1988 F1 Season -

The press conference was a tomb. Senna sat with his arms crossed, refusing to wear the winner's wreath. Prost sat beside him, uncomfortable, holding a championship he felt he hadn't truly won.

The entire season came down to this. Prost led the championship by 15 points. But with double points for the final race (a bizarre rule that year), Senna could still take the title if he won and Prost finished third or lower. The Japanese circuit was a ribbon of asphalt through forested hills. It had rained for three days straight. 1988 f1 season

Qualifying was dry. Senna took pole. Prost lined up second. On the formation lap, Prost looked across at the red-and-white car. He knew what Senna would try. A dive. A prayer. A moment of absolute commitment that only he was willing to make. The press conference was a tomb

"I will not let him pass," Prost told his engineer. "He will have to kill us both." The entire season came down to this

He climbed out, furious, and tried to push the car back onto the track himself. Marshals had to physically restrain him. Prost won again. In the press conference, Prost said, "Sometimes you must know the limit." Senna, watching on a monitor back in the garage, threw a helmet against the wall.