1988 Belgian Grand Prix

The XLVI Champion Grand Prix de Belgique, otherwise known simply as the 1988 Belgian Grand Prix, was the eleventh round of the FIA Formula One World Championship, staged on the 28 August 1988 on the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. The race would see Ayrton Senna claim victory ahead of teammate Alain Prost, a result which ensured that secured the Constructors' Championship with five races to spare.
The race itself was preceded by the death of one of Enzo Ferrari, one of motorsport's most famous faces and founder of the team. His death left a power vacuum at the head of the company, although there were no concerns that FIAT would curtail the Scuderia without il Commendatore looking over their shoulders.
Into the race weekend itself and normal order was resumed in Belgium, with turbocharged cars once again dominating the field during qualifying. As ever, it was Senna who claimed pole ahead of teammate Prost, while the two Ferraris of Gerhard Berger and Michele Alboreto shared the second row.
The start of the race would see Prost make a better start, with Senna resisting the temptation to pressure his teammate's lunge into La Source. Indeed, the pair had had a gentleman's agreement not to challenge one-another into the infamously tight hairpin, in fear of clashing and then crashing.
There was no agreement, however, about not fighting over the rest of the race, meaning Senna was free to draft past the Frenchman on the run to Les Combes. With that the Brazilian was off into the lead, leaving Prost to try and keep up for the rest of the afternoon.
Behind, Berger would lead the anti-McLaren chase, although an electrical issue ultimately curtailed his race before the end of lap eleven. Alboreto hence took up the charge for the rest of the afternoon, albeit while being stalked by the two s.
Indeed, behind those three would be a thrilling fight for sixth, with Satoru Nakajima, Nelson Piquet and the two s all exchanging blows. Ultimately it was Piquet who emerged at the head of the battle pack, and was even briefly able to get ahead of Alessandro Nannini, only for a brake issue to end his charge.
Out front, meanwhile, Senna eeked out a thirty second lead ahead of Prost, a win that handed the Brazilian a three point lead in the Championship. Their one-two also settled the Constructors' Championship for McLaren-Honda, setting a new record for the earliest title win.
Elsewhere an engine failure for Alboreto would promote Thierry Boutsen and Nannini into third and fourth, only for them to both to be disqualified due to irregularities in their fuel. Ivan Capelli hence claimed the final podium spot ahead of Piquet, while the two Arrows ended the day in the top six.
==Background==
Ayrton Senna had moved into the lead of the Championship for the first time all season last time out in Hungary, having matched Alain Prost's 66 point tally. Indeed, the Brazilian was technically ahead of his teammate on count-back, holding six wins to the Frenchman's four after ten races, with both set to take dropped scores later on in the campaign. Best of the rest was still Gerhard Berger in third, although with a 38 point gap between himself and the leaders the Austrian was resigned to finishing there ahead of the trip to Spa.
In the Constructors' Championship, meanwhile, the Hungarian Grand Prix had been another benefit, with their seventh one-two of the season leaving them on 132 points. That, in turn, meant that the Anglo-Japanese alliance had moved 88 points clear of second placed , and hence meant that McLaren-Honda could claim the crown with five races to go at the following race Belgium. Indeed, the Scuderia would have to take a one-two, with McLaren failing to finish sixth or higher, just to keep the title "fight" alive beyond the trip to Spa.
===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 	Martin Brundle 	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 	Automobiles Gonfaronnaises Sportives 	 	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 	 	B188 	 	DFR 3.5 V8 	
20 	Thierry Boutsen 	Benetton Formula 	 	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 	Pierluigi Martini 	Lois Minardi Team SpA 	 	M188 	 	DFZ 3.5 V8 	
24 	Luis Pérez-Sala 	Lois Minardi Team SpA 	 	M188 	 	DFZ 3.5 V8 	
25 	René Arnoux 	Ligier Loto 	 	JS31 	 	CV 3.5 V8 	
26 	Stefan Johansson 	Ligier Loto 	 	JS31 	 	CV 3.5 V8 	
27 	Michele Alboreto 	Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC 	 	F1/87/88C 	 	033E 1.5 V6t 	
28 	Gerhard Berger 	Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC 	 	F1/87/88C 	 	033E 1.5 V6t 	
29 	Yannick Dalmas 	Larrousse Camels 	 	LC88 	 	DFZ 3.5 V8 	
30 	Philippe Alliot 	Larrousse Camels 	 	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 	 	F188 	 	DFZ 3.5 V8 	
