On lap 35, disaster struck Prost: his Renault engine, pushed to the limit all day, emitted a puff of smoke and expired. The Professor was out. Piquet cruised home to take the win—and his second consecutive World Championship.

Unlike the Goodyear-shod Renaults and Ferraris, Brabham ran on Pirellis. On the abrasive Kyalami asphalt, the Pirellis lasted longer. Prost’s Goodyears began to grain and blister. He had to pit for fresh rubber, losing precious seconds.

This wasn't just a championship; it was a war of attrition, a political firestorm, and a masterclass in tyre management versus raw, unadulterated power. By 1983, the formula was simple: if you didn't have a turbo, you didn't win. The naturally aspirated Cosworth DFV, the workhorse of F1 for 15 years, was finally a relic.

The low point came at the French Grand Prix at Paul Ricard. Prost, driving his home race, dominated. He led every lap. On the final lap, with a 20-second lead, his Renault’s engine coughed and died. He coasted to a halt, out of fuel, 200 metres from the finish line. He climbed out of the car and walked away in disbelief. The win went to his teammate, Eddie Cheever.

It was the sound of 1,300 horsepower screaming down a straight line, waiting to detonate. And it was magnificent.

The BMW engine was a ticking time bomb. To get the 1.5-litre four-cylinder to produce over 1,300 horsepower in qualifying, the boost pressure was turned up to astronomical levels. Engines were designed to last one race—sometimes only one qualifying session. The season would be decided not just by who crossed the line first, but who could make it to the line at all. The 1983 calendar spanned 15 races, from Brazil to South Africa. It was a season of spectacular meltdowns.

The race was a masterclass in strategy. Prost led early, driving at a frantic pace. Piquet sat behind, saving his fuel and tyres. But the Brabham pit wall had a secret weapon: .

Piquet stayed out. He drove the race of his life, nursing the fragile BMW engine, keeping the turbo boost low, and managing the fuel mixture to the decimal point. He took the lead when Prost pitted and never looked back.