Pre-event News
The race weekend began with the debacle surrounding the events in Japan 2 weeks earlier. Alain Prost was confirmed as World Champion and Ayrton Senna was far from happy with the FIA in particular Jean-Marie Balestre whom he accused of rigging the championship for his fellow countryman Prost. Senna initially threatened to boycott the event and leave Formula One altogether. Convinced by his family and his boss Ron Dennis, he reluctantly showed up at Adelaide and immediately set the pace on Friday, showing the F1 circus he would be stronger for 1990. Prost was determined to go out on a high note in his last Grand Prix for McLaren before joining Ferrari. Two drivers announced their retirements on Friday, Piercarlo Ghinzani driving an Osella and René Arnoux in the Ligier both bowed out.
Read more about this topic: 1989 Australian Grand Prix
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