Source:'Belgium 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/belgique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 11/04/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/belgique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 11/04/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/belgique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 11/04/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/belgique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 11/04/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/belgique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 11/04/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/belgique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 11/04/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/belgique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 11/04/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/belgique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 11/04/2019)
==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 	 	1:53.718 	2:15.196 	—
2 	11 	Alain Prost 	 	1:54.128 	— 	+0.410s
3 	28 	Gerhard Berger 	 	1:54.581 	2:17.115 	+0.863s
4 	27 	Michele Alboreto 	 	1:55.665 	2:15.667 	+1.947s
5 	6 	Riccardo Patrese 	 	1:57.138 	2:15.358 	+3.420s
6 	20 	Thierry Boutsen 	 	1:57.455 	2:15.236 	+3.737s
7 	19 	Alessandro Nannini 	 	1:57.535 	2:17.077 	+3.817s
8 	2 	Satoru Nakajima 	 	1:57.616 	2:14.739 	+3.898s
9 	1 	Nelson Piquet 	 	1:57.821 	2:15.027 	+4.103s
10 	17 	Derek Warwick 	 	1:57.925 	2:16.770 	+4.207s
11 	18 	Eddie Cheever 	 	1:57.980 	2:19.908 	+4.262s
12 	5 	Martin Brundle 	 	1:58.206 	2:14.517 	+4.488s
13 	15 	Maurício Gugelmin 	 	1:58.361 	— 	+4.643s
14 	16 	Ivan Capelli 	 	1:58.439 	2:22.821 	+4.721s
15 	36 	Alex Caffi 	 	1:59.736 	2:18.052 	+6.018s
16 	30 	Philippe Alliot 	 	1:59.906 	2:21.219 	+6.188s
17 	25 	René Arnoux 	 	2:00.037 	2:19.260 	+6.319s
18 	14 	Philippe Streiff 	 	2:00.410 	2:23.953 	+6.692s
19 	22 	Andrea de Cesaris 	 	2:00.521 	2:17.028 	+6.803s
20 	26 	Stefan Johansson 	 	2:00.857 	— 	+7.139s
21 	3 	Jonathan Palmer 	 	2:01.078 	2:20.594 	+7.360s
22 	31 	Gabriele Tarquini 	 	2:01.359 	2:19.939 	+7.641s
23 	29 	Yannick Dalmas 	 	2:01.467 	2:19.909 	+7.749s
24 	9 	Piercarlo Ghinzani 	 	2:01.889 	2:22.064 	+8.181s
25 	10 	Bernd Schneider 	 	2:01.938 	2:19.825 	+8.220s
26 	21 	Nicola Larini 	 	2:02.029 	2:17.127 	+8.311s
DNQ 	24 	Luis Pérez-Sala 	 	2:02.129 	— 	+8.411s
DNQ 	23 	Pierluigi Martini 	 	2:02.314 	— 	+8.596s
DNQ 	33 	Stefano Modena 	 	2:02.322 	2:19.880 	+8.604s
DNQ 	4 	Julian Bailey 	 	2:02.519 	— 	+8.801s
DNPQ 	32 	Oscar Larrauri 	 	2:04.208 	2:04.208 	2:04.208
Source:'Belgian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/537/belgium/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 11/04/2019)'Belgian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/537/belgium/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 11/04/2019)'Belgium 1988: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/belgique/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 11/04/2019)	Source:'Belgian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/537/belgium/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 11/04/2019)'Belgian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/537/belgium/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 11/04/2019)'Belgium 1988: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/belgique/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 11/04/2019)	Source:'Belgian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/537/belgium/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 11/04/2019)'Belgian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/537/belgium/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 11/04/2019)'Belgium 1988: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/belgique/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 11/04/2019)	Source:'Belgian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/537/belgium/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 11/04/2019)'Belgian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/537/belgium/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 11/04/2019)'Belgium 1988: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/belgique/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 11/04/2019)	Source:'Belgian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/537/belgium/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 11/04/2019)'Belgian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/537/belgium/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 11/04/2019)'Belgium 1988: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/belgique/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 11/04/2019)	Source:'Belgian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/537/belgium/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 11/04/2019)'Belgian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/537/belgium/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 11/04/2019)'Belgium 1988: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/belgique/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 11/04/2019)	Source:'Belgian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/537/belgium/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 11/04/2019)'Belgian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/537/belgium/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 11/04/2019)'Belgium 1988: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/belgique/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 11/04/2019)
*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.
