SENNA’S DEFENDING MASTERCLASS! The Story of the 1992 Monaco Grand Prix

On any other track, Mansell would have won even with the iffy tyre stuff. But the way that Mansell tried to force his way through without hitting anything and how Senna defended without getting wiped out is insane. This went on for three laps in what is probably the best ending to a Monaco GP of all time.
So how did it all pan out? Let's have a look.
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[@captainmagenta899]

No matter how many times I re-watch those final laps, I still think "maybe Nigel will find a way past this time".

[@RaceSimCentral]

One of my favorite races, and a classic example of how a race can be exciting at Monaco. Exciting for the anticipation of a pass, rather than an actual pass.

[@gavinsmith28]

Exactly- best F1 is like chess

[@TheGalantHamburger]

It was only possible because Mansell was multiple seconds per lap faster than Senna and could stay on his tail, not something you’ll see these days because they’re all driving on eggshells saving tyres

[@nickwall2497]

Yup, piling the pressure on in the hope Senna makes a mistake. Racing isn't all about overtaking. The art of defending has been somewhat lost nowadays

[@TheModmc]

so true, nothing less exiting than a push to pass/drs overtake

[@AndrewGeierMelons]

I really liked the 2009 ALMS at Laguna Seca race finish... Jan Magnussen vs Jörg Bergmeister. The same reason applies; "will he or won't he?"

[@Glenn_Wackett]

The last half dozen laps of this race alone got me hooked on F1 for the last 32 years.

[@nigelmurphy6761]

me too dude. This was the race that made me an F1 fan. Those last four or five laps were as a great man once said, "Absolutely sensational." Never was a truer word said.

[@matthpotte]

Can you imagine the 1992 season if social media and modern attitudes were applied, Senna would be accused of being ‘washed’ and it would have been suggested it must have been the ‘car’ that gave him the 3 world titles.

[@TheBeigeBox]

You’re genuinely a specimen

[@heliumtrophy]

And the now traditional urge to shit talk Monaco because there's no overtaking. It would end up like the old pithy remarks of "people watching cars go round and waiting for a crash."

[@tobsixi6702]

Probably not because he went up against Prost in the same car (other than Senna the best driver on the grid during that time) and not even Prost was able to dominate like Senna

[@markoarkaina8656]

Only Graham Hill could pull off long swept back hair, burners and a tache. Legend.

[@heliumtrophy]

The moniker of Mr Monaco fit him perfectly because he could come out smelling of 4 day old cologne and vodka schnapps and still charm the bejesus out of anyone in his vicinity.

[@GreenHornet553]

Burt Reynolds and Sean Connery would like a word.

[@paulf9487]

Ding dong...

[@johns950]

Ayrton: "if you don't go for a gap, you're not a race driver." His competitors go for crazy gaps and put themselves out - ask Esteban O. Well played, amigo.

[@nickwall2497]

Michael's 2012 Monaco lap was special too, and one of the best ever round there. I'm glad you've done this and mentioned the cars were wider in 1992, it's one thing that really annoys me nowadays is people saying the cars are too wide

[@ben6993]

They are too wide though. This recent Monaco GP was an absolute snooze fest

[@Dat-Mudkip]

​@@ben6993I think the sheer length is a bigger problem than the width.

[@nickwall2497]

@ben6993 Nothing to do with width, as mentioned in the video, the cars racing round Monaco 30 years ago and longer, were WIDER than todays cars. The most exciting Monaco race, was with cars wider. The cars have been between 1.8m and 2.2m since the 60s. The thing that has changed, is length!

[@gokingsgoful]

@@Dat-Mudkip That's what she said...?

[@gokingsgoful]

@@nickwall2497 And reliability. Half the field doesn't grenade itself anymore.

[@laurenmp7486]

Thinking of great qualifying laps, I remember Jacques Villeneuve having one in 97, where he was coming out of corners sideways, you know the thing that hurts your lap time, and got the pole. As for Monaco in 92, Senna and Mansell were the race. And holy hell what a race it was.

