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As the build-up to the Monaco Grand Prix continues, F1Today continues it's look back on some of the most famous Monaco Grands Prix gone by. Today, we look at the famous race of 1992.
1992 Monaco Grand Prix
The start of the 1992 Formula 1 season was dominated by Nigel Mansell. Coming into the weekend, no one else had matched him in the previous five races, as the Brit took victory at every race up to then. 'Our Nige' set a 1:19.495 in qualifying, eight-tenths ahead of second place Riccardo Patrese and a whole second ahead of the McLaren-Honda of Ayrton Senna.
At the start of the race, Mansell got away cleanly and held his lead. Senna overtook Patrese as they entered St. Devote. Michael Schumacher, who was making his Monaco debut, got passed Gerhard Berger on lap 1. There was a collision further back, as Pierluigi Martini hit the barrier on the exit of Mirabeau. At the end of lap 1, the order was Mansell, Senna, Patrese, Alesi, Schumacher and Berger.
Patrese attempted to pile the pressure on Senna but was forced to hang back when his car started experiencing gearbox problems. At the hairpin, Schumacher tried to get past Alesi, but the two made contact. Schumacher escaped without damage, but Alesi suffered from internal problems after the collision. He was able to hold fifth for another chunk of the race before Schumacher eventually got past the Frenchman.
Senna's race was almost completely ruined when Michele Alboreto spun out in front of the Brazilian, nearly causing a collision between both men. Senna lost a lot of time in second place due to the incident and went back on his charge to do what he could do. It all looked set for Mansell to take the victory, as he had done in the last five Grands Prix and extend his hold on the championship even further.
What the Monaco GP of 1992 will be remembered for most started on lap 70, 8 laps until the end. Mansell started to complain about his car and was convinced that he had suffered a puncture. He peeled into the pits for fresh rubber and upon rejoining the circuit, lost the lead to Senna. However, on much fresher tyres, Mansell was able to push and around was 1.5 seconds a lap faster than the Brazilian.
Senna planted his car in the middle of the road and for the final number of laps, Mansell danced around the rear of Senna's McLaren. Unable to find a way past, the eventual champion of that year had to settle for second, and Senna came across the line to claim his 34th career win.
However, as Monaco proved in 1992, no matter how much quicker you are than the car ahead, overtaking is close to impossible. Senna held his ground and his position to take his first win of the season. Mansell would go on to dominate the season, with his lowest finishing position being second place and won the championship by 52 points.
Fergal Walsh
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