Mansell: I've never driven so hard

Mansell led every one of the race's 24 laps from pole position in blisteringly hot track conditions, but was pressured throughout by Eddie Cheever and Christian Danner.

The ambient temperature at the Losail International Circuit was 39 degrees Celsius, with an in cockpit temperature for the drivers recorded at 77 degrees.

"I know I won it but I've never driven so hard," Mansell said. "It was a tactical race and I couldn't break the tow of the guys behind me so I was weaving on the straight and it took me a good few laps to realise that when I was weaving down the straight I was getting shite on my tyres.

"This is the hottest race ever in motorsport history. And that's something special. I know we had a few safety cars and I know it is not a Grand Prix distance but if you remember what Eddie Cheever said yesterday, we could probably go to America and kick butt over there even now.

"Setting up the car for the last four corners won the race for me. Because if I didn't get the air between me and who ever was behind then, they would have passed me down the straight. If anyone had got passed me I had nothing for them. It was very, very hot."