The only track and conditions on the 1985 calendar that suited the tyres was the Paul Ricard Circuit used for the French Grand Prix and, combined with the BMW engine that was very effective on the Ricard circuit's long Mistral straight Piquet used these factors to his full advantage. He qualified 5th and won his only Grand Prix of 1985. The team's second driver Marc Surer recorded the season's fastest speed trap time during qualifying at Paul Ricard when the turbocharged BMW engine pushed the BT54 to on the 1.8 km long Mistral Straight.