HONDA The Power of Dreams

For Honda, which had won the Constructors’ Championship for the first time the previous year, 1987 was a turbulent season as it aimed for even greater heights. Starting this year, Honda began supplying engines not only to Williams but also to Lotus, with Ayrton Senna and Satoru Nakajima, the first Japanese driver to compete in F1, as its drivers. Honda-powered cars now numbered four.

To curb the intensifying power development competition, Fédération Internationale du Sport Automobile (FISA) decided to phase out turbo engines and transition to naturally aspirated (NA) engines. In 1987, it implemented stricter regulations on turbo engines, including a maximum boost pressure of 4 bar and a fuel capacity limit of 195 liters. Honda overcame the strict restrictions on fuel consumption and boost pressure, introducing the RA167E, which incorporated new technologies to enhance power, aiming for a consecutive title.

Nigel Mansell, who narrowly missed winning the Drivers’ title the previous year, was re-energized for the new season. With the overwhelming power of Honda and the well-developed Williams FW11B chassis, the season quickly took the form of a battle between the Williams Honda drivers. Mansell secured pole position in the opening round, and won Round 2, the San Marino GP. By the season’s mid-point, Round 8 in Germany, he had amassed six poles and three wins. Meanwhile, Piquet struggled with the effects of a major crash in qualifying at the San Marino GP, but finally secured his first victory of the season in Germany. Despite the lack of wins, Piquet had demonstrated his racing prowess with five second-place finishes, placing him at the top of the Drivers’ standings. Mansell, on the other hand, had many races where he either won or retired, and he never once topped the series standings that season.

In the latter half of the season, the F1 paddock was abuzz with talk about the next season. In Round 9, the Hungarian Grand Prix, Piquet announced his move to Lotus Honda for 1988. Meanwhile, Honda decided to supply engines to McLaren and terminate its contract with Williams one year early. On the Friday of the Italian Grand Prix race week, on September 4, Honda announced its partnership with McLaren starting in 1988, with Senna joining the team. It was already known that Honda would continue supplying engines to Lotus, and Williams would compete with the 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V8 Judd engine.

Mansell could only watch the turmoil unfold. While he undoubtedly felt the impact of these changes while racing, he focused on the task at hand. Meanwhile, he told team principal Frank Williams that he would leave the team at the end of the season, but Williams refused to accept.

Despite his pessimism, Mansell regained his determination to win his first world championship, claiming victories in Round 10, Austria, Round 13, Spain and Round 14, Mexico. In the points standings, he rose to second place after the Spanish Grand Prix, and by the end of the Mexican Grand Prix, the points gap to Piquet had narrowed to 12. With two races remaining, there was still the possibility of beating Piquet.

Round 15, the Japanese Grand Prix, was held at Honda’s home track, Suzuka Circuit, for the first time in 10 years. It was Honda’s triumphant return to hosting the Japan round after winning the Constructors’ title the previous year, and attracted significant local attention. The biggest highlight was the championship battle between Piquet and Mansell, which abruptly ended before the race had started. Mansell crashed during his qualifying lap at the S-curves, sustaining hospitalization and a withdrawal from the race. At that instant, Piquet secured the World Championship title.

Mansell failed to win the championship for two years in a row. Despite claiming the most wins, six races, during the season, Mansell once again finished in second place in the drivers’ standings. During his Williams Honda era, the championship title had eluded Mansell. Meanwhile, Honda secured both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ titles with Piquet, achieving its first-ever championship clean-sweep.

Honda’s second F1 era saw significant progress, becoming the top engine manufacturer over the three years with Mansell. Mansell also demonstrated his unmatched speed, solidifying his status as a top driver. Though the partnership between Mansell and Honda lasted only three years, from 1985 to 1987, it laid the foundation for both to achieve even greater heights on their separate paths.