1988 Australian Grand Prix

The LIII Foster's Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix, otherwise officially known as the 1988 Australian Grand Prix, was the sixteenth and final round of the FIA Formula One World Championship, staged on the 13 November 1988 at the Adelaide Street Circuit.'Australian GP, 1987', grandprix.com, (Inside F1 Inc., 2015), http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr468.html, (Accessed 15/04/2019) The race would see Alain Prost claim victory ahead of World Champion teammate Ayrton Senna, in what was the last race, and victory, for a turbocharged car until the 2014 Australian Grand Prix.
The build-up to the 1988 season finale was coated in controversy, with FISA president Jean-Marie Balestre insinuating that had been biased towards Senna in the latter half of the season. In response McLaren boss Ron Dennis demanded an apology from FISA, although there was no threat of a McLaren withdrawal as the team aimed for a record fifteenth win of the campaign.
Newly crowned Champion Senna duly put his McLaren on pole, with Prost claiming a comfortable second in the sister car. Nigel Mansell was best of the rest in his , ahead of Gerhard Berger of , out-going Champion Nelson Piquet, and Riccardo Patrese, who was making a record breaking 176th Grand Prix start.
The start of the race saw Senna limp away from pole, handing Prost an instant lead on the run into the first corner. Senna hence had to fend off an attack from Mansell into the first corner, and duly squeezed the Brit towards the wall to hold onto his position.
Mansell duly dropped behind Berger and Piquet having backed off, as Michele Alboreto and Alex Caffi removed one-another just behind. Prost, meanwhile, was able to establish a small lead over Senna, with the Brazilian himself unable to shake the attentions of Berger and co. behind.
Indeed, Berger would ease past the Brazilian early on lap three, and duly went on to hunt down Prost for the lead. A swift move on lap fourteen carried the #28 Ferrari to the head of the field, with Berger quickly establishing a lead ahead of the Frenchman.
It looked as if it was Berger's race to loose, only for the Austrian to smash into the back of René Arnoux while trying to lap him. Berger was out on the spot with heavy damage, handing Prost a now comfortable lead over Senna in second.
Prost duly went on to win the race at a canter, with Senna a distant second to end the season three points off the Brazilian. Nelson Piquet, meanwhile, would survive a series of late retirements to claim the 172nd and final podium finish for , as McLaren-Honda set a new record for most points scored across a Championship season.
==Background==
An eighth victory of the season last time out in Japan had ensured that Ayrton Senna was declared as the FIA Formula One World Championship Champion with a race to spare, with dropped scores having a major influence. Indeed, his major rival Alain Prost could only score three points in Australia, which would only bring him level with the Brazilian if Senna failed to score. Senna would therefore win the crown by virtue of his eight wins to the Frenchman's seven, despite the fact that Prost had outscored Senna across the entire season.
In the Constructors' Championship, meanwhile, had once again increased their record points tally, having moved onto 184 points in Japan. They left Suzuka with a 119 point lead over second placed , who had officially secured the runner-up spot in Japan. had likewise secured third ahead of , with , and all in the fight for fourth.
===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 	 	881B 	 	1500/4 1.5 L4t 	
10 	Bernd Schneider 	West Zakspeed Racing 	 	881B 	 	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 	AGS Racing 	 	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 	 	F187/88C 	 	033E 1.5 V6t 	
28 	Gerhard Berger 	Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC 	 	F187/88C 	 	033E 1.5 V6t 	
29 	Pierre-Henri Raphanel 	Larrousse Camels 	 	LC88 	 	DFZ 3.5 V8 	
30 	Philippe Alliot 	Larrousse Camels 	 	LC88 	 	DFZ 3.5 V8 	
31 	Gabriele Tarquini 	Coloni SpA 	 	FC188B 	 	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:'Australia 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/australie.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)	Source:'Australia 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/australie.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)	Source:'Australia 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/australie.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)	Source:'Australia 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/australie.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)	Source:'Australia 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/australie.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)	Source:'Australia 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/australie.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)	Source:'Australia 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/australie.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)	Source:'Australia 1988: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/australie.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)
