1988 French Grand Prix

The 1988 French Grand Prix, otherwise officially advertised as the 74e Rhône-Poulenc Grand Prix de France, was the seventh round of the FIA Formula One World Championship, staged at the Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellet, France, on the 3 July 1988.'French GP, 1987', grandprix.com, (Inside F1 Inc., 2014), http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr459.html, (Accessed 10/04/2019) The race would see Alain Prost claim a dominant home victory for , half a minute clear of teammate Ayrton Senna.
Qualifying once again proved to be a McLaren-Honda benefit, although Prost cause something of an upset by beating Senna to pole, with almost half a second between them. Best of the rest was Gerhard Berger in the #28 , two tenths off of Senna, while Michele Alboreto was over a second slower than his teammate in fourth.
Prost duly beat Senna off the line to claim the lead at the start, while Nelson Piquet charged through from seventh to challenge the Ferraris. The defending Champion ultimately had to slot his in behind Alboreto, however, a shuffle which allowed both Prost and Senna to ease clear during the opening lap.
Indeed, in a repeat of their performance from Canada the two McLarens worked together during the early stages, pulling out a sizeable lead. Behind, Berger would be forced to concede third to his teammate Alboreto by making an early stop, with the pair still being harassed by Piquet.
Senna would make his mid-race stop for tyres three laps earlier than Prost, and duly managed to take the lead as the Frenchman lost time with a sticking wheel. The Brazilian subsequently established a small lead, although a gearbox issue for Senna saw his pace gradually drop off.
Yet, Prost was still unable to make a move on his teammate, and would have to wait until the pair came to lap a stubborn Piquet to retake the lead. Prost subsequently eased ahead as Senna's gearbox issues worsened, opening out a thirty second advantage before the end of the race.
Indeed, there were no further changes to the order after Prost's pass, with the Frenchman extending his Championship lead with his fourth win of the season. Senna limped home in second, still half a minute ahead of Alboreto, with Berger, Piquet and Alessandro Nannini claiming the remaining points.
==Background==
Alain Prost had seen his lead reduced by teammate Ayrton Senna in Detroit last time out, although the Frenchman still held a healthy twelve point advantage. Those two were in a class of their own at the head of the field, with Senna fifteen clear of third placed Gerhard Berger, already making the Austrian an outsider for the Championship. Elsewhere, Thierry Boutsen had moved ahead of Nelson Piquet to claim fifth in Detroit, with fifteen drivers on the score board.
It was also pure domination in the Constructors' Championship, with having moved onto 78 points after their fourth one-two of the season in the US. They hence left Detroit with a 51 point lead, more than three races worth of points, with still their largest threat in second. Elsewhere, had moved ahead of on count-back, and hence claimed third, while retained their spot in the top five.
===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 	Pierluigi Martini 	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:'France 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/france/engages.aspx, (Accessed 10/04/2019)	Source:'France 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/france/engages.aspx, (Accessed 10/04/2019)	Source:'France 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/france/engages.aspx, (Accessed 10/04/2019)	Source:'France 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/france/engages.aspx, (Accessed 10/04/2019)	Source:'France 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/france/engages.aspx, (Accessed 10/04/2019)	Source:'France 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/france/engages.aspx, (Accessed 10/04/2019)	Source:'France 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/france/engages.aspx, (Accessed 10/04/2019)	Source:'France 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/france/engages.aspx, (Accessed 10/04/2019)
==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 	11 	Alain Prost 	 	1:08.171 	1:07.589 	—
2 	12 	Ayrton Senna 	 	1:08.456 	1:08.067 	+0.478s
3 	28 	Gerhard Berger 	 	1:09.032 	1:08.282 	+0.693s
4 	27 	Michele Alboreto 	 	1:09.624 	1:09.422 	+1.833s
