1986 Belgian Grand Prix

The 1986 Belgian Grand Prix, otherwise officially known as the XLIV Grote Prijs van België, was the fifth round of the FIA Formula One World Championship, staged at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on the 25 May 1986.'Belgian GP, 1986', grandprix.com, (Inside F1 Inc., 2015), http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr425.html, (Accessed 28/03/2019) The race would see Nigel Mansell sweep to victory for , having jumped his biggest rivals during the pitstops.
Unfortunately the build-up to the race would be marred by the death of Elio de Angelis, who was killed while testing for at the Circuit Paul Ricard. The result of the accident, in which de Angelis was trapped in a burning car due to a lack of marshals before a long wait for a helicopter, saw the FIA introduce new safety requirements for testing. It also meant that Brabham would only run one car for Riccardo Patrese in Belgium.
Qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix would see Nelson Piquet grab pole for Williams-Honda, while Gerhard Berger caused a stir by putting the new onto the front row. Alain Prost was next ahead of Ayrton Senna, while Nigel Mansell shared the third row with the second Benetton of Teo Fabi.
Unfortunately for Berger his hopes of a maiden victory evaporated at the start, with the Austrian racer getting whacked by Prost in the first corner. The field behind was sent scattering around the accident, with Patrick Tambay receiving terminal damage in the middle of the chaos.
Out front, meanwhile, Piquet would establish a small lead at the head of the field, with Senna, who had been fighting with Prost and Berger into La Source, running in second. Mansell was next ahead of a fast starting Stefan Johansson, while Johnny Dumfries benefited massively from the first corner collision to claim fifth ahead of Jacques Laffite.
Mansell would push hard to escape with teammate Piquet at the head of the field, and duly passed Senna's second placed . Unfortunately a spin a few moments later would dump him back behind both the Brazilian and Johansson in the , while Dumfries' strong run was ended by a spin, putting Michele Alboreto into fifth.
Piquet would lead until the end of lap seventeen, with a turbo failure ending his race in a familiar cloud of white smoke. Senna inherited the lead from Johansson and a charging Mansell with the stops approaching, while Prost appeared in the lower reaches of the top ten after his early collision.
The stops ultimately dictated the outcome of the race, for a quick turn around by Williams would put Mansell into the lead ahead of Senna. Johansson, meanwhile, would lose out to teammate Alboreto during their stops, while Prost used his fresh rubber to make a late charge for the points during the second half of the race.
Indeed, barring Prost's late charge and a battle between the Ferraris there would be no further changes to the order, with Mansell easing twenty seconds clear of Senna at the chequered flag. Johansson would claim third after his long battle with teammate Alboreto, while Laffite and Prost collected the remaining points.
The results of the Belgian Grand Prix meant that Senna moved back to the top of the Championship hunt, with Prost dropping two behind in second.
==Background==
Victory in Monte Carlo had propelled Alain Prost to the head of the Championship, leaving the Frenchman three points ahead of Ayrton Senna, the former leader. Nelson Piquet had slipped to third in Monaco having failed to score, while Keke Rosberg had moved into fourth after finishing second. Nigel Mansell was next, having dropped to fifth, with no other drivers having added their names to the scoreboard.
In the Constructors Championship it was who had emerged at the head of the field in Monaco, courtesy of their first one-two of the campaign. The Anglo-German alliance had overhauled former leaders in Monte Carlo, establishing a nine point lead, while had slipped further back in third. , meanwhile, had overtaken to claim fourth, with eight constructors on the board.
