1985 French Grand Prix

The 1985 French Grand Prix, otherwise officially known as the 71e Grand Prix de France, was the seventh race of the FIA Formula One World Championship, staged at the Circuit Paul Ricard on the 7 July 1985.'French GP, 1985', grandprix.com, (Inside F1 Inc., 2014), http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr393.html, (Accessed 25/03/2019) The race would see Nelson Piquet secure his first victory of the season for , a triumph which also proved to be Brabham's last in F1.
Qualifying would see Keke Rosberg grab pole position for , although their weekend was marred by a huge accident for the Finn's teammate Nigel Mansell which left the Brit unable to take part. Regardless, Rosberg would share the front row with quali-star Ayrton Senna of , while Championship leader Michele Alboreto claimed third.
Race day proved to be very hot, resulting in a lot of talk about which tyre supplier, Pirelli or Goodyear, would have the advantage. At the start it would appear to be fairly even, for Rosberg was able to sprint ahead of Senna, while Piquet, the first man on Pirellis, leapt from fifth to third.
The early stages would see the race quickly settle into a steady rhythm, aided by several early retirements. Indeed, Alboreto was the first of the front runners to drop out, his suffering an engine failure, while the two s disappeared within a lap of each other with unrelated issues.
Piquet, meanwhile, seemed to have an advantage on his Pirelli tyres, and duly eased ahead of Senna with ease on lap seven. A few laps later and the double World Champion was glued to the tail of Rosberg's Williams, before a brave lunge inside the Finn at Beausset carried the Brabham-BMW into the lead.
With that the battle for victory was done, with Piquet able to escape after one aborted lunge by Rosberg into the first corner. The Finn was hence left to fend off the increasing attentions of the two s of Niki Lauda and Alain Prost, although only after they had found their way past Elio de Angelis.
Lauda's race was to come to an just after half distance, with a gearbox failure releasing teammate Prost to attack Rosberg for second. Ultimately the Frenchman would be left with an easy move on the Finn, who was to pit for fresh tyres once Prost's McLaren swept through.
Rosberg rejoined down in fifth behind de Angelis and Stefan Johansson, and would spend the rest of the race chasing after Prost. Out front, meanwhile, Piquet was able to cruise home to claim his first win of the season, while Rosberg would catch as pass Prost on the final lap to claim second. The rest of the points would go to Johansson, de Angelis and Patrick Tambay.
The results of the race would see Alboreto continue to lead the Championship hunt, although Prost would move within five points of the Italian in second.
==Background==
Michele Alboreto had retained the lead in the Championship after the Detroit Grand Prix, and had even managed to grow his advantage to seven points. Elio de Angelis, meanwhile, had moved into a clear second ahead of Alain Prost, while Stefan Johansson had moved into fourth after his second second place in two races. Keke Rosberg, meanwhile, would leap into the top five after claiming victory in Detroit, while double World Champion Nelson Piquet had finally got onto the board, albeit down in sixteenth.
In the Constructors' Championship it was still who led the charge, having ended the Detroit weekend on 47 points. Indeed, the Scuderia had managed to extend their lead over with a double podium finish on the city streets, opening a fourteen point gap between themselves and their Norfolk based challengers. Behind, had retained third ahead of , while appeared at the foot of the scorers' list in ninth.
