From: lms@rle-vlsi.mit.edu (Luis Miguel Silveira)
Newsgroups: rec.autos.sport
Subject: Re: Mansell left because of Prost?
Date: 30 Sep 92 04:49:04 GMT
	<92273.124400JFS10@psuvm.psu.edu>
Reply-To: lms@rle-vlsi.mit.edu
Organization: Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of
	Technology



   In article <92273.124400JFS10@psuvm.psu.edu>
   Jonathan Swaby <JFS10@psuvm.psu.edu> writes:

   If that were the case then how come we did not see a closer battle
   between Mansell and Patrese?

I think we have to agree that Mansell outdrove Patrese all year (few
exceptions, Hungary for instance).  Whether this was pure driving
ability, we can only conjecture, but I see no reasons not to believe
so.

   If it is all the car and nothing to do
   with Mansell, then how do you explain Mansells wins without a FW14.
   He has been runner-up twice for the WDC.

It may be just me but in both cases didn't he had clearly the best car
in the track.  The two previous times he just plainly had an equal
teammate (Piquet).  In 86 this made for the points division and kept
Prost in the race (and yes, Mansell was unlucky, but heck that's the
name of the game).  In 87 Piquet must have outdriven him (don't
remember anymore, but use same reasoning as for this year's comparison
with Patrese)

In any case there is little doubt that this time around the Williams
was the far superior car.  If Mansell had dropped out of all races,
Patrese would win the WC hands down, so yes, the car had a lot to do
with it (I doubt Mansell would deny that).

Note that last year the car was equally dominating and I still believe
they would have won with just a little bit mroe reliability and
without the fuck-up pitstop in Portugal.

   I think he was demanding the respect he deserves. Prost left the
   McLaren team because he did not think he was treated correctly.
   at least thats what he says. Maybe he felt threatened by Senna.

I am not sure if the two situations are comparable.  Prost had driven
alongside Senna, Mansell has not driven at Williams with Prost (they
drove together at Ferrari, but that's different).  I really think
Mansell was just trying to get guaranties (equal treatment, more
money, whatever) that he would not get fucked-up and ended up being so
in the process..

   Prost did the same by leaving McLaren to join Ferrari. Maybe
   he is ready for something new and different. He was ready to leave F1
   before.

This is clealy not true.  At that point McLaren was completely in
Senna's side (why ?  do not ask me, I could not choose between the
two) and Prost had no hope.  But he had been through it before, he
knew!  Mansell could only imagine. Not a fair comparison.

   How bout Prost. What a cry baby. He is no longer welcome at
   McLaren and Ferrari. Soon it will be Williams also.

Who do you know that left Williams in good terms (Reutemann, Piquet,
Boutsen, ??)?  I thougth so...  So not being welcomed at Williams is
hardly a good measure to anything :-).

   Imagine if
   he gets teamed with a driver that is as good as Senna or Mansell.

And why not ?  There are quite a few potential great drivers out there
(Schumacher, Hakkinnen, Herbert, who knows who else).  We will see!

   A teammate he has to compete with. What will he do? Cry to Renault.
   Thats how he got the Williams ride to begin with.

Proof ?  Fact ?  Imagine you were Renault (which are not in this
business to get the nicest looking drivers into their cars).  Who
would you want driving for you ?  Does french driver ring a bell ?

   Mansell certainly has more charm than Prost. Prost will stab anyone
   and everyone in the back. Why doesn't he want Senna at Williams.

Maybe he thinks he got stabbed in the back by Senna way back when.  I
think it is very obvious why he would not want Senna.  Would you if
you were in his place ?  Heck I would try my best to make Williams a
1-car team if I could.  Why share the wealth ?

Make no mistake.  I *do not* like Prost.  But I see little to separate
him from Senna (in just about every respect, from driving abilities to
attitude, etc).  Mansell ?  I think he did not have such a strong
position to start with and did not understand it very well.

-Miguel


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Luis Miguel Silveira                            e-mail : lms@rle-vlsi.mit.edu
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