From the world championship to IndyCar
The second half of the career of Nigel Mansell in Formula 1 it was characterized by ups and downs, which can be summed up almost perfectly in one season: the 1992. More than thirty years ago, the 'Lion' in fact his won first and only world title at the wheel of the Williams FW14, not continuing his experience in the Grove team despite already having the contract for 1993 in hand. What ruined the plans established with the late Frank Williams was in fact a request to double the salary, which led the Englishman to retire from F1 to dedicate himself to a new experience in IndyCar.
Return and withdrawal
However, thanks to the death of Ayrton Senna in 1994 and the unconvincing results of David Coulthard, Mansell he returned to Williams part-time for just four GPs, winning the last one of his career in Australia, with pole position attached. Having thus returned to F1, the former Ferrari driver signed a contract with McLaren for 1995, terminating it after only two races played due to the difficulties encountered with the car. The decision led to the definitive withdrawal of the 'Lion' from F1, although a second return In the Circus it was in reality one step away.
The test with Jordan
At the end of 1996the English actually carried out some private tests with the Jordan 197 in Barcelonawith the aim of returning to F1 full-time the following year: “I knew Nigel for a long time – he recalled Eddie Jordan in the podcast Formula for Success – when I came to England trying to find fame and fortune, I was more attracted to Birmingham than London: London was too big for me. Nigel was very close, and we became reasonably friends through Formula Ford in 1977, '78, '79. I have never met a person with more absolute confidence in his abilities than he does. I don't want to say he was a bull, but he was tough. He didn't appear to have a neck, because his head seemed to rest on his shoulders, and it was a really difficult time for the G forces.”. The friendship between Jordan and Mansell then led to the Englishman's test with the car from 1997thus remembered by the Irish: “He told me he wanted to do italso because he saw that the team's fortunes were changing – he added – the 1997 car was particularly good, and we should have won some GPs with it. Nigel was there, but after Barcelona he came to me and he told me: 'Listen Eddie, I think we're running out of time. I am 40 years old. I don't want to do this anymore, but this is a real car'.
Mansell's admission
Mansell, actually 43 years old at the time, had the opportunity to express his feelings on the car, with his times about 3 tenths away from those of the man who should have been his teammate, namely Ralf Schumacher: “I really enjoyed my test in Barcelona, the professionalism and the atmosphere of the test – She said – the B&H Jordan team was as good as anyone I have worked with. Eddie Jordan has created something very special. After seeing their structure and the 1997 car, I sincerely believe that the team can be successful next season and become a serious contender. The idea of the test originally was to have funbut my natural competitive instincts took over very quickly, and a return to Formula 1 with Jordan has become a serious possibility. However, after consulting with my family and business advisors, I quickly realized that my schedule would not allow me to dedicate sufficient time to the Jordan team and its sponsors.”. Mansell, who seemed to have also reached an economic agreement with Jordan for the salary, was then replaced by Giancarlo Fisichellafresh from a season in Minardi.
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