===Entry list===
The full entry list for the is outlined below:
No. 	Driver 	Entrant 	Constructor 	Chassis 	Engine 	Model 	Tyre
1 	Alain Prost 	Marlboro McLaren International 	 	MP4/2C 	 	TTE PO1 1.5 V6t 	
2 	Keke Rosberg 	Marlboro McLaren International 	 	MP4/2C 	 	TTE PO1 1.5 V6t 	
3 	Martin Brundle 	Data General Team Tyrrell 	 	014 	 	EF15 1.5 V6t 	
4 	Philippe Streiff 	Data General Team Tyrrell 	 	014 	 	EF15 1.5 V6t 	
5 	Nigel Mansell 	Canon Williams Honda Team 	 	FW11 	 	RA166E 1.5 V6t 	
6 	Nelson Piquet 	Canon Williams Honda Team 	 	FW11 	 	RA166E 1.5 V6t 	
7 	Riccardo Patrese 	Motor Racing Developments Ltd. 	 	BT55 	 	M12/13 1.5 L4t 	
11 	Johnny Dumfries 	John Player Special Team Lotus 	 	98T 	 	EF15B 1.5 V6t 	
12 	Ayrton Senna 	John Player Special Team Lotus 	 	98T 	 	EF15B 1.5 V6t 	
14 	Jonathan Palmer 	West Zakspeed Racing 	 	861 	 	1500/4 1.5 L4t 	
15 	Alan Jones 	Team Haas (USA) Ltd. 	 	THL2 	 	TEC 1.5 V6t 	
16 	Patrick Tambay 	Team Haas (USA) Ltd. 	 	THL2 	 	TEC 1.5 V6t 	
17 	Marc Surer 	Barclay Nordica Arrows BMW 	 	A8 	 	M12/13 1.5 L4t 	
18 	Thierry Boutsen 	Barclay Nordica Arrows BMW 	 	A8 	 	M12/13 1.5 L4t 	
19 	Teo Fabi 	Benetton Formula Ltd. 	 	B186 	 	M12/13 1.5 L4t 	
20 	Gerhard Berger 	Benetton Formula Ltd. 	 	B186 	 	M12/13 1.5 L4t 	
21 	Piercarlo Ghinzani 	Osella Squadra Corse 	 	FA1F 	 	890T 1.5 L4t 	
22 	Christian Danner 	Osella Squadra Corse 	 	FA1G 	 	890T 1.5 L4t 	
23 	Andrea de Cesaris 	Minardi F1 Team 	 	M185B 	 	615-90 1.5 V6t 	
24 	Alessandro Nannini 	Minardi F1 Team 	 	M185B 	 	615-90 1.5 V6t 	
25 	René Arnoux 	Equipe Ligier 	 	JS27 	 	EF4B 1.5 V6t 	
26 	Jacques Laffite 	Equipe Ligier 	 	JS27 	 	EF15 1.5 V6t 	
27 	Michele Alboreto 	Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC 	 	F186 	 	032 1.5 V6t 	
28 	Stefan Johansson 	Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC 	 	F186 	 	032 1.5 V6t 	
29 	Huub Rothengatter 	West Zakspeed Racing 	 	861 	 	1500/4 1.5 L4t 	
Source:'Belgium 1986: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1986/belgique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 28/03/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1986: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1986/belgique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 28/03/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1986: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1986/belgique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 28/03/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1986: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1986/belgique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 28/03/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1986: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1986/belgique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 28/03/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1986: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1986/belgique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 28/03/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1986: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1986/belgique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 28/03/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1986: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1986/belgique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 28/03/2019)
==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 	6 	Nelson Piquet 	 	1:54.637 	1:54.331 	—
2 	20 	Gerhard Berger 	 	1:54.468 	1:54.939 	+0.137s
3 	1 	Alain Prost 	 	1:55.039 	1:54.501 	+0.170s
4 	12 	Ayrton Senna 	 	1:55.776 	1:54.576 	+0.245s
5 	5 	Nigel Mansell 	 	1:55.345 	1:54.582 	+0.251s
6 	19 	Teo Fabi 	 	1:57.440 	1:54.765 	+0.434s
7 	25 	René Arnoux 	 	1:57.269 	1:55.576 	+1.245s
8 	2 	Keke Rosberg 	 	1:56.534 	1:55.662 	+1.331s
9 	27 	Michele Alboreto 	 	1:56.294 	1:56.242 	+1.911s
10 	16 	Patrick Tambay 	 	1:58.574 	1:56.309 	+1.978s
11 	28 	Stefan Johansson 	 	1:57.697 	1:56.496 	+2.156s
12 	3 	Martin Brundle 	 	1:57.797 	1:56.537 	+2.206s
13 	11 	Johnny Dumfries 	 	1:58.619 	1:57.462 	+3.131s
