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Sport

F1 thirty years on: Why Ayrton Senna punched Eddie Irvine

Thirty years ago today, Ayrton Senna put in a sublime drive to win a rain-affected 1993 Japanese Grand Prix in his penultimate start for McLaren. It was the Brazilian's fourth victory of a season otherwise dominated by the Williams FW15C, and once again he beat the odds on a day when driver skill and sheer chutzpah counted for much.

But that race at Suzuka is remembered as much for what happened afterwards, when Senna triggered a verbal jousting match with a newcomer he'd come across in the course of the race. Their debate ended with Senna launching a physical assault that landed him in hot water with the FIA.

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