1991 Formula One season

1991 FIA Formula One World Championship season
Previous Next 1990 1992
Races	16
Drivers	41
Teams	19
Engine Suppliers	Ferrari, Ford, Honda, Ilmor, Judd, Lamborghini, Porsche, Renault, Yamaha
Tyre Suppliers	P G
Drivers' Champion
Ayrton Senna (McLaren-Honda) - 96 points
Constructors' Champion
Honda Marlboro McLaren - 139 points

The 1991 Formula One season was the 42nd season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the 1991 FIA Formula One World Championship, which commenced on 10 March 1991 and ended on 3 November after sixteen races. Ayrton Senna won his third and last Drivers' World Championship and McLaren-Honda won the Constructors' Championship. Senna's main title challenger was Nigel Mansell at Williams, who won five races on his return to the team compared to Senna's seven. 1991 also saw the debuts of future world champions Michael Schumacher and Mika Häkkinen.

Pre-season

Rule changes

• Front wings were narrowed from 150 cm (59 in) to 140 cm (55 in). Rear overhangs were reduced from 60 cm (24 in) to 50 cm (20 in).
• More stringent testing of survival cell was introduced by the FIA including seat belts, fuel tanks and rollbar.
• The points scoring system was overhauled, a win now secured 10 points and all results would now count instead of the best eleven scores.

Driver changes

• Williams re-signed their former driver Nigel Mansell on the promise that he would be the top driver in the team after several years as number two to Nelson Piquet at Williams and then Alain Prost at Ferrari.
• Thierry Boutsen left Williams to join the Ligier team partnering rookie Érik Comas.
• Ferrari kept Alain Prost as lead driver and replaced the departed Mansell with Jean Alesi, a young driver who had impressed at Tyrrell.
• Martin Brundle returned to Formula One with the Brabham team where he was joined by fellow Brit Mark Blundell whom began his F1 career.

Team changes

• The Osella team was now Fondmetal, though driver Olivier Grouillard was retained along with the 1989 Osella car and most of the staff.
• Jordan Grand Prix, a successful team in International Formula 3000 run by Eddie Jordan made the step up to Formula 1. Their drivers were Bertrand Gachot and Andrea de Cesaris.
• The Arrows team was renamed Footwork after an investment by Japanese businessman Wataru Ohashi, President of Footwork Express Co., Ltd.

Teams and Drivers

The following teams and drivers competed in the 1991 FIA Formula One World Championship.

