1988 Brazilian Grand Prix

The 1988 Brazilian Grand Prix, known officially as the XVII Grande Prêmio do Brasil, was the opening round of the FIA Formula One World Championship, staged at the freshly renamed Autódromo Internacional Nelson Piquet in Rio de Janerio, Brazil, on the 3 April 1988.'Brazilian GP, 1988', grandprix.com, (Inside F1 Inc., 2015), http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr453.html, (Accessed 01/04/2019) The race would see Alain Prost claim a dominant victory for , against a field largely comprised on non-turbocharged cars.
It had been a very busy winter after the end of the campaign, with FISA and FOCA both agreeing to a ban of turbocharged engines from onward. This resulted in a large number of teams switching to new 3.5 litre V8s, with a new engine manufacturer supplying three teams, including defending Constructors' Champions .
There had also been sweeping changes on the driver front with McLaren, having also become the de facto Honda factory team, signing Ayrton Senna to partner Prost. Defending Champion Nelson Piquet, meanwhile, had moved to to partner Satoru Nakajima, while his seat at Williams had been filled by Riccardo Patrese.
Qualifying for the opening race would see Senna claim pole in his turbocharged McLaren, although Nigel Mansell caused a stir by putting his Williams-Judd onto second. Prost was next ahead of Gerhard Berger in the #28 , while Piquet opened his title defence from fifth.
An issue for Senna at the end of the formation lap saw the start delayed, with the Brazilian hastily jumping into his spare car to start from the pitlane. This would later result in Senna getting disqualified from the race, the FIA having banned swapping to spare cars after the formation lap during the winter.
With Senna gone it was clear for Mansell to claim the lead off the grid, although he was unsurprisingly mugged by Prost and Berger on the run to the first corner. Indeed, the two turbocharged cars powered away from the Williams to duel for the lead through the first corner, with Prost ultimately emerging ahead.
Mansell briefly got ahead of Berger through the first corner, although the Ferrari would pounce back later on during the opening lap. He duly stayed glued to the Austrian's tail during the early stages of the race, while Prost escaped out front.
Mansell's race was effectively ended on lap nineteen, when his Judd engine overheated in the wake of Berger's Ferrari. Piquet was hence promoted into third for Lotus, only to briefly lose the position to a charging Senna who had moved from 21st to third in twenty laps.
Senna was disqualified a few laps later, as Prost and co. made their stops for fresh tyres. Yet, there would be no changes to the overall order, with Prost holding a decisive lead over Berger for the rest of the afternoon.
Indeed, Prost would remain ten seconds clear of Berger through to the chequered flag, having paced himself against the Austrian's times. Piquet was a relatively happy third ahead of Derek Warwick, while Michele Alboreto and Satoru Nakajima collected the remaining points.
==Background==
===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 	 	FA1I 	 	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 	 	3087 	 	DFV 3.0 V8 	
Source:'Brazil 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/bresil/engages.aspx, (Accessed 08/04/2019)	Source:'Brazil 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/bresil/engages.aspx, (Accessed 08/04/2019)	Source:'Brazil 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/bresil/engages.aspx, (Accessed 08/04/2019)	Source:'Brazil 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/bresil/engages.aspx, (Accessed 08/04/2019)	Source:'Brazil 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/bresil/engages.aspx, (Accessed 08/04/2019)	Source:'Brazil 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/bresil/engages.aspx, (Accessed 08/04/2019)	Source:'Brazil 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/bresil/engages.aspx, (Accessed 08/04/2019)	Source:'Brazil 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/bresil/engages.aspx, (Accessed 08/04/2019)
==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 	 	1:30.218 	1:28.096 	—
2 	5 	Nigel Mansell 	 	1:30.928 	1:28.632 	+0.536s
3 	11 	Alain Prost 	 	1:31.975 	1:28.782 	+0.686s
4 	28 	Gerhard Berger 	 	1:32.123 	1:29.026 	+0.930s
5 	1 	Nelson Piquet 	 	1:32.888 	1:30.087 	+1.991s