14 	18 	Thierry Boutsen 	 	1:57.918 	1:57.612 	+3.281s
15 	7 	Riccardo Patrese 	 	2:00.357 	1:57.612 	+3.281s
16 	15 	Alan Jones 	 	1:59.180 	1:57.815 	+3.484s
17 	26 	Jacques Laffite 	 	1:58.238 	2:27.817 	+3.907s
18 	4 	Philippe Streiff 	 	1:59.347 	1:58.603 	+4.272s
19 	23 	Andrea de Cesaris 	 	2:00.984 	1:59.960 	+5.629s
20 	14 	Jonathan Palmer 	 	2:02.307 	2:00.148 	+5.817s
21 	17 	Marc Surer 	 	2:01.320 	2:01.415 	+6.989s
22 	24 	Alessandro Nannini 	 	2:01.528 	2:01.354 	+7.023s
23 	29 	Huub Rothengatter 	 	2:06.006 	2:03.842 	+9.511s
24 	21 	Piercarlo Ghinzani 	 	2:05.092 	3:38.767 	+10.761s
25 	22 	Christian Danner 	 	2:09.465T 	2:06.219T 	+11.888s
Source:'Grand Prix de Belgique 1986 - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1986/races/502/belgium/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 28/03/2019)'Grand Prix de Belgique 1986 - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1986/races/502/belgium/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 28/03/2019)'Belgium 1986: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1986/belgique/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 28/03/2019)	Source:'Grand Prix de Belgique 1986 - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1986/races/502/belgium/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 28/03/2019)'Grand Prix de Belgique 1986 - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1986/races/502/belgium/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 28/03/2019)'Belgium 1986: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1986/belgique/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 28/03/2019)	Source:'Grand Prix de Belgique 1986 - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1986/races/502/belgium/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 28/03/2019)'Grand Prix de Belgique 1986 - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1986/races/502/belgium/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 28/03/2019)'Belgium 1986: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1986/belgique/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 28/03/2019)	Source:'Grand Prix de Belgique 1986 - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1986/races/502/belgium/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 28/03/2019)'Grand Prix de Belgique 1986 - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1986/races/502/belgium/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 28/03/2019)'Belgium 1986: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1986/belgique/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 28/03/2019)	Source:'Grand Prix de Belgique 1986 - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1986/races/502/belgium/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 28/03/2019)'Grand Prix de Belgique 1986 - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1986/races/502/belgium/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 28/03/2019)'Belgium 1986: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1986/belgique/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 28/03/2019)	Source:'Grand Prix de Belgique 1986 - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1986/races/502/belgium/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 28/03/2019)'Grand Prix de Belgique 1986 - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1986/races/502/belgium/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 28/03/2019)'Belgium 1986: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1986/belgique/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 28/03/2019)	Source:'Grand Prix de Belgique 1986 - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1986/races/502/belgium/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 28/03/2019)'Grand Prix de Belgique 1986 - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1986/races/502/belgium/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 28/03/2019)'Belgium 1986: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1986/belgique/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 28/03/2019)
