1983 British Grand Prix: F1 Race, Qualifying & Winners

Alain Prost overcame Ferrari’s spectacular qualifying pace to win the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Nelson Piquet and Patrick Tambay completed the podium, while Nigel Mansell delighted the home crowd with a charge from 18th to fourth in his new turbocharged Lotus.

Result	Driver / Time	Team
Pole position	René Arnoux	Ferrari
Pole time	1:09.462
Fastest lap	Alain Prost	Renault
Fastest-lap time	1:14.212 on lap 32
First	Alain Prost	Renault
Second	Nelson Piquet	Brabham
Third	Patrick Tambay	Ferrari

Weekend Schedule

Date	Session	Local Time
14 July 1983	Practice 1	Morning; start unconfirmed
14 July 1983	Qualifying 1	13:00–14:00
15 July 1983	Practice 2	Morning; start unconfirmed
15 July 1983	Qualifying 2	Start time unconfirmed
16 July 1983	Warm-up	11:30–12:00
16 July 1983	Race	14:30

All times are local. The race time is the scheduled start; weather delays and interruptions are described below.

Championship background

Alain Prost arrived at round 9 leading the 1983 F1 World Championship on 30 points, with Nelson Piquet on 27. Renault headed the constructors’ standings after the preceding race with 44 points.

Race entries

Spirit made its championship debut with Stefan Johansson and Honda turbo power, while Kenny Acheson took over the RAM entry. Lotus introduced the 94T for both drivers, giving Nigel Mansell Renault power for a championship race at last. Ferrari’s new 126C3 and Brabham’s revised BT52B added to a busy weekend of technical debuts after the mid-season break.

Thursday Free Practice

Thursday’s heat put the machinery under immediate strain. Patrick Tambay had electrical trouble, Manfred Winkelhock lost a turbocharger, and engine failures affected Bruno Giacomelli and John Watson; Michele Alboreto also suffered a fire in his Tyrrell. Against that backdrop, de Elio de Angelis’s pace in the new Lotus 94T was particularly encouraging. Nigel Mansell had a much less productive start, struggling with a persistent misfire in the sister car.

Thursday Qualifying

Alain Prost set Thursday’s benchmark at 1:10.170, becoming the first driver to average more than 150mph around Silverstone. Rene Arnoux, de Elio de Angelis and Patrick Tambay followed, with the new Lotus immediately competitive. Jean-Pierre Jarier lost his times after failing to stop for a weight check, while Nigel Mansell’s continuing trouble left him with little to show for the session.

Thursday Qualifying Classification

1983 British Grand Prix first qualifying session, 14 July 1983

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time	Laps
1	15	Alain Prost	Renault	1:10.170	—
2	28	Rene Arnoux	Ferrari	1:10.436	—
3	11	Elio de Angelis	Lotus	1:10.771	—
4	27	Patrick Tambay	Ferrari	1:10.874	—
5	16	Eddie Cheever	Renault	1:11.055	—
6	5	Nelson Piquet	Brabham	1:11.098	—
7	6	Riccardo Patrese	Brabham	1:11.246	—
8	35	Derek Warwick	Toleman	1:12.528	—
9	22	Andrea de Cesaris	Alfa Romeo	1:13.163	—
10	9	Manfred Winkelhock	ATS	1:13.493	—
11	1	Keke Rosberg	Williams	1:13.755	—
12	36	Bruno Giacomelli	Toleman	1:13.792	—
13	23	Mauro Baldi	Alfa Romeo	1:14.006	—
14	8	Niki Lauda	McLaren	1:14.267	—
15	3	Michele Alboreto	Tyrrell	1:14.651	—
16	30	Thierry Boutsen	Arrows	1:14.964	—
17	29	Marc Surer	Arrows	1:15.135	—
18	2	Jacques Laffite	Williams	1:15.234	—
19	26	Raul Boesel	Ligier	1:15.386	—
20	33	Roberto Guerrero	Theodore	1:15.441	—
21	4	Danny Sullivan	Tyrrell	1:15.449	—
22	40	Stefan Johansson	Spirit	1:15.535	—
23	7	John Watson	McLaren	1:15.609	—
24	12	Nigel Mansell	Lotus	1:16.377	—
25	34	Johnny Cecotto	Theodore	1:16.714	—
26	32	Piercarlo Ghinzani	Osella	1:17.162	—
27	17	Kenny Acheson	RAM	1:19.267	—
28	31	Corrado Fabi	Osella	1:20.400	—