6 	27 	Michele Alboreto 	 	1:32.523 	1:30.114 	+2.018s
7 	20 	Thierry Boutsen 	 	1:32.060 	1:30.140 	+2.044s
8 	6 	Riccardo Patrese 	 	1:34.070 	1:40.439 	+2.343s
9 	16 	Ivan Capelli 	 	1:33.546 	1:30.929 	+2.833s
10 	2 	Satoru Nakajima 	 	1:33.293 	1:31.280 	+3.184s
11 	17 	Derek Warwick 	 	1:34.323 	1:31.713 	+3.617s
12 	19 	Alessandro Nannini 	 	1:31.722 	1:32.748 	+3.626s
13 	15 	Maurício Gugelmin 	 	1:34.037 	1:31.833 	+3.737s
14 	22 	Andrea de Cesaris 	 	1:34.988 	1:32.275 	+4.179s
15 	18 	Eddie Cheever 	 	1:33.787 	1:32.843 	+4.747s
16 	30 	Philippe Alliot 	 	1:35.930 	1:32.933 	+4.837s
17 	29 	Yannick Dalmas 	 	1:36.832 	1:33.408 	+5.312s
18 	25 	René Arnoux 	 	1:37.214 	1:34.474 	+6.378s
19 	14 	Philippe Streiff 	 	1:37.601 	1:34.481 	+6.385s
20 	24 	Luis Pérez-Sala 	 	1:36.593 	1:34.532 	+6.436s
21 	26 	Stefan Johansson 	 	1:37.454 	1:34.579 	+6.483s
22 	3 	Jonathan Palmer 	 	1:38.628 	1:34.686 	+6.590s
23 	23 	Adrián Campos 	 	1:36.593 	1:34.886 	+6.790s
24 	33 	Stefano Modena 	 	1:37.506 	1:34.910 	+6.814s
25 	31 	Gabriele Tarquini 	 	1:41.149 	1:35.407 	+7.311s
26 	32 	Oscar Larrauri 	 	1:38.927 	1:35.711 	+7.615s
DNQ 	4 	Julian Bailey 	 	1:39.711 	1:36.137 	+8.041s
DNQ 	9 	Piercarlo Ghinzani 	 	1:40.431 	1:37.621 	+9.525s
DNQ 	21 	Nicola Larini 	 	1:38.927 	1:38.371 	+10.275s
DNQ 	10 	Bernd Schneider 	 	1:45.540 	1:38.614 	+10.518s
DNPQ 	36 	Alex Caffi 	 	1:46.442 	1:46.442 	1:46.442
Source:'Brazilian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/527/brazil/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 08/04/2019)'Brazilian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/527/brazil/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 08/04/2019)'Brazil 1988: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/bresil/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 08/04/2019)	Source:'Brazilian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/527/brazil/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 08/04/2019)'Brazilian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/527/brazil/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 08/04/2019)'Brazil 1988: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/bresil/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 08/04/2019)	Source:'Brazilian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/527/brazil/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 08/04/2019)'Brazilian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/527/brazil/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 08/04/2019)'Brazil 1988: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/bresil/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 08/04/2019)	Source:'Brazilian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/527/brazil/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 08/04/2019)'Brazilian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/527/brazil/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 08/04/2019)'Brazil 1988: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/bresil/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 08/04/2019)	Source:'Brazilian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/527/brazil/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 08/04/2019)'Brazilian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/527/brazil/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 08/04/2019)'Brazil 1988: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/bresil/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 08/04/2019)	Source:'Brazilian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/527/brazil/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 08/04/2019)'Brazilian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/527/brazil/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 08/04/2019)'Brazil 1988: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/bresil/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 08/04/2019)	Source:'Brazilian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/527/brazil/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 08/04/2019)'Brazilian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/527/brazil/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 08/04/2019)'Brazil 1988: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/bresil/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 08/04/2019)
