Formula One Features — August 1993

When you talk about Formula 1's top engineers the name John Barnard is soon part of the conversation. He's back at Ferrari this year and is as strong-willed as ever - particularly when it comes to rule-changes.

It is just over 10 years since Ayrton Senna sat in Grand Prix car for the first time. In that time he has made himself a legend. And yet the man himself remains a mystery. Some call him arrogant, ruthless and cunning and others say he is shy, gentle and compassionate. He doesn't seem to care. Deep down he probably does.

Japanese involvement in Formula 1 is not new. It dates back nearly 30 years to the days when Honda ran its own F1 effort in the Sixties. The team won twice in its 35 GPs, but the winners were American Ritchie Ginther and Englishman John Surtees. There were no Japanese drivers involved.

How can it be that Alain Prost, one of motor racing's all-time great drivers, has been matched this year by Formula 1 new boy Damon Hill, who never showed anything more than a solid talent before he arrived in Formula 1?