1985 Italian Grand Prix

The 1985 Italian Grand Prix, otherwise officially known as the LVI Gran Premio d'Italia, was the twelfth round of the FIA Formula One World Championship, staged at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza on the 8 September 1985.'Italian GP, 1985', grandprix.com, (Inside F1 Inc., 2015), http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr416.html, (Accessed 26/03/2019) The race, which was the 50th Grand Prix to to be held at Monza, would see Alain Prost claim victory and establish a significant lead in the Championship.
The build-up to the race was overshadowed by the death of another promising F1 talent, for racer Stefan Bellof had been killed at the 1000 km of Spa a week earlier. The West German born racer was not to be replaced for the Italian Grand Prix, with the Tyrrell team set to hot-foot away from the Monza circuit after the race to attend Bellof's funeral.
Qualifying, meanwhile, would see Ayrton Senna claim pole position, his fifth of the season at the wheel of his 97T. He would be joined on the front row by Keke Rosberg, while Championship leader Prost claimed fifth, a row ahead of main title rival Michele Alboreto of .
The start of the race saw Rosberg sprint ahead of Senna off the grid to claim the lead, with Nigel Mansell following his teammate through. Prost also made a strong start but could not sneak ahead of the Lotus, meaning it was Rosberg leading from Mansell, Senna and Prost at the head of the field.
The early stages would see the order at the front quickly established, with Prost easing ahead of Senna, while an electrical glitch for Mansell put the Brit in the pits. Rosberg, meanwhile, was able to ease clear of his pursuers, while Senna appeared to have some early struggles with his tyres and hence slipped behind both Elio de Angelis and Niki Lauda.
Once Lauda moved past de Angelis the order would remain fairly stable, until a failure of the Austrian's front wing forced the #1 into the pits. He would be followed into the pits by Rosberg a couple of laps later, the Finn needing fresh Goodyear tyres, leaving Prost with a small lead.
Rosberg duly caught and passed Prost with his new tyres, although his race was to come to an end in the closing stages with a spectacular engine failure. Prost duly re-inherited the lead with six laps to go, while a late move from Nelson Piquet saw the Brazilian move into second ahead of compatriot Senna.
With that the race was run, with Prost cruising home almost a full minute clear of Piquet and Senna behind. Marc Surer was next in the #8 , with Stefan Johansson classified in fifth for having run out of fuel on the penultimate lap, while Elio de Angelis claimed the final point in sixth.
The results of the Italian Grand Prix meant that Prost had opened a twelve point lead at the head of the Championship, with Alboreto failing to score. McLaren-TAG Porsche, meanwhile, would finally overhaul Ferrari at the head of the Constructors Championship, with two points separating the established rivals.
==Background==
Alain Prost had established a small lead at the head of the title hunt as a result of the Dutch Grand Prix, moving three clear of second placed Michele Alboreto. Indeed, those two were now, realistically, the only drivers in the fight for the Championship, with a 23 point gap separating Alboreto from third placed Elio de Angelis. de Angelis would therefore have to win at least three of the remaining five races just to get on terms with the leaders, with dropped scores also set to come into effect later on in the year.
In the Constructors' Championship, meanwhile, it had been a very good afternoon's work for in the Netherlands, with their first one-two of the campaign putting them within striking distance of leaders . Indeed, the gap between the two was left at just five points arriving in Italy, with Ferrari effectively relying on Alboreto's form to keep them ahead of the Anglo-German alliance. Behind, looked to be out of the fight in third, although with just 21 points between themselves and McLaren it would only take one good weekend to launch the Norfolk based squad back into the hunt.
