Spanish Grand Prix 1991 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Nigel Mansell delivered another dominant victory at the Spanish Grand Prix, but it wasn't enough to prevent Ayrton Senna from clinching his third World Championship with three races still remaining. The Englishman controlled proceedings from pole position at the new Circuit de Catalunya, demonstrating Williams' technical superiority with a commanding performance. Despite Mansell's fifth win of the season, Senna's fourth-place finish was sufficient to secure the title mathematically, crowning the Brazilian champion for the third time in four years.

Alain Prost finished second for Ferrari, delivering his best result of a difficult season and providing some encouragement for the Scuderia. The four-time World Champion showed flashes of his old brilliance despite Ferrari's technical limitations, though he remained far from challenging for victories. Riccardo Patrese completed an all-Williams podium in third place, with the team demonstrating their superiority even as they watched Senna claim the championship.

The race was a bittersweet moment for Formula 1, as it marked both Senna's championship triumph and the coronation of a dominant champion despite not winning the race. Senna's consistency and McLaren's reliability had proven decisive against Williams' raw speed but fragile reliability. The Brazilian's third title confirmed his status as one of the sport's all-time greats, though few could have predicted the epic battles that would unfold between Senna and Mansell in the years to come.