Formula One: 1986 Mexican Grand Prix

October 12th,  68 laps of Mexico City Park circuit —300.8 kilometres

In the reinstated Mexican GP Gerhard Berger scored an impressive victory with a Benetton-BMW aided by running through non-stop on Pirelli tyres. Prost finished second by driving carefully and needing only one Goodyear tyre change, while Senna and Mansell needed two changes and Piquet made three stops. Mansell “muffed” his start and lost a lot of ground. Both Ferraris retired with turbocharger failures, Alboreto early in the race and Johansson near the end while challenging strongly for third place.

(Review in December Motor Sport together with story on the Australian GP, the final round in the 1986 Grand Prix World Championship season.)

Results

1.  Gerhard Berger  (Benetton B186-BMW 4 cyl)  —  1hr 33min 18.700sec

2.  Alain Prost  (McLaren MP4/2C-Porsche V6)  —  1hr 33min 44.138sec

3.  Ayrton Senna (Lotus 98T-Renault V6)  —  1hr 34min 11.213sec

4.  Nelson Piquet  (Williams FW11-Honda V6)  — 1 lap behind

5.  Nigel Mansell (Williams FW11-Honda V6)  — 1 lap behind

6.  Philippe Alliot  (Ligier JS27/Renault V6)  —  1 lap behind

Fastest lap:  Nelson Piquet — 1min 19.360sec on lap 64