[@MWPompert]

For me the best qualifying lap wasn’t in an F1 car even, and it wasn’t pole. But Jacky Ickx qualified his F2 car in the 1967 German GP on what would be 2nd on the F1 grid. Only Clark in his 49 was faster! F2 joining the field that race to fill the grid and keep spectators entertained better. He then had to start at the head of the F2 field behind all tge F1 cars but made his way well into the points positions before retiring due to suspension damage. Epic drive 🌟

[@theiceman7590]

Senna 1988 Monaco, Senna 1989 Suzuka, Senna 1991 Spa, Senna 1992 Canada, Hakkinen 1998 Monaco, Schumacher 1999 Malaysia, Hakkinen Imola 2000, Schumacher 2001 Suzuka and Kimi Monaco 2005 are all contenders for best qualifying laps I've seen

[@remraf1984]

Say his name, and he appears! I believe in Robert Moreno!

[@kevinprior3549]

Senna may have tamed Mansell at Monaco... But Mansell absolutely STUFFED Senna in the 1992 championship.

[@King_Ears]

92 was the first season my dad actively got me watching F1 and Monaco was amazing, but gutting as Mansell fans

[@JohnSmithShields]

Despite watching the race live, all I remember is hating Senna for not letting Mansell past. There is so much to every GP weekend that never sees the light of day. Thanks for more background, and of course more Moreno.

[@King_Goat_JJ]

Wasn’t born for this race & have watched the last 10 laps. It’s breathtaking stuff especially coming out of the tunnel, both sliding like mad men. Had my own art of defending 13 years later on a different track but still hard to pass at. Alonso holding off the Michael at Imola in 05 when Michael spent half the race hunting for Button & then Alonso

[@MrSaywutnow]

I remember watching it live. It was probably the first time a race had me on the edge of my seat.

[@goodfes]

I was sat in my new flat alone, hung over and watching a pretty boring GP, Williams so dominant that season already. And then fireworks, last minute Williams pit, the commentary (Murray and James), a clearly dominant car and driver on top of his game and the sheer defiance of Senna. It was probably the greatest end to an F1 race I have ever seen and it was in Monaco of all places. Fortunate enough to visit a few years later and walk the streets, highly recommended. As such however mundane the modern races seem, Monaco has a special place in my heart.

[@dazzlernator]

I still remember this race fondly as a wee lad, particularly as I was rooting for Nige and my old man for Senna. The last 5 laps are probably the best example that I use in saying overtaking in itself doesn't make for exciting racing but rather the persistent threat of it and the battle between the drivers.

[@gregd806]

Oooh, YEAH, A SENNA video! Great Work, Mr. Millward! Man, Andrea Moda.. That's a name I haven't Heard in a while..

[@maxtvn23]

I’m a younger f1 so some stuff that happened in the past have gone by myself so these kind of videos are great for me thanks thanks Aiden for giving us a great inside on older f1 topics !!!

[@stewartbailey1653]

The race that got me hooked on F1, and I only watched the last 10 laps

[@weallfollowmanutd]

Senna actually did the best lap in history at Suzuka 1989. He was 1.7 seconds faster than P2. Senna acheiving a 1.38.0 and Prost 1.39.7.

[@DPW864]

Villeneuve was 1.8 seconds ahead of second place in the 97 Aus GP

[@johnnybrophy8229]

That 1992 Race is the Race that made me a FAN of F1 as a young kid I still Remember looking at it live with my uncle here in Dublin IRELAND and that's the Day I became a FAN of Motorsport. In the last 10 years I don't look at F1 as much I will look at the W,E,C and Indycar instead of F1 because of how Boring it has become and then F1 want you to PAY Huge Money to look at it now. When F1 was on BBC and ITV it was at it's best I've lost my love for F1

[@johns950]

Thanks for including the mistake and correcting it - instead of just leaving it out.

[@kevinprior3549]

Not ever winning the Monaco GP must really hurt Mansell... same for D Hill.

[@eamonahern7495]

Aidan you're top of the league. When it comes to top spot on the "most relevant" order of my subs on KZbin, it's normally Jimmy Broadbent with occasionally MMA World fighting it out for top spot. Despite the Simple Flying channel putting content out every day, they've never reached the top spot. Today your channel did. Edit: there hasn't been a driver death at the Monaco grand prix since Lorenzo Bandini's firey crash in '66 or '67. Statistically, that's an argument for it being safe enough.

