Nelson Piquet secured his 23rd and final F1 victory after Nigel Mansell's car failed on the last lap, also marking Pirelli's last win until 2011.
Key Facts
- Race length
- 69 laps
- Winner
- Nelson Piquet (Benetton-Ford)
- Piquet career wins
- 23rd and final F1 victory
- Pole position
- Riccardo Patrese (Williams-Renault)
- Championship round
- 5th race of 1991 season
- Last Pirelli win until
- 2011 Australian Grand Prix
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Nigel Mansell, driving a Williams-Renault, had built a commanding lead of nearly one minute heading into the final lap of the 69-lap race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. His dominant pace had made him the overwhelming favourite to take victory.
On the final lap, Mansell's car unexpectedly stopped halfway around the circuit, handing the lead to Nelson Piquet in a Benetton-Ford. Piquet crossed the finish line first, with Stefano Modena second in a Tyrrell-Honda and Riccardo Patrese third for Williams-Renault.
The result gave Piquet the 23rd and last victory of his Formula One career. It was also the first win for a Pirelli-shod car since the 1986 Mexican Grand Prix and would prove to be Pirelli's final Formula One victory until the 2011 Australian Grand Prix.