===Grid===
==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 	1:28.00.549 	1 	9
2 	11 	Alain Prost 	 	43 	+30.470s 	2 	6
3 	16 	Ivan Capelli 	 	43 	+1:15.768 	14 	4
4 	1 	Nelson Piquet 	 	43 	+1:23.628 	9 	3
5 	17 	Derek Warwick 	 	43 	+1:25.355 	10 	2
6 	18 	Eddie Cheever 	 	42 	+1 Lap 	11 	1
7 	5 	Martin Brundle 	 	42 	+1 Lap 	12 	
8 	36 	Alex Caffi 	 	42 	+1 Lap 	15 	
9 	30 	Philippe Alliot 	 	42 	+1 Lap 	16 	
10 	14 	Philippe Streiff 	 	42 	+1 Lap 	18 	
11* 	26 	Stefan Johansson 	 	39 	Engine 	20 	
12* 	3 	Jonathan Palmer 	 	39 	Throttle 	21 	
13* 	10 	Bernd Schneider 	 	38 	Gearbox 	25 	
NC† 	31 	Gabriele Tarquini 	 	36 	+7 Laps 	22 	
DSQ‡ 	20 	Thierry Boutsen 	 	43 	Disqualified 	6 	
DSQ‡ 	19 	Alessandro Nannini 	 	43 	Disqualified 	7 	
Ret 	27 	Michele Alboreto 	 	35 	Engine 	4 	
Ret 	6 	Riccardo Patrese 	 	30 	Engine 	5 	
Ret 	15 	Maurício Gugelmin 	 	29 	Spin 	13 	
Ret 	9 	Piercarlo Ghinzani 	 	25 	Oil leak 	24 	
Ret 	2 	Satoru Nakajima 	 	22 	Engine 	8 	
Ret 	21 	Nicola Larini 	 	14 	Fuel system 	26 	
Ret 	28 	Gerhard Berger 	 	11 	Injection 	3 	
Ret 	29 	Yannick Dalmas 	 	9 	Engine 	23 	
Ret 	22 	Andrea de Cesaris 	 	2 	Collision 	19 	
Ret 	25 	René Arnoux 	 	2 	Collision 	17 	
DNQ 	24 	Luis Pérez-Sala 	 	 	 	 	
DNQ 	23 	Pierluigi Martini 	 	 	 	 	
DNQ 	33 	Stefano Modena 	 	 	 	 	
DNQ 	4 	Julian Bailey 	 	 	 	 	
DNPQ 	32 	Oscar Larrauri 	 	 	 	 	
Source:'Belgium 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/belgique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 11/04/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/belgique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 11/04/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/belgique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 11/04/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/belgique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 11/04/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/belgique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 11/04/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/belgique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 11/04/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/belgique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 11/04/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/belgique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 11/04/2019)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car.
** Johansson, Palmer and Schneider were all still classified despite retiring as they had completed 90% of the race distance.
*† Tarquini was unable to be classified as he failed to complete 90% of the race distance.
*‡ Boutsen and Nannini were retroactively disqualified from the results after using illegal fuel.
==Milestones==
* declared as the FIA Formula One World Championship for Constructors' Champions.
** This was McLaren's fourth World Championship as a constructor.
** Honda secured their third title as an engine supplier.'11. Belgium 1988', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/belgique.aspx, (Accessed 11/04/2019)
* Ayrton Senna claimed his 25th career pole position.'1988 Belgian GP', chicanef1.com, (Chicane F1, 2014), http://www.chicanef1.com/racetit.pl?year=1988&gp=Belgian%20GP&r=1, (Accessed 11/04/2019)
* Senna secured his thirteenth victory.
* McLaren claimed their 66th win as a constructor.
** Honda secured their 38th victory as an engine supplier.
* Maiden podium finish for Ivan Capelli.
* claimed their first podium since the 1976 Italian Grand Prix.
==Standings==
Ayrton Senna had moved three points clear of Alain Prost at the head of the Championship, with the Frenchman set to hit the eleven race points limit with his next point score. Those two were the only two drivers mathematically in the title fight, for Gerhard Berger had slipped 47 points off the lead with just 45 left to fight for. He was hence leading his own fight for third, ten points ahead of Nelson Piquet.
In the Constructors' Championship, meanwhile, had already secured the crown, their eleventh straight win of the season, and eighth one-two, putting them onto 147 points. Incredibly, that translated into a 103 point lead with a third of the season still to go, with only able to score 75 points across the rest of the season. They were now officially in a fight to finish the season in second, with double the points of in third.
 
World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	Ayrton Senna 	75 	
2 	Alain Prost 	72 	
3 	Gerhard Berger 	28 	
4 	Nelson Piquet 	18 	2
5 	Thierry Boutsen 	16 	1
6 	Michele Alboreto 	16 	1
7 	Derek Warwick 	11 	
8 	Ivan Capelli 	8 	4
9 	Nigel Mansell 	6 	1
10 	Alessandro Nannini 	6 	1
11 	Maurício Gugelmin 	5 	1
12 	Jonathan Palmer 	5 	1
13 	Andrea de Cesaris 	3 	
14 	Riccardo Patrese 	2 	
15 	Eddie Cheever 	2 	
16 	Satoru Nakajima 	1 	
17 	Pierluigi Martini 	1 	
World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors
Pos. 	Team 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	 	147 	
2 	 	44 	
3 	 	22 	
4 	 	19 	
5 	 	13 	1
6 	 	13 	1
7 	 	8 	
8 	 	5 	
9 	 	3 	
10 	 	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:Belgian Grand Prix
Category:Formula One races in Belgium