Editing Ayrton Senna (section)

====1992: Unsuccessful challenge to the Williams FW14B====
[[File:Ayrton Senna 1992 Monaco.jpg|thumb|left|Senna won the [[1992 Monaco Grand Prix]] in his [[McLaren MP4/7A]].]]

Senna considered moving to Williams for the 1992 season, but Honda's CEO, [[Nobuhiko Kawamoto]], personally requested that he remain at McLaren-Honda, which Senna did out of a sense of loyalty. In addition to Alain Prost's recommendation, Honda had played an important part in bringing Senna with them to McLaren.<ref>Ernesto Rodrigues, ''Ayrton: The Hero Revealed'' (1994)</ref>{{Page needed|date=April 2023}}

In 1992, Williams's all-conquering [[Williams FW14|FW14B]] car dominated the season.{{sfnp|Ménard|Vassal|2003|pp=129–130}} It boasted aerodynamic-enhancing active suspension and a powerful Renault V10 engine, which was now more powerful than Honda's. By contrast, the [[McLaren MP4/7A]] was beset by production delays and did not debut until round three. The team struggled to catch up to Williams' technological advantage, building a semi-automatic gearbox for the first time and trialing an active suspension system. The new car suffered from reliability issues and was unpredictable in fast corners.{{sfnp|Ménard|Vassal|2003|pp=128–129}} Honda left Formula One at the end of the season.<ref name=":9">{{cite web |date=4 October 2011 |title=F1 Biography: Senna Gets Penske Test |url=http://www.formula1blog.com/f1-biography/f1-biography-senna-gets-penske-test/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109162325/http://www.formula1blog.com/f1-biography/f1-biography-senna-gets-penske-test/ |archive-date=9 November 2014 |access-date=9 November 2014 |publisher=f1b}}</ref>[[File:Senna 1992 Monaco cropped.jpg|thumb|Senna at the 1992 Monaco Grand Prix]]

Senna won three races ([[1992 Monaco Grand Prix|Monaco]], [[1992 Hungarian Grand Prix|Hungary]], and [[1992 Italian Grand Prix|Italy]]) and finished fourth overall in the championship, behind the Williams duo of Mansell and [[Riccardo Patrese]], and Benetton's [[Michael Schumacher]].{{sfnp|Jones|1999|pp=253, 257}}{{sfnp|Collings|Edworthy|2002|pp=244–247}} During this time, relations between Senna and Schumacher grew testy. At the [[1992 Brazilian Grand Prix|Brazilian Grand Prix]], Schumacher accused Senna of "playing around" while attempting to overtake Senna, who had a problem with his engine, a fact that Schumacher was apparently unaware of at the time. At the [[1992 French Grand Prix|French Grand Prix]], Schumacher collided with Senna, resulting in Senna's retirement. Senna later confronted Schumacher, who admitted responsibility for the accident. At a test session for the [[1992 German Grand Prix|German Grand Prix]], Senna and Schumacher had a confrontation in the pits, with Senna grabbing Schumacher by the collar and accusing him of endangering him by blocking him on the track.<ref>{{cite news |date=17 July 1992 |title=Motor Racing: Testy times for Senna and Schumacher |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing-testy-times-for-senna-and-schumacher-1533774.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502095221/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing-testy-times-for-senna-and-schumacher-1533774.html |archive-date=2 May 2020 |access-date=14 October 2012 |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |location=London}}</ref>

Senna grew increasingly worried about driver safety during the season. At round two in [[1992 Mexican Grand Prix|Mexico]], he suffered a major crash during practice and temporarily wore a neck brace before the next day's race. Various drivers, including Senna, criticized the poor condition of the circuit.{{Cn|date=February 2025}} During qualifying for the [[1992 Belgian Grand Prix|Belgian Grand Prix]], French driver [[Érik Comas]] crashed heavily and Senna was the first to arrive at the scene. Senna could hear that the stricken car's engine was revving at max RPM and could blow at any moment. Disregarding his own safety, he exited his car and ran across the track to help the Frenchman. His actions were applauded and seemed to soften his hard-nosed image.{{Cn|date=February 2025}}