===Entry List===
The full entry list for the is outlined below:
No. 	Driver 	Entrant 	Constructor 	Chassis 	Engine 	Model 	Tyre
1 	Niki Lauda 	Marlboro McLaren International 	 	MP4/2B 	 	TTE PO1 1.5 V6t 	
2 	Alain Prost 	Marlboro McLaren International 	 	MP4/2B 	 	TTE PO1 1.5 V6t 	
3 	Martin Brundle 	Tyrrell Racing Organisation 	 	014 	 	EF4B 1.5 V6t 	
4 	Stefan Bellof 	Tyrrell Racing Organisation 	 	012 	 	DFY 3.0 V8 	
5 	Nigel Mansell 	Canon Williams Honda Team 	 	FW10 	 	RA163E 1.5 V6t 	
6 	Keke Rosberg 	Canon Williams Honda Team 	 	FW10 	 	RA163E 1.5 V6t 	
7 	Nelson Piquet 	Motor Racing Developments Ltd. 	 	BT54 	 	M12/13 1.5 L4t 	
8 	Marc Surer 	Motor Racing Developments Ltd. 	 	BT54 	 	M12/13 1.5 L4t 	
9 	Manfred Winkelhock 	Skoal Bandit F1 Team 	 	03 	 	415T 1.5 L4t 	
10 	Philippe Alliot 	Skoal Bandit F1 Team 	 	03 	 	415T 1.5 L4t 	
11 	Elio de Angelis 	John Player Special Team Lotus 	 	97T 	 	EF4 1.5 V6t 	
12 	Ayrton Senna 	John Player Special Team Lotus 	 	97T 	 	EF4 1.5 V6t 	
15 	Patrick Tambay 	Equipe Renault Elf 	 	RE60B 	 	EF15 1.5 V6t 	
16 	Derek Warwick 	Equipe Renault Elf 	 	RE60B 	 	EF4B 1.5 V6t 	
17 	Gerhard Berger 	Barclay Arrows BMW 	 	A8 	 	M12/13 1.5 L4t 	
18 	Thierry Boutsen 	Barclay Arrows BMW 	 	A8 	 	M12/13 1.5 L4t 	
19 	Teo Fabi 	Toleman Group Motorsport 	 	TG185 	 	415T 1.5 L4t 	
22 	Riccardo Patrese 	Benetton Team Alfa Romeo 	 	185T 	 	890T 1.5 V8t 	
23 	Eddie Cheever 	Benetton Team Alfa Romeo 	 	185T 	 	890T 1.5 V8t 	
24 	Piercarlo Ghinzani 	Osella Squadra Corse 	 	FA1F 	 	890T 1.5 V8t 	
25 	Andrea de Cesaris 	Equipe Ligier Gitanes 	 	JS25 	 	EF4B 1.5 V6t 	
26 	Jacques Laffite 	Equipe Ligier Gitanes 	 	JS25 	 	EF4B 1.5 V6t 	
27 	Michele Alboreto 	Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC 	 	156/85 	 	031 1.5 V6t 	
28 	Stefan Johansson 	Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC 	 	156/85 	 	031 1.5 V6t 	
29 	Pierluigi Martini 	Minardi Team SpA 	 	M185 	 	615-90 1.5 V6t 	
30 	Jonathan Palmer 	West Zakspeed Racing 	 	841 	 	1500/4 1.5 L4t 	
Source:'France 1985: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/france/engages.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)	Source:'France 1985: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/france/engages.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)	Source:'France 1985: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/france/engages.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)	Source:'France 1985: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/france/engages.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)	Source:'France 1985: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/france/engages.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)	Source:'France 1985: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/france/engages.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)	Source:'France 1985: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/france/engages.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)	Source:'France 1985: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/france/engages.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)
==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 	Keke Rosberg 	 	1:33.484T 	1:32.462T 	
2 	12 	Ayrton Senna 	 	1:33.484 	1:32.462 	+0.373s
3 	27 	Michele Alboreto 	 	1:35.421 	1:33.267 	+0.805s
4 	2 	Alain Prost 	 	1:33.547 	1:33.335 	+0.873s
5 	7 	Nelson Piquet 	 	1:33.981T 	1:33.812T 	+1.350s
6 	1 	Niki Lauda 	 	1:33.860 	1:34.166 	+1.398s
7 	11 	Elio de Angelis 	 	1:34.022 	1:34.227 	+1.560s
8* 	5 	Nigel Mansell 	 	1:34.191 	— 	+1.729s
9 	17 	Gerhard Berger 	 	1:34.674 	1:37.445T 	+2.212s
10 	15 	Patrick Tambay 	 	1:34.680 	1:36.339T 	+2.218s
11 	16 	Derek Warwick 	 	1:34.976 	1:35.190 	+2.514s
12 	18 	Thierry Boutsen 	 	1:36.051 	1:35.488 	+3.026s
13 	25 	Andrea de Cesaris 	 	1:37.335 	1:35.571 	+3.109s
14 	8 	Marc Surer 	 	1:35.572 	1:35.640 	+3.110s
15 	26 	Jacques Laffite 	 	1:38.173 	1:36.133 	+3.671s