Entrant	Constructor	Chassis	Engine	Tyre	No	Driver	Rounds
Honda Marlboro McLaren	McLaren-Honda	MP4/6	Honda RA121E 3.5 V12	G	1	Ayrton Senna	All
					2	Gerhard Berger	All
Braun Tyrrell Honda	Tyrrell-Honda	020	Honda RA101E 3.5 V10	P	3	Satoru Nakajima	All
					4	Stefano Modena	All
Canon Williams Team	Williams-Renault	FW14	Renault RS3 3.5 V10	G	5	Nigel Mansell	All
					6	Riccardo Patrese	All
Motor Racing Developments	Brabham-Yamaha	BT59Y BT60Y	Yamaha OX99 3.5 V12	P	7	Martin Brundle	All
					8	Mark Blundell	All
Footwork Grand Prix International	Footwork-Porsche	A11C FA12	Porsche 3512 3.5 V12	G	9	Michele Alboreto	1–6
					10	Alex Caffi	1–4
						Stefan Johansson	5–6
	Footwork-Ford	FA12C	Ford Cosworth DFR 3.5 V8		9	Michele Alboreto	7–16
					10	Stefan Johansson	7–8
						Alex Caffi	9–16
Team Lotus	Lotus-Judd	102B	Judd EV 3.5 V8	G	11	Mika Häkkinen	All
					12	Julian Bailey	1–4
						Johnny Herbert	5–8, 11, 13, 15–16
						Michael Bartels	9–10, 12, 14
Fondmetal	Fondmetal-Ford	FA1M-E Fomet-1	Ford Cosworth DFR 3.5 V8	G	14	Olivier Grouillard	1–13
						Gabriele Tarquini	14–16
Leyton House Racing	Leyton House-Ilmor	CG911	Ilmor 2175A 3.5 V10	G	15	Maurício Gugelmin	All
					16	Ivan Capelli	1–14
						Karl Wendlinger	15–16
Automobiles Gonfaronnaises Sportives	AGS-Ford	JH25 JH25B JH27	Ford Cosworth DFR 3.5 V8	G	17	Gabriele Tarquini	1–13
						Olivier Grouillard	14
					18	Stefan Johansson	1–2
						Fabrizio Barbazza	3–14
Camel Benetton Ford	Benetton-Ford	B190B B191	Ford HBA4 3.5 V8 Ford HBA5 3.5 V8	P	19	Roberto Moreno	1–11
						Michael Schumacher	12–16
					20	Nelson Piquet	All
Scuderia Italia	Dallara-Judd	F191	Judd GV 3.5 V10	P	21	Emanuele Pirro	All
					22	JJ Lehto	All
Minardi Team	Minardi-Ferrari	M191	Ferrari 037 3.5 V12	G	23	Pierluigi Martini	All
					24	Gianni Morbidelli	1–15
						Roberto Moreno	16
Equipe Ligier Gitanes	Ligier-Lamborghini	JS35 JS35B	Lamborghini 3512 3.5 V12	G	25	Thierry Boutsen	All
					26	Érik Comas	All
Scuderia Ferrari	Ferrari	642 643	Ferrari 037 3.5 V12	G	27	Alain Prost	1–15
						Gianni Morbidelli	16
					28	Jean Alesi	All
Larrousse F1	Lola-Ford	LC91	Ford Cosworth DFR 3.5 V8	G	29	Éric Bernard	1–15
						Bertrand Gachot	16
					30	Aguri Suzuki	All
Coloni Racing	Coloni-Ford	C4	Ford Cosworth DFR 3.5 V8	G	31	Pedro Chaves	1–13
						Naoki Hattori	15–16
Team 7Up Jordan	Jordan-Ford	191	Ford HBA4 3.5 V8	G	32	Bertrand Gachot	1–10
						Michael Schumacher	11
						Roberto Moreno	12–13
						Alessandro Zanardi	14–16
					33	Andrea de Cesaris	All
Modena Team	Lambo-Lamborghini	291	Lamborghini 3512 3.5 V12	G	34	Nicola Larini	All
					35	Eric van de Poele	All

Season calendar

10 March - United States Grand Prix Phoenix street circuit, Arizona	24 March - Brazilian Grand Prix Autódromo José Carlos Pace, São Paulo	28 April - San Marino Grand Prix Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola	12 May - Monaco Grand Prix Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo
2 June - Canadian Grand Prix Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal	16 June - Mexican Grand Prix Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Mexico City	7 July - French Grand Prix Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, Magny-Cours	14 July - British Grand Prix Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone
24 July - German Grand Prix Hockenheimring, Hockenheim	11 Auguat - Hungarian Grand Prix Hungaroring, Mogyoród	25 August - Belgian Grand Prix Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot	8 September - Italian Grand Prix Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza
22 September - Portugese Grand Prix Autódromo do Estoril, Estoril	29 September - Spanish Grand Prix Circuit de Catalunya, Montmeló	20 October - Japanese Grand Prix Suzuka Circuit, Mie	3 November - Australian Grand Prix Adelaide Street Circuit, Adelaide

Season review

At round 4 in Monaco Senna once again dominated taking pole position and winning by 18 second ahead of second placed Mansell who recorded his first podium and finish of the year. The biggest surprise of the event was Tyrrell driver Stefano Modena taking second place on the grid in his Honda V12 powered 020, and looking to finish there in the race before his engine blew on lap 43 forcing him to retire.

