Letters - An Unworthy Champion

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Sir

Senna may have won the World Drivers’ Championship after yet another reckless and pointless piece of aggression in Japan, but he cannot expect to be accepted amongst the greatest racing drivers until he shows some maturity on the occasions he has to fight for a win. To win you must finish and sidelining the opposition by attempting the impossible is not acceptable conduct from any driver in Formula 1 and certainly not from a World Champion. If the sport is to maintain any credibility FISA should discipline him as it has happened too often to be called ‘bad luck.’Prost wins my vote for 1990 whatever the points may say.

A. G. Duncan
Alfrick, Worcester

In recent months MOTOR SPORT seems to have made a serious attempt to become the official Ayrton Senna ‘fan mag’. Following this driver’s success in winning the 1990 World Championship I believe that the average reader will require to clarify his or her thoughts. I offer the following explanations for the events in the Japanese Grand Prix. Readers may choose the explanation that they consider to be most appropriate.

1. The result was a consequence of fine driving by the 1990 World Champion.

2. Prost caused the crash by not taking the wide slow line and allowing Senna to take the lead, that is his by right.

3. Prost caused the crash by not taking avoiding action, that is necessary when Senna is behind. Thus Prost has not learnt from his own past experience and that of others (eg Nannini in Hungary). This seems to be the BBC commentators’ opinion.

4. These skilled professionals have some bad luck, rapidly followed by good fortune in that they did not cause a multiple accident.

5. Senna is the fastest driver in the world today but is inconsiderate of others and dangerously flawed when racing others in equivalent machinery.

6. The 1990 World Championship was won with a cynical manoeuvre.

The choice is yours.

P. J. Huston
Boston, Lincs