[@nitrous36]

Woot! Caught it 20 minutes after uploading. This ones hot.

[@ripperevo2011rrchamp]

There was also Belgian driver Teddy Pilette. His father Andre raced in F1 in the early 50s, scoring a best result of 5th, while he raced once in 1974 and finished 17th before failing to qualify in several outings for the dying BRM team in 1977.

[@micodyerski1621]

I really enjoy your view on things racing. Im next to Valley Forge, in Pennsylvania and I love an outside look at motorsport. F1 is king in my house. Thanks for the info. 👍

[@dascooter8287]

Feed the algorithm. You rock Aidan

[@Andre_The_Millennial]

Another good example that more overtakes =/= good racing.

[@Antonypancake]

Would love to see a video on Jim Clark's luck, or lack of if, at Monaco

[@jezzter4293]

I wouldn't have spent 17 years working for F1 if I had your jaded view

[@Tovanos]

I don't know about the absolute best quali lap, but I just want to throw Fisichella's lap in quali for the '09 Belgian GP out there. Putting the Force India on pole when they were an absolute backmarker was amazing, and the way he drifts around the last chicane to complete the lap was 👌

[@sandmaenchen]

Never heard about Mansell driving the 1992 season with a broken ankle before, but it fits my perception of him. I understand he was injured a number of times during his career, like the title-hunt-ending Suzuka 1987 crash, the headbutt with a concrete block after the race he had just won, and the race-ending crash at Adelaide 1991. Plus the iconic pictures of him losing consciousness while pushing his car to the finish line in some 30+ degrees heat.

[@Edudux]

I used to play a F1 Professional Manager on the PC, and I allways edited my team to be Andrea Moda. For me, these teams (Coloni, Onyx, Forti, etc...) are the salt and pepper of the sport.

[@65hi863dhyu]

Jarno Trulli, Monaco 2004

[@adriantaylor8314]

Id put Silverstone 1992 as one of the best quality laps ever, Mansell almost getting 2 seconds on nearest rival Patrese

[@TC10193]

That was a stunning lap.

[@michaeldelaney7271]

Senna had many "masterclass" moments when he was slower than his pursuers. Of course, he expected everyone who was faster to just let him get away with blocking (which he did a lot of). However, when Senna was faster (or wished he were) he just knocked people out of his way. He got away with it for a long time since the FIA was so spineless. Finally, Prost showed Senna how unpleasant being bumped off the track felt. Turns out Senna didn't like it very much. That is, he could dish it out but couldn't take it.

[@palm92]

Nonsense.

[@michaeldelaney7271]

@@palm92 Ask Alain Prost or any of us that watched those races live. Senna was fast, which is why so many fans forgave him for his bullying tactics. But, he often used other drivers as cushions to slow down when he approached a corner too fast. It is often said that off the track he was a wonderful human being and a real humanitarian. That's great. On the track he pushed, shoved and blocked his opponents. Prost tried for more than a year to get the FIA to do something about Senna. Basically, the FIA just shrugged and said the French version of "whatever." Finally, after Senna had knocked Prost off the track and out of the Championship (1988?) ... Prost "repaid the favor" and knock Senna out of the race and championship very deliberately (1989?). And, he made sure everyone knew it, including Senna. Unlike Senna's usual claims of "I didn't see him" or "he ran into me" when he crashed into other folks. Prost just said in effect, "if the FIA wasn't going to take care of the problem, then I had to." Some Senna fanatics/true believers wanted Prost punished for that one time using the tactics that Senna used in almost every race. "The Guardian" called Senna "uncompromising" which is a polite way of saying he did whatever he wanted on track. It seemed that after Prost demonstrated the unpleasantness of being punted off track, Senna drove in a more respectful manner.

[@palm92]

@@michaeldelaney7271 I did watch them. It's nonsense. He was hardly the only guy that drove that way.

[@michaeldelaney7271]

@stemartin6671 Yes, great physical talent, but never content to play by the rules. Because he was a star, he was allowed to get away with a lot. Just like in other sports where star players don't have to follow the same rules as everybody else.

