1985, the year Nigel Mansell joined Williams Honda, was a major turning point in Honda’s second era of F1 activities. Honda had introduced the E-Spec engine, which significantly improved performance and reliability, and developed a data logging system. In particular, the data logger would evolve into Honda’s secret weapon, the telemetry system, and have a profound impact on F1 as a whole.

Honda engineers Toshihiro Ito and Eiji Hashigami have been involved in the development of data loggers and telemetry systems since 1985, working closely with drivers who drove cars powered by Honda engines at the time. Today, data loggers are widely used, and the practice of collecting and analyzing various data from racing cars while racing to improve performance is common. However, at that time, it was difficult to know what drivers were doing inside the cockpit, and the only way to gauge what was happening was through lap times.

In mid-1985, Honda’s electrical engineering team, led by Ito, began developing a data logger utilizing rapidly advancing electronic technology, and in 1986, Williams Honda became the first F1 team to put the system into practical use. This system, which enabled accurate data collection on the condition of the car and the driver while the car was in motion, evolved into telemetry, which made it possible to remotely collect data, enabling real-time monitoring of the condition of F1 cars.

Although the data logger was a far cry from modern telemetry, even during the development phase led by Ito and Hashigami, Mansell’s driving stood out.

“We learned much from the data logger. For example, Mansell was the only driver who kept the throttle wide open all the way to the exit of the tunnel at Monaco. Nelson Piquet, Ayrton Senna, and Alain Prost all eased off the throttle when entering the right-hand bend in the tunnel, because, needless to say, it is scary. When asked, Satoru Nakajima said that you could not go full throttle there. But, Mansell was the only one who kept the throttle wide open. I guess he wasn’t afraid. It was surprising,” recalled Ito.

Hashigami, who took over Ito’s system and refined the logging system further by analyzing collected data, also commented on Mansell’s driving style.

“From the perspective of analyzing data, Mansell was fast when he could see a target ahead. It was like he was unforgiving of any car in front of him. In that sense, he was a true racer' In contrast, Prost built his strategy around managing the entire 60-lap race to win. Mansell on the other hand was the kind of driver who would do whatever it took to overtake anyone in front, so in the latter stages of the race, he often ran out of fuel or had tire issues. It’s not about which strategy was better, I just found him to be a unique and interesting driver to watch.”

Drivers at the time, who were armed with a new tool, the data logger, needed to accept and figure out how to utilize this data they had never encountered before. Ito commented:

“Once we started using data loggers, Senna would constantly come to check the data. He even asked to see other drivers’ data, taking it back to the hotel to study it diligently. Mansell, however, was not very interested in looking at the data. Of course, Honda provided information on what the data meant, so he understood that aspect well.”

Hashigami, who received requests from Senna such as making the data easier to compare with the previous data, added features to the data analysis system while observing how the drivers utilized it.

“Prost interested me. He wanted me to tell him which parts of the data Senna was studying. He wanted to understand why Senna had become faster. In that sense, Prost also had an incredible drive to improve, and a strong desire not to be beaten by Senna.”

Through the data loggers and data analysis systems developed by Honda’s engineers, drivers were able to compare their driving with the car’s movements after returning to the pits, and began pursuing the most efficient “new-era” driving style. On the other hand, there were drivers who remained committed to the traditional style that prioritized instinct. In that sense, Mansell was the epitome of the latter group, caring more about his instincts than data, and consistently striving to maximize the car’s potential through his own abilities. During this transitional period when driving styles and logic were shifting, the drivers at the center of this era were those who powered by Honda engines, which were considered the most powerful in F1 history.

“Of course, Mansell was highly motivated to drive fast. But his driving style and data may not have been closely correlated in his mind. Mansell was obsessed with driving at full throttle, then slamming on the brakes, and then full throttle again. He was incredibly fast going into turns and always the fastest coming out of them. Even if the engine’s power was a bit lacking, he seemed to have a strong mindset that it didn’t matter, that he just wanted to push the car to its limits with his own abilities,” recalled Hashigami.

In contrast, new-era drivers who utilized data began to pursue a driving style that reduces speed at turn entry and exit while increasing the speed through the turn. This was an efficiency-focused technique that reduced tire wear and improved fuel efficiency. And by the late 1980s, the lap times of both approaches were on par. One reason why Mansell’s driving stood out and gained popularity as unique during those intense F1 races was likely due to this contrast.

Mansell was also known for his approachable and friendly personality in private life. During his visits to Japan, he not only dined with team staff but also enjoyed activities with them such as bowling and games. Ito commented on Mansell’s charm outside the cockpit:

“He often came to Japan for test drives at the Suzuka Circuit. After the tests, we would go to the same restaurant for yakiniku (barbecue), and he was a really fun person. He didn’t feel like an F1 driver at all. He felt just like a tipsy older brother. Speaking of which, there was an arcade at the Suzuka Circuit amusement park, and we went there to play car games. There were about four or five of us, and we all had a great time until late at night.”

Hashigami also remembered this aspect of Mansell's friendly nature well:

“People like Senna and Piquet would host parties and invite us over. But Mansell would come to us and play together. He was truly friendly.”

On the track, Mansell was a fiery, aggressive racer, but off-track, he would hang out with the staff. It was a time when each driver’s unique personality shone, making it a golden age of F1. Among the top F1 drivers, Mansell was an F1 star who was not only a true champion, but was truly charming as well.