Mugen Honda who, returning after two years, spins into a wall while in the points. With Mark Blundell's third place, Ligier returns to the podium seven years after the 1986 Brazilian Grand Prix. Christian Fittipaldi, fourth in his Minardi-Ford, and JJ Lehto, fifth in the debuting Sauber-Ilmor, complete the arrival order. No other car reaches the finish line: Gerhard Berger, classified sixth, is betrayed by the Ferrari engine with one lap to go.
After a year of sabbatical and forced rest, Alain Prost returns to victory. The Frenchman, who took success number 45 in his career, hadn't climbed to the top step of the podium since September 1990 when he won the Spanish Grand Prix with Ferrari. Three years of controversy, disappointment and bitterness erased in one fell swoop. Above all because the Williams driver managed to achieve the goal he had set for himself: to beat the great enemy Ayrton Senna in a duel with no holds barred, in which he showed that he has competitiveness in spite of those who consider him a steering wheel accountant. The race, at least in its initial part, confirmed all expectations: the three most awaited protagonists (in addition to Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna, also Michael Schumacher) did not have to be asked to put on a show, with thrilling overtaking, braking at the limit, high car stunt numbers. Then the Brazilian's McLaren had to slow down due to a technical problem and the German Benetton driver committed an ingenuity, trying to pass Ayrton Senna: a small collision and Michael Schumacher found himself off the track. And Alain Prost faced the downpour that hit the circuit on the penultimate lap without fear. Another merit of the race is that it brought new names to the fore and also brought back old Circus stars. In third place is the good Mark Blundell with the Ligier-Renault. It was since 1986 that the French team hadn't brought its own rider to the podium. In fourth position was the very young Christian Fittipaldi, son and grandson of famous parents and grandparents, with a Minardi of extraordinary effectiveness. Behind the car of the team from Faenza, JJ Lehto brings the first result to the rookie Swiss team Sauber, whose single-seater bears (threateningly) a prestigious name, that of Mercedes, which financed the new adventure.
Finally, Ferrari: Gerhard Berger's sixth place cannot be a source of pride, also because the race saw only six competitors cross the finish line, after a hecatomb of accidents, breakages and off the track. However, it is a starting point and a point of hope. Perhaps it is still too early to say that the championship will be thrilling and uncertain. We will have to wait for other races and other tracks to see if Williams has really been approached. In any case, the debut was positive: let's not forget the very tight qualifying practice. Alain Prost was only cautious at the start, when he let himself be overtaken by both Senna and Schumacher. But in the pursuit of the two hares the French went wild. Thanks also to the qualities of a very stable car and to the power of the 10-cylinder Renault engine, superior to the 8-cylinder Fords mounted on McLaren and Benetton. After several attempts, the professor passed the German outside, in a very spectacular way, eliciting open clapping from the audience. Then he attacked Ayrton Senna and, after a couple of blocking thrusts by the brave Brazilian, he put him inside. In the game of tire changes Alain Prost subsequently gained a handful of seconds advantage. At that point he forced the pace, leaving Senna and Schumacher to battle each other, to reach the finish line alone without too many problems. The gap of 79 seconds inflicted on the Brazilian is perhaps too high compared to the values expressed on the track. Satisfied with his most recent sorrows, Alain Prost tries first on the podium and then in the various press conferences to meet Ayrton Senna's gaze, perhaps to arouse a spark of sympathy, a sort of reconciliation at the end of a fair challenge. But Ayrton, very harsh, doesn't give him his hand or even the space for a friendly gesture. From the podium the champagne flies to spray the crowd: not even a drop wets the overalls of the two enemies. The Brazilian never likes to lose, but above all he hates being defeated by Alain Prost.
"Do you want to know if this was my best victory? The last one is always the one that makes your mouth sweet. I'm particularly happy because I left Renault in a rather stormy way, right here in South Africa, in 1983. Ten years later, on my debut in a Williams-Renault, I achieved an important success. I had no fears, but the pressure was enormous. Now everything is over and I don't regret anything I've done".
Prost does not hide his happiness. Everyone expected him to finish first, but it wasn't easy to meet expectations.
"The race wasn't easy either, because there was a tactic to respect the tires and there could also be some surprises. Instead everything went well, despite some small inconveniences. I had a bad start as the clutch was not perfectly adjusted".
