36 years ago today, Senna and Prost collided at Suzuka again

One of the most talked-about moments in Formula 1 history happened 36 years ago today, on 21 October 1990, at the Suzuka circuit. Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost collided at the first corner of the 1990 Japanese Grand Prix, and both drivers were out of the race within the first few metres. It was the 15th round of the season and the penultimate race. Senna, who led the championship standings, secured his second world title with the collision.

Pole position dispute before the race

Senna had taken pole, but he was unhappy with the dirty side of the track where his grid slot sat. Senna and Gerhard Berger argued that pole should be on the racing line and asked Japanese race stewards to move the grid position to the cleaner left side. The stewards initially agreed, but FISA president Jean Marie Balestre stepped in at the last minute and overturned the decision. The FIA had also warned that crossing the yellow line at the pit exit would not be allowed, which added to Senna's anger.

There were other developments before the race. Nigel Mansell said he had come out of retirement and would join Williams-Renault for two years from 1991. Brabham announced it would use Yamaha engines in 1991, while Footwork said it would run Porsche engines. At Benetton, Roberto Moreno replaced Alessandro Nannini, who had been injured in a helicopter crash.

Collision at the start and Benetton's first 1-2

Prost got the better of the start, while Senna tried the inside line into the first corner. The two cars made contact, and both went off the track and retired. Berger took the lead but spun at the first corner on the second lap, after debris left on the track from the crash. Mansell then moved to the front, but on lap 26 he made a pit stop for new tyres and wheelspun badly as he left the pits, breaking a driveshaft.

From there, Nelson Piquet took the lead and won the race. His teammate Moreno finished second, giving Benetton its first 1-2 result. Aguri Suzuki, driving a Lola LC90, took third. He became the first Japanese driver to stand on a podium. Larrousse scored its only podium in eight seasons of F1, and the Lamborghini V12 engine recorded its first and only F1 podium at this race. With Ferrari failing to score, McLaren clinched the constructors' title for the third year in a row.

Aftermath and legacy

After the race, Prost called what had happened "disgusting" and described Senna as "a worthless man". He said he had nearly considered quitting the sport at that moment. Senna said the outcome was not what he wanted but was what should have happened. Senna went on to win his third title in 1991, and he later admitted the collision was deliberate and a payback for 1989.

The two made peace on the podium at the 1993 Australian Grand Prix, the last race they competed in together. Today, Suzuka 1990 is recorded as the last race without a European driver on the podium. It is also the last of Brazil's eleven 1-2 results in F1.