Mexican GP, 1989

Gerhard Berger was back in action a month after his fiery accident at Imola. After pre-qualifying Stefan Johansson had finally managed to get his Onyx into a race after four attempts. At the front, however, it was business as usual with McLaren Honda driver Ayrton Senna on pole from his team mate Alain Prost. Nigel Mansell was third fastest with Ivan Capelli fourth, Riccardo Patrese fifth, Gerhard Berger sixth and Michele Alboreto (Tyrrell) seventh. The top 10 was completed by Thierry Boutsen (Williams), Stefano Modena (Brabham) and Derek Warwick (Arrows).

At the start Senna went into the lead with Mansell getting the better of Prost to grab second place. At the end of the lap, however, Stefano Modena spun his Brabham in the last corner and Olivier Grouillard (Ligier), Alex Caffi (Scuderia Italia Dallara) and Ivan Capelli (March) were also involved and so the race was red-flagged. At the second start Senna led Prost and Berger with Mansell fourth. The Englishman soon moved ahead of the Austrian and then he found himself in second place when Prost pitted for new tires. As Berger had disappeared with hydraulic trouble, Patrese moved to third place and this became second when Mansell went out after 43 laps with gearbox trouble. Alboreto finished third with Sanro Nannini fourth for Benetton, the recovering Prost fifth and Gabriele Tarquini (AGS) taking sixth place.