1992 French Grand Prix

Previous race

Berger won in Canada after a race of wholesale attrition. Mansell spun off on lap 15 trying to pass Senna at the final chicane; Senna led until electrical failure on lap 38; Patrese’s gearbox failed on lap 44; and Brundle, running second, retired with transmission trouble two laps later, ending his run of five consecutive retirements with nothing to show. Schumacher finished second and Alesi third, with Wendlinger fourth for March scoring his first Formula One points.

Entrants

The usual Friday morning pre-qualifying session is cancelled after the Andrea Moda transporter fails to arrive at Magny-Cours. The team’s truck was blocked by a French lorry drivers’ strike — all other teams were similarly affected but only Andrea Moda failed to reach the circuit. The remaining four pre-qualifying cars therefore progress automatically to the main sessions.

Christian Fittipaldi does not qualify after crashing his Minardi heavily at the Imola chicane during Friday practice, fracturing his fifth vertebra.

Milestones

This is Brundle’s first podium in Formula One; a podium finish at the 1984 Detroit Grand Prix was taken away by post-race disqualification.

Race format

The French Grand Prix sees the first trial of a Safety Car in Formula One, a Ford Escort RS Cosworth deployed when heavy rain stops the race. The event is run as an aggregate of two parts.

Qualifying

Williams again fill the front row. Mansell takes pole from Patrese, with the McLarens of Senna and Berger on the second row. Schumacher is fifth and Alesi sixth.