Senna won the opening round in the USA

Prost achieved his equal best finish of the year at the French GP

Mansell gives Senna a lift at the British GP

Add a photo to this gallery

Results and standings

Grands Prix

Round	Grand Prix	Location	Pole Position	Fastest Lap	Winning Driver	Winning Constructor	Report
1	United States Grand Prix	Phoenix	Ayrton Senna	Jean Alesi	Ayrton Senna	McLaren-Honda	Report
2	Brazilian Grand Prix	Interlagos	Ayrton Senna	Nigel Mansell	Ayrton Senna	McLaren-Honda	Report
3	San Marino Grand Prix	Imola	Ayrton Senna	Gerhard Berger	Ayrton Senna	McLaren-Honda	Report
4	Monaco Grand Prix	Monaco	Ayrton Senna	Alain Prost	Ayrton Senna	McLaren-Honda	Report
5	Canadian Grand Prix	Circuit Gilles Villeneuve	Riccardo Patrese	Nigel Mansell	Nelson Piquet	Benetton-Ford	Report
6	Mexican Grand Prix	Hermanos Rodríguez	Riccardo Patrese	Nigel Mansell	Riccardo Patrese	Williams-Renault	Report
7	French Grand Prix	Magny-Cours	Riccardo Patrese	Nigel Mansell	Nigel Mansell	Williams-Renault	Report
8	British Grand Prix	Silverstone	Nigel Mansell	Nigel Mansell	Nigel Mansell	Williams-Renault	Report
9	German Grand Prix	Hockenheimring	Nigel Mansell	Riccardo Patrese	Nigel Mansell	Williams-Renault	Report
10	Hungarian Grand Prix	Hungaroring	Ayrton Senna	Bertrand Gachot	Ayrton Senna	McLaren-Honda	Report
11	Belgian Grand Prix	Spa-Francorchamps	Ayrton Senna	Roberto Moreno	Ayrton Senna	McLaren-Honda	Report
12	Italian Grand Prix	Monza	Ayrton Senna	Ayrton Senna	Nigel Mansell	Williams-Renault	Report
13	Portuguese Grand Prix	Estoril	Riccardo Patrese	Nigel Mansell	Riccardo Patrese	Williams-Renault	Report
14	Spanish Grand Prix	Catalunya	Gerhard Berger	Riccardo Patrese	Nigel Mansell	Williams-Renault	Report
15	Japanese Grand Prix	Suzuka	Gerhard Berger	Ayrton Senna	Gerhard Berger	McLaren-Honda	Report
16	Australian Grand Prix	Adelaide	Ayrton Senna	Gerhard Berger	Ayrton Senna	McLaren-Honda	Report

Drivers' standings

Points for the 1991 Drivers' Championship were awarded on a 10–6–4–3–2–1 basis for the first six places in each race.

Pos Driver USA BRA SMR MON CAN MEX FRA GBR GER HUN BEL ITA POR ESP JPN AUS‡ Points 1 Ayrton Senna 1 1 1 1 Ret 3 3 4† 7† 1 1 2 2 5 2 1 96 2 Nigel Mansell Ret Ret Ret 2 6† 2 1 1 1 2 Ret 1 DSQ 1 Ret 2 72 3 Riccardo Patrese Ret 2 Ret Ret 3 1 5 Ret 2 3 5 Ret 1 3 3 5 53 4 Gerhard Berger Ret 3 2 Ret Ret Ret Ret 2 4 4 2 4 Ret Ret 1 3 43 5 Alain Prost 2 4 DNS 5 Ret Ret 2 3 Ret Ret Ret 3 Ret 2 4 34 6 Nelson Piquet 3 5 Ret Ret 1 Ret 8 5 Ret Ret 3 6 5 11 7 4 26.5 7 Jean Alesi 12† 6 Ret 3 Ret Ret 4 Ret 3 5 Ret Ret 3 4 Ret Ret 21 8 Stefano Modena 4 Ret Ret Ret 2 