1984 Monaco Grand Prix: F1 Race, Qualifying & Winners

Round 6 of the 1984 FIA Formula One World Championship returned to the Circuit de Monaco for the 42e Grand Prix Automobile de Monaco.

Ben Bush

By Ben Bush
Published on March 4, 2024

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Alain Prost won the rain-shortened 1984 Monaco Grand Prix, but Ayrton Senna’s charge to second announced the scale of the rookie’s talent. The stoppage left the result at 31 laps and awarded half points, with René Rene Arnoux later promoted to third following Tyrrell’s exclusion.

Race Guide

Season: 1984 F1 World Championship
Race date: 3 June 1984
Race start time: Start time unconfirmed local time (UTC+02:00)
Circuit: Circuit de Monaco
Laps: 31 laps (76 laps scheduled)
Circuit length: 3.312 km
1983 winner: Keke Rosberg

ResultDriver / TimeTeam
Pole positionAlain ProstMcLaren
Pole time1:22.661
Fastest lapAyrton SennaToleman
Fastest-lap time1:54.334 on lap 24
FirstAlain ProstMcLaren
SecondAyrton SennaToleman
ThirdRené ArnouxFerrari

Weekend Schedule

DateSessionLocal Time
31 May 1984Practice 1Morning; start unconfirmed
31 May 1984Qualifying 1Start time unconfirmed
2 June 1984Practice 2Morning; start unconfirmed
2 June 1984Qualifying 2Start time unconfirmed
3 June 1984Warm-upMorning; start unconfirmed
3 June 1984RaceStart time unconfirmed

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 6 leading the 1984 F1 World Championship on 24 points, with Niki Lauda on 18. McLaren – TAG headed the constructors’ standings after the preceding race with 42 points.

Race entries

Corrado Fabi deputised for Teo at Brabham because of his brother’s American racing commitments. Twenty grid places were available, putting considerable pressure on the slower entrants. Brundle withdrew after his practice accident, and both Arrows drivers were among those unable to qualify.

Thursday Free Practice

Thursday’s preparation demanded a different approach to engine power. Brabham used reduced-output BMW engines to improve response and reliability around the narrow streets, while Williams continued to struggle with understeer. Ayrton Senna was learning the circuit in the new Toleman, where balance and confidence mattered as much as outright power.

Thursday Qualifying

Michele Alboreto headed Thursday qualifying, giving Ferrari early encouragement. The short lap and heavy traffic made finding a clear run difficult, while the naturally aspirated cars struggled despite their expected advantage in agility.

Thursday Qualifying Classification

1984 Monaco Grand Prix first qualifying session, 31 May 1984

Pos.No.DriverTeamTimeLaps
127Michele AlboretoFerrari1:23.581—
216Derek WarwickRenault1:23.726—
37Alain ProstMcLaren1:23.944—
41Nelson PiquetBrabham1:24.139—
58Niki LaudaMcLaren1:24.508—
628Rene ArnouxFerrari1:24.661—
715Patrick TambayRenault1:24.828—
812Nigel MansellLotus1:24.927—
911Elio de AngelisLotus