1988 Mexican Grand Prix

The 1988 Mexican Grand Prix, otherwise known as the XII Gran Premio de Mexico, was the fourth round of the FIA Formula One World Championship staged at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City on the 29 May 1988.'Mexican GP, 1988', grandprix.com, (Inside F1 Inc., 2015), http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr456.html, (Accessed 09/04/2019) The race would see Alain Prost claim another impressive victory for , having overcome teammate Ayrton Senna at the start.
The weekend arrived amid rumours that were seeking a return to F1, less than two years after they cancelled all of their projects in the series. Indeed, they were actively courting in hopes of returning in , with a 3.5 litre V10 engine in the works at their Viry factory in France.
Into the Mexican Grand Prix weekend itself and the McLaren-Hondas would again dominate qualifying, with Senna claiming pole by six tenths from teammate Prost. Their closest challenger proved to be Gerhard Berger in the , who was surprisingly close to Prost's best effort, in third.
Qualifying was also marred by another huge accident at the Peraltada, although Philippe Alliot, the banked right-hander's latest victim, miraculously escaped unharmed. Indeed, the Frenchman was able to take the start of the race on Sunday in spite of the accident, with working through the night to rebuild his car.
The original race start had to be aborted after Alessandro Nannini stalled, resulting in a lap being struck from the distance. When the race did getaway a few minutes later it was Prost who aced his start, sprinting clear of teammate Senna as the Brazilian hit his boost limit.
Indeed, the pop-off valve that acted as a restrictor on the turbocharged cars opened too early on Senna's car, and hence allowed Nelson Piquet to sweep through into second. Piquet also briefly entertained a lunge on Prost into turn one, although the Frenchman was able to swat that aside and pull clear over the rest of the opening lap.
Senna subsequently took Piquet on the run to the Peraltada on the opening tour, effectively ending the race there and then. Indeed, the two McLarens were soon out of sight, with Senna simply unable to catch teammate Prost who had pulled over two seconds clear on the first lap alone.
Piquet's hopes of finishing on the podium were dashed by a charging Berger, who even managed to catch Senna mid-race only to be incorrectly warned that he was low on fuel. Piquet subsequently retired to hand fourth to Michele Alboreto, while the two s scrapped with the s over the remaining points.
A low thrills race would come to an end after an hour and a half, with Prost cruising across the line seven seconds clear of Senna, extending his Championship lead. Berger was the only other man on the lead lap in third ahead of Alboreto, while Derek Warwick and Eddie Cheever defeated Thierry Boutsen and Nannini to claim fifth and sixth.
==Background==
Victory for the second time in three races in Monte Carlo had left Alain Prost with a healthy ten point lead in the Championship, meaning the Frenchman could already afford to miss an entire weekend. Gerhard Berger, meanwhile, had moved up into second ahead of Ayrton Senna, while Nelson Piquet had retained fourth on the Mediterranean shores. The top five was then completed by Michele Alboreto, with eleven drivers in total on the board prior to the trip across the Atlantic.
In the Constructors' Championship, meanwhile, had managed to chip into 's lead last time out, although the Anglo-Japanese squad's advantage was still colossal. Indeed, McLaren-Honda were thirteen points ahead of the Scuderia at the end of the Monte Carlo weekend, with another significant gap back to third placed . Elsewhere, and had got onto the board, meaning seven teams had scored in the opening three rounds.
