Ayrton Senna Special: Part 38 - Bad year for the sport - After the championship (1990)

The 1990 season had its last stop in Adelaide, Australia. The titles were awarded, Ayrton was champion of the drivers and McLaren of the constructors, but still, there was a lot of controversy at the last Grand Prix of the season. In the run-up to the Grand Prix, Sir. Jackie Stewart interviewed Ayrton Senna about his second world title. This interview was ultimately responsible for the legendary statement: "if you no longer go for a gap you are no longer a racing driver". 

Interview with Stewart 

As part of a television interview with Ayrton Senna after qualifying, Jackie Stewart caused a stir by putting Ayrton on the spot. Stewart, a highly skilled man and television commentator for Channel 9 in Australia, considered it necessary as a multiple world champion to respond to the current world champion. Stewart claimed, among other things, that Ayrton had been part of the many accidents that had taken place in the past 48 months. A visibly irritated Senna stated that he could not believe that Stewart was telling such things and advised the triple world champion to check his facts. 

Problems during the drivers briefing

On the day during the briefing, McLaren team boss Ron Dennis asked the race management what would happen if someone decided to cut the chicane after the start. Dennis wanted to know if this was legal. The FISA ifficials replied that any driver who would do this would in all likelihood get his car damaged. The officials were of the opinion that cutting off the chicane was not advisable. At that point, Alain Prost stepped up and walked away from the meeting. With this action, Prost of the FISA (led by friend Balestre) got a warning, but no penalty. It was to the amazement of many drivers, because at that time it was customary to fine a driver after he had run away from the briefing. 

Controversy at the annual photo shoot

On Sunday morning, as usual, the annual photo shoot was held at the end of the season. The Australian Grand Prix was the 500th race in the history of Formula 1 and it was decided that all living world champions would be invited. These world champions would also be photographed prior to the race: James Hunt, Jackie Stewart, Denny Hulme, Nelson Piquet, Juan Manuel Fangio, Jack Brabham and Ayrton Senna were all on the photo. Prost was not there.

The Frenchman was still angry about the incident in Japan and decided not to appear in the group photo of the current Formula 1 drivers, as well as the group photo of the former champions. This action and his public statements about Ayrton Senna had made him decide not to take a picture with him.

Several living world champions were not present at the photo shoot: Phil Hill (1961), John Surtees (1964), Emerson Fittipaldi (1972 & 1974), Niki Lauda (1975, 1977 & 1984), Mario Andretti (1978), Jody Scheckter (1979) and Keke Rosberg (1982) decided to miss out on the shoot. Some of them weren't in Australia and others didn't want to be photographed. The most surprisingly absent was Alan Jones, world champion in 1980. Jones was present in Adelaide, he drove a touring car race in a Ford Sierra RS500 that weekend, but decided not to have his picture taken. 

"He's acting like a broken man," James Hunt said of Prost. "This is due to the whole situation with Ayrton Senna. Prost is only trying to blame other people and will do well to look in the mirror. We have seen in the last four races that the man responsible for Alain Prost not becoming a world champion is Alain Prost."

Ayrton Senna Special: Part 1 - Ayrton and karting - The early years
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 2 - Ayrton and karting - International
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 3 - Ayrton and karting - The tough trip in Buenos Aires
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 4 - Ayrton and karting - The last race
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 5 - Ayrton in Europe - Formula Ford 1600 and the battle with Rick Morris
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 6 - Ayrton in Europe - A glorious year in Formula Ford 200
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 7 - Ayrton in British Formula 3 - Senna in a class of his own
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 8 - Ayrton in British Formula 3 - First signs of pressure and dirt game 
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 9 - Ayrton in British Formula 3 - Shame at Oulton Park and another title
Ayrton Senna Special Exclusive Interview: Allen Berg: Ayrton drove against the British system
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 10 - Ayrton as a test driver - The first experience in a Formula 1 car
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 11 - Ayrton as a test driver - A selection of different teams
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 12 - Ayrton at Toleman - Why the choice for Toleman was the right one
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 13 - Ayrton at Toleman - Monaco Grand Prix - Stefan was faster
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 14 - Ayrton at Toleman - Monaco Grand Prix - Post-race
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 15 - Ayrton at Toleman - Competitive in a new car with two podiums
Ayrton Senna Special: Technical Analysis 1: The Toleman TG183 (1984)
Ayrton Senna Special: Teammate 1: Johnny Cecotto
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 16 - Ayrton at Lotus - Facial Paralysis
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 17 - Ayrton at Lotus - Masterclass in Estoril
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 18 - Ayrton at Lotus - An unfortunate first half of the season
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 19 - Ayrton at Lotus - Many podiums and a victory at Spa-Francorchamps
Ayrton Senna Special: Technical Analysis 2: The Lotus 972
Ayrton Senna Special: Teammate 2: Elio 'The Gentleman'
Ayrton Senna Special: Extra 1: Veto 1
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 20 - Second year at Lotus - Titanium competition with Nigel Mansell
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 21 - Second year at Lotus- A good start and the lead in the championship after Detroit (1986)
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 22 - Second year at Lotus - Decay in the second half of the season (1986)
Ayrton Senna Special: Teammates 3: John Crichton-Stuart, 7th Marquess of Bute (1986) 
Ayrton Senna Special: Extra 2 - Gérard Ducarouge - Designer of Ayrton's winning Lotus (1986)
Ayrton Senna Special: Exclusive Interview 1: Allard Kalff: 'I still honour Roland on April 30'.
Ayrton Senna Special: Exclusive Interview 2: Allard Kalff: "I only saw at Linate Airport that Ayrton had died"
Ayrton Senna Special: Exclusive Interview 3: Allard Kalff: "The accidents in 1994 were coincidence, in 1995 nothing happened"
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 23 - Last year at Lotus - Excellent season with the 1986 Honda engine (1987)
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 24 - Last year at Lotus - The victories at Monaco and Detroit (1987) 
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 25 - The beginning of an era - The contract at McLaren (1988)
Ayrton Senna Special: Extra 2: Trashtalk (1988)
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 26 - The beginning of an era - Tears in Brazil and Monaco (1988)
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 27 - The beginning of an era - The basis for the first world title (1988)
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 28 - The beginning of an era - Absolute dominance (1988)
Ayrton Senna Special: Eric Comas: 'Hypocritical people knew during the race what was going on with Ayrton
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 29 - The beginning of an era - The first world title (1988)
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 30 - Problems at the team - Perfect start despite a loss in Rio (1989)
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 31 - Problems at the team - A dip in the championship at an early stage (1989)
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 32 - Problems at the team - Back in the title fight? (1989)
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 33 - Problems at the team - Bad luck and controversy put an end to the second world title (1989)
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 34 - War at the team - Suzuka (1989)
Ayrton Senna Special: Extra 4: Senna and Ferrari - A deal that did not come off (1990)
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 35 - Bad year for the sport - Excellent start (1990)
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 36 - Bad year for the sport - The basis for the second world title (1990)
Ayrton Senna Special: Part 37 - Bad year for the sport - Suzuka (1990)