ATLAS F1 - THE JOURNAL OF FORMULA ONE MOTORSPORT
Comparative Victories: Wins 11-20

By Richard Barnes, Marcel Borsboom, Marcel Schot, David Wright
Atlas F1 Staff Writers



Rating Methodology: 5 stars are awarded to wins which are considered exceptional, such as races that are won by large margins or from seemingly impossible positions; 4 stars are awarded to wins that are above average, such as a dominant win from pole position, or passing several cars to take the lead; 3 stars are awarded to average, expected wins; 2 stars are awarded to below average wins, such as those inherited due to others' misfortune; and 1 star is awarded to wins that are clearly undeserving or below average, such as inherited wins involving team orders or wins obtained in dubious circumstances.

       Win #11       

1984 San Marino Grand Prix; Imola

Rating: ***

Grid Position: 2
Fastest Lap: 3
Laps Led: 60
Weather: dry
Team: McLaren/TAG

APThis was a dominant win after beating pole sitter Piquet into the first corner. Prost moved away at a rate of a second per lap and was only hampered by a 360 degree spin when he locked a brake.

1995 Brazilian Grand Prix; Interlagos

Rating: **

Grid Position: 2
Fastest Lap: 1
Laps Led: 47
Weather: dry
Team: Benetton/Renault

MSAfter beating Damon Hill at the start, Schumacher kept the lead in a close battle with the Briton. Until Schumacher's first stop they ran close together, but in the laps between their pitstops, Hill managed to go quickly enough to stay ahead. Fortunately for Schumacher, Hill's rear suspension broke after 30 laps. After that he was never really in trouble, as his three stop strategy worked better than Coulthard's two stopper.


       Win #12       

1984 Monaco Grand Prix; Monte Carlo

Rating: ***

Grid Position: 1
Fastest Lap: 7
Laps Led: 26
Weather: wet
Team: McLaren/TAG

APIn this legendary race, Prost confronted Ayrton Senna for the first time. In the worst of conditions, the Frenchman stayed ahead of the field, firstly chased by Nigel Mansell and later by young guns Senna and Stefan Bellof. However, after 31 laps the race was stopped because the rain had made the track undriveable. The race didn't restart and so the drivers were awarded half points.

1995 Spanish Grand Prix; Barcelona

Rating: ***

Grid Position: 1
Fastest Lap: 2
Laps Led: 65
Weather: dry
Team: Benetton/Renault

MSThe German took this one from lights-to-chequered flag. A very good first stint gave Schumacher the advantage to opt for two stops rather than three. When Hill's hydraulic system failed on the last lap, the gap increased from 25 to 51 seconds and saw Schumacher's teammate Johnny Herbert take second place.


       Win #13       

1984 German Grand Prix; Hockenheim

Rating: ***

Grid Position: 1
Fastest Lap: 1
Laps Led: 23
Weather: dry
Team: McLaren/TAG

APAt the start, Elio de Angelis beat pole sitter Prost, but after eight laps the engine in the Italian's car went up in smoke. However, Prost was caught by surprise and Nelson Piquet took the lead. Prost took the lead when Piquet's gearbox failed after 22 laps and won unchallenged.

1995 Monaco Grand Prix; Monte Carlo

Rating: ***

Grid Position: 1
Fastest Lap: 2
Laps Led: 54
Weather: dry
Team: Benetton/Renault

MSPole sitter Damon Hill got a good start and at the tight Monaco circuit, that meant Schumacher was stuck behind him. However, Hill was on a two stop strategy while Schumacher was on a one stopper. After Hill stopped, the German was able to drive a second per lap faster, now only having to take care of Jean Alesi behind him. Once the French-Sicilian retired after a collision, the way was paved for Schumacher to take the victory.


       Win #14       

1984 Dutch Grand Prix; Zandvoort

Rating: ***

Grid Position: 1
Fastest Lap: 2
Laps Led: 61
Weather: dry
Team: McLaren/TAG

APAfter another pole position, Alain Prost was again beaten by Piquet into the first corner. The Brazilian built a small lead, but after only ten laps he was sidelined with a lack of oil pressure. Prost now had a comfortable lead over teammate Niki Lauda. The Austrian was able to close in during the first half of the race, but after that, things settled and Prost went home with the victory.