16 	28 	Stefan Johansson 	 	1:37.546 	1:36.140 	+3.678s
17 	22 	Riccardo Patrese 	 	1:36.729 	1:38.745 	+4.267s
18 	23 	Eddie Cheever 	 	1:36.931 	1:38.489 	+4.469s
19 	19 	Teo Fabi 	 	1:37.142 	1:37.657 	+4.680s
20 	9 	Manfred Winkelhock 	 	1:37.654 	1:45.628 	+5.192s
21 	3 	Martin Brundle 	 	1:40.486 	1:40.015 	+7.553s
22 	30 	Jonathan Palmer 	 	1:40.647 	1:40.289 	+7.827s
23 	10 	Philippe Alliot 	 	1:41.647 	1:44.221 	+9.185s
24 	24 	Piercarlo Ghinzani 	 	1:42.136 	1:42.968 	+9.674s
25 	29 	Pierluigi Martini 	 	1:47.523 	1:44.350 	+11.888s
26 	4 	Stefan Bellof 	 	1:44.404 	1:45.478 	+11.942s
Source:'71e Grand Prix de France de Formule 1 - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/488/france/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 25/03/2019)'71e Grand Prix de France de Formule 1 - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/488/france/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 25/03/2019)'France 1985: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/france/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)	Source:'71e Grand Prix de France de Formule 1 - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/488/france/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 25/03/2019)'71e Grand Prix de France de Formule 1 - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/488/france/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 25/03/2019)'France 1985: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/france/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)	Source:'71e Grand Prix de France de Formule 1 - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/488/france/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 25/03/2019)'71e Grand Prix de France de Formule 1 - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/488/france/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 25/03/2019)'France 1985: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/france/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)	Source:'71e Grand Prix de France de Formule 1 - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/488/france/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 25/03/2019)'71e Grand Prix de France de Formule 1 - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/488/france/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 25/03/2019)'France 1985: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/france/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)	Source:'71e Grand Prix de France de Formule 1 - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/488/france/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 25/03/2019)'71e Grand Prix de France de Formule 1 - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/488/france/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 25/03/2019)'France 1985: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/france/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)	Source:'71e Grand Prix de France de Formule 1 - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/488/france/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 25/03/2019)'71e Grand Prix de France de Formule 1 - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/488/france/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 25/03/2019)'France 1985: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/france/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)	Source:'71e Grand Prix de France de Formule 1 - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/488/france/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 25/03/2019)'71e Grand Prix de France de Formule 1 - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1985/races/488/france/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 25/03/2019)'France 1985: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/france/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)
*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.