5 	20 	Thierry Boutsen 	 	1:11.170 	1:09.587 	+1.998s
6 	19 	Alessandro Nannini 	 	1:10.743 	1:09.718 	+2.129s
7 	1 	Nelson Piquet 	 	1:09.734 	1:09.900 	+2.145s
8 	2 	Satoru Nakajima 	 	1:11.394 	1:10.250 	+2.661s
9 	5 	Nigel Mansell 	 	1:11.112 	1:10.337 	+2.748d
10 	16 	Ivan Capelli 	 	1:11.779 	1:10.496 	+2.907s
11 	17 	Derek Warwick 	 	1:11.339 	1:10.634 	+3.045s
12 	22 	Andrea de Cesaris 	 	1:11.854 	1:10.861 	+3.272s
13 	18 	Eddie Cheever 	 	1:11.567 	1:10.979 	+3.390s
14 	36 	Alex Caffi 	 	1:13.144 	1:11.211 	+3.622s
15 	6 	Riccardo Patrese 	 	1:11.671 	1:11.286 	+3.697s
16 	15 	Maurício Gugelmin 	 	1:11.315 	1:11.404 	+3.726s
17 	14 	Philippe Streiff 	 	1:12.004 	1:11.466 	+3.877s
18 	30 	Philippe Alliot 	 	1:12.286 	1:11.511 	+3.922s
19 	29 	Yannick Dalmas 	 	1:12.547 	1:11.747 	+4.158s
20 	33 	Stefano Modena 	 	1:12.997 	1:12.007 	+4.418s
21 	10 	Bernd Schneider 	 	1:13.527 	1:12.026 	+4.437s
22 	23 	Pierluigi Martini 	 	1:13.039 	1:12.268 	+4.679s
23 	3 	Jonathan Palmer 	 	1:13.063 	1:12.316 	+4.727s
24 	21 	Nicola Larini 	 	1:13.037 	1:12.406 	+4.817s
25 	24 	Luis Pérez-Sala 	 	1:12.938 	1:12.525 	+4.936s
26 	32 	Oscar Larrauri 	 	1:13.888 	1:12.538 	+4.949s
DNQ 	25 	René Arnoux 	 	1:12.654 	1:12.736 	+5.065s
DNQ 	4 	Julian Bailey 	 	1:13.839 	1:12.697 	+5.108s
DNQ 	26 	Stefan Johansson 	 	1:13.629 	1:12.801 	+5.212s
EXC* 	9 	Piercarlo Ghinzani 	 	1:14.797 	1:12.121 	+4.332s
DNPQ 	31 	Gabriele Tarquini 	 	1:14.214 	1:14.214 	1:14.214
Source:'French Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/533/france/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 10/04/2019)'French Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/533/france/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 10/04/2019)'France 1988: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/france/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 10/04/2019)	Source:'French Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/533/france/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 10/04/2019)'French Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/533/france/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 10/04/2019)'France 1988: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/france/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 10/04/2019)	Source:'French Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/533/france/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 10/04/2019)'French Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/533/france/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 10/04/2019)'France 1988: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/france/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 10/04/2019)	Source:'French Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/533/france/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 10/04/2019)'French Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/533/france/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 10/04/2019)'France 1988: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/france/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 10/04/2019)	Source:'French Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/533/france/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 10/04/2019)'French Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/533/france/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 10/04/2019)'France 1988: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/france/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 10/04/2019)	Source:'French Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/533/france/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 10/04/2019)'French Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/533/france/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 10/04/2019)'France 1988: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/france/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 10/04/2019)	Source:'French Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/533/france/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 10/04/2019)'French Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/533/france/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 10/04/2019)'France 1988: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/france/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 10/04/2019)
*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.
