On this day, August 11, 1991, Ayrton Senna secured victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix for McLaren-Honda. The win was significant for the championship and was dedicated to Honda founder Soichiro Honda, who had passed away just days earlier on August 5.
Senna started the race from pole position at the Hungaroring, having set a qualifying time more than a second faster than his nearest competitor, Riccardo Patrese. He proceeded to lead every lap of the 77-lap race.
The victory was a crucial result in the 1991 World Championship battle. Senna’s main rival, Nigel Mansell, finished second in his Williams-Renault, 4.599 seconds behind. Patrese completed the podium in the second Williams.
With the win, Senna extended his lead in the Drivers’ standings over Mansell to 12 points with six races remaining in the season. The result also helped McLaren regain the lead in the Constructors’ Championship.
Senna was driving the McLaren MP4/6, which was powered by a new Honda RA121E V12 engine for the 1991 season. The team had worked to reduce the car’s weight ahead of the Hungarian round. Honda also introduced a heavily reworked engine with lighter components for the event.
The Hungaroring’s tight and twisty layout was seen as less of an advantage for the powerful Renault engine in the Williams FW14. Senna employed a specific tyre strategy, using harder compound tyres on the left and softer compounds on the right to manage wear.
The victory was Senna’s 31st in Formula 1 and his second at the Hungarian circuit. It marked a return to form for McLaren after Williams had won the previous four consecutive races.
Following the race, Senna’s dedication of the win was a mark of respect for Soichiro Honda, acknowledging the founder’s immense contribution to the company and motorsport. Senna had a close working relationship with Honda’s engineers throughout their partnership.
Gerhard Berger finished fourth in the other McLaren, with Jean Alesi’s Ferrari in fifth. Ivan Capelli secured the final point for the Leyton House team by finishing sixth.
