The saddest aspect was that the BT52/3 was regularly faster than the MP4/2 and more reliability might have given Piquet a realistic chance of retaining his championship.
The saddest aspect was that the BT53 was regularly faster than the MP4/2, as Piquet's nine pole positions and three fastest laps attest to. More reliability might have given Piquet a realistic chance of retaining his championship.