AUTOSPORT relives the great races of the past: Hungary '89 - Nigel's Eastern Bloc-buster

For the first time in two years, McLaren-Honda was outpaced. And by a league this was the best race of the season, maybe of several. Nigel Mansell always thought he and the Ferrari would be on the pace in Hungary. On qualifying tyres, though, the car was a disaster – so much so that he spent the last session on race rubber, concentrating on a race set-up.

It was a sound gamble, time well spent. Qualifying only 12th, he took the lead from Ayrton Senna with 20 laps to go. Senna was cheerful in defeat. The man in tears was Riccardo Patrese, who took pole and led for 52 laps before a radiator burst.

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