HONDA The Power of Dreams

After closing out 1985 with three consecutive wins, the Williams Honda team’s goal for the 1986 season was to win the title, and, nearly everything went to plan.

For Nigel Mansell, however, there was a significant obstacle. Keke Rosberg, with whom he had built a good rapport, left the team, replaced by Nelson Piquet as his new teammate. Piquet announced his contract with Williams in August 1985, at a time when Mansell was not yet recognized as a championship-winning driver. On the other hand, Piquet, who had already won two world championships (in 1981 and 1983), was naturally welcomed into the team as the number one driver and demanded treatment accordingly. Although Mansell understood the situation, there were aspects of Piquet’s behavior that he simply could not accept. The rivalry between the two surfaced during the pre-season tests.

To make the situation worse, a major incident occurred. During the pre-season test at Paul Ricard in France, just prior to the season-opener, team principal Frank Williams was involved in a car accident on his way back from the circuit, sustaining severe injuries that left him paralyzed from the waist down. The team was shocked to the core.

The Williams Honda team, facing the possible loss of its team principal, seemed to be motivated by a sense of urgency and started the season smoothly. Piquet won the opening Brazilian Grand Prix, and in Round 2, the Spanish Grand Prix, Mansell narrowly finished second after a fierce battle with Ayrton Senna (Lotus Renault). Following the Monaco GP, former teammate Elio de Angelis died in a crash, leaving Mansell emotionally shattered, but an impressive run of victories in rounds 5, 6, 8 and 9 propelled him to the top of the drivers’ standings.

Round 9, the British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch, was particularly significant for Mansell. Williams team principal, who had been recovering from the pre-season car crash, returned to the track in a wheelchair. Mansell was greatly encouraged by the return of his team principal, who had always supported him. Additionally, the enthusiasm of the local fans, who were cheering for the British driver in the title fight, was astounding. With such moral support, Mansell secured second place in qualifying behind Piquet, and started the race well in contention for victory. However, shortly after the start, Mansell’s car experienced mechanical issues and slowed down. His race was seemingly over, but a major crash further behind caused the race to be red-flagged, giving him the chance to drive the spare car. In the second start, Mansell was off to a slightly slow start but made a comeback, overtaking race-leader Piquet, and won. It was clear to everyone that Mansell, who had been expected to retire from the race, had taken control of the season. At the same time, this victory put Mansell at the top of the drivers’ standings.

As momentum shifted heavily in Mansell’s favor, Piquet began to voice his dissatisfaction with the team’s treatment. The team ignored his complaints instead demanding that Piquet compete with Mansell on merit. The RA166E 1.5-liter turbo engine Honda introduced that year was an improved version of the previous year’s RA165E, with better reliability. It also featured a revolutionary new software, a data logger to accurately sense the condition of the car, marking a significant step forward. This advanced technology would later become the standard telemetry system in F1, but Honda was the first to develop and implement it in actual races. The ability to monitor the driver’s operations allowed the team to confirm Mansell’s exceptional driving skills and his daring, all-out racing spirit, which is said to be one of the reasons why Williams did not politically suppress Mansell in favor of Piquet.

Mansell entered the final round, the Australian Grand Prix, leading the standings, with the championship within grasp. If he could finish in the top three, he would secure the title. Starting from pole position, Mansell did not push hard, as finishing in the top three would be enough for him regardless of who won the race. However, during the final stages of the race, on lap 63, while running in third place, his left rear tire violently tore off on the back straight, denying him the championship. Alain Prost (McLaren TAG), who won the race and secured the championship in a dramatic comeback, stated, “This title should have been Nigel’s.”

Mansell won five round in the 1986 season, while Piquet claimed four, and Williams Honda comfortably took the Constructors’ title. While Mansell’s disappointment was immeasurable, it was a historic season for Honda, as it secured it first F1 championship title.