1985 Portuguese Grand Prix

Lore & Background

Senna demonstrated his proficiency in wet racing by finishing the race at least one lap ahead of every car except second-place finisher Michele Alboreto. Jonathan Palmer was the first driver to retire, bringing his Zakspeed into the pits with suspension problems. Wet weather caused frequent spinouts early in the race. Philippe Alliot retired trackside on lap 3, and François Hesnault retired trackside with an electrical problem on the same lap. On lap 4, Riccardo Patrese made contact with Stefan Johansson; both spun into a gravel trap, Patrese beached, Johansson rejoined. Stefan Bellof and Manfred Winkelhock made contact but both restarted. By lap 10, Senna led second place by almost 13 seconds. Elio de Angelis, Alain Prost, and Michele Alboreto contended for second. Gerhard Berger and Pierluigi Martini spun off and retired on lap 12. Niki Lauda and Patrick Tambay were in 5th and 6th on lap 15. Keke Rosberg spun on lap 16, his car remaining on track for numerous laps. At 20 laps, Senna led de Angelis by 30 seconds. Nelson Piquet pitted repeatedly around lap 25 and retired with a tyre issue. Near lap 30, Mauro Baldi spun out and left mud on the track; Alain Prost retired after spinning and striking the barrier. Senna signaled race officials to stop the race, but the race was not stopped. The race was originally scheduled for 70 laps but ended after 67 laps due to the two-hour time limit. Senna led every lap, with only Alboreto on the lead lap. Patrick Tambay and Elio de Angelis took third and fourth, one lap down. Nigel Mansell and Stefan Bellof took the final points-paying positions, two laps down. Senna's win was his first of two in the 1985 season, and the first of 41 Formula One Grand Prix victories.

In Their Own Story

The late September sun beat down on the concrete walls of Estoril as the grid formed up. Prost sat in his white and orange MP4/2B, feeling the vibration of the turbo engine through the chassis. He knew the math: a third place was enough to seal the deal. As the lights went out, he surged forward, not with reckless abandon, but with surgical precision. The track ahead was a blur of dust and speed, but his mind remained cold and clear, calculating every gear shift and braking point.

Reader's Guide

The race was held at Estoril on 21 April 1985. Ayrton Senna won from pole position. Michele Alboreto finished second. Patrick Tambay and Elio de Angelis were third and fourth, both one lap down. Nigel Mansell and Stefan Bellof were fifth and sixth, two laps down. Alain Prost retired. Niki Lauda's finishing position is not specified in the source.

Did You Know?

• Ayrton Senna took both his first pole position and first win at this race.
• Senna finished at least one lap ahead of every car except second-place Michele Alboreto.
• The race was originally scheduled for 70 laps but ended after 67 laps due to the two-hour time limit.
• Senna led every lap of the race.
• Only two cars finished on the lead lap: Senna and Alboreto.