1985 Austrian Grand Prix

The 1985 Austrian Grand Prix, otherwise known as the XXIII Holiday Großer Preis von Österreich, was the tenth round of the FIA Formula One World Championship, staged at the Österreichring in Spielberg, Austria, on the 18 August 1985.'Austrian GP, 1985', grandprix.com, (Inside F1 Inc., 2015), http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr414.html, (Accessed 25/03/2019) The race, which was the first to be held since the death of Manfred Winkelhock, would see Alain Prost move to the top of the Championship with his fourth win of the season.
Winkelhock, who had spent the majority of 1985 racing for , would be killed during a sportscar race at Mosport Park in Canada. The West German racer had been leading the race at the time, and had only just got into the Porsche 962C he was sharing with fellow F1 racer Marc Surer. He would be replaced at RAM by British racer Kenny Acheson, who was returning to F1 for the first time since the 1983 South African Grand Prix.
Into the Austrian Grand Prix itself and Prost would dominate qualifying to claim pole, beating Nigel Mansell by half a second. Home hero Niki Lauda, who announced that he would be retiring from F1 for good at the end of the season, claimed a season best of third, while Keke Rosberg put the second into fourth.
Lauda would make an excellent start to grab the lead at the start of the race, although the home fans barely had time to celebrate before the race was red flag. The cause was Teo Fabi, who stalled on the grid and was duly collected by Michele Alboreto, Elio de Angelis and Gerhard Berger, with their quartet of cars left blocking the circuit.
The order was reset for the restart as it had been in qualifying, with those four all able to take the restart in their spare cars. Prost also jumped into his spare and subsequently eased into the lead at the second attempted start, with Rosberg squeezing ahead of Lauda to grab second.
Unfortunately for Rosberg his hopes of challenging Prost for the lead would evaporate very early on, his engine failing at the start of lap four. The two McLarens were hence left on their own at the head of the field, with Nelson Piquet leading the chase in third.
The two McLarens quickly disappeared out of sight, with Prost ultimately able to pit for fresh tyres and rejoin mid-race without falling behind Piquet. The Brazilian himself, meanwhile, would only make it to half distance before his turbo failed, leaving Ayrton Senna in third.
Elsewhere, Andrea de Cesaris had a spectacular accident in his , which saw the blue car complete a series of barrel-rolls, although the Italian miraculously escaped unharmed. Yet, while he had physically escaped harm it appeared that his future in F1 had not, for Guy Ligier fired the de Cesaris the moment he got back to the paddock.
Out front, meanwhile, Lauda looked set to claim an impressive victory in front of his home fans, only for a turbo failure on lap 40 to leave him on the sidelines. Prost swept through to claim victory, half a minute clear of Senna in second and Alboreto in third.
The result of the race meant that Prost moved to the head of the Championship hunt, level on 50 points with Alboreto but ahead on count-back. Those two were now 22 ahead of third placed Elio de Angelis with seven races remaining, suggesting that they were in a private duel for the Championship.
==Background==
Into the Championship and victory in Germany had ensured that Championship leader Michele Alboreto had increased his advantage over Alain Prost, with a five point gap separating the two protagonists. Elio de Angelis, meanwhile, had become an increasingly distant third, having failed to score again at the Nürburgring, with fifteen points between him and Prost. Keke Rosberg had also lost ground in fourth, while Stefan Johansson had remained in the top five.
In the Constructors' Championship it was still who led the charge arriving in Austria, with the Scuderia again having managed to extend their advantage. Indeed, had slipped nineteen points behind the Italian firm, with also having lost ground in third. , meanwhile, inched closer to their British compatriots, now eleven behind the Norfolk squad, while remained in the top five.