===Entry list===
The full entry list for the is outlined below:
No. 	Driver 	Entrant 	Constructor 	Chassis 	Engine 	Model 	Tyre
1 	Nelson Piquet 	Camel Team Lotus Honda 	 	100T 	 	RA168E 1.5 V6t 	
2 	Satoru Nakajima 	Camel Team Lotus Honda 	 	100T 	 	RA168E 1.5 V6t 	
3 	Jonathan Palmer 	Tyrrell Racing Organisation 	 	017 	 	DFZ 3.5 V8 	
4 	Julian Bailey 	Tyrrell Racing Organisation 	 	017 	 	DFZ 3.5 V8 	
5 	Nigel Mansell 	Canon Williams Team 	 	FW12 	 	CV 3.5 V8 	
6 	Riccardo Patrese 	Canon Williams Team 	 	FW12 	 	CV 3.5 V8 	
9 	Piercarlo Ghinzani 	West Zakspeed Racing 	 	881 	 	1500/4 1.5 L4t 	
10 	Bernd Schneider 	West Zakspeed Racing 	 	881 	 	1500/4 1.5 L4t 	
11 	Alain Prost 	Honda Marlboro McLaren 	 	MP4/4 	 	RA168E 1.5 V6t 	
12 	Ayrton Senna 	Honda Marlboro McLaren 	 	MP4/4 	 	RA168E 1.5 V6t 	
14 	Philippe Streiff 	Team El Charro AGS 	 	JH23 	 	DFZ 3.5 V8 	
15 	Maurício Gugelmin 	Leyton House March Racing Team 	 	881 	 	CV 3.5 V8 	
16 	Ivan Capelli 	Leyton House March Racing Team 	 	881 	 	CV 3.5 V8 	
17 	Derek Warwick 	USF&G Arrows Megatron 	 	A10B 	 	M12/13 1.5 L4t 	
18 	Eddie Cheever 	USF&G Arrows Megatron 	 	A10B 	 	M12/13 1.5 L4t 	
19 	Alessandro Nannini 	Benetton Formula Ltd. 	 	B188 	 	DFR 3.5 V8 	
20 	Thierry Boutsen 	Benetton Formula Ltd. 	 	B188 	 	DFR 3.5 V8 	
21 	Nicola Larini 	Osella Squadra Corse 	 	FA1L 	 	890T 1.5 V8t 	
22 	Andrea de Cesaris 	Rial Racing 	 	ARC1 	 	DFZ 3.5 V8 	
23 	Adrián Campos 	Lois Minardi Team 	 	M188 	 	DFZ 3.5 V8 	
24 	Luis Pérez-Sala 	Lois Minardi Team 	 	M188 	 	DFZ 3.5 V8 	
25 	René Arnoux 	Equipe Ligier 	 	JS31 	 	CV 3.5 V8 	
26 	Stefan Johansson 	Equipe Ligier 	 	JS31 	 	CV 3.5 V8 	
27 	Michele Alboreto 	Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC 	 	F187/88C 	 	033E 1.5 V6t 	
28 	Gerhard Berger 	Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC 	 	F187/88C 	 	033E 1.5 V6t 	
29 	Yannick Dalmas 	Larrousse & Camels F1 	 	LC88 	 	DFZ 3.5 V8 	
30 	Philippe Alliot 	Larrousse & Camels F1 	 	LC88 	 	DFZ 3.5 V8 	
31 	Gabriele Tarquini 	Coloni SpA 	 	FC188 	 	DFZ 3.5 V8 	
32 	Oscar Larrauri 	EuroBrun Racing 	 	ER188 	 	DFZ 3.5 V8 	
33 	Stefano Modena 	EuroBrun Racing 	 	ER188 	 	DFZ 3.5 V8 	
36 	Alex Caffi 	BMS Scuderia Italia 	 	188 	 	DFZ 3.5 V8 	
Source:'Mexico 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/mexique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 09/04/2019)	Source:'Mexico 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/mexique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 09/04/2019)	Source:'Mexico 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/mexique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 09/04/2019)	Source:'Mexico 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/mexique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 09/04/2019)	Source:'Mexico 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/mexique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 09/04/2019)	Source:'Mexico 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/mexique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 09/04/2019)	Source:'Mexico 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/mexique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 09/04/2019)	Source:'Mexico 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/mexique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 09/04/2019)
==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 	 	1:17.468 	1:17.666 	—
2 	11 	Alain Prost 	 	1:18.097 	1:18.301 	+0.629s
3 	28 	Gerhard Berger 	 	1:19.725 	1:18.120 	+0.652s
4 	1 	Nelson Piquet 	 	1:20.380 	1:18.946 	+1.478s
5 	27 	Michele Alboreto 	 	1:20.328 	1:19.626 	+2.158s
6 	2 	Satoru Nakajima 	 	1:21.694 	1:20.275 	+2.807s
7 	18 	Eddie Cheever 	 	1:21.691 	1:20.475 	+3.007s
8 	19 	Alessandro Nannini 	 	1:20.740 	1:21.403 	+3.272s
9 	17 	Derek Warwick 	 	1:20.775 	1:21.403 	+3.307s
10 	16 	Ivan Capelli 	 	1:22.335 	1:21.952 	+4.484s
11 	20 	Thierry Boutsen 	 	1:22.164 	1:22.029 	+4.561s
12 	22 	Andrea de Cesaris 	 	1:22.864 	1:22.245 	+4.777s
