The regulations for 1988 mandated a lower fuel limit (150 liters) and a lower boost pressure (2.5 bar) for turbo engines, as the sport prepared to ban them entirely in 1989. Honda mastered these restrictions better than anyone, delivering both reliability and driveability. The chassis was so aerodynamically efficient that it was practically unbeatable in the hands of the team's superstar driver pairing.
Furthermore, the paddock was abuzz with rumors of team orders, driver politics, and the increasing commercialization of F1. The tension between teams, drivers, and the sport's governing body, the FIA, was palpable. formula one 1988