===Entry List===
The full entry list for the is outlined below:
No. 	Driver 	Entrant 	Constructor 	Chassis 	Engine 	Model 	Tyre
1 	Niki Lauda 	Marlboro McLaren International 	 	MP4/2B 	 	TTE PO1 1.5 V6t 	
2 	Alain Prost 	Marlboro McLaren International 	 	MP4/2B 	 	TTE PO1 1.5 V6t 	
3 	Martin Brundle 	Tyrrell Racing Organisation 	 	014 	 	EF4B 1.5 V6t 	
5 	Nigel Mansell 	Canon Williams Honda Team 	 	FW10 	 	RA163E 1.5 V6t 	
6 	Keke Rosberg 	Canon Williams Honda Team 	 	FW10 	 	RA163E 1.5 V6t 	
7 	Nelson Piquet 	Motor Racing Developments Ltd. 	 	BT54 	 	M12/13 1.5 L4t 	
8 	Marc Surer 	Motor Racing Developments Ltd. 	 	BT54 	 	M12/13 1.5 L4t 	
9 	Philippe Alliot 	Skoal Bandit F1 Team 	 	03 	 	415T 1.5 L4t 	
10 	Kenny Acheson 	Skoal Bandit F1 Team 	 	03 	 	415T 1.5 L4t 	
11 	Elio de Angelis 	John Player Special Team Lotus 	 	97T 	 	EF4 1.5 V6t 	
12 	Ayrton Senna 	John Player Special Team Lotus 	 	97T 	 	EF4 1.5 V6t 	
15 	Patrick Tambay 	Equipe Renault Elf 	 	RE60B 	 	EF15 1.5 V6t 	
16 	Derek Warwick 	Equipe Renault Elf 	 	RE60B 	 	EF15 1.5 V6t 	
17 	Gerhard Berger 	Barclay Arrows BMW 	 	A8 	 	M12/13 1.5 L4t 	
18 	Thierry Boutsen 	Barclay Arrows BMW 	 	A8 	 	M12/13 1.5 L4t 	
19 	Teo Fabi 	Toleman Group Motorsport 	 	TG185 	 	415T 1.5 L4t 	
20 	Piercarlo Ghinzani 	Toleman Group Motorsport 	 	TG185 	 	415T 1.5 L4t 	
22 	Riccardo Patrese 	Benetton Team Alfa Romeo 	 	184TB 	 	890T 1.5 V8t 	
23 	Eddie Cheever 	Benetton Team Alfa Romeo 	 	184TB 	 	890T 1.5 V8t 	
24 	Huub Rothengatter 	Osella Squadra Corse 	 	FA1G 	 	890T 1.5 V8t 	
25 	Philippe Streiff 	Equipe Ligier Gitanes 	 	JS25 	 	EF4B 1.5 V6t 	
26 	Jacques Laffite 	Equipe Ligier Gitanes 	 	JS25 	 	EF4B 1.5 V6t 	
27 	Michele Alboreto 	Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC 	 	156/85 	 	031 1.5 V6t 	
28 	Stefan Johansson 	Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC 	 	156/85 	 	031 1.5 V6t 	
29 	Pierluigi Martini 	Minardi Team SpA 	 	M185 	 	615-90 1.5 V6t 	
30 	Christian Danner 	West Zakspeed Racing 	 	841 	 	1500/4 1.5 L4t 	
33 	Alan Jones 	Team Haas (USA) Ltd. 	 	THL1 	 	415T 1.5 L4t 	
Source:'Italy 1985: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/italie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 26/03/2019)	Source:'Italy 1985: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/italie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 26/03/2019)	Source:'Italy 1985: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/italie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 26/03/2019)	Source:'Italy 1985: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/italie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 26/03/2019)	Source:'Italy 1985: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/italie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 26/03/2019)	Source:'Italy 1985: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/italie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 26/03/2019)	Source:'Italy 1985: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/italie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 26/03/2019)	Source:'Italy 1985: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/italie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 26/03/2019)
==Practice Overview==
==Qualifying==
===Friday Qualifying===
===Saturday Qualifying===
===Qualifying Results===
The full qualifying results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Time 	Time 	Gap
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Q1 	Q2 	Gap
1 	12 	Ayrton Senna 	 	1:27.009 	1:25.084 	—
2 	6 	Keke Rosberg 	 	1:26.161 	1:25.230 	+0.146s
3 	5 	Nigel Mansell 	 	1:26.960 	1:25.486 	+0.402s
4 	7 	Nelson Piquet 	 	1:25.679 	1:25.584 	+0.500s
5 	2 	Alain Prost 	 	1:27.576 	1:25.790 	+0.706s
6 	11 	Elio de Angelis 	 	1:27.098 	1:26.004 	+0.920s
7 	27 	Michele Alboreto 	 	1:27.552 	1:26.468 	+1.384s
8 	15 	Patrick Tambay 	 	1:28.578 	1:27.020 	+1.936s
9 	8 	Marc Surer 	 	1:27.799 	1:27.153 	+2.069s
10 	28 	Stefan Johansson 	 	1:29.001 	1:27.473 	+2.389s
11 	17 	Gerhard Berger 	 	1:27.746 	1:27.723 	+2.639s
12 	16 	Derek Warwick 	 	1:28.119 	1:28.112 	+3.028s
13 	22 	Riccardo Patrese 	 	1:29.068 	1:28.340 	+3.256s
14 	18 	Thierry Boutsen 	 	1:28.369 	1:28.760 	+3.285s
15 	19 	Teo Fabi 	 	1:29.050 	1:28.386 	+3.302s
16 	1 	Niki Lauda 	 	1:28.472 	1:28.949 	+3.388s
17 	23 	Eddie Cheever 	 	1:29.298 	1:28.629 	+3.545s
18 	3 	Martin Brundle 	 	1:33.503 	1:28.793 	+3.709s
19 	25 	Philippe Alliot 	 	1:31.727 	1:29.839 	+4.755s
20 	26 	Jacques Laffite 	 	1:30.186 	1:30.376 	+5.102s
21 	20 	Piercarlo Ghinzani 	 	1:30.271 	1:31.449 	+5.187s
