F1 1988 Season Info

To understand 1988, you must understand the disparity. The governing body had mandated a change: turbo engines were to be restricted, and the future belonged to naturally aspirated cars. But for one final year, the turbos were allowed to breathe, albeit with a pop-off valve that choked their pressure.

This regulation change played directly into the hands of . Their RA168E 1.5-liter V6 turbo was the most powerful and reliable engine on the grid, producing upwards of 680 bhp in race trim and over 900 bhp in qualifying. Honda supplied two teams: the works McLaren team and the customer Lotus team. However, McLaren had exclusive access to the latest engine specifications and superior technical integration. f1 1988 season

Senna took pole position. On race day, he led. He was in a trance, dancing with the car, pulling away from Prost at a second a lap. He was untouchable. Then, with laps remaining, he crashed. A momentary lapse of concentration, a phantom "gust of wind," as he called it. He withdrew into his apartment, devastated, while Prost cruised to victory. To understand 1988, you must understand the disparity