F1: Most controversial crashes of all-time

#1 Ayrton Senna & Alain Prost (Japan 1989)

Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost clashed on-track for the first time in Japan.

Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost’s time as title rivals in the late eighties and early nineties is the benchmark for all battles to be judged against, as it’s undoubtedly one of the greatest ever.

The two were McLaren teammates for the second year in 1989 and were once again a cut above the rest in the championship standings. Senna had to win in Japan to keep his slim hopes of successfully defending his crown alive and hope that Prost had a poor Grand Prix.

Prost got a good start and overtook Senna into Turn 1, but the Brazilian remained in contention in P2. The Frenchman would mercilessly build up a lead for the first half of the race before Senna would begin to close after the pit-stops.

By Lap 40 of 53, the McLaren men were separated by a second and crossed swords once more. Prost was driving masterfully, preventing Senna from getting close enough to challenge.

However, the Brazilian wouldn’t be denied for much longer, and on Lap 46 he got a superb run out of 130R and went down the inside into the final chicane. Prost turned into the corner, however, and both McLarens were stranded in the run-off.

Senna got going again, albeit with a damaged front wing, while his teammate retired despite his car not being terminally damaged. Ayrton limped around for repairs and dropped to second place behind Alessandro Nannini, but overtook the Italian in the closing stages to keep the title race alive.

Or so he thought…

The race stewards judged Senna to have re-joined the track illegally and the punishment was a disqualification. Alain Prost left McLaren as an extremely controversial champion and Senna no doubt had revenge on his mind…