==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 	 	1:18.332 	1:17.748 	—
2 	11 	Alain Prost 	 	1:18.179 	1:17.880 	+0.132s
3 	5 	Nigel Mansell 	 	1:19.427 	1:19.508 	+1.760s
4 	28 	Gerhard Berger 	 	1:20.019 	1:19.517 	+1.769s
5 	1 	Nelson Piquet 	 	1:20.477 	1:19.535 	+1.787s
6 	6 	Riccardo Patrese 	 	1:19.925 	1:19.998 	+2.177s
7 	17 	Derek Warwick 	 	1:20.086 	1:20.495 	+2.748s
8 	19 	Alessandro Nannini 	 	1:20.331 	1:20.182 	+2.434s
9 	16 	Ivan Capelli 	 	1:21.136 	1:20.459 	+2.711s
10 	20 	Thierry Boutsen 	 	1:21.114 	1:20.486 	+2.738s
11 	36 	Alex Caffi 	 	1:20.781 	1:20.881 	+3.033s
12 	27 	Michele Alboreto 	 	1:20.844 	1:20.964 	+3.096s
13 	2 	Satoru Nakajima 	 	1:21.542 	1:20.852 	+3.104s
14 	23 	Pierluigi Martini 	 	1:21.905 	1:21.133 	+3.385s
15 	22 	Andrea de Cesaris 	 	1:21.944 	1:21.164 	+3.416s
16 	14 	Philippe Streiff 	 	1:22.170 	1:21.262 	+3.514s
17 	3 	Jonathan Palmer 	 	1:21.959 	1:21.307 	+3.559s
18 	18 	Eddie Cheever 	 	1:21.393 	1:21.514 	+3.645s
19 	15 	Maurício Gugelmin 	 	1:21.871 	1:21.554 	+3.806s
20 	33 	Stefano Modena 	 	1:21.972 	1:21.856 	+4.108s
21 	24 	Luis Pérez-Sala 	 	1:23.022 	1:21.893 	+4.145s
22 	26 	Stefan Johansson 	 	1:23.417 	1:21.988 	+4.240s
23 	25 	René Arnoux 	 	1:23.547 	1:22.028 	+4.280s
24 	30 	Philippe Alliot 	 	1:22.420 	1:22.211 	+4.463s
25 	32 	Oscar Larrauri 	 	1:23.413 	1:22.213 	+4.465s
26 	9 	Piercarlo Ghinzani 	 	1:22.348 	1:22.271 	+4.523s
DNQ 	31 	Gabriele Tarquini 	 	1:23.650 	1:22.393 	+4.645s
DNQ 	4 	Julian Bailey 	 	1:23.530 	1:22.529 	+4.781s
DNQ 	29 	Pierre-Henri Raphanel 	 	1:23.393 	1:22.733 	+4.985s
DNQ 	10 	Bernd Schneider 	 	1:24.221 	1:23.025 	+5.277s
DNPQ 	21 	Nicola Larini 	 	1:28.440 	1:28.440 	1:28.440
Source:'Foster's Australian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/542/australia/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 15/04/2019)'Foster's Australian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/542/australia/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 15/04/2019)'Australia 1988: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/australie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)	Source:'Foster's Australian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/542/australia/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 15/04/2019)'Foster's Australian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/542/australia/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 15/04/2019)'Australia 1988: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/australie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)	Source:'Foster's Australian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/542/australia/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 15/04/2019)'Foster's Australian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/542/australia/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 15/04/2019)'Australia 1988: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/australie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)	Source:'Foster's Australian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/542/australia/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 15/04/2019)'Foster's Australian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/542/australia/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 15/04/2019)'Australia 1988: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/australie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)	Source:'Foster's Australian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/542/australia/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 15/04/2019)'Foster's Australian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/542/australia/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 15/04/2019)'Australia 1988: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/australie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)	Source:'Foster's Australian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/542/australia/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 15/04/2019)'Foster's Australian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/542/australia/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 15/04/2019)'Australia 1988: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/australie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)	Source:'Foster's Australian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/542/australia/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 15/04/2019)'Foster's Australian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1988/races/542/australia/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 15/04/2019)'Australia 1988: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/australie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)
