1985 Belgian Grand Prix

The 1985 Belgian Grand Prix, otherwise known as the XLIII Grote Prijs van België, was the thirteenth round of the FIA Formula One World Championship, staged at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on the 15 September 1985.'Belgian GP, 1985', grandprix.com, (Inside F1 Inc., 2014), http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr417.html, (Accessed 26/03/2019) The race, which had originally been scheduled for the 2 June, would see Ayrton Senna claim his second career victory and the first of five at Spa.
Qualifying would see Alain Prost, Championship leader, grab pole for , with future nemesis Senna lining up in second. Nelson Piquet was next ahead of Prost's main title rival Michele Alboreto, while defending Champion Niki Lauda would suffer a heavy accident on Friday and subsequently withdrew from the race with a sprained wrist.
After two days of warm, dry weather race day would dawn with heavy rain pelting the shortened Spa circuit, although as start time approached the rain drifted away. Regardless, all 24 starters would opt for full wet tyres for the start of the race, with everyone expecting to have to switch to slicks towards the end of the race.
The start of the race would be all about two fast starting Brazilians, with Senna slithering into the lead, while Piquet leapt into second. However, whereas Senna would sprint out of La Source without issue in his , Piquet would send himself into a spin, forcing the rest of the field to take avoiding action. Prost hence moved back into second, although the delay for everyone else had left Senna with a huge lead.
The early stages would see Prost carve into Senna's lead, leaving Nigel Mansell to defend third from Alboreto, Stefan Johansson, Thierry Boutsen, teammate Keke Rosberg, Elio de Angelis and Gerhard Berger. Piquet, meanwhile, would battle his way back up the field from the back of the pack, and duly moved into the top ten when Alboreto's race was ended by a clutch failure.
Surprisingly the Spa circuit would dry far quicker than anyone had thought, prompting Rosberg to stop on lap four for slicks. After two slow laps the Finn was soon lighting up the timing screens, prompting the rest of the field to slither into the pits over the following five laps.
The resulting shuffle from the stops would leave Rosberg up in third, with himself and Mansell jumping Prost during the switch to slicks. Senna, meanwhile, continued to hold a handsome advantage at the head of the field, having briefly lost the lead to teammate Elio de Angelis before the Italian's stop.
Light rain would return to Spa shortly before half-distance, although it never fell hard enough to force the drivers into making a switch back to wets. Senna was hence able to simply drive away from Mansell in second, and ultimately won the race at a canter, thirty seconds clear of the Brit.
Elsewhere, a brake problem for Rosberg would see the Finn slip behind Prost, promoting the Frenchman onto the podium. That, combined with Alboreto's early retirement, would grow Prost's lead out to sixteen points, with just 27 left to fight for.
==Background==
Alain Prost had 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 had left 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.
===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 	
Source:'Belgium 1985: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/belgique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 26/03/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1985: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/belgique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 26/03/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1985: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/belgique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 26/03/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1985: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/belgique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 26/03/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1985: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/belgique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 26/03/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1985: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/belgique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 26/03/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1985: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/belgique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 26/03/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1985: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/belgique/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 	2 	Alain Prost 	 	1:56.563 	1:55.306 	—
2 	12 	Ayrton Senna 	 	2:00.710 	1:55.403 	+0.097s
