Senna complained that no longer being on the racing line, his side of the grid was dirty, meaning he would get less grip and therefore a slower start compared to Prost who had been moved to the clean side of the grid.
Rivalstvo je doživelo svoj vrhunec konec sezone 1989 na Veliki nagradi Japonske, ko se je odločalo o naslovu prvaka med Prostom in Senno.