And he adds:
"For this reason, even when changing tires I was afraid that the engine would stall. In the end the seat broke and I had severe cramps in my right leg. Then came the rain. The race director should have stopped us, because it was dangerous, the regulation provides for it. Instead it kept us going".
At the end, however, Williams inflicted more than a minute on McLaren.
"It is a false result. Senna must have had some problems. In qualifying we were very close. I'm convinced that this championship won't be easy for me, even if my team is the best at the moment. Want to know if I've changed after twelve months of inactivity? Yes, I've improved".
It is the only joke that Alain Prost allows himself. They say he's ugly, touchy, backbiting, stingy, unfaithful, suspicious, intriguing, sometimes even mean: in short, a kind of little sports ogre. But there's never been anyone as good at racing cars as he is. Maybe Lauda was smarter, Fangio smarter, Clark faster. Senna is probably braver. Overall, however, the figures speak in favour of Alain Prost who, with his triumphant affirmation in South Africa, gave another polish to his records: 45 victories in Formula 1, 85 times on the podium out of 184 races.
"I wanted to be a footballer at St. Etienne but when I got into motorsports, I realised I had made the right choice. I like everything about this sport: the thrill of speed, confrontation with opponents, preparation, technique, tactics. It's my life. When I left Ferrari in 1991, I might as well have retired. I was already 37 years old and had a lot of satisfaction. But I didn't feel right, I didn't want to leave like that. I knew I still had a chance to fight at the top level. And I only came back to take a fourth world title. That's my only real goal".
It is known that Alain Prost likes money very much and that he spends it sparingly (characteristics similar to those of many other drivers, including Ayrton Senna). However, to propitiate his return, the 39-year-old rider from St-Chamond worked hard and with his usual determination. While Nigel Mansell and Ayrton Senna thought about increasing their demands, the professor accepted a minimum salary of 5,000,000 dollars from Williams. Meanwhile, for twelve months, he wove the web that was supposed to allow him to enter the English team like a master. Iron contract proof of Senna's attempts to oust him, precise indications on the teammate to take (the inexperienced Damon Hill), rigorous physical preparation. Then a very hard winter training running for hundreds of kilometres and tests that led him to present himself in the best conditions for the new debut.
"The most difficult days were Friday and Saturday, those of qualifying. I was very tense, more than it showed. I felt like I was risking everything, even my reputation. What if I failed? What if I made some glaring mistake? Instead everything went well, even if the race was difficult. I think I did my part: pole position, fastest race lap, final victory. A great start. However, I don't want to delude myself: I've always had to work hard to achieve my goals and this time too it won't be different because everyone will try to get in my way. The McLaren seems competitive to me, even if we will have to wait for checks on other circuits with different characteristics. Benetton is already very fast and in a month's time they will have a new, presumably better car. Schumacher is a guy who knows what he wants, very aggressive, quick and decisive. Even Ferrari is not as bad as it might seem. And then, with Barnard at work, the Maranello team will also come to make disruptive actions. In short, we have to get busy. Our cars, among other things, are not yet perfect. I really don't think the championship will go one-way, even if I'll try everything possible to direct it in our direction".
Prost is a very special guy who knows how to use words.
This time, however, he doesn't say too much about Ayrton Senna, he doesn't accuse anyone, he doesn't say that the Brazilian used his McLaren as a sewing machine to try to keep him behind him. He is worried because on Thursday 18 March 1993 he will have to appear in Paris before the FIA World Council to answer for statements published by a French magazine deemed offensive and harmful to the image of the Federation. There is the threat of a heavy disqualification.
"I have the tape of that interview. FISA hasn't listened to him yet. The sentences have been manipulated, my words put together on purpose to cause a scandal. If there's justice, they won't have to hit me. However, I'm ready for anything: I certainly won't accept a sentence passively. Especially since others have always spoken freely without ever being even reproached".
Alain Prost doesn't name names, but just think of Ayrton Senna when he publicly admitted that he had thrown the same French rider off the track at Suzuka in 1990 with cold determination and pure calculation. Certainly the pressure to teach Prost a lesson is considerable. Even President Jean-Marie Balestre lacked the courage to defend him. To the judges the arduous sentence. Meanwhile, in Kyaami, the French driver suffered from a grumpy and detached Senna towards him. The Brazilian doesn't even agree with the French on the need to stop the race due to the rain. In fact, declared Ayrton Senna at the end of the race, as if to underline the vulnerability of his rival in difficult conditions:
"It depends on your point of view. However I could not defend myself to the fullest. From the tenth lap my McLaren was unstable perhaps due to an electronic problem with the suspension. For this and for the fact that our cars are completely new, the result is positive".
