1985 South African Grand Prix
The Grand Prix of South Africa 1985 took place on 19 October at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit and was the 15th race of the Formula 1 season 1985.
- 3.1 qualifying
- 3.2 race
- 4.1 Drivers' Championship
- 4.2 Constructors' Championship
Reports
Background
The South African Grand Prix took place in 1985 as the penultimate race of the season instead. The drivers' world championship two weeks ago was resolved in favor of Alain Prost since the European Grand Prix.
In protest against the political system in South Africa, the teams Renault and Ligier were not. RAM Racing abandoned for financial reasons to participate. Moreover, since also the Zakspeed team was not present, 21 vehicles were only reported for the race weekend.
Niki Lauda returned after several weeks of injury back to the participants. Philippe Streiff, who really could not have started because of absence of Ligier, received instead of Ivan Capelli, the second cockpit of the Tyrrell team.
The South African Grand Prix in 1985, is still the last race, which was held on a Saturday. Since then, took place all the races on a Sunday.
Training
Nigel Mansell, who had previously reached two weeks at Brands Hatch his first Grand Prix victory, qualified for the pole position ahead of Nelson Piquet, Keke Rosberg and Ayrton Senna. Marc Surer and Elio de Angelis were the third row.
Race
Due to illness, retired Alan Jones in the morning before the race his participation back, so only 20 cars started. Since shortly after the start, the two Alfa Romeo driver Eddie Cheever and Riccardo Patrese collided and were eliminated, the number reduced even to 18 vehicles. Mansell went on Piquet, Surer, de Angelis and Senna in the lead.
Rosberg, who had fallen behind due to a switching error to fifth place before the first corner, came up to the fifth round again to second place behind his team-mate back. This was among other favors that the two pilots Piquet Brabham and Surer dropped out due to engine damage. Behind the two Williams drivers at the top of the Lotus team-mate Senna and De Angelis dueled for third place.
In the eighth round Rosberg took the lead briefly, then, however, turned on oil, which had left the recently ruptured engine of Piercarlo Ghinzani on the track, to slide and fell to fifth place behind Mansell and de Angelis and the two McLaren drivers Prost and Lauda back. Senna was eliminated in the previous round due to an engine failure.
On lap ten, both McLaren drivers passed before de Angelis. Rosberg managed this seven laps later. Most pilots at the top put a pit stop to change tires a. Meanwhile, Lauda had to give up because of a turbocharger damage, so Rosberg without a fight back was awarded the third place. In the 71st round, he finally overtook Prost and thus represented the first Williams - two victory since the 1981 Brazilian Grand Prix safe. Da Elio de Angelis was forced to retire on lap 53 due to engine failure, was fourth place at Stefan Johansson. They were followed by the two Arrows pilot Gerhard Berger and Thierry Boutsen. Only seven riders reached the finish.
Message list
Classifications
Qualifying
Race
WM stands after the race
The first six of the race were 9, 6, 4, 3, 2 and 1 point (s).