[@palm92]

@stemartin6671 So were Jones, Mansell, Piquet, and Schumacher at times. Mansell and Jones in particular were giant hypersensitive babies, Piquet was a massive a-hole. Schumacher drove like a dickhead. The only champions that weren't that way were Lauda, Prost and Rosberg of that era.

[@Tamburello_1994]

Liked immediately

[@slap_k_man1862]

My favourite quail lap in history is 2020 turkey not because lance is on poll but cause of how hard it was no driver was able to maximize there car so it was almost pure skill with top strategist

[@dazzlernator]

On a semantics point, Aidan, Mansell won the 1992 title with a broken foot (rather than ankle) where he'd splintered several toes. He didn't quite break his back at Phoenix, he sustained a particularly nasty avulsion injury in his back that caused him a lot of pain. He said doctors only saw those injuries on corpses because they were killed in plane crashes with similar g-forces applied to the body.

[@caphowdy666]

Just watching the video again, and didn't spot this first time around. Yes you are right about Christian Fittipaldi debuting before Damon, but even he is not the first son of an F1 driver to make the grid, and in fact you kinda mentioned his name with the team Damon was driving for. David Brabham debuted in 1990 driving the Brabham. And did qualify and race on a few occasions.

[@bram5825]

Best lap in F1 history for me is I believe Kimi Raikkonen's 2020 Portuguese opening lap. Without Google, the one where he overtook all those cars and showed crazy car control.

[@RANDOMZBOSSMAN1]

He went from like 15th to 4th just sheer class

[@bram5825]

​@@RANDOMZBOSSMAN1 to me if someone asks "why do you love formula 1, it's just cars driving circles?", that is what I would show them. Over multiple laps I'd show the summary of Verstappen's 2016 race. If you can watch that and still say "meh" than racing isn't for you. Excitement isn't for you. Comprehending seeing stuff isn't for you.

[@AntoniusTyas]

Oh god. Perry's Andrea Moda in Monaco. Doing flat-out using improper seat. Perry was lucky not to have concussion.

[@minibus9]

awesome video

[@kickstartmotoart]

I think it's had its day, could it work as a heritage event perhaps ,classic F1 cars, maybe like a hill climb style race, all the glamour, the buzz and history ?

[@johns950]

Footwork were fancy.

[@olivergould3878]

I am on the outskirts of Monaco right now I can see the harbor right now I can see the 5 percent of both the F1 track and 10 percent of the WRC course is. It's tiring walking here tho a heck of a lot of steps

[@heliumtrophy]

Berger's lap in 95 certainly got Ben Edwards and John Watson going.....the closest you can ever get to hearing two men orgasm simultaneously to a car sliding about

[@leerobinsoninuk]

my only issue is the car sizes. street circuits require smaller cars. when you are 2 metres wide you cant really able to pass on streets can you ocon?

[@gokingsgoful]

As always, Nigel being the undisputed unified world open wheel champion was pretty amazing.

[@meer1120]

Seriously, how was Bertaggia the fifth driver? He was with the team earlier, therefore he was either the first or second person to drive for the team that season.

[@simontravers2715]

Here’s a question, G. Hill vs Senna at Monaco, who’d win? Probably Clark in a reliable Lotus (not the one that retired him in those Monaco GP where he got pole) Mr. Monaco vs Senor Monaco 🇬🇧🇧🇷

[@CD-Gaming]

"1984 was 20 years ago to me..." Tell that to my body!

[@nicklowe536]

Best F1 race ever

[@Zephirot080]

A Copersucar video would be really interesting

[@torinoscaletunes]

Watched it live. Convinced Senna was braketesting Mansell all the way round.

[@GreatCdn59]

I'd argue Villeneuve's 97 Australia pole lap is at least within discussion range for best lap ever. over 1.5 sec faster than 2nd and 2+ secs faster than The Michael .. on a bog-standard dry sunny day

[@SquirrelArmyStudios2015]

This was the race that introduced me to F1. I remember being glued to it on my Grans 14” portable TV. I was hooked on the sport from that day until that infamous race in 2021.

[@soldieroffortune308]

Do Jerez 1986 for the similarities.

[@Holanduzo]

Well, best qualy lap is easy: Silverstone 92, Mansell laped 2 seconds faster than his team mate and 3 seconds faster than Senna.