13 	30 	Philippe Alliot 	 	1:22.348 	1:22.557 	+4.880s
14 	5 	Nigel Mansell 	 	1:23.246 	1:22.363 	+4.895s
15 	10 	Bernd Schneider 	 	1:24.335 	1:22.642 	+5.174s
16 	15 	Maurício Gugelmin 	 	1:22.801 	5:30.133 	+5.333s
17 	6 	Riccardo Patrese 	 	1:24.142 	1:22.972 	+5.511s
18 	9 	Piercarlo Ghinzani 	 	1:25.375 	1:23.078 	+5.610s
19 	14 	Philippe Streiff 	 	1:23.191 	1:23.750 	+5.723s
20 	25 	René Arnoux 	 	1:24.315 	1:23.287 	+5.819s
21 	31 	Gabriele Tarquini 	 	1:24.662 	1:23.603 	+6.135s
22 	29 	Yannick Dalmas 	 	1:24.279 	1:23.606 	+6.138s
23 	36 	Alex Caffi 	 	1:25.564 	1:23.716 	+6.248s
24 	26 	Stefan Johansson 	 	1:25.277 	1:23.721 	+6.253s
25 	24 	Luis Pérez-Sala 	 	1:23.911 	1:23.857 	+6.564s
26 	32 	Oscar Larrauri 	 	1:23.405 	1:24.032 	+6.564s
DNQ 	3 	Jonathan Palmer 	 	1:24.390 	1:24.849 	+6.922s
DNQ 	21 	Nicola Larini 	 	1:24.405 	1:24.849 	+6.922s
DNQ 	4 	Julian Bailey 	 	1:25.525 	1:25.231 	+7.763s
DNQ 	23 	Adrián Campos 	 	1:26.696 	1:26.058 	+8.590s
EXC* 	33 	Stefano Modena 	 	Excluded 	Excluded 	Excluded
Source:'Mexican Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/530/mexico/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 09/04/2019)'Mexican Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/530/mexico/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 09/04/2019)'Mexico 1988: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/mexique/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 09/04/2019)	Source:'Mexican Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/530/mexico/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 09/04/2019)'Mexican Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/530/mexico/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 09/04/2019)'Mexico 1988: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/mexique/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 09/04/2019)	Source:'Mexican Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/530/mexico/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 09/04/2019)'Mexican Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/530/mexico/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 09/04/2019)'Mexico 1988: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/mexique/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 09/04/2019)	Source:'Mexican Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/530/mexico/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 09/04/2019)'Mexican Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/530/mexico/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 09/04/2019)'Mexico 1988: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/mexique/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 09/04/2019)	Source:'Mexican Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/530/mexico/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 09/04/2019)'Mexican Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/530/mexico/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 09/04/2019)'Mexico 1988: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/mexique/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 09/04/2019)	Source:'Mexican Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/530/mexico/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 09/04/2019)'Mexican Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/530/mexico/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 09/04/2019)'Mexico 1988: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/mexique/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 09/04/2019)	Source:'Mexican Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/530/mexico/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 09/04/2019)'Mexican Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/530/mexico/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 09/04/2019)'Mexico 1988: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/mexique/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 09/04/2019)
*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.
