Mosley: Senna Should Have Been Excluded in 1990

Brazilian Ayrton Senna should have been excluded from the 1990 Formula One World Championship after the Japanese Grand Prix, according to FIA president Max Mosley.

Senna, who died in 1994 after suffering an accident during the San Marino Grand Prix at the Imola circuit, crashed into Championship rival Alain Prost at the start of the 1990 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, finishing with both drivers out of the race

Senna later admitted that he had done it deliberately in order to clinch the title after a similar incident the previous year had cost him a shot at the crown. Mosley revealed recently that the late Brazilian should have been excluded from that year's Championship as a result of his actions during the race.

"Senna should probably have been excluded from the Championship for doing something that dangerous," Mosley told Motorsport News. "But I think the feeling was that what happened the previous year was absolutely outrageous â€" that he genuinely won the race and it was taken away from him quite wrongly.

"So you couldn't help but have slight sympathy."

In 1989, Prost and Senna - then teammates at the McLaren team - clashed while the Brazilian tried to pass the Frenchman also at Suzuka. Senna was able to continue and went on to win the race, but was later disqualified for being assisted to return to the track, and Prost clinched his third drivers' crown.

Current World Champion Michael Schumacher was excluded from second place in the Championship after trying to take rival Jacques Villeneuve off the track during the 1997 European Grand Prix at Jerez.

The four-time champion also clashed with Briton Damon Hill in Australia in 1994 - when Schumacher claimed his first drivers' crown - but Mosley has defended Schumacher's move.

"I've looked at that tape over and over again, and the stewards looked at it," added Mosley. "I don't think Michael's ever said he did it deliberately, and you'd have the utmost difficulty in proving anything."