After the drama of the previous year's season finale, Ayrton Senna was again in the position of leading the championship going into the Japanese Grand Prix. Nigel Mansell needed to take victory and lined up alongside Senna at the front of the grid. But it was Senna's McLaren team-mate Gerhard Berger who beat them both into the first corner. Mansell, pushing frantically hard to pass Senna, spun off on lap ten when the brakes of his Williams failed and the title was decided in Senna's favour. With the Austrian suffering tyre problems, Senna then took the lead only for the Brazilian to show one of the more compassionate acts of his career by letting his good friend past to take victory on the final corner. "The brake pedal went soft and I couldn't slow down," said Mansell. "It's a pity for it to flnish like this but I can't be too unhappy. We've had a great championship and I know everyone has tried his best. I've proved I came back for the right reasons and Williams have given me the shot of the championship they promised."
1978
Gunner Nilsson, who won the 1977 Belgian Grand Prix, died of cancer at the age of 29. "His rare talent had taken him swiftly to the top as No. 2 to Mario Andretti," wrote the Times, "[and] he was perhaps the most naturally gifted of the new generation of grands prix drivers." He was diagnosed at the end of 1977 but still signed with Arrows as its No. 1 for the 1978 season but his condition deteriorated rapidly and he was forced to stand down before the first race. He dedicated his remaining months on running the Gunnar Nilsson Cancer Treatment Campaign, linked to Charing Cross Hospital, declining pain-killing drugs so he could work as long as possible. His death came five weeks after that of fellow Swede, rival and friend Ronnie Peterson.
2009
World Champion Jenson Button revealed he was ready to discuss his future with his title-winning Brawn GP team, the Briton making it clear he was keen to stay with the team. Soon afterwards, however, Mercedes announced it had bought the Brawn outfit and Button instead signed for McLaren to form an all-English driver partnership with Lewis Hamilton.
2005
Autosport revealed that Williams decided to hand Nico Rosberg the second race seat at their team for the following season. Two weeks later, the news was official. "I believe I am one of many in Formula One who is genuinely excited about the prospect of Nico Rosberg," said team boss Frank Williams. "Despite his youth, his wealth of experience reflects the early start made by contemporary drivers and it is significant to note that Nico has recorded more race starts at the age of 20 than his father recorded in his entire career."
