In 1986 Mansell was paired up with Nelson Piquet, driving the Honda powered Williams FW11. This season would see Mansell and Piquet battle against each other. Mansell did not let Piquet's position in the team stop him from challenging Piquet for the championship.

During this season Mansell emerged as a fast and aggressive driver worthy of his position in the Williams Team.

Come the last race of the season at Adelaide it was expected that either Mansell or Piquet would win the Drivers Championship for the Williams Team.

But in what is one of Formula One's memorable moments Mansell would retire in a shower of sparks as his rear tyre exploded on the main straight. In this moment Mansell would demonstrate his skill in keeping the car under control until it came to a stop.

Piquet was stopped to change tyres allowing Alain Prost to win the Drivers Championship, much to the surprise of the Honda officials present.

During the 1986 season Mansell proved to be a aggressive and highly skilled driver, much to the irritation of Nelson Piquet. But Mansell's and Piquet's on-track struggle was criticised as it allowed their competition to stay close in the points, thus allowing Prost to sneak past both drivers and win the championship.

Mansell would continue with the Williams Team in 1988 but he would no longer drive the all conquering Williams Honda but instead the Williams FW12 Judd. His only success would be a second place at the British Grand Prix. This was the first season since 1979 in which Williams did not win a race.

Despite the fact that Williams were to have factory Renault engines for 1989 Mansell decided to leave Williams to drive for the Ferrari Team.

Over the next two years Mansell would have a limited amount of success with the Ferrari Team but at the end of the season he announced that he would retire. But after long negotiations with Williams he reversed his decision and joined the team again for the 1991 season.

In 1992 Mansell and Williams would go onto win the Drivers Championship taking nine victories during the season. The Williams FW14B was equipped with all that technology could provide it, traction control, automatic gear-change, and active suspension. It was the dominate Formula One car of this season.

It was not until 1994 that Mansell would make a return to the Williams Team. He was to drive for the Williams Team as a guest driver. In the last race of the season in Australia Mansell would win, but despite this Williams would take David Coulthard as partner to Damon Hill for the 1995 season.

Mansell would never again drive for the Williams Team after these drives but he would stay in Formula One for a short period including an abortive partnership with McLaren. After Nigel Mansell would take his place in Formula One history.

What can one say about Nigel Mansell. He certainly was for me a driver with exceptional skill and determination. I can still remember the way that the relentlessly drove down Nelson Piquet, at the 1986 British Grand Prix, to take victory.

But over time it would appear that in Formula One his motivation would wain, not unlike most Formula One drivers. Having said that on the right day Nigel Mansell could beat anyone, including drivers of the calibre of Ayrton Senna. But he was always questioned over his motivation, in the later part of his career especially. But while he was at Williams he was one of the dominate drivers of that time.

It was a shame that his guest drives for the Williams Team appeared to me to be motivated by money rather than by a desire to re-establish himself in Formula One.

Despite this Nigel Mansell was one of those drivers who brought to Formula One excitement with his aggressive style. This was shown in his battles with Ayrton Senna. The sight of Mansell and Senna wheel to wheel at the Spanish Grand Prix is one of those images that, for me, sum up the Nigel Mansell that I will remember, a driver with exceptional skill and a desire to win.

Nigel Mansell a worthy World Drivers Champion.