22 	24 	Huub Rothengatter 	 	1:33.529 	1:37.664 	+8.445s
23 	29 	Pierluigi Martini 	 	1:35.770 	1:33.961 	+8.877s
24 	10 	Kenny Acheson 	 	1:34.919 	1:38.325 	+9.835s
25 	33 	Alan Jones 	 	1:34.943 	1:45.823 	+9.859s
26 	9 	Philippe Alliot 	 	1:36.221 	1:37.664 	+11.137s
WD* 	30 	Christian Danner 	 	Withdrawn 	Withdrawn 	Withdrawn
Source:'56. Gran Premio d'Italia - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/493/italy/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 26/03/2019)'56. Gran Premio d'Italia - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/493/italy/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 26/03/2019)'Italy 1985: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/italie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 26/03/2019)	Source:'56. Gran Premio d'Italia - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/493/italy/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 26/03/2019)'56. Gran Premio d'Italia - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/493/italy/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 26/03/2019)'Italy 1985: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/italie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 26/03/2019)	Source:'56. Gran Premio d'Italia - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/493/italy/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 26/03/2019)'56. Gran Premio d'Italia - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/493/italy/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 26/03/2019)'Italy 1985: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/italie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 26/03/2019)	Source:'56. Gran Premio d'Italia - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/493/italy/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 26/03/2019)'56. Gran Premio d'Italia - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/493/italy/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 26/03/2019)'Italy 1985: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/italie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 26/03/2019)	Source:'56. Gran Premio d'Italia - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/493/italy/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 26/03/2019)'56. Gran Premio d'Italia - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/493/italy/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 26/03/2019)'Italy 1985: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/italie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 26/03/2019)	Source:'56. Gran Premio d'Italia - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/493/italy/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 26/03/2019)'56. Gran Premio d'Italia - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/493/italy/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 26/03/2019)'Italy 1985: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/italie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 26/03/2019)	Source:'56. Gran Premio d'Italia - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/493/italy/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 26/03/2019)'56. Gran Premio d'Italia - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/493/italy/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 26/03/2019)'Italy 1985: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/italie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 26/03/2019)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car to set their best time in that session.
*Bold indicates a driver's best/qualifying time.
** Zakspeed withdrew their entry after Jonathan Palmer's accident at the 1000 km of Spa.
===Grid===
==Race==
===Report===
===Results===
The full results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Laps 	Time/Retired 	Grid 	Points
1 	2 	Alain Prost 	 	51 	1:17:59.451 	5 	9
2 	7 	Nelson Piquet 	 	51 	+51.635s 	4 	6
3 	12 	Ayrton Senna 	 	51 	+1:00.390 	1 	4
4 	8 	Marc Surer 	 	51 	+1:00.609 	9 	3
5 	28 	Stefan Johansson 	 	50 	+1 Lap 	10 	2
6 	11 	Elio de Angelis 	 	50 	+1 Lap 	6 	1
7 	15 	Patrick Tambay 	 	50 	+1 Lap 	8 	
8 	3 	Martin Brundle 	 	50 	+1 Lap 	18 	
9 	18 	Thierry Boutsen 	 	50 	+1 Lap 	14 	
10 	25 	Philippe Streiff 	 	49 	+2 Laps 	19 	
11* 	5 	Nigel Mansell 	 	47 	Engine 	3 	
12 	19 	Teo Fabi 	 	47 	+4 Laps 	15 	
13* 	27 	Michele Alboreto 	 	45 	Engine 	7 	
Ret 	6 	Keke Rosberg 	 	44 	Engine 	2 	
Ret 	26 	Jacques Laffite 	 	40 	Engine 	20 	
Ret 	1 	Niki Lauda 	 	33 	Transmission 	16 	
Ret 	22 	Riccardo Patrese 	 	31 	Exhaust 	13 	