*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===
** Senna and Capelli would start from the pit lane.
*† Johansson was forced to start 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 	 	60 	1:36:06.857 	3 	9
2 	28 	Gerhard Berger 	 	60 	+9.873s 	4 	6
3 	1 	Nelson Piquet 	 	60 	+1:08.591 	5 	4
4 	17 	Derek Warwick 	 	60 	+1:13.348 	11 	3
5 	27 	Michele Alboreto 	 	60 	+1:14.556 	6 	2
6 	2 	Satoru Nakajima 	 	59 	+1 Lap 	10 	1
7 	20 	Thierry Boutsen 	 	59 	+1 Lap 	7 	
8 	18 	Eddie Cheever 	 	59 	+1 Lap 	15 	
9 	26 	Stefan Johansson 	 	57 	+3 Laps 	21 	
Ret 	22 	Andrea de Cesaris 	 	53 	Engine 	14 	
Ret 	3 	Jonathan Palmer 	 	47 	Transmission 	22 	
Ret 	24 	Luis Pérez-Sala 	 	46 	Chassis 	20 	
Ret 	30 	Philippe Alliot 	 	40 	Suspension 	16 	
Ret 	31 	Gabriele Tarquini 	 	35 	Suspension 	25 	
Ret 	14 	Philippe Streiff 	 	35 	Brakes 	19 	
Ret 	29 	Yannick Dalmas 	 	32 	Engine 	17 	
DSQ* 	12 	Ayrton Senna 	 	31 	Disqualified 	1 	
Ret 	25 	René Arnoux 	 	23 	Clutch 	18 	
Ret 	33 	Stefano Modena 	 	20 	Engine 	24 	
Ret 	5 	Nigel Mansell 	 	18 	Engine 	2 	
Ret 	19 	Alessandro Nannini 	 	7 	Engine 	12 	
Ret 	6 	Riccardo Patrese 	 	6 	Engine 	8 	
Ret 	16 	Ivan Capelli 	 	6 	Engine 	9 	
Ret 	23 	Adrián Campos 	 	5 	Chassis 	23 	
Ret 	15 	Maurício Gugelmin 	 	0 	Gearbox 	13 	
Ret 	32 	Oscar Larrauri 	 	0 	Electrical 	26 	
DNQ 	4 	Julian Bailey 	 	 	 	 	
DNQ 	9 	Piercarlo Ghinzani 	 	 	 	 	
DNQ 	21 	Nicola Larini 	 	 	 	 	
DNQ 	10 	Bernd Schneider 	 	 	 	 	
DNPQ 	36 	Alex Caffi 	 	 	 	 	
Source:'Brazil 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/bresil/classement.aspx, (Accessed 08/04/2019)	Source:'Brazil 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/bresil/classement.aspx, (Accessed 08/04/2019)	Source:'Brazil 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/bresil/classement.aspx, (Accessed 08/04/2019)	Source:'Brazil 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/bresil/classement.aspx, (Accessed 08/04/2019)	Source:'Brazil 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/bresil/classement.aspx, (Accessed 08/04/2019)	Source:'Brazil 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/bresil/classement.aspx, (Accessed 08/04/2019)	Source:'Brazil 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/bresil/classement.aspx, (Accessed 08/04/2019)	Source:'Brazil 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/bresil/classement.aspx, (Accessed 08/04/2019)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car.
** Senna was disqualified for an illegal car change.
==Milestones==
* appeared at their 150th Grand Prix.'1. Brazil 1988', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), http://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/bresil.aspx, (Accessed 08/04/2019)
* made their debut as an engine supplier.
* Debut race for and as constructors.
* entered their first Grand Prix as a constructor.
* Debut race for Luis Pérez-Sala, Maurício Gugelmin and Oscar Larrauri.'1988 Brazilian GP', chicanef1.com, (Chicane F1, 2015), http://www.chicanef1.com/racetit.pl?year=1988&gp=Brazilian%20GP&r=1, (Accessed 08/04/2019)
* Maiden entries for Bernd Schneider and Julian Bailey.
* Alain Prost claimed his 29th career victory.
* 56th win for as a constructor.
** powered a car to a 28th win.
* Nelson Piquet claimed the 170th podium finish for a chassis.
* First race since the 1984 San Marino Grand Prix not to feature an entry by .
==Standings==
An opening day victory unsurprisingly left Alain Prost at the head of the Championship, three ahead of second placed finisher Gerhard Berger. Defending World Champion Nelson Piquet, meanwhile, would open his title defence with a third place finish, while Derek Warwick, Michele Alboreto and Satoru Nakajima secured their first points of the campaign.
Prost's victory left atop the Constructors' Championship after the opening race, albeit just a point ahead of in second. Indeed, Ferrari were one of two teams to claim two points finishes at the opener, the other being third placed , meaning they were both closer to the leaders than they otherwise would have been. were the only other scorers in fourth.
 
World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	Alain Prost 	9 	
2 	Gerhard Berger 	6 	
3 	Nelson Piquet 	4 	
4 	Derek Warwick 	3 	
5 	Michele Alboreto 	2 	
6 	Satoru Nakajima 	1 	
World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors
Pos. 	Team 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	 	9 	
2 	 	8 	
3 	 	5 	
4 	 	3 	
Only point scoring drivers and constructors are shown.
==References==
Images and Videos:
* 
References:
Category:Grand Prix articles