In the second of our exclusive extracts from Adrian Newey's new book 'How To Build A Car', the former Williams chief designer reveals how Nigel Mansell's hard edge helped him to triumph in the 1992 Formula One season.

What helped to destroy Riccardo Patrese in the 1992 season were Nigel’s little wind-ups. For example, at the start of the season, the FIA announced that they would be weighing drivers. In contrast to Riccardo, who trained hard, Nigel never took exercise or diet seriously. Case in point, when we were testing at Paul Ricard, we all went out to a swanky fish restaurant and Nigel asked for ketchup to go with his sole.

The waiter cast him a sideways look. "Ah, Monsieur, you’re so funny."

"Well thank you very much," said Nigel, and then, as the waiter turned to go, he added, "but where’s my tomato ketchup?"

"Monsieur, seriously?"

"Yeah, seriously."

The waiter span on his heel and stormed into the kitchen. It was like the Monty Python sketch: all we heard from the kitchen were indignant Gallic voices.

The kitchen door swung open and the chef marched out, bearing a huge catering-sized bottle of tomato ketchup which he upended over Nigel’s plate, dowsing the sole in ketchup, a red-faced look of total disdain on his face.