Ret 	24 	Huub Rothengatter 	 	26 	Engine 	22 	
Ret 	9 	Philippe Alliot 	 	19 	Turbo 	26 	
Ret 	17 	Gerhard Berger 	 	13 	Engine 	11 	
Ret 	16 	Derek Warwick 	 	9 	Transmission 	12 	
Ret 	33 	Alan Jones 	 	6 	Engine 	25 	
Ret 	23 	Eddie Cheever 	 	3 	Engine 	17 	
Ret 	10 	Kenny Acheson 	 	2 	Clutch 	24 	
Ret 	29 	Pierluigi Martini 	 	0 	Fuel pump 	23 	
DNS† 	20 	Piercarlo Ghinzani 	 	 	 	 	
WD 	30 	Christian Danner 	 	 	 	 	
Source:'Italy 1985: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/italie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 26/03/2019)	Source:'Italy 1985: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/italie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 26/03/2019)	Source:'Italy 1985: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/italie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 26/03/2019)	Source:'Italy 1985: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/italie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 26/03/2019)	Source:'Italy 1985: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/italie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 26/03/2019)	Source:'Italy 1985: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/italie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 26/03/2019)	Source:'Italy 1985: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/italie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 26/03/2019)	Source:'Italy 1985: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/italie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 26/03/2019)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car.
** Mansell and Alboreto were still classified despite retiring as they had completed 90% of the race distance.
*† Ghinzani was unable to start after stalling on the formation lap.
==Milestones==
* 1000th entry for a chassis.'1985 Italy GP', chicanef1.com, (Chicane F1, 2015), http://www.chicanef1.com/racetit.pl?year=1985&gp=Italian%20GP&r=1, (Accessed 26/03/2019)
* Elio de Angelis made his 100th Grand Prix start.'12. Italy 1985', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/italie.aspx, (Accessed 26/03/2019)
* entered their tenth race as an engine supplier.
* Tenth entry for Kenny Acheson.
* Debut for as a constructor.
* Fifth pole position for Ayrton Senna.
** Also the 40th pole to be set using a engine.
* Alain Prost claimed his 21st victory.
* secured their 48th win as a constructor.
** Also the British squad's 120th podium finish.
** claimed their eighteenth victory.
* Nelson Piquet secured 's twentieth podium finish.
* Nigel Mansell recorded 's twentieth fastest lap as a constructor.
==Standings==
Alain Prost extended his grip on the 1985 World Championship with victory in Monza, opening out a twelve point lead over second placed Michele Alboreto. Indeed, the Italian's inability to score on home soil may have proved fatal to his title ambitions, although with four races to go, and 36 points to fight for, Alboreto was still a major contender for the crown. In contrast, Elio de Angelis was now mathematically out of the fight, with the Italian only able to score 31 points before dropped scores were applied to his tally.
In the Constructors Championship it had been a bad day for the tifosi on home soil, for had lost the lead in the title hunt for the first time since the Monaco Grand Prix. Indeed, it was rivals who would leave Italy at the head of the field, opening out a two point gap over the Italian team in their duel for the title. Indeed, third placed were running out of time to mount a title challenge, having slipped 23 points behind.
World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	Alain Prost 	65 	
2 	Michele Alboreto 	53 	
3 	Elio de Angelis 	31 	
4 	Ayrton Senna 	23 	
5 	Stefan Johansson 	21 	
6 	Nelson Piquet 	19 	2
7 	Keke Rosberg 	18 	1
8 	Niki Lauda 	14 	1
9 	Patrick Tambay 	11 	
10 	Jacques Laffite 	10 	
11 	Thierry Boutsen 	9 	
12 	Nigel Mansell 	7 	
13 	Marc Surer 	5 	4
14 	Stefan Bellof 	4 	1
15 	Derek Warwick 	4 	1
16 	Andrea de Cesaris 	3 	1
17 	René Arnoux 	3 	1
World Championship for Manufacturers	World Championship for Manufacturers	World Championship for Manufacturers	World Championship for Manufacturers
Pos. 	Team 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	 	79 	1
2 	 	77 	1
3 	 	54 	
4 	 	25 	
5 	 	24 	
6 	 	15 	
7 	 	13 	
8 	 	9 	
9 	 	4 	
Only point scoring drivers and constructors are shown.
==References==
Images and Videos:
* 
References:
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:1985 Grands Prix
Category:Italian Grand Prix
Category:Formula One races in Italy