** Mansell crashed at Signes and did not take the start of the race due to picking up a concussion.
===Grid===
==Race==
===Report===
===Results===
The full results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Laps 	Time/Retired 	Grid 	Points
1 	7 	Nelson Piquet 	 	53 	1:31:46.266 	5 	9
2 	6 	Keke Rosberg 	 	53 	+6.660s 	1 	6
3 	2 	Alain Prost 	 	53 	+9.285s 	4 	4
4 	28 	Stefan Johansson 	 	53 	+53.491s 	15 	3
5 	11 	Elio de Angelis 	 	53 	+53.690s 	7 	2
6 	15 	Patrick Tambay 	 	53 	+1:15.167 	9 	1
7 	16 	Derek Warwick 	 	53 	+1:44.212 	10 	
8 	8 	Marc Surer 	 	52 	+1 lap 	13 	
9 	18 	Thierry Boutsen 	 	52 	+1 lap 	11 	
10 	23 	Eddie Cheever 	 	52 	+1 lap 	17 	
11 	22 	Riccardo Patrese 	 	52 	+1 lap 	16 	
12 	9 	Manfred Winkelhock 	 	50 	+3 laps 	19 	
13 	4 	Stefan Bellof 	 	50 	+3 laps 	25 	
14* 	19 	Teo Fabi 	 	49 	Out of fuel 	18 	
15 	24 	Piercarlo Ghinzani 	 	49 	+4 laps 	23 	
Ret 	3 	Martin Brundle 	 	32 	Gearbox 	20 	
Ret 	1 	Niki Lauda 	 	30 	Gearbox 	6 	
Ret 	12 	Ayrton Senna 	 	26 	Accident 	2 	
Ret 	17 	Gerhard Berger 	 	20 	Collision 	8 	
Ret 	29 	Pierluigi Martini 	 	19 	Collision 	24 	
Ret 	10 	Philippe Alliot 	 	8 	Fuel pressure 	22 	
Ret 	30 	Jonathan Palmer 	 	6 	Engine 	21 	
Ret 	27 	Michele Alboreto 	 	5 	Turbo 	3 	
Ret 	25 	Andrea de Cesaris 	 	4 	Transmission 	12 	
Ret 	26 	Jacques Laffite 	 	2 	Turbo 	14 	
DNS 	5 	Nigel Mansell 	 	 	 	 	
Source:'France 1985: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/france/classement.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)	Source:'France 1985: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/france/classement.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)	Source:'France 1985: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/france/classement.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)	Source:'France 1985: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/france/classement.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)	Source:'France 1985: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/france/classement.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)	Source:'France 1985: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/france/classement.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)	Source:'France 1985: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/france/classement.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)	Source:'France 1985: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/france/classement.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car.
** Fabi was still classified despite retiring as he had completed 90% of the race distance.
==Milestones==
* 100th entry for Patrick Tambay.'1985 French GP', chicanef1.com, (Chicane F1, 2014), http://www.chicanef1.com/racetit.pl?year=1985&gp=French%20GP&r=1, (Accessed 25/03/2019)
* Jonathan Palmer entered his twentieth Grand Prix.
* Thirteenth victory for Nelson Piquet.'7. France 1985', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1985/france.aspx, (Accessed 25/03/2019)
* secured their 35th and final victory.
** Also Brabham's 120th podium finish.
** powered a car to an eighth win.
* 30th podium finish for Alain Prost.
* First fastest lap to be recorded by Keke Rosberg.
==Standings==
Michele Alboreto had retained the lead in the Championship despite failing to score at all in France, although his advantage had been cut to five points by his two nearest challengers. Indeed, Alain Prost had moved back into second with 26 points, once again overhauling Elio de Angelis courtesy of his two wins to the Italian's one, although both remained serious title contenders regardless. Keke Rosberg, meanwhile, would move into fourth after his podium finish, while victory in France catapulted Nelson Piquet up into seventh.
Likewise, there had been very little movement in the Constructors Championship, with eking out their lead to fifteen points. remained their closest challengers in second, while had closed to within six points of their Norfolk based rivals. had also made ground in fourth, while ended the weekend just outside the top five after Piquet's performance.
World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	Michele Alboreto 	31 	
2 	Alain Prost 	26 	1
3 	Elio de Angelis 	26 	1
4 	Keke Rosberg 	18 	1
5 	Stefan Johansson 	16 	1
6 	Patrick Tambay 	11 	
7 	Nelson Piquet 	10 	9
8 	Ayrton Senna 	9 	1
9 	Thierry Boutsen 	6 	1
10 	Nigel Mansell 	5 	1
11 	Stefan Bellof 	4 	1
12 	Niki Lauda 	3 	1
13 	Andrea de Cesaris 	3 	1
14 	René Arnoux 	3 	1
15 	Derek Warwick 	2 	1
16 	Jacques Laffite 	2 	1
World Championship for Manufacturers	World Championship for Manufacturers	World Championship for Manufacturers	World Championship for Manufacturers
Pos. 	Team 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	 	50 	
2 	 	35 	
3 	 	29 	
4 	 	23 	
5 	 	13 	
6 	 	10 	3
7 	 	6 	1
8 	 	5 	1
9 	 	4 	1
Only point scoring drivers and constructors are shown.
==References==
Images and Videos:
* 
References:
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:1985 Grands Prix
Category:Formula One races in France
Category:French Grand Prix