Friday Free Practice

The contrast at Lotus continued on Friday. De Elio de Angelis was again among the quickest, but Nigel Mansell’s misfire repeatedly prevented him completing a flying lap. Ferrari looked increasingly comfortable with its new car, while Brabham felt there was still speed to find. Silverstone’s fast layout left the Cosworth runners facing a particularly large power disadvantage.

Friday Qualifying

Ferrari raised the stakes on Friday. Patrick Tambay edged below Alain Prost’s time before Rene Arnoux produced a remarkable 1:09.462, breaking the 70-second barrier and securing pole by more than six tenths. Alain Prost started third ahead of de Elio de Angelis. Stefan Johansson qualified 14th on Spirit’s debut, while Nigel Mansell was 18th; Kenny Acheson, Corrado Fabi and Johnny Cecotto failed to qualify.

Friday Qualifying Classification

1983 British Grand Prix second qualifying session, 15 July 1983

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time	Laps
1	28	Rene Arnoux	Ferrari	1:09.462	—
2	27	Patrick Tambay	Ferrari	1:10.104	—
3	15	Alain Prost	Renault	1:10.808	—
4	6	Riccardo Patrese	Brabham	1:10.881	—
5	5	Nelson Piquet	Brabham	1:10.933	—
6	11	Elio de Angelis	Lotus	1:11.114	—
7	16	Eddie Cheever	Renault	1:11.520	—
8	9	Manfred Winkelhock	ATS	1:11.687	—
9	22	Andrea de Cesaris	Alfa Romeo	1:12.150	—
10	35	Derek Warwick	Toleman	1:12.541	—
11	23	Mauro Baldi	Alfa Romeo	1:12.860	—
12	36	Bruno Giacomelli	Toleman	1:13.422	—
13	40	Stefan Johansson	Spirit	1:13.962	—
14	3	Michele Alboreto	Tyrrell	1:14.970	—
15	8	Niki Lauda	McLaren	1:15.118	—
16	12	Nigel Mansell	Lotus	1:15.133	—
17	33	Roberto Guerrero	Theodore	1:15.317	—
18	29	Marc Surer	Arrows	1:15.350	—
19	30	Thierry Boutsen	Arrows	1:15.686	—
20	25	Jean-Pierre Jarier	Ligier	1:15.767	—
21	7	John Watson	McLaren	1:16.091	—
22	26	Raul Boesel	Ligier	1:16.134	—
23	4	Danny Sullivan	Tyrrell	1:16.347	—
24	32	Piercarlo Ghinzani	Osella	1:16.544	—
25	2	Jacques Laffite	Williams	1:16.762	—
26	34	Johnny Cecotto	Theodore	1:16.786	—
27	31	Corrado Fabi	Osella	1:17.594	—
28	17	Kenny Acheson	RAM	1:18.103	—

Combined Qualifying Classification

Each driver’s faster time from the two qualifying sessions determined the overall order.