3 	7 	Nelson Piquet 	 	1:56.643 	1:55.648 	+0.342s
4 	27 	Michele Alboreto 	 	1:56.999 	1:56.021 	+0.715s
5 	28 	Stefan Johansson 	 	1:56.585 	1:56.746 	+1.279s
6 	18 	Thierry Boutsen 	 	1:59.046 	1:56.697 	+1.391s
7 	5 	Nigel Mansell 	 	1:56.727 	1:56.996 	+1.421s
8 	17 	Gerhard Berger 	 	1:56.770 	— 	+1.464s
9 	11 	Elio de Angelis 	 	1:58.852 	1:57.322 	+2.016s
10 	6 	Keke Rosberg 	 	1:57.582 	1:57.465 	+2.159s
11 	19 	Teo Fabi 	 	1:57.588 	1:57.857 	+2.828s
12 	8 	Marc Surer 	 	2:00.154 	1:57.729 	+2.423s
13 	15 	Patrick Tambay 	 	1:58.105 	1:59.335 	+2.799s
14 	16 	Derek Warwick 	 	1:59.761 	1:58.407 	+3.101s
15 	22 	Riccardo Patrese 	 	1:59.703 	1:58.414 	+3.108s
16 	20 	Piercarlo Ghinzani 	 	1:58.820 	1:58.706 	+3.400s
17 	26 	Jacques Laffite 	 	2:01.745 	1:58.933 	+3.627s
18 	25 	Philippe Streiff 	 	2:00.599 	1:59.245 	+3.939s
19 	23 	Eddie Cheever 	 	2:00.861 	1:59.370 	+4.064s
20 	9 	Philippe Alliot 	 	1:59.626 	1:59.755 	+4.320s
21 	3 	Martin Brundle 	 	2:00.950 	2:01.364 	+5.644s
22 	30 	Christian Danner 	 	2:05.059 	2:07.046 	+9.753s
23 	24 	Huub Rothengatter 	 	2:06.083 	2:05.776 	+10.470s
24 	29 	Pierluigi Martini 	 	2:06.007 	2:06.606 	+10.701s
25* 	1 	Niki Lauda 	 	— 	— 	—
WD† 	10 	Kenny Acheson 	 	Withdrawn 	Withdrawn 	Withdrawn
Source:'Grand Prix de Belgique 1985 - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/494/belgium/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 26/03/2019)'Grand Prix de Belgique 1985 - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/494/belgium/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 26/03/2019)'Belgium 1985: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/belgique/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 26/03/2019)	Source:'Grand Prix de Belgique 1985 - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/494/belgium/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 26/03/2019)'Grand Prix de Belgique 1985 - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/494/belgium/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 26/03/2019)'Belgium 1985: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/belgique/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 26/03/2019)	Source:'Grand Prix de Belgique 1985 - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/494/belgium/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 26/03/2019)'Grand Prix de Belgique 1985 - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/494/belgium/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 26/03/2019)'Belgium 1985: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/belgique/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 26/03/2019)	Source:'Grand Prix de Belgique 1985 - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/494/belgium/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 26/03/2019)'Grand Prix de Belgique 1985 - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/494/belgium/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 26/03/2019)'Belgium 1985: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/belgique/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 26/03/2019)	Source:'Grand Prix de Belgique 1985 - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/494/belgium/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 26/03/2019)'Grand Prix de Belgique 1985 - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/494/belgium/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 26/03/2019)'Belgium 1985: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/belgique/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 26/03/2019)	Source:'Grand Prix de Belgique 1985 - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/494/belgium/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 26/03/2019)'Grand Prix de Belgique 1985 - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/494/belgium/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 26/03/2019)'Belgium 1985: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/belgique/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 26/03/2019)	Source:'Grand Prix de Belgique 1985 - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/494/belgium/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 26/03/2019)'Grand Prix de Belgique 1985 - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/494/belgium/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 26/03/2019)'Belgium 1985: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/belgique/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.
** Lauda was unable to start the race after sustaining a wrist injury.
*† Acheson's entry was withdrawn after RAM ran out of engines.
===Grid===
** Danner was to start from the pit lane after an issue at the start.
*† Lauda was unable to start the race due to his wrist injury.