*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===
** Modena would start the race from the back of the grid after stalling on the formation lap.
==Race==
===Report===
===Results===
The full results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Laps 	Time/Retired 	Grid 	Points
1 	11 	Alain Prost 	 	82 	1:53:14.676 	2 	9
2 	12 	Ayrton Senna 	 	82 	+36.387s 	1 	6
3 	1 	Nelson Piquet 	 	82 	+47.546s 	5 	4
4 	6 	Riccardo Patrese 	 	82 	+1:20.088 	6 	3
5 	20 	Thierry Boutsen 	 	81 	+1 Lap 	10 	2
6 	16 	Ivan Capelli 	 	81 	+1 Lap 	9 	1
7 	23 	Pierluigi Martini 	 	80 	+2 Laps 	14 	
8* 	22 	Andrea de Cesaris 	 	77 	Out of fuel 	15 	
9* 	26 	Stefan Johansson 	 	76 	Out of fuel 	22 	
10* 	30 	Philippe Alliot 	 	75 	Out of fuel 	24 	
11* 	14 	Philippe Streiff 	 	73 	Electrical 	16 	
Ret 	9 	Piercarlo Ghinzani 	 	69 	Fuel system 	26 	
Ret 	5 	Nigel Mansell 	 	65 	Spin 	3 	
Ret 	19 	Alessandro Nannini 	 	63 	Spin 	8 	
Ret 	33 	Stefano Modena 	 	63 	Halfshaft 	20 	
Ret 	17 	Derek Warwick 	 	52 	Engine 	7 	
Ret 	18 	Eddie Cheever 	 	51 	Engine 	18 	
Ret 	15 	Maurício Gugelmin 	 	46 	Collision 	19 	
Ret 	2 	Satoru Nakajima 	 	45 	Collision 	13 	
Ret 	24 	Luis Pérez-Sala 	 	41 	Engine 	21 	
Ret 	36 	Alex Caffi 	 	32 	Clutch 	11 	
Ret 	28 	Gerhard Berger 	 	25 	Collision 	4 	
Ret 	25 	René Arnoux 	 	24 	Collision 	23 	
Ret 	3 	Jonathan Palmer 	 	16 	Transmission 	17 	
Ret 	32 	Oscar Larrauri 	 	12 	Halfshaft 	25 	
Ret 	27 	Michele Alboreto 	 	0 	Collision 	12 	
DNQ 	31 	Gabriele Tarquini 	 	 	 	 	
DNQ 	4 	Julian Bailey 	 	 	 	 	
DNQ 	29 	Pierre-Henri Raphanel 	 	 	 	 	
DNQ 	10 	Bernd Schneider 	 	 	 	 	
DNPQ 	21 	Nicola Larini 	 	 	 	 	
Source:'Australia 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/australie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)	Source:'Australia 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/australie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)	Source:'Australia 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/australie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)	Source:'Australia 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/australie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)	Source:'Australia 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/australie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)	Source:'Australia 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/australie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)	Source:'Australia 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/australie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)	Source:'Australia 1988: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/australie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car.
** de Cesaris, Johansson, Alliot and Streiff were all still classified despite retiring as they had completed 90% of the race distance.
==Milestones==
* Final race to feature a turbocharged Formula One car until the 2014 Australian Grand Prix.
* made their 51st and final appearance as an engine supplier.'16. Australia 1988', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1988/australie.aspx, (Accessed 15/04/2019)
* 32nd and final Grand Prix for as an engine supplier.
* Maiden entry for Pierre-Henri Raphanel.'1988 Australian GP', chicanef1.com, (Chicane F1, 2015), http://www.chicanef1.com/racetit.pl?year=1988&gp=Australian%20GP&r=1, (Accessed 15/04/2019)
* Ayrton Senna claimed the 40th pole position for a chassis.
** The Brazilian also set a record for most poles in a single season - 13.
* Alain Prost secured his 35th victory.
** Prost set a new record for most point scoring races in a season - 14.
* McLaren claimed their 70th win as a constructor.
** This was a record fifteenth victory of the season.
** Engine partners claimed their 42nd win.
* McLaren set a new record for most points scored in a single season - 199.
** McLaren also claimed the record for most point scores in a single season - 27.
* claimed their 172nd and final podium finish.
==Standings==
Alain Prost ended the FIA Formula One World Championship as the highest scoring driver after his seventh win of the season, and yet that was not enough to see him crowned Champion. Indeed, for just the second time in F1 history, and the first since John Surtees claimed the title, the title had been decided on the dropped scores rule. Ayrton Senna was hence able to receive his crown having officially scored 90 points to Prost's 87, despite the fact that they had scored 94 and 105 respectively across the season.
In the Constructors' Championship, meanwhile, it had been a startlingly dominant season for , who ended the turbo-era of F1 with a record 199 point haul. Their tally was more than three times that of second placed , and over five times the value of 's 39 point tally in third. Elsewhere, had hauled themselves back into the top five at the season finale, with ten teams having registered points across the campaign.
 
World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	Ayrton Senna 	90 (94) 	
2 	Alain Prost 	87 (105) 	
3 	Gerhard Berger 	41 	
4 	Thierry Boutsen 	27 	
5 	Michele Alboreto 	24 	
6 	Nelson Piquet 	22 	
7 	Ivan Capelli 	17 	1
8 	Derek Warwick 	17 	1
9 	Nigel Mansell 	12 	
10 	Alessandro Nannini 	12 	
11 	Riccardo Patrese 	6 	3
12 	Eddie Cheever 	6 	1
13 	Maurício Gugelmin 	5 	1
14 	Jonathan Palmer 	5 	1
15 	Andrea de Cesaris 	3 	
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 	 	199 	
2 	 	65 	
3 	 	39 	
4 	 	23 	2
5 	 	23 	1
6 	 	22 	1
7 	 	20 	
8 	 	5 	
9 	 	3 	
10 	 	1 	
Only point scoring drivers and constructors are shown.
==References==
Images and Videos:
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References:
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:1988 Grands Prix
Category:Australian Grand Prix