1987 Monaco Grand Prix

Lore & Background

Traditionally the number of competitors permitted for the Monaco Grand Prix was lower than at all other races, due to the short, tight and twisty nature of the Monte Carlo circuit. Originally 16, it was later increased to 20. For 1987, however, it was increased to a full grid of 26. According to FISA, this move was made in order to bring the race into line with the other races on the F1 calendar, but there were cynical views that it was made in order to reduce the number of non-qualifiers to appease team sponsors. There was widespread concern about the results of overcrowding on the track and the speed difference of various cars. During the practice session, Michele Alboreto's Ferrari tangled with Christian Danner's slow-moving Zakspeed on the uphill section after the Ste-Devote corner. Alboreto's car was thrown in the air and caught fire, but landed back on the track. FISA blamed Danner for the accident and decided to exclude him from the weekend, the first such event in the history of the Formula One World Championship. There were widespread objections throughout the paddock, particularly as there were several other practice accidents and it was felt that Danner had no more to blame than any other driver involved in these accidents. Alboreto himself believed that Danner was not to blame for the accident. Nigel Mansell took pole position in the Williams, with Ayrton Senna's Lotus alongside on the front row and Nelson Piquet third in the other Williams. At the start, Mansell led away from Senna, Piquet, Alboreto and Alain Prost in the McLaren. Mansell led until lap 30 when he retired with a loss of turbo boost; Senna then led for the remainder of the race; despite making a pit stop for tyres. Senna eventually won by 33 seconds from Piquet. Prost was running third when his engine failed with three laps to go, promoting Alboreto to the final podium position. Gerhard Berger finished fourth in the other Ferrari, with the top six completed by the first two naturally-aspirated finishers, Jonathan Palmer in the Tyrrell and Ivan Capelli in the March. Senna's victory was the first for a car with active suspension, with the Brazilian driver stating that 'she was so excellent that, if she could, she would do and win another two-hour race in Monaco right after'.

In Their Own Story

The air in Monte Carlo hung heavy with humidity and anticipation as the red lights flickered on. Rain lashed against the cockpit of Senna's white MP4/3, blurring the iconic harbor views into a watercolor wash. He gripped the wheel, his focus absolute, feeling the subtle chatter of the slick tires fighting for grip on the wet tarmac. As he launched from pole, the roar of the Honda V6 turbo was swallowed by the drumming rain, leaving only the sound of his own breathing and the desperate hunt for traction through the tunnel.

Reader's Guide

The race was won by Ayrton Senna (Lotus-Honda). Nelson Piquet (Williams-Honda) finished second. Michele Alboreto (Ferrari) finished third. The top six were completed by Gerhard Berger (Ferrari), Jonathan Palmer (Tyrrell), and Ivan Capelli (March).

Did You Know?

• Nigel Mansell took pole position in the Williams, not Senna.
• Senna's victory was the first for a car with active suspension.
• This was Senna's first Monaco win, not his third consecutive.
• The Honda RA167E engine used by Lotus and Williams was a V6 turbocharged engine, not naturally aspirated.