11 Ret 7 13 12 Ret Ret Ret 16 6 10 10 9 Andrea de Cesaris DNPQ Ret Ret Ret 4 4 6 Ret 5 7 13† 7 8 Ret Ret 8 9 10 Roberto Moreno Ret 7 13† 4 Ret 5 Ret Ret 8 8 4 Ret 10 16 8 11 Pierluigi Martini 9† Ret 4 12 7 Ret 9 9 Ret Ret 12† Ret 4 13 Ret Ret 6 12 JJ Lehto Ret Ret 3 11 Ret Ret Ret 13 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 8 Ret 12 4 13 Bertrand Gachot 10† 13† Ret 8 5 Ret Ret 6 6 9 DNQ 4 14 Michael Schumacher Ret 5 6 6 Ret Ret 4 15 Satoru Nakajima 5 Ret Ret Ret 10 12 Ret 8 Ret 15 Ret Ret 13 17 Ret Ret 2 16 Mika Häkkinen Ret 9 5 Ret Ret 9 DNQ 12 Ret 14 Ret 14 14 Ret Ret 19 2 17 Martin Brundle 11 12 11 EX Ret Ret Ret Ret 11 Ret 9 13 12 10 5 DNQ 2 18 Emanuele Pirro Ret 11 DNPQ 6 9 DNPQ DNPQ 10 10 Ret 8 10 Ret 15 Ret 7 1 19 Mark Blundell Ret Ret 8 Ret DNQ Ret Ret Ret 12 Ret 6 12 Ret Ret DNPQ 17 1 20 Ivan Capelli Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 6 Ret 8 17† Ret 1 21 Éric Bernard Ret Ret Ret 9 Ret 6 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret DNQ Ret DNQ 1 22 Aguri Suzuki 6 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret DNQ DNQ Ret DNQ Ret DNQ 1 23 Julian Bailey DNQ DNQ 6 DNQ 1 24 Gianni Morbidelli Ret 8 Ret Ret Ret 7 Ret 11 Ret 13 Ret 9 9 14† Ret 6 0.5 — Maurício Gugelmin Ret Ret 12† Ret Ret Ret 7 Ret Ret 11 Ret 15 7 7 8 14 0 — Thierry Boutsen Ret 10 7 7 Ret 8 12 Ret 9 17† 11 Ret 16 Ret 9 Ret 0 — Johnny Herbert DNQ 10 10 14† 7 Ret Ret 11 0 — Nicola Larini 7 DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ Ret 16 DNQ 16 DNQ DNQ DNQ Ret 0 — Érik Comas DNQ Ret 10 10 8 DNQ 11 DNQ Ret 10 Ret 11 11 Ret Ret 18 0 — Gabriele Tarquini 8 Ret DNQ Ret DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNQ 12 11 DNPQ 0 — Alex Zanardi 9 Ret 9 0 — Eric van de Poele DNPQ DNPQ 9† DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ 0 — Alex Caffi DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNPQ DNPQ DNQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ 10 15 0 — Olivier Grouillard DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ Ret Ret DNPQ DNPQ DNQ 10 Ret DNPQ DNPQ 0 — Michele Alboreto Ret DNQ DNQ Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret DNQ DNQ DNPQ DNQ 15 Ret DNQ 13 0 — Karl Wendlinger Ret 20 0 — Stefan Johansson DNQ DNQ Ret DNQ DNQ DNQ 0 — Fabrizio Barbazza DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ 0 — Michael Bartels DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ 0 — Pedro Chaves DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ 0 — Naoki Hattori DNPQ DNPQ 0 Pos Driver USA BRA SMR MON CAN MEX FRA GBR GER HUN BEL ITA POR ESP JPN AUS‡ Points