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Thursday Time	Friday Time	Best Time	Laps
1	28	René Arnoux	Ferrari	1:10.436	1:09.462	1:09.462	—
2	27	Patrick Tambay	Ferrari	1:10.874	1:10.104	1:10.104	—
3	15	Alain Prost	Renault	1:10.170	1:10.808	1:10.170	—
4	11	Elio de Angelis	Lotus	1:10.771	1:11.114	1:10.771	—
5	6	Riccardo Patrese	Brabham	1:11.246	1:10.881	1:10.881	—
6	5	Nelson Piquet	Brabham	1:11.098	1:10.933	1:10.933	—
7	16	Eddie Cheever	Renault	1:11.055	1:11.520	1:11.055	—
8	9	Manfred Winkelhock	ATS	1:13.493	1:11.687	1:11.687	—
9	22	Andrea de Cesaris	Alfa Romeo	1:13.163	1:12.150	1:12.150	—
10	35	Derek Warwick	Toleman	1:12.528	1:12.541	1:12.528	—
11	23	Mauro Baldi	Alfa Romeo	1:14.006	1:12.860	1:12.860	—
12	36	Bruno Giacomelli	Toleman	1:13.792	1:13.422	1:13.422	—
13	1	Keke Rosberg	Williams	1:13.755	no time	1:13.755	—
14	40	Stefan Johansson	Spirit	1:15.535	1:13.962	1:13.962	—
15	8	Niki Lauda	McLaren	1:14.267	1:15.118	1:14.267	—
16	3	Michele Alboreto	Tyrrell	1:14.651	1:14.970	1:14.651	—
17	30	Thierry Boutsen	Arrows	1:14.964	1:15.686	1:14.964	—
18	12	Nigel Mansell	Lotus	1:16.377	1:15.133	1:15.133	—
19	29	Marc Surer	Arrows	1:15.135	1:15.350	1:15.135	—
20	2	Jacques Laffite	Williams	1:15.234	1:16.762	1:15.234	—
21	33	Roberto Guerrero	Theodore	1:15.441	1:15.317	1:15.317	—
22	26	Raul Boesel	Ligier	1:15.386	1:16.134	1:15.386	—
23	4	Danny Sullivan	Tyrrell	1:15.449	1:16.347	1:15.449	—
24	7	John Watson	McLaren	1:15.609	1:16.091	1:15.609	—
25	25	Jean-Pierre Jarier	Ligier	1:15.383†	1:15.767	1:15.767	—
26	32	Piercarlo Ghinzani	Osella	1:17.162	1:16.544	1:16.544	—
27	34	Johnny Cecotto	Theodore	1:16.714	1:16.786	1:16.714	—
28	31	Corrado Fabi	Osella	1:20.400	1:17.594	1:17.594	—
29	17	Kenny Acheson	RAM	1:19.267	1:18.103	1:18.103	—

Saturday warm-up

Saturday’s warm-up produced both promise and urgent work. De Elio de Angelis was fastest, while a replacement wiring loom had finally cured Nigel Mansell’s misfire. Ferrari changed Patrick Tambay’s engine afterwards, Williams replaced Jacques Laffite’s Cosworth and Brabham fitted another BMW unit for Riccardo Patrese. The mechanics faced a compressed preparation period before the afternoon start.

What happened in the 1983 British Grand Prix?

Patrick Tambay beat Rene Arnoux away and led the opening laps, but several new-car hopes disappeared almost immediately. De Elio de Angelis retired with turbo trouble, Eddie Cheever lost his engine and Stefan Johansson’s Spirit stopped with fuel-system problems. Riccardo Patrese also retired early, leaving Nelson Piquet to carry Brabham’s challenge.

Alain Prost passed Rene Arnoux and then took the lead from Patrick Tambay on lap 20. Nelson Piquet followed him through into second, and the leading order survived the round of fuel-and-tyre stops. Behind them, Nigel Mansell was making excellent use of his now-healthy Lotus, climbing steadily through the field.

Alain Prost won comfortably from Nelson Piquet and Patrick Tambay, extending his championship advantage. Nigel Mansell passed Rene Arnoux for fourth, a rewarding finish after two frustrating days of preparation. Niki Lauda completed the points as the only Cosworth-powered finisher in the top six, underlining the turbo cars’ strength at Silverstone.

After the race, Alain Prost headed the drivers’ standings with 39 points, followed by Nelson Piquet on 33. Renault led the constructors’ table on 53, with Ferrari on 50.

1983 British Grand Prix race results

The 1983 British Grand Prix was held on 16 July 1983, with a scheduled start of 14:30 local time.

