Ayrton Senna stayed with Team Lotus for 1986 and was joined by a team-mate Johnny Dumfries, the 1984 British Formula 3 Champion.
Lotus also debuted a new car in 1986, the Type 98T.

The first race of the season in Brazil saw Senna on pole position and Dumfries qualifying for his first Grand Prix.
The race was promising for Team Lotus with Senna finishing a strong 2nd and Dumfries in 9th place.

Round 2 was the Spanish Grand Prix. Senna again qualified on pole and was involved in a 3-way fight with Prost and Mansell.
Senna came out on top, but only by half a car length from Mansell, which was the closest finish ever.
Dumfries retired, and did so in the following San Marino Grand Prix. Senna qualified on pole again but retired.

Dumfries failed to qualify for the Monaco Grand Prix, but Senna did so to finish 3rd in the race.
Belgium saw Dumfries back on the grid, though he retired in the race. While Senna finished 2nd behind Mansell.
Round 6 in Canada gave Team Lotus 2 points, courtesy of a 5th place finish for Ayrton Senna. Dumfries though retired.

The Detroit Grand Prix saw Senna claim his second win of the season from yet another pole position, and Dumfries claim his best finish at that point with 7th.
Senna was also on pole for the French Grand Prix, but retired, as did Dumfries.

The British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch gave Team Lotus no points, but another 7th place for Dumfries.
The next two Grand Prix in Germany and Hungary gave Senna two 2nd places and a pole position in the letter race.
Hungary was also a good event for Dumfries with a 5th place after 2 hours of gruelling racing.

Austria and Italy saw two double retirements, but Senna was back on pole for the Portuguese Grand Prix, though the race yielded a 4th place finish. Dumfries was also back amongst the finishers with 9th place.

The penultimate race of the season saw Senna on pole for the 8th time in 1986 and on the podium for the 8th time with 3rd place.
Senna retired in the Australian finale, though Dumfries fought through to take 6th place.

Lotus finished 3rd in the Constructors Championship, though some way behind Williams and McLaren, with Senna 4th and Dumfries equal 13th in the Drivers Championship.