[@RANDOMZBOSSMAN1]

IIRC that was the lap when he became the first person to take Copse flat out

[@TurtleGarage]

It was Senna's worst season since his debut at Toleman - and he still managed to finish 4th, behind the Williams duo and Schumacher, who managed to have less DNFs despite having the same amount of podiums as Senna. For those who still whine and say he only won when he had the best car, that's a pretty good shut-up.

[@TC10193]

David Brabham, son of Jack, raced in F1 before Damon as well as Fittipaldi. He qualified a pretty awful Brabham car a few times in 1990

[@palm92]

I've always thought the MP4/7A kinda sucked.

[@TL98]

man beats computer

[@lazerbeam608]

On board Suzuka, 2019 Vettel

[@RC-zt9ct]

Im pretty sure Senna still had an manual rather than a flappy pedal gearbox. Even Murray metioned this during the broadcast.

[@AidanMillward]

Mp4/7 is listed as being the first to have a sequential. Whether it was flappy paddle or lever, it definitely wasn’t an H pattern.

[@RC-zt9ct]

@@AidanMillward Okey, I'm willing to be wrong. I guess I learned something new today. Love the vids man.

[@johnchris4131]

About Monaco 1996 Sorry, i think also Panis had to start on Rain Tyres. From my Memory he had a undercut against the Irvine Group, he went on slicks earlyer an the Hill and the Beneton fails

[@GarethT902]

Could you do the 91 British GP when Mansell gave Senna a lift ?

[@alexcane4498]

2:00 So, sports-washing works?...

[@AidanMillward]

Qatar World Cup says: yes.

[@sheldoniusRex]

Verstappen at Jeddah was literal pure magic. It was a holy experience. Until the wall. But the wall happened, and so it can't be first.

[@scsutton1]

And Monaco qualifying 2023 was the result nearly 18 months later.

[@meer1120]

Nice Stig reference.

[@tomcleave2622]

It actually doesn’t mater how good you are if you’re a jerk and he was a jerk at running into people because he knew he’d lose. Jerk for sure

[@ionutalex5529]

i wish 1994 was 20 years ago :(

[@shoominati23]

Monaco would be a great circuit for V8 Supercars though

[@rayjulien4739]

Something wrong with the You Tube like button. I no longer know if I've hit the like BUTTON!

[@caphowdy666]

Not sure you really care, but van de Poele is pronounced closer to "pawl". Most pronounce it "pole" which is close enough. Another thing I don't think gets mentioned enough is that Damon helped develop the FW14B. It's just a shame that by the time he got to drive for Williams all that trick stuff was a thing of the past. He did a fantastic job in the 93 car no doubt, and while I don't think he would have won the title that year, he did play the team game and give up positions to Prost when asked, so possibly could have finished 2nd ahead of Senna.

[@tdubs9726tw]

Wasn’t alive in ‘92, but remember Rosberg saying Lewis should have breezed past him and Vettel on the SC restart after pitting for fresh rubber in 2015. Don’t know how true that or your statement on Mansell are 😂

[@photodave219]

Thats because 1984 WAS Twenty years ago

[@DiogeneDeSin0pe]

Did sausage roll take on a new meaning? As in; hit a sausage curb and roll your car?

[@AidanMillward]

No, it’s still the standard meat cylinder wrapped in pastry that is highly tasty.

[@Dave-from-Mercer-Island-WA-USA]

Interesting that your examples of “exciting” races at Monaco had nothing to do with close, wheel to wheel racing. What qualifies as a good Monaco appears to boil down to botched pit stops or superior pit stop strategy or mechanical issues. Broadly speaking the only tight racing we seem to have access to is Indy Car and Moto GP. NASCAR doesn’t count because it is too WWE to be taken seriously.

[@TerribleFire]

The cars not F1 anymore.. they're trucks.

[@nowind37]

can you make a video about "how charles broke his monaco curse" it will be awesome

[@SpaceHCowboy]

You mean, how he led a high-speed traffic jam....? No thank you. Boring 💤

[@TomCousins-tx3kh]

Monaco should go away, or they should have rain sprinklers spraying water onto track

[@thatguyfromcetialphaV]

Under today's rules Senna would have been penalised 30 seconds for blocking. Zzzzzz.