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[killem2]

In this is video you see Prost giving everything he has to pass Senna. In today's F1 do battles likes this not occur because

1. Overtaking was easier back then
2. Drivers were allowed to attack that aggressively
3. Drivers could defend that aggressively
4. All of the above?

To me looking at this video it just seems like its the drivers choice to maneuver like this.

[texasmr2]

Thats when racing was racing and not bogged down by the number of manuevers a driver can make to defend their position. Also Senna kept his inertia it seems while Prost and Schumacher did not have the prefered line while attempting to pass thus they lost entry and exit speed. God I miss those days immensely.

Senna was the master at many things and protecting his position without loosing his cool was one of them.

[scotty]

To an extent it's a matter of opinion, but i think it's mostly due to the car characteristics... so i guess option number 1 on your list?

I think today drivers can still use agressive tactics like that as long as there are no collisions, and that is a key point - you have to remember those 3 drivers have 14 world titles between them and are literally the all time best of the best. They therefore perhaps know where to yield in their attack or conversely leave space in defence to avoid a collision, something that a hell of a lot of drivers simply don't have the capability of doing.

I know modern rules prohibit weaving and excessive movement in braking zones, but from what i can see on that clip, none of the drivers would be breaking those rules anyway... that's how high a standard of racing is shown on that video. It's incredible footage really.

[killem2]

Thats when racing was racing and not bogged down by the number of manuevers a driver can make to defend their position. Also Senna kept his inertia it seems while Prost and Schumacher did not have the prefered line while attempting to pass thus they lost entry and exit speed. God I miss those days immensely.

Senna was the master at many things and protecting his position without loosing his cool was one of them.

I did not realize drivers have limits to defend with. WTF i say. I understood that the reason they don't have driver aids is because they want the drivers to be the center of the spot light, but then don't allow to drive to there maximum abilities?

[hypertek]

Im going to say better visibility in those cars helped alot and they where more easily matched as far as aerodynamics and mechanical grip wise. Current cars have such a low point of view with the driver sitting so low that they probably dont get a good idea of where all the car bits are, thus not wanting to risk going that close to someone.

[F1er]

80-90 WAS THE GREATEST ERA in all sports!!!!!!!!!! F1,Soccer,Basketball,Tennis....................... the greatest rivalries in history during those years!!! I wish I was born 15 years earlier

All sports nowdays are crap!! Soccer players putting gel on their hair before a game,drivers putting on makeup so they look good for the camera............bunch of sissies...... gimme Senna-Prost,,,,Magic-Bird,,,Maradona-Platini all day,instead of the crap now

[hypertek]

^90s cars where better too. twin turbo japanese cars etc.. unlike the plastic mobiles today

[racechick]

The cars were easier to overtake with certainly, but currently there are way too many silly rules. You cant do this, you cant do that, dont try this, dont drive there. Penalties abound, admittedly the penalty situation was better last year but there are a whole raft more stupid rules coming in.

[FRAFPDD]

Thats when racing was racing and not bogged down by the number of manuevers a driver can make to defend their position. Also Senna kept his inertia it seems while Prost and Schumacher did not have the prefered line while attempting to pass thus they lost entry and exit speed. God I miss those days immensely.

Senna was the master at many things and protecting his position without loosing his cool was one of them.

i dont care what label you want to mask it with what senna did in that video is
blocking, everytime prost gets a run he cuts him
up. do you know how hard it is to overtake if the person in front just cuts you off everytime you get a run? too hard, you only need to play f1 2010 to know that. you could be 5 seconds a lap faster but if the car infront aint gonna hive you your rule given right to attempt to pass, you arent getting past in a million years.

[NocturnalTendencies]

This is a good post, curious about the replies to this thread.

[texasmr2]

Thats when racing was racing and not bogged down by the number of manuevers a driver can make to defend their position. Also Senna kept his inertia it seems while Prost and Schumacher did not have the prefered line while attempting to pass thus they lost entry and exit speed. God I miss those days immensely.

Senna was the master at many things and protecting his position without loosing his cool was one of them.

i dont care what label you want to mask it with what senna did in that video is
blocking, everytime prost gets a run he cuts him
up. do you know how hard it is to overtake if the person in front just cuts you off everytime you get a run? too hard, you only need to play f1 2010 to know that. you could be 5 seconds a lap faster but if the car infront aint gonna hive you your rule given right to attempt to pass, you arent getting past in a million years.

It's my opinion and nothing more just as your reply is nothing more than your opinion . Oh and yes I have raced, shifter karts, as a matter of fact with may years of lets just say seeing who has the biggest balls on the streets, what about you (not trying too sound condescending )? The line or corner is yours too keep until it's a fruitless battle or could take you out of the race with a silly blocking move which Senna did not do.

[Hammer278]

Its still better to have the 1-move rule which we have today.

That video shows a lot of dangerous chopping manouvres, 'ballsy' racing or not it's still dangerous. Also, the mechanical grip those drivers enjoyed are a lot more compared to what the drivers have today - more of aero grip. Thus, if you allowed for the driver to start 'blocking' whenever he wants like in that video, the driver behind might as well just chill out and 'conserve his machinery' for the next race. Even KERS, rear wing, front wing, nothing will help him to overtake unless the guy in front makes a huge mistake.

[texasmr2]

Racing is dangerous and comparing that era to our current one is simply......

I thought the OP asked for veterans of F1 opinions and I think my 32yr's of experience might have some weight, guess not since I know nothing about the sport .

[Hammer278]

We are comparing that era to this one because that is what the OP wants answered.

32 years is a lot, but that doesn't mean you'd hit 100% accurate statements everyday mate. Maybe 99.8%.

[nish2280]

Back then drivers were also not chastised for doing crazy maneuvers and messing up. Thats what helped them learn how to execute those moves safely and successfully. Nowadays you see Vettel trying to make an overtake, messing up and then the whole world calling him a bad driver. How is he supposed to learn to overtake if he knows that if it goes wrong he will be made a fool by the media? Its not very encouraging for the driver.

Back then if someone crashed while overtaking, no big deal, they are pissed off for a while and there is a small section in the paper the next day saying what went wrong. Nowadays, even if Virgin won a race Schumacher would make front page news for deflating Massa's tire while trying to overtake.