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time / Retired	Pts.
1	15	Alain Prost	Renault	67	1:24:39.780	9
2	5	Nelson Piquet	Brabham	67	+ 19.161	6
3	27	Patrick Tambay	Ferrari	67	+ 26.246	4
4	12	Nigel Mansell	Lotus	67	+ 38.952	3
5	28	René Arnoux	Ferrari	67	+ 58.874	2
6	8	Niki Lauda	McLaren	66	+ 1 Lap	1
7	23	Mauro Baldi	Alfa Romeo	66	+ 1 Lap	0
8	22	Andrea de Cesaris	Alfa Romeo	66	+ 1 Lap	0
9	7	John Watson	McLaren	66	+ 1 Lap	0
10	25	Jean-Pierre Jarier	Ligier	65	+ 2 Laps	0
11	1	Keke Rosberg	Williams	65	+ 2 Laps	0
12	2	Jacques Laffite	Williams	65	+ 2 Laps	0
13	3	Michele Alboreto	Tyrrell	65	+ 2 Laps	0
14	4	Danny Sullivan	Tyrrell	65	+ 2 Laps	0
15	30	Thierry Boutsen	Arrows	65	+ 2 Laps	0
16	33	Roberto Guerrero	Theodore	64	+ 3 Laps	0
17	29	Marc Surer	Arrows	64	+ 3 Laps	0
Ret	9	Manfred Winkelhock	ATS	49	Engine	0
Ret	26	Raul Boesel	Ligier	48	Suspension	0
Ret	32	Piercarlo Ghinzani	Osella	46	Fuel system	0
Ret	35	Derek Warwick	Toleman	27	Gearbox	0
Ret	6	Riccardo Patrese	Brabham	9	Turbo	0
Ret	40	Stefan Johansson	Spirit	5	Fuel system	0
Ret	16	Eddie Cheever	Renault	3	Engine	0
Ret	36	Bruno Giacomelli	Toleman	3	Turbo	0
Ret	11	Elio de Angelis	Lotus	1	Turbo	0
DNQ	34	Johnny Cecotto	Theodore			0
DNQ	31	Corrado Fabi	Osella			0
DNQ	17	Kenny Acheson	RAM			0

1983 British Grand Prix Fastest Laps

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Lap	Time
1	15	Alain Prost	Renault	32	1:14.212
2	5	Nelson Piquet	Brabham	36	1:14.327
3	12	Nigel Mansell	Lotus	49	1:14.434
4	27	Patrick Tambay	Ferrari	62	1:14.805
5	6	Riccardo Patrese	Brabham	4	1:14.857
6	22	Andrea de Cesaris	Alfa Romeo	64	1:15.032
7	9	Manfred Winkelhock	ATS	28	1:15.144
8	23	Mauro Baldi	Alfa Romeo	65	1:15.207
9	28	Rene Arnoux	Ferrari	7	1:15.214
10	35	Derek Warwick	Toleman	24	1:15.856
11	8	Niki Lauda	McLaren	60	1:15.923
12	7	John Watson	McLaren	14	1:16.090
13	2	Jacques Laffite	Williams	36	1:16.228
14	16	Eddie Cheever	Renault	2	1:16.261
15	25	Jean-Pierre Jarier	Ligier	53	1:16.477
16	1	Keke Rosberg	Williams	52	1:16.887
17	3	Michele Alboreto	Tyrrell	55	1:17.456
18	26	Raul Boesel	Ligier	47	1:17.659
19	4	Danny Sullivan	Tyrrell	60	1:17.858
20	30	Thierry Boutsen	Arrows	59	1:17.913
21	40	Stefan Johansson	Spirit	3	1:17.934
22	33	Roberto Guerrero	Theodore	56	1:18.351
23	29	Marc Surer	Arrows	63	1:18.552
24	32	Piercarlo Ghinzani	Osella	37	1:19.920
25	11	Elio de Angelis	Lotus	1	1:23.401
26	36	Bruno Giacomelli	Toleman	1	1:29.957

Only drivers with a recorded lap time appear. No fastest-lap bonus point was awarded.