*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===
** Patrese and Danner both started from the pit lane.
==Race==
===Report===
===Results===
The full results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Laps 	Time/Retired 	Grid 	Points
1 	5 	Nigel Mansell 	 	43 	1:27:57.925 	5 	9
2 	12 	Ayrton Senna 	 	43 	+19.827s 	4 	6
3 	28 	Stefan Johansson 	 	43 	+23.592s 	11 	4
4 	27 	Michele Alboreto 	 	43 	+29.634s 	9 	3
5 	26 	Jacques Laffite 	 	43 	+1:10.690 	17 	2
6 	1 	Alain Prost 	 	43 	+2:17.772 	3 	1
7 	19 	Teo Fabi 	 	42 	+1 Lap 	6 	
8 	7 	Riccardo Patrese 	 	42 	+1 Lap 	15 	
9 	17 	Marc Surer 	 	41 	+2 Laps 	21 	
10 	20 	Gerhard Berger 	 	41 	+2 Laps 	2 	
11* 	15 	Alan Jones 	 	40 	Out of fuel 	16 	
12 	4 	Philippe Streiff 	 	40 	+3 Laps 	18 	
13 	14 	Jonathan Palmer 	 	37 	+6 Laps 	20 	
Ret 	23 	Andrea de Cesaris 	 	35 	Out of fuel 	19 	
Ret 	29 	Huub Rothengatter 	 	25 	Electrical 	23 	
Ret 	3 	Martin Brundle 	 	25 	Gearbox 	12 	
Ret 	24 	Alessandro Nannini 	 	24 	Gearbox 	22 	
Ret 	25 	René Arnoux 	 	23 	Engine 	7 	
Ret 	6 	Nelson Piquet 	 	16 	Turbo 	1 	
Ret 	18 	Thierry Boutsen 	 	7 	Electrical 	14 	
Ret 	11 	Johnny Dumfries 	 	7 	Spin 	13 	
Ret 	2 	Keke Rosberg 	 	6 	Engine 	8 	
Ret 	21 	Piercarlo Ghinzani 	 	3 	Engine 	24 	
Ret 	22 	Christian Danner 	 	2 	Engine 	25 	
Ret 	16 	Patrick Tambay 	 	0 	Accident 	10 	
Source:'Belgium 1986: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1986/belgique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 28/03/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1986: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1986/belgique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 28/03/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1986: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1986/belgique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 28/03/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1986: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1986/belgique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 28/03/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1986: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1986/belgique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 28/03/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1986: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1986/belgique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 28/03/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1986: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1986/belgique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 28/03/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1986: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1986/belgique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 28/03/2019)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car.
** Jones was still classified despite retiring as he had completed 90% of the race distance.
==Milestones==
* featured in their 400th Grand Prix as an engine supplier.'5. Belgium 1986', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1986/belgique.aspx, (Accessed 28/03/2019)
* 250th entry for an chassis.'1986 Belgian GP', chicanef1.com, (Chicane F1, 2014), http://www.chicanef1.com/racetit.pl?year=1986&gp=Belgian%20GP&r=1, (Accessed 28/03/2019)
* 25th entry for a chassis.
* Gerhard Berger entered his 25th Grand Prix.
* Third career victory for Nigel Mansell.
** Also the Brit's tenth podium finish.
* secured their 24th win as a constructor.
** recorded their ninth victory as an engine supplier.
==Standings==
Ayrton Senna moved to the top of the Championship as a result of the Belgian Grand Prix, moving two clear of former leader Alain Prost. A five point gap then followed before Nigel Mansell appeared in third, while Nelson Piquet had lost further ground in fourth. Keke Rosberg was next, the last man in double figures, while Michele Alboreto was up in the top ten with his first points of the season.
In the Constructors' Championship, meanwhile, it would be a tighter affair, with ending the weekend just a point ahead of . Indeed, it seemed as if those two were equally matched in , although were also potential title contenders, just nine off the lead after the first third of the season. , meanwhile, were a fairway back in fourth ahead of the , with the Italian squad moving back ahead of .
 
World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	Ayrton Senna 	25 	1
2 	Alain Prost 	23 	1
3 	Nigel Mansell 	18 	2
4 	Nelson Piquet 	15 	1
5 	Keke Rosberg 	11 	1
6 	Stefan Johansson 	7 	3
7 	Jacques Laffite 	7 	
8 	Gerhard Berger 	6 	2
9 	René Arnoux 	5 	1
10 	Michele Alboreto 	3 	8
11 	Teo Fabi 	2 	1
12 	Martin Brundle 	2 	1
13 	Riccardo Patrese 	1 	1
World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors
Pos. 	Team 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	 	34 	
2 	 	33 	
3 	 	25 	
4 	 	12 	
5 	 	10 	1
6 	 	8 	1
7 	 	2 	
8 	 	1 	
Only point scoring drivers and constructors are shown.
==References==
Images and Videos:
* 
References:
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:1986 Grands Prix
Category:Belgian Grand Prix
Category:Formula One races in Belgium