Spanish Grand Prix 1986 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Ayrton Senna delivered a stunning victory at Jerez, outdriving the superior Williams-Hondas with a performance of breathtaking skill and determination. The Brazilian led from pole position, using his qualifying brilliance and racecraft to hold off Nigel Mansell's charging Williams despite the FW11's power advantage. Senna's victory demonstrated that genius could occasionally triumph over machinery, as his Lotus-Renault 98T lacked the straight-line speed but benefited from superior handling through Jerez's twisty layout.

Mansell finished second after a fierce battle, showing the fighting spirit that would define his season but unable to find a way past Senna's defensive masterclass. Alain Prost salvaged third place for McLaren, capitalizing on reliability issues for Piquet to stay in championship contention. The race proved that Williams's dominance was not absolute and that Senna remained a threat on circuits where chassis balance outweighed power. The result energized Senna's championship challenge and demonstrated the Lotus 98T's potential when grip and cornering ability mattered more than horsepower.