1995 French Grand Prix; Magny-Cours

Rating: ***

Grid Position: 2
Fastest Lap: 1
Laps Led: 51
Weather: dry
Team: Benetton/Renault

MSTo say that Hill and Schumacher were running closely together at the start of the race would be an understatement. Until Schumacher pitted after 20 laps, there was little more than a straw between the two, with Hill just having the edge. With Schumacher's second stint being longer, he was then able to keep the lead and bring home the victory.


       Win #15       

1984 European Grand Prix; Nurburgring

Rating: ***

Grid Position: 2
Fastest Lap: 6
Laps Led: 67
Weather: dry
Team: McLaren/TAG

APIn the first race at the new Nurburgring, Alain Prost was never challenged. This time around, Piquet was the pole sitter and Prost the leader in the first corner. The Frenchman never let go of the lead and finished over twenty seconds ahead.

1995 German Grand Prix; Hockenheim

Rating: ***

Grid Position: 2
Fastest Lap: 1
Laps Led: 40
Weather: dry
Team: Benetton/Renault

MSThe German's big rival, Damon Hill, spun off while leading at the start of lap two, leaving the Benetton driver a considerably easier time in his home Grand Prix. David Coulthard was able to push him, but eventually Schumacher's two stop strategy proved to be faster.


       Win #16       

1984 Portuguese Grand Prix; Estoril

Rating: ***

Grid Position: 2
Fastest Lap: 2
Laps Led: 62
Weather: dry
Team: McLaren/TAG

APAgain the front row was Piquet on pole and Prost next to him. However, Rosberg had a lightning start and went into the lead, followed by Mansell and Prost. The Frenchman quickly took back second from Mansell and after nine laps he moved into the lead. Once in the lead, he could really drive his own pace and quickly moved away from the rest.

1995 Belgium GP; Spa-Francorchamps

Rating: *****

Grid Position: 16
Fastest Lap: 2
Laps Led: 25
Weather: dry/wet
Team: Benetton/Renault

MSAfter rain in qualifying caught Schumacher by surprise, the German qualified way back on the grid in 16th. Despite this disadvantage, he got off to a brilliant start and by lap two he was in eighth. After 16 laps he amazingly moved into the lead. However, at around this point in the race, the skies opened and the rain came down. Schumacher, however, opted to stay on slicks for as long as possible. Hill, on wets, was much faster, but Schumacher did everything to defend his position. With the rain going away, Hill, who eventually managed to take the lead, had to stop another time for slicks, giving Schumacher a comfortable lead. The rain then returned heavier than ever, with the safety car reducing the gap to nothing. The sting was then taken out of the race, as Hill had to serve a stop and go penalty for pitlane speeding.


       Win #17       

1985 Brazilian GP; Jacarepagua

Rating: ****

Grid Position: 6
Fastest Lap: 1
Laps Led: 44
Weather: dry
Team: McLaren/TAG

APAfter qualifying sixth, Prost moved into third on the first lap, staying close behind Ferrari's Michele Alboreto. Keke Rosberg quickly built a four second lead, but after nine laps he retired. Prost was now pushing Alboreto to the limit until he moved past the Italian and into the lead after 18 laps. From that moment on, Prost dominated the race completely, with a 25 second gap by mid-distance. After that he cruised home.

1995 European Grand Prix; Nurburgring

Rating: *****

Grid Position: 3
Fastest Lap: 1
Laps Led: 3
Weather: dry/wet
Team: Benetton/Renault

MSIn cold and initially wet conditions, Schumacher moved into second at the start, behind Coulthard. When the track dried, Jean Alesi was the big winner, as the French-Sicilian had started on slicks. Schumacher, switching to slicks, returned to the track in third, but quickly found his way past Coulthard. On his way to Alesi, the German is helped by Mika Hakkinen, who holds up Alesi for a couple of laps when being lapped. Three laps from the end, Schumacher moves past Alesi in a breathtaking move in the Veedol chicane to grab an unexpected yet brilliant win.