** Modena was excluded from the results of the weekend for using an illegal rear-wing.
===Grid===
** Alliot started the race from the back of the grid.
==Race==
===Report===
===Results===
The full results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Laps 	Time/Retired 	Grid 	Points
1 	11 	Alain Prost 	 	67 	1:30:15.737 	2 	9
2 	12 	Ayrton Senna 	 	67 	+7.104s 	1 	6
3 	28 	Gerhard Berger 	 	67 	+57.314s 	3 	4
4 	27 	Michele Alboreto 	 	66 	+1 Lap 	5 	3
5 	17 	Derek Warwick 	 	66 	+1 Lap 	9 	2
6 	18 	Eddie Cheever 	 	66 	+1 Lap 	7 	1
7 	19 	Alessandro Nannini 	 	65 	+2 Laps 	8 	
8 	20 	Thierry Boutsen 	 	64 	+3 Laps 	11 	
9 	29 	Yannick Dalmas 	 	64 	+3 Laps 	22 	
10 	26 	Stefan Johansson 	 	63 	+4 Laps 	24 	
11 	24 	Luis Pérez-Sala 	 	63 	+4 Laps 	25 	
12 	14 	Philippe Streiff 	 	63 	+4 Laps 	19 	
13 	32 	Oscar Larrauri 	 	63 	+4 Laps 	26 	
14 	31 	Gabriele Tarquini 	 	62 	+5 Laps 	21 	
15 	9 	Piercarlo Ghinzani 	 	61 	+6 Laps 	18 	
16 	16 	Ivan Capelli 	 	61 	+6 Laps 	10 	
Ret 	1 	Nelson Piquet 	 	58 	Engine 	4 	
Ret 	22 	Andrea de Cesaris 	 	52 	Gearbox 	12 	
Ret 	2 	Satoru Nakajima 	 	27 	Engine 	6 	
Ret 	5 	Nigel Mansell 	 	20 	Engine 	14 	
Ret 	10 	Bernd Schneider 	 	16 	Engine 	15 	
Ret 	6 	Riccardo Patrese 	 	16 	Engine 	17 	
Ret 	25 	René Arnoux 	 	13 	Accident 	20 	
Ret 	36 	Alex Caffi 	 	13 	Brakes 	23 	
Ret 	15 	Maurício Gugelmin 	 	10 	Electrical 	16 	
Ret 	30 	Philippe Alliot 	 	0 	Suspension 	13 	
DNQ 	3 	Jonathan Palmer 	 	 	 	 	
DNQ 	21 	Nicola Larini 	 	 	 	 	
DNQ 	4 	Julian Bailey 	 	 	 	 	
DNQ 	23 	Adrián Campos 	 	 	 	 	
EXC 	33 	Stefano Modena 	 	 	 	 	
Source:'Mexico 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/mexique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 09/04/2019)	Source:'Mexico 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/mexique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 09/04/2019)	Source:'Mexico 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/mexique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 09/04/2019)	Source:'Mexico 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/mexique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 09/04/2019)	Source:'Mexico 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/mexique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 09/04/2019)	Source:'Mexico 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/mexique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 09/04/2019)	Source:'Mexico 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/mexique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 09/04/2019)	Source:'Mexico 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/mexique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 09/04/2019)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car.
==Milestones==
* made their 50th Grand Prix start as a constructor.'4. Mexico 1988', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/mexique.aspx, (Accessed 09/04/2019)
* Satoru Nakajima and Adrián Campos entered their twentieth Grand Prix.'1988 Mexican GP', chicanef1.com, (Chicane F1, 2015), http://www.chicanef1.com/racetit.pl?year=1988&gp=Mexican%20GP&r=1, (Accessed 09/04/2019)
* Debut race for Bernd Schneider.
* Ayrton Senna recorded his twentieth pole position.
** This was also the 25th pole for a engined car.
** Also the 50th pole for a car using #12 as its race number.
* 31st victory for Alain Prost.
* secured their 59th win as a constructor.
** Engine partners Honda secured their 31st win.
* Prost recorded the 30th fastest lap for a Honda engine.
==Standings==
Another impressive victory for Alain Prost allowed the Frenchman to extend his Championship lead once again, leaving Mexico with 33 points to his name. Gerhard Berger remained his closest challenger, being the only other driver to score points in all four races in , although the Austrian was already fifteen points behind. Ayrton Senna, meanwhile, had moved closer to Berger in third, although he was eighteen off of his Championship leading teammate.
In the Constructors' Championship it had been a very productive afternoon for , with a one-two finish putting them onto 48 points after four races. That left them some 21 points ahead of second placed , with those two the only two teams in double figures with a quarter of the season gone. Best of the rest were in third, although they were level on points with .
 
World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	Alain Prost 	33 	
2 	Gerhard Berger 	18 	
3 	Ayrton Senna 	15 	
4 	Michele Alboreto 	9 	1
5 	Nelson Piquet 	8 	1
6 	Derek Warwick 	8 	
7 	Thierry Boutsen 	3 	
8 	Jonathan Palmer 	2 	
9 	Eddie Cheever 	1 	3
10 	Satoru Nakajima 	1 	1
11 	Alessandro Nannini 	1 	1
12 	Riccardo Patrese 	1 	1
World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors
Pos. 	Team 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	 	48 	
2 	 	27 	
3 	 	9 	
4 	 	9 	
5 	 	4 	
6 	 	2 	
7 	 	1 	
Only point scoring drivers and constructors are shown.
==References==
Images and Videos:
* 
References:
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:1988 Grands Prix
Category:Mexican Grand Prix