Prost vs Mansell vs Piquet
The Tyre Blowout
The Story
The 1986 season produced one of the most dramatic title deciders ever. Three drivers arrived at the final round in Adelaide with a chance at the championship: Nigel Mansell led on points from Alain Prost and Nelson Piquet. Williams' Mansell was the favourite and was running comfortably in third when, with 19 laps to go, his left rear tyre exploded at over 180 mph on the main straight. He survived uninjured but his championship dreams were shattered. Piquet, also on Williams, pitted cautiously for fresh tyres, dropping out of contention. Prost, who had been quietly consistent all season, inherited the lead and won the race and his second championship. Mansell's blowout remains one of the most gut-wrenching moments in F1 history.
Points Progression
| Race | Prost | Mansell | Piquet | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brazilian GP | 0 | 0 | 9 | Piquet +9 |
| Spanish GP | 4 | 6 | 9 | Piquet +3 |
| San Marino GP | 13 | 6 | 15 | Piquet +2 |
| Monaco GP | 22 | 9 | 15 | Prost +7 |
| Belgian GP | 22 | 18 | 15 | Prost +4 |
Final Standings
| Pos | Driver | Team | Wins | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alain Prost | McLaren | 4 | 72 |
| 2 | Nigel Mansell | Williams | 5 | 70 |
| 3 | Nelson Piquet | Williams | 4 | 69 |
| 4 | Ayrton Senna | Team Lotus | 2 | 55 |
| 5 | Stefan Johansson | Ferrari | 0 | 23 |
| 6 | Keke Rosberg | McLaren | 0 | 22 |
| 7 | Gerhard Berger | Benetton | 1 | 17 |
| 8 | Jacques Laffite | Ligier | 0 | 14 |
| 9 | Michele Alboreto | Ferrari | 0 | 14 |
| 10 | René Arnoux | Ligier | 0 | 14 |