===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 	Stefan Bellof 	Tyrrell Racing Organisation 	 	014 	 	EF4B 1.5 V6t 	
4 	Martin Brundle 	Tyrrell Racing Organisation 	 	012 	 	DFY 3.0 V8 	
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 	Andrea de Cesaris 	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 	Jonathan Palmer 	West Zakspeed Racing 	 	841 	 	1500/4 1.5 L4t 	
Source:'Austria 1985: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/autriche/engages.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)	Source:'Austria 1985: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/autriche/engages.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)	Source:'Austria 1985: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/autriche/engages.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)	Source:'Austria 1985: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/autriche/engages.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)	Source:'Austria 1985: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/autriche/engages.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)	Source:'Austria 1985: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/autriche/engages.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)	Source:'Austria 1985: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/autriche/engages.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)	Source:'Austria 1985: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/autriche/engages.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)
==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 	2 	Alain Prost 	 	1:25.490 	— 	—
2 	5 	Nigel Mansell 	 	1:26.453 	1:26.052 	+0.562s
3 	1 	Niki Lauda 	 	1:26.250 	1:26.727 	+0.760s
4 	6 	Keke Rosberg 	 	1:26.333 	1:26.762 	+0.843s
5 	7 	Nelson Piquet 	 	1:26.568 	1:26.404 	+0.914s
6 	19 	Teo Fabi 	 	1:26.664 	11:12.639 	+1.174s
7 	11 	Elio de Angelis 	 	1:26.799 	— 	+1.309s
8 	15 	Patrick Tambay 	 	1:27.722 	1:27.502 	+2.012s
9 	27 	Michele Alboreto 	 	1:29.774 	1:27.516 	+2.026s
10 	22 	Riccardo Patrese 	 	1:29.485 	1:27.851 	+2.361s
11 	8 	Marc Surer 	 	1:27.954 	1:50.796 	+2.464s
12 	28 	Stefan Johansson 	 	1:28.134 	1:27.961 	+2.471s
13 	16 	Derek Warwick 	 	1:30.602 	1:28.006 	+2.516s
14 	12 	Ayrton Senna 	 	1:28.123 	3:04.856 	+2.633s
15 	26 	Jacques Laffite 	 	1:29.181 	1:28.249 	+2.759s
16 	18 	Thierry Boutsen 	 	1:28.617 	1:28.262 	+2.772s
17 	17 	Gerhard Berger 	 	1:28.566 	1:28.762 	+3.076s
18 	25 	Andrea de Cesaris 	 	1:28.666 	— 	+3.176s
19 	20 	Piercarlo Ghinzani 	 	1:28.894 	— 	+3.404s
20 	23 	Eddie Cheever 	 	1:29.031 	1:29.608 	+3.541s
21 	10 	Philippe Alliot 	 	1:32.766 	1:29.827 	+4.337s
22 	3 	Stefan Bellof 	 	1:31.022 	1:30.514 	+5.024s
23 	9 	Kenny Acheson 	 	— 	1:35.072 	+9.582s
24 	24 	Huub Rothengatter 	 	1:35.329 	1:58.090 	+9.839s
25 	30 	Jonathan Palmer 	 	1:36.060 	1:35.787 	+10.297s
26 	29 	Pierluigi Martini 	 	10:36.417 	1:36.765 	+11.275s
DNQ 	4 	Martin Brundle 	 	1:39.247 	1:37.317 	+11.827s
Source:'23. Grosser Preis Von Oesterreich 1985 - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/491/austria/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 25/03/2019)'23. Grosser Preis Von Oesterreich 1985 - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/491/austria/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 25/03/2019)'Austria 1985: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/autriche/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)	Source:'23. Grosser Preis Von Oesterreich 1985 - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/491/austria/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 25/03/2019)'23. Grosser Preis Von Oesterreich 1985 - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/491/austria/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 25/03/2019)'Austria 1985: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/autriche/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)	Source:'23. Grosser Preis Von Oesterreich 1985 - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/491/austria/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 25/03/2019)'23. Grosser Preis Von Oesterreich 1985 - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/491/austria/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 25/03/2019)'Austria 1985: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/autriche/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)	Source:'23. Grosser Preis Von Oesterreich 1985 - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/491/austria/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 25/03/2019)'23. Grosser Preis Von Oesterreich 1985 - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/491/austria/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 25/03/2019)'Austria 1985: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/autriche/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)	Source:'23. Grosser Preis Von Oesterreich 1985 - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/491/austria/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 25/03/2019)'23. Grosser Preis Von Oesterreich 1985 - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/491/austria/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 25/03/2019)'Austria 1985: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/autriche/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)	Source:'23. Grosser Preis Von Oesterreich 1985 - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/491/austria/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 25/03/2019)'23. Grosser Preis Von Oesterreich 1985 - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/491/austria/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 25/03/2019)'Austria 1985: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/autriche/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)	Source:'23. Grosser Preis Von Oesterreich 1985 - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/491/austria/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 25/03/2019)'23. Grosser Preis Von Oesterreich 1985 - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/491/austria/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 25/03/2019)'Austria 1985: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/autriche/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)
*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.