==Race==
===Report===
===Results===
The full results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Laps 	Time/Retired 	Grid 	Points
1 	12 	Ayrton Senna 	 	43 	1:34:19.893 	2 	9
2 	5 	Nigel Mansell 	 	43 	+28.422s 	7 	6
3 	2 	Alain Prost 	 	43 	+55.109s 	1 	4
4 	6 	Keke Rosberg 	 	43 	+1:15.290 	10 	3
5 	7 	Nelson Piquet 	 	42 	+1 Lap 	3 	2
6 	16 	Derek Warwick 	 	42 	+1 Lap 	14 	1
7 	17 	Gerhard Berger 	 	42 	+1 Lap 	8 	
8 	8 	Marc Surer 	 	42 	+1 Lap 	12 	
9 	25 	Philippe Streiff 	 	42 	+1 Lap 	18 	
10* 	18 	Thierry Boutsen 	 	40 	Gearbox 	6 	
11* 	26 	Jacques Laffite 	 	38 	Accident 	17 	
12 	29 	Pierluigi Martini 	 	38 	+5 Laps 	24 	
13 	3 	Martin Brundle 	 	38 	+5 Laps 	21 	
NC† 	24T 	Huub Rothengatter 	 	37 	+6 Laps 	23 	
Ret 	22 	Riccardo Patrese 	 	31 	Engine 	15 	
Ret 	23 	Eddie Cheever 	 	26 	Gearbox 	19 	
Ret 	15 	Patrick Tambay 	 	24 	Gearbox 	13 	
Ret 	19 	Teo Fabi 	 	23 	Throttle 	11 	
Ret 	11 	Elio de Angelis 	 	17 	Turbo 	9 	
Ret 	30 	Christian Danner 	 	16 	Gearbox 	22 	
Ret 	9 	Philippe Alliot 	 	10 	Accident 	20 	
Ret 	28 	Stefan Johansson 	 	7 	Spin 	5 	
Ret 	20 	Piercarlo Ghinzani 	 	7 	Accident 	16 	
Ret 	27 	Michele Alboreto 	 	3 	Clutch 	4 	
DNS 	1 	Niki Lauda 	 	 	 	 	
WD 	10 	Kenny Acheson 	 	 	 	 	
Source:'Belgium 1985: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/belgique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 26/03/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1985: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/belgique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 26/03/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1985: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/belgique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 26/03/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1985: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/belgique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 26/03/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1985: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/belgique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 26/03/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1985: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/belgique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 26/03/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1985: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/belgique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 26/03/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1985: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/belgique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 26/03/2019)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car.
** Boutsen and Laffite were still classified despite retiring as they had completed 90% of the race distance.
*† Rothengatter was unable to be classified as he had failed to complete 90% of the race distance.
==Milestones==
* 200th Grand Prix entry for a engine.'1985 Belgian GP', chicanef1.com, (Chicane F1, 2014), http://www.chicanef1.com/racetit.pl?year=1985&gp=Belgian%20GP&r=1, (Accessed 26/03/2019)
* Debut race for Christian Danner.
* Second victory for Ayrton Senna.'13. Belgium 1985', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/belgique.aspx, (Accessed 26/03/2019)
* earned their 75th victory as a constructor.
** Engine suppliers earned their eighteenth victory.
* Nigel Mansell claimed the tenth podium for a engine.
==Standings==
Third place in Belgium ensured that Alain Prost extended his Championship lead over Michele Alboreto, with the pair ending the weekend some sixteen points apart. Indeed, with just 27 points left to fight for Prost could realistically win the title in Brands Hatch, provided he scored two more points than Alboreto. Elsewhere, Ayrton Senna was up into third after his second victory of the season, with Elio de Angelis slipping away in fourth.
The Constructors Championship was still being led by after the battle of Belgium, although their lead was still a fairly insecure six points. Indeed, had only dropped a couple of points further behind the Anglo-German effort after the race in Belgium, and hence remained a major contender for the title. Furthermore, had closed the gap in third, moving to within twenty points of the leaders.
World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	Alain Prost 	69 	
2 	Michele Alboreto 	53 	
3 	Ayrton Senna 	32 	1
4 	Elio de Angelis 	31 	1
5 	Keke Rosberg 	21 	2
6 	Nelson Piquet 	21 	
7 	Stefan Johansson 	21 	2
8 	Niki Lauda 	14 	
9 	Nigel Mansell 	13 	3
10 	Patrick Tambay 	11 	1
11 	Jacques Laffite 	10 	1
12 	Thierry Boutsen 	9 	1
13 	Marc Surer 	5 	
14 	Derek Warwick 	5 	1
15 	Stefan Bellof 	4 	1
16 	Andrea de Cesaris 	3 	
17 	René Arnoux 	3 	
World Championship for Manufacturers	World Championship for Manufacturers	World Championship for Manufacturers	World Championship for Manufacturers
Pos. 	Team 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	 	83 	
2 	 	77 	
3 	 	63 	
4 	 	34 	
5 	 	26 	
6 	 	16 	
7 	 	13 	
8 	 	9 	
9 	 	4 	
Only point scoring drivers and constructors are shown.
==References==
Images and Videos:
* 
References:
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:Belgian Grand Prix
Category:Formula One races in Belgium
Category:1985 Grands Prix