       Win #18       

1985 Monaco Grand Prix; Monte Carlo

Rating: ****

Grid Position: 5
Fastest Lap: 2
Laps Led: 53
Weather: dry
Team: McLaren/TAG

APQualifying fifth at Monaco usually means trouble, but with Mansell dropping back quickly and Senna's engine failing after 13 laps, Prost soon found himself battling for the lead with Alboreto. After trading places throughout the first half of the race, Prost took command in the second half and won by seven seconds.

1995 Pacific Grand Prix; TI-Circuit

Rating: ***

Grid Position: 3
Fastest Lap: 1
Laps Led: 34
Weather: dry
Team: Benetton/Renault

MSAfter a bad start, Schumacher found himself in fourth, but a perfectly executed pitstop moved him past Alesi and Hill into second. At the second stop, Schumacher went in earlier than Coulthard, who subsequently ran into traffic before his stop, which allowed Schumacher to build a gap before making a third stop. Schumacher kept the edge, and took the win and the Championship.


       Win #19       

1985 British Grand Prix; Silverstone

Rating: ***

Grid Position: 3
Fastest Lap: 1
Laps Led: 7
Weather: dry
Team: McLaren/TAG

APAfter a mediocre start, the Frenchman found himself stuck behind Ligier driver Andrea de Cesaris. Meanwhile Senna, Rosberg and Mansell moved away. Once Prost got past the Ligier, he immediatelly put the pedal to the metal. Rosberg retired while Senna was now ten seconds ahead. Halfway through the race, Prost was all over Senna, but passing him proved impossible. However, with four laps to go, Senna retired suddenly after having run out of fuel. Prost gratefully accepted the win, having lapped the rest of the field.

1995 Japanese Grand Prix; Suzuka

Rating: ***

Grid Position: 1
Fastest Lap: 1
Laps Led: 48
Weather: wet
Team: Benetton/Renault

MSThe Japanese Grand Prix was one where Schumacher won by staying out of trouble. The first to run into trouble behind the German was Jean Alesi, who got a stop and go penalty after a jump start. Alesi then drove a tremendous race, but just as he was right on Schumacher's tail his transmission failed. This left firstly Hill and then Coulthard behind Schumacher, but both Williams drivers spun off in the Spoon curve, leaving second position to Mika Hakkinen, some twenty seconds behind Schumacher.


       Win #20       

1985 Austrian Grand Prix; Osterreichring

Rating: **

Grid Position: 1
Fastest Lap: 1
Laps Led: 38
Weather: dry
Team: McLaren/TAG

APIn this race, only teammate Niki Lauda was able to follow Prost after having been stuck behind Rosberg. Just as Lauda caught up with his teammate, Prost had to pit and Lauda moved into the lead. Prost closed in at about half a second per lap, but it looked like he wouldn't make it. That was until Lauda's engine failed after 38 laps. After that, Prost was home free.

1996 Spanish Grand Prix; Barcelona

Rating: *****

Grid Position: 3
Fastest Lap: 1
Laps Led: 54
Weather: wet
Team: Ferrari

MSAfter qualifying third, Schumacher made the worst of starts, dropping back to sixth place. The conditions were horrible, with heavy rain falling. The Ferrari driver, however, was like a fish in the water. Driving two seconds per lap faster than anybody else, he soon made his way to the top. After 12 laps, he took the lead, only to really start putting the pedal to the metal. At a rate of four seconds per lap, Schumacher ran away from the field, and after 24 laps he was 40 seconds ahead. After his first stop he continued at the same rate, moving over 70 seconds ahead after 40 laps, taking it easy towards the finish.


Wins 1-10 | Wins 11-20 | Wins 21-30 | Wins 31-40 | Wins 41-51


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» Wins 1-10
» Wins 11-20
» Wins 21-30
» Wins 31-40
» Wins 41-51


Volume 7, Issue 34
August 22nd 2001

Atlas F1 Special

1 to 51: Comparative Victories
by Atlas F1 Writers

Simply Supreme
by Richard Barnes

Time to Move On
by Barry Kalb

Hungarian GP Review

The Hungarian GP Review
by Pablo Elizalde

It's Magic!
by Karl Ludvigsen

Columns

Qualifying Differentials
by Marcel Borsboom

The F1 Insider
by Mitch McCann

Season Strokes - the GP Cartoon
by Bruce Thomson

Rear View Mirror
by Don Capps

The Weekly Grapevine
by the F1 Rumors Team



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