Furthermore, the Brazilian points out that his future is uncertain, that he doesn't know if he will race in Brazil. It seems that the contract with McLaren at the level of engagement has been terminated, but Ron Dennis would like a commitment for two years that the champion is not willing to sign. In addition, Ayrton would have asked to be able to test other cars in the current season, a requirement that McLaren considers unacceptable. No comment also on the contact on the track with Schumacher's Benetton. The German driver explains:
"I could have tried to go and get Prost who was on the run, and I didn't want to wait. Unfortunately I touched the wheel of Senna's car and ended up out".
Off the track also for Riccardo Patrese. The Paduan, who got out of the car, was hit by his own Benetton pushed by the marshals, remedying a severe contusion to his leg. In parallel, Ferrari returns home with the point conquered by Gerhard Berger. It's not much at all. But if we consider that before arriving in South Africa the Maranello cars had never completed more than ten consecutive laps in all winter tests, the result can be considered positive. Jean Alesi retired after being in fourth position for about twenty minutes, the Austrian arrived until the penultimate lap, when he had to stop due to engine overheating. Berger was also a little lucky, because the incautious Derek Warwick went off the track on the flooded asphalt, leaving him in sixth position. At the end of the race, quite relaxed faces can be seen in the men in the Maranello team. In fact, Jean Alesi calmly declares:
"The positive side of this race is that we have made some progress. To be honest, I didn't expect to be fifth in qualifying and to travel at a pace close to those of Benetton and McLaren. I didn't get a good start, but I didn't want to take too many risks either. And at the beginning I had to slow down because I had put the wheels on the dirty asphalt and I was sliding. But the car was fine. Unfortunately, when I entered the pits to change the tyres, there was already a leak in the active suspension hydraulic circuit. And immediately I was forced to stop. At this point I'm quite optimistic about the future, even if there is still a lot to work on".
Similar speech by Gerhard Berger:
"I had a good start, but in the first few laps the car was heavy and pressed down too much. Then it went better, even if the engine temperature was quite high towards the end. I slipped on an oil stain left by Comas' Larrousse and, ending up in the grass, I must have blocked the radiators. So the engine overheated and I had to stop. Maybe I could have finished fourth, but it's not decisive. What is important is the fact that I was able to use the modified active suspension which, in my opinion, has greater potential than the standard one mounted on Alesi's car. We have travelled kilometres and accumulated experience. Probably in two weeks in Brazil we will be more competitive and reliable. On the other hand, I'm concerned about our 12-cylinder: there's still a lot to do to make it more powerful and resistant. I'm still quite happy, because I believe that the. Ferrari is on the right track. Just continue in the same way without losing heart. This was a tonic injection".
For a long time he hasn't slept at night, due to the many worries that nag him. On Sunday night, however, Giancarlo Minardi stays up late on the plane that takes him back to Italy for joy. In eight seasons in Formula 1, the manufacturer from Faenza had never started a championship in such a dazzling way, conquering a fourth place with the car driven by Christian Fittipaldi, ahead of JJ Lehto's Sauber-Ilmor and Gerhard Berger's Ferrari .
“I was optimistic, but honestly I didn't expect much. And to think that if Barbazza hadn't been rear-ended by Suzuki's Footwork, we probably would have had two cars in the points. Christian is a truly exceptional driver, considering his young age, 22 years old. A talented boy who can have a great career, like Uncle Emerson".
Giancarlo Minardi has always been in the automotive world. The family owns a Fiat and Iveco dealership, he did a few races then launched himself as team manager, first in Formula 3, then in Formula 2, until he landed in Formula 1 in 1985, with two drivers of the calibre of Alessandro Nannini and Andrew de Cesaris. 65 people work in the Faenza workshop, directed by Aldo Costa with the Austrian designer Gustav Brunner, a former Ferrari driver. The annual budget exceeds 15 billion lire, of which 10 billion lire is spent on leasing Ford engines.
"There are many problems but sometimes we pay off, like in the South African Grand Prix. We hope to continue like this. And we also hope that someone will give us a hand. We have engaged in a fight with FISA to try to reduce costs. Something has been achieved but it is still too little. If the teams were put in more or less the same conditions, the show would be guaranteed".