1989 British Grand Prix

Championship standings

Prost leads Senna by 11 points going into Silverstone. Senna has retired in each of the last three races — USA, Canada, and France — all from positions where he was leading or challenging for the lead. Prost downplays talk of a third championship: “I don’t want to start talking about the championship, getting into all that, but I’m much happier now, yes. Motivated again. I’ve had no engine problems since Mexico, which is nice, and also I’m pleased to see Ferrari getting more competitive: both Nigel and Gerhard can win races and that can only help me.”

Previous race

At Paul Ricard, Prost won his home Grand Prix from pole position after Senna was eliminated at the restart with a differential failure. The first start was red-flagged when Gugelmin’s March locked its brakes at the first corner, flew into the air, and landed inverted on Mansell’s rear wing; no one was hurt. Mansell finished second, Patrese third. Jean Alesi ran second during his Formula One debut before a tyre stop dropped him to fourth. Stefan Johansson scored Onyx’s first points in fifth.

Between-race developments

Prost confirms he will join Ferrari in 1990, formalising what he announced before France as a departure from McLaren at the season’s end.

Derek Warwick returns at Silverstone after missing France with a back injury from a karting accident, with a specially modified seat fitted to his Arrows.