** Ghinzani was excluded from the results of qualifying after missing a weight-check.
===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 	 	80 	1:37:37.328 	1 	9
2 	12 	Ayrton Senna 	 	80 	+31.752s 	2 	6
3 	27 	Michele Alboreto 	 	80 	+1:06.505 	4 	4
4 	28 	Gerhard Berger 	 	79 	+1 Lap 	3 	3
5 	1 	Nelson Piquet 	 	79 	+1 Lap 	7 	2
6 	19 	Alessandro Nannini 	 	79 	+1 Lap 	6 	1
7 	2 	Satoru Nakajima 	 	79 	+1 Lap 	8 	
8 	15 	Maurício Gugelmin 	 	79 	+1 Lap 	16 	
9 	16 	Ivan Capelli 	 	79 	+1 Lap 	10 	
10 	22 	Andrea de Cesaris 	 	78 	+2 Laps 	12 	
11 	18 	Eddie Cheever 	 	78 	+2 Laps 	13 	
12 	36 	Ivan Capelli 	 	78 	+2 Laps 	14 	
13 	29 	Yannick Dalmas 	 	78 	+2 Laps 	19 	
14 	33 	Stefano Modena 	 	77 	+3 Laps 	20 	
15 	23 	Pierluigi Martini 	 	77 	+3 Laps 	22 	
NC* 	24 	Luis Pérez-Sala 	 	70 	+10 Laps 	25 	
Ret 	32 	Oscar Larrauri 	 	64 	Clutch 	26 	
Ret 	21 	Nicola Larini 	 	56 	Halfshaft 	24 	
Ret 	10 	Bernd Schneider 	 	55 	Gearbox 	21 	
Ret 	5 	Nigel Mansell 	 	48 	Suspension 	9 	
Ret 	30 	Philippe Alliot 	 	46 	Electrical 	18 	
Ret 	3 	Jonathan Palmer 	 	40 	Engine 	23 	
Ret 	6 	Riccardo Patrese 	 	35 	Brakes 	15 	
Ret 	20 	Thierry Boutsen 	 	28 	Engine 	5 	
Ret 	14 	Philippe Streiff 	 	20 	Fuel leak 	17 	
Ret 	17 	Derek Warwick 	 	11 	Spin 	11 	
DNQ 	25 	René Arnoux 	 	 	 	 	
DNQ 	4 	Julian Bailey 	 	 	 	 	
DNQ 	26 	Stefan Johansson 	 	 	 	 	
EXC 	9 	Piercarlo Ghinzani 	 	 	 	 	
DNPQ 	31 	Gabriele Tarquini 	 	 	 	 	
Source:'France 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/france/classement.aspx, (Accessed 10/04/2019)	Source:'France 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/france/classement.aspx, (Accessed 10/04/2019)	Source:'France 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/france/classement.aspx, (Accessed 10/04/2019)	Source:'France 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/france/classement.aspx, (Accessed 10/04/2019)	Source:'France 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/france/classement.aspx, (Accessed 10/04/2019)	Source:'France 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/france/classement.aspx, (Accessed 10/04/2019)	Source:'France 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/france/classement.aspx, (Accessed 10/04/2019)	Source:'France 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/france/classement.aspx, (Accessed 10/04/2019)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car.
** Pérez-Sala was unable to be classified as he failed to complete 90% of the race distance.
==Milestones==
* entered their 25th Grand Prix as a constructor.'1988 French GP', chicanef1.com, (Chicane F1, 2014), http://www.chicanef1.com/racetit.pl?year=1988&gp=French%20GP&r=1, (Accessed 10/04/2019)
* Tenth entry for Yannick Dalmas.
* 250th entry for a car using #19 as its race number.
* Alain Prost recorded the 200th pole position for a car using Goodyear tyres.
* Prost claimed his 32nd victory.'7. France 1988', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/france.aspx, (Accessed 10/04/2019)
* secured their 62nd win as a constructor.
** Engine partners secured their 34th win.
* 30th podium finish for Ayrton Senna.
==Standings==
Alain Prost once again managed to extend his Championship lead in France, with his fourth victory of the season moving him onto 54 points after seven races. Ayrton Senna was, unsurprisingly, his closest challenger, with the pair split by a fifteen point gap at the head of the field. Indeed, those two truly were in a class of their own, for third placed Gerhard Berger had slipped eighteen points behind Senna, and some 33 behind Prost.
In the Constructors' Championship it had been another incredibly good day for , with their fifth one-two of the campaign putting them onto 93 points. That translated into a crushing 59 point lead over second placed , with the Italian outfit already looking at finishing the season in second. In truth, the Scuderia were a fairly comfortable second leaving France, with a twenty point lead over third placed .
 
World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	Alain Prost 	54 	
2 	Ayrton Senna 	39 	
3 	Gerhard Berger 	21 	
4 	Michele Alboreto 	13 	2
5 	Nelson Piquet 	13 	
6 	Thierry Boutsen 	11 	2
7 	Derek Warwick 	8 	
8 	Jonathan Palmer 	5 	
9 	Andrea de Cesaris 	3 	
10 	Ivan Capelli 	2 	
11 	Alessandro Nannini 	2 	2
12 	Eddie Cheever 	1 	1
13 	Satoru Nakajima 	1 	1
14 	Riccardo Patrese 	1 	
15 	Pierluigi Martini 	1 	
World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors
Pos. 	Team 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	 	93 	
2 	 	34 	
3 	 	14 	1
4 	 	13 	1
5 	 	9 	
6 	 	5 	
7 	 	3 	
8 	 	2 	
9 	 	1 	
10 	 	1 	
Only point scoring drivers and constructors are shown.
==References==
Images and Videos:
* 
References:
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:1988 Grands Prix
Category:French Grand Prix
Category:Formula One races in France