1983 Post-Race F1 Championship Standings

Championship standings after the 1983 British Grand Prix.

1983 Post-Race F1 Drivers' Championship Standings

POS	Driver	Nationality	Car	PTS
1	Alain Prost	French	Renault	39
2	Nelson Piquet	Brazilian	Brabham	33
3	Patrick Tambay	French	Ferrari	31
4	Keke Rosberg	Finnish	Williams	25
5	René Arnoux	French	Ferrari	19
6	John Watson	British	McLaren	16
7	Eddie Cheever	American	Renault	14
8	Niki Lauda	Austrian	McLaren	11
9	Jacques Laffite	French	Williams	10
10	Michele Alboreto	Italian	Tyrrell	9
11	Nigel Mansell	British	Lotus	4
12	Marc Surer	Swiss	Arrows	4
13	Danny Sullivan	American	Tyrrell	2
14	Mauro Baldi	Italian	Alfa Romeo	1
15	Johnny Cecotto	Venezuelan	Theodore	1
–	Thierry Boutsen	Belgian	Arrows	0
–	Derek Warwick	British	Toleman	0
–	Chico Serra	Brazilian	Arrows	0
–	Raul Boesel	Brazilian	Ligier	0
–	Bruno Giacomelli	Italian	Toleman	0
–	Andrea de Cesaris	Italian	Alfa Romeo	0
–	Jean-Pierre Jarier	French	Ligier	0
–	Manfred Winkelhock	German	ATS	0
–	Elio de Angelis	Italian	Lotus	0
–	Riccardo Patrese	Italian	Brabham	0
–	Eliseo Salazar	Chilean	RAM	0
–	Roberto Guerrero	Colombian	Theodore	0
–	Alan Jones	Australian	Arrows	0
–	Corrado Fabi	Italian	Osella	0
–	Piercarlo Ghinzani	Italian	Osella	0
–	Stefan Johansson	Swedish	Spirit	0

1983 Post-Race F1 Constructors' Championship Standings

POS	Car	PTS
1	Renault	53
2	Ferrari	50
3	Williams – Ford	35
4	Brabham – BMW	33
5	McLaren – Ford	27
6	Tyrrell – Ford	11
7	Arrows – Ford	4
8	Lotus – Renault	3
9	Alfa Romeo	1
10	Theodore – Ford	1
11	Lotus – Ford	1
—	Toleman – Hart	0
—	Ligier – Ford	0
—	ATS – BMW	0
—	RAM – Ford	0
—	Osella – Ford	0
—	Osella – Alfa Romeo	0
—	Spirit – Honda	0

Drivers counted their best eleven results; constructors counted every round. The standings here show the position after this race.

1983 Formula 1 Race Calendar

Round	Grand Prix	Circuit	Date
1	1983 Brazilian Grand Prix	Jacarepaguá, Rio de Janeiro	13 March
2	1983 United States West Grand Prix	Long Beach Street Circuit, Long Beach, California	27 March
3	1983 French Grand Prix	Circuit Paul Ricard, Le Castellet	17 April
4	1983 San Marino Grand Prix	Autodromo Dino Ferrari, Imola	1 May
5	1983 Monaco Grand Prix	Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo	15 May
6	1983 Belgian Grand Prix	Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot	22 May
7	1983 Detroit Grand Prix	Detroit Street Circuit, Detroit, Michigan	5 June
8	1983 Canadian Grand Prix	Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, Montréal	12 June
9	1983 British Grand Prix	Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone	16 July
10	1983 German Grand Prix	Hockenheimring, Hockenheim	7 August
11	1983 Austrian Grand Prix	Österreichring, Spielberg	14 August
12	1983 Dutch Grand Prix	Circuit Zandvoort, Zandvoort	28 August
13	1983 Italian Grand Prix	Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza	11 September
14	1983 European Grand Prix	Brands Hatch, West Kingsdown	25 September
15	1983 South African Grand Prix	Kyalami, Midrand	15 October