===Grid===
==Race==
===Report===
===Results===
The full results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Laps 	Time/Retired 	Grid 	Points
1 	2T 	Alain Prost 	 	52 	1:20:12.583 	1 	9
2 	12 	Ayrton Senna 	 	52 	+30.002s 	14 	6
3 	27T 	Michele Alboreto 	 	52 	+34.356s 	9 	4
4 	28 	Stefan Johansson 	 	52 	+39.073s 	12 	3
5 	11T 	Elio de Angelis 	 	52 	1:22.092 	7 	2
6 	8 	Marc Surer 	 	51 	+1 Lap 	11 	1
7* 	3 	Stefan Bellof 	 	49 	Out of fuel 	22 	
8 	18 	Thierry Boutsen 	 	49 	+3 Laps 	16 	
9 	24 	Huub Rothengatter 	 	48 	+4 Laps 	24 	
10* 	15 	Patrick Tambay 	 	46 	Engine 	8 	
Ret 	26 	Jacques Laffite 	 	43 	Accident 	15 	
Ret 	29 	Pierluigi Martini 	 	40 	Suspension 	26 	
Ret 	1 	Niki Lauda 	 	39 	Engine 	3 	
Ret 	17T 	Gerhard Berger 	 	33 	Turbo 	17 	
Ret 	19T 	Teo Fabi 	 	31 	Electrical 	6 	
Ret 	16 	Derek Warwick 	 	29 	Engine 	13 	
Ret 	10 	Kenny Acheson 	 	28 	Engine 	23 	
Ret 	7 	Nelson Piquet 	 	26 	Exhaust 	5 	
Ret 	5 	Nigel Mansell 	 	25 	Engine 	2 	
Ret 	22 	Riccardo Patrese 	 	25 	Engine 	10 	
Ret 	30 	Jonathan Palmer 	 	17 	Engine 	25 	
Ret 	9 	Philippe Alliot 	 	16 	Turbo 	21 	
Ret 	25 	Andrea de Cesaris 	 	13 	Accident 	18 	
Ret 	23 	Eddie Cheever 	 	6 	Turbo 	20 	
Ret 	6 	Keke Rosberg 	 	4 	Oil pressure 	4 	
DNS† 	20 	Piercarlo Ghinzani 	 	 	 	 	
DNQ 	4 	Martin Brundle 	 	 	 	 	
Source:'Austria 1985: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/autriche/classement.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)	Source:'Austria 1985: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/autriche/classement.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)	Source:'Austria 1985: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/autriche/classement.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)	Source:'Austria 1985: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/autriche/classement.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)	Source:'Austria 1985: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/autriche/classement.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)	Source:'Austria 1985: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/autriche/classement.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)	Source:'Austria 1985: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/autriche/classement.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)	Source:'Austria 1985: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/autriche/classement.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car.
** Bellof and Tambay were still classified despite retiring as they had completed 90% of the race distance.
*† Ghinzani was unable to start after an issue ahead of the race.
==Milestones==
* Tenth Grand Prix entry for as a constructor.'1985 Austrian GP', chicanef1.com, (Chicane F1, 2015), http://www.chicanef1.com/racetit.pl?year=1985&gp=Austrian%20GP&r=1, (Accessed 25/03/2019)
* 25th entries for Ayrton Senna and Stefan Johansson.
* Shell claimed their 100th pole position as a lubricant supplier.
* Alain Prost claimed his twentieth victory.'9. Austria 1985', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/autriche.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)
* secured their 46th victory as a constructor.
** Engine suppliers recorded their sixteenth victory and 25th podium.
==Standings==
Alain Prost's fourth victory of the season was enough to see the Frenchman finally return to the top of the Championship, although there was almost no difference between himself and the man in second. Indeed, the Frenchman was level on 50 points with former leader Michele Alboreto, and only considered to be ahead courtesy of his four wins to the Italian's two. In contrast, there was a significant gap back to third placed Elio de Angelis, with the Italian falling 22 points off the leaders.
In the Constructors' Championship it had been a rather neutral day at the head of the hunt, with still holding a healthy lead. Indeed, had only chipped a point out of the Italian squad's advantage in spite of Prost's victory, leaving them seventeen off of the Scuderia. , meanwhile, were set to spend the rest of the season as dark horses for the Championship, as they slipped twelve points behind the second placed Anglo-German effort.
World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	Alain Prost 	50 	1
2 	Michele Alboreto 	50 	1
3 	Elio de Angelis 	28 	
4 	Stefan Johansson 	19 	1
5 	Keke Rosberg 	18 	1
6 	Ayrton Senna 	15 	3
7 	Nelson Piquet 	13 	1
8 	Patrick Tambay 	11 	1
9 	Jacques Laffite 	10 	1
10 	Thierry Boutsen 	9 	
11 	Nigel Mansell 	6 	
12 	Niki Lauda 	5 	
13 	Stefan Bellof 	4 	
14 	Derek Warwick 	4 	
15 	Andrea de Cesaris 	3 	
16 	René Arnoux 	3 	
17 	Marc Surer 	2 	
World Championship for Manufacturers	World Championship for Manufacturers	World Championship for Manufacturers	World Championship for Manufacturers
Pos. 	Team 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	 	72 	
2 	 	55 	
3 	 	43 	
4 	 	24 	
5 	 	15 	1
6 	 	15 	1
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:Austrian Grand Prix
Category:Formula One races in Austria