Key Colour Result Gold Winner Silver 2nd place Bronze 3rd place Green Points finish Blue Non-points finish Non-classified finish (NC) Purple Did not finish (Ret) Red Did not qualify (DNQ) Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ) Black Disqualified (DSQ) White Did not start (DNS) Race cancelled (C) Light blue Practiced only (PO) Friday test driver (TD) (from 2003 onwards) Blank Did not practice (DNP) Excluded (EX) Did not arrive (DNA) Withdrew entry before the event (WD) Bold – Pole Italics – Fastest lap

^† Drivers did not finish the Grand Prix, but were classified as they completed over 90% of the race distance.
^‡ Half points were awarded at the Australian Grand Prix as the race was stopped after 14 laps (out of 81) due to torrential rain.

Constructors' standings

Points for the 1991 Drivers' Championship were awarded on a 10–6–4–3–2–1 basis for the first six places in each race.

Pos	Constructor	Car no.	USA	BRA	SMR	MON	CAN	MEX	FRA	GBR	GER	HUN	BEL	ITA	POR	ESP	JPN	AUS‡	Pts
1	McLaren-Honda	1	1	1	1	1	Ret	3	3	4	7	1	1	2	2	5	2	1	139
		2	Ret	3	2	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	2	4	4	2	4	Ret	Ret	1	3
2	Williams-Renault	5	Ret	Ret	Ret	2	6	2	1	1	1	2	Ret	1	DSQ	1	Ret	2	125
		6	Ret	2	Ret	Ret	3	1	5	Ret	2	3	5	Ret	1	3	3	5
3	Ferrari	27	2	4	DNS	5	Ret	Ret	2	3	Ret	Ret	Ret	3	Ret	2	4	6	55.5
		28	12	6	Ret	3	Ret	Ret	4	Ret	3	5	Ret	Ret	3	4	Ret	Ret
4	Benetton-Ford	19	Ret	7	13	4	Ret	5	Ret	Ret	8	8	4	5	6	6	Ret	Ret	38.5
		20	3	5	Ret	Ret	1	Ret	8	5	Ret	Ret	3	6	5	11	7	4
5	Jordan-Ford	32	10	13	Ret	8	5	Ret	Ret	6	6	9	Ret	Ret	10	9	Ret	9	13
		33	DNPQ	Ret	Ret	Ret	4	4	6	Ret	5	7	13	7	8	Ret	Ret	8
6	Tyrrell-Honda	3	5	Ret	Ret	Ret	10	12	Ret	8	Ret	15	Ret	Ret	13	17	Ret	Ret	12
		4	4	Ret	Ret	Ret	2	11	Ret	7	13	12	Ret	Ret	Ret	16	6	10
7	Minardi-Ferrari	23	9	Ret	4	12	7	Ret	9	9	Ret	Ret	12	Ret	4	13	Ret	Ret	6
		24	Ret	8	Ret	Ret	Ret	7	Ret	11	Ret	13	Ret	9	9	14	Ret	16
8	Dallara-Judd	21	Ret	11	DNPQ	6	9	DNPQ	DNPQ	10	10	Ret	8	10	Ret	15	Ret	7	5
		22	Ret	Ret	3	11	Ret	Ret	Ret	13	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	8	Ret	12
9	Lotus-Judd	11	Ret	9	5	Ret	Ret	9	DNQ	12	Ret	14	Ret	14	14	Ret	Ret	19	3
		12	DNQ	DNQ	6	DNQ	DNQ	10	10	14	DNQ	DNQ	7	DNQ	Ret	DNQ	Ret	11
10	Brabham-Yamaha	7	11	12	11	EX	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	11	Ret	9	13	12	10	5	DNQ	3
		8	Ret	Ret	8	Ret	DNQ	Ret	Ret	Ret	12	Ret	6	12	Ret	Ret	DNPQ	17
11	Lola-Ford	29	Ret	Ret	Ret	9	Ret	6	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	DNQ	Ret	DNQ	DNQ	2
		30	6	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	DNQ	DNQ	Ret	DNQ	Ret	DNQ
12	Leyton House-Ilmor	15	Ret	Ret	12	Ret	Ret	Ret	7	Ret	Ret	11	Ret	15	7	7	8	14	1
		16	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	6	Ret	8	17	Ret	Ret	20
—	Ligier-Lamborghini	25	Ret	10	7	7	Ret	8	12	Ret	9	17	11	Ret	16	Ret	9	Ret	0
		26	DNQ	Ret	10	10	8	DNQ	11	DNQ	Ret	10	Ret	11	11	Ret	Ret	18
—	Lambo-Lamborghini	34	7	DNPQ	DNPQ	DNPQ	DNPQ	DNPQ	DNPQ	DNPQ	Ret	16	DNQ	16	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	Ret	0
		35	DNPQ	DNPQ	9	DNPQ	DNPQ	DNPQ	DNPQ	DNPQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ
—	AGS-Ford	17	8	Ret	DNQ	Ret	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNPQ	DNPQ	DNPQ	DNQ	DNPQ			0
		18	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNPQ	DNPQ	DNPQ	DNPQ	DNPQ	DNPQ
—	Fondmetal-Ford	14	DNPQ	DNPQ	DNPQ	DNPQ	DNPQ	Ret	Ret	DNPQ	DNPQ	DNQ	10	Ret	DNPQ	12	11	DNPQ	0
—	Footwork-Ford	9							Ret	Ret	DNQ	DNQ	DNPQ	DNQ	15	Ret	DNQ	13	0
		10							DNQ	DNQ	DNPQ	DNPQ	DNQ	DNPQ	DNPQ	DNPQ	10	15
—	Footwork-Porsche	9	Ret	DNQ	DNQ	Ret	Ret	Ret											0
		10	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	Ret	DNQ
—	Coloni-Ford	31	DNPQ	DNPQ	DNPQ	DNPQ	DNPQ	DNPQ	DNPQ	DNPQ	DNPQ	DNPQ	DNPQ	DNPQ	DNPQ		DNPQ	DNPQ	0
Pos	Constructor	Car no.	USA	BRA	SMR	MON	CAN	MEX	FRA	GBR	GER	HUN	BEL	ITA	POR	ESP	JPN	AUS‡	Pts

^‡Half points were awarded at the Australian Grand Prix as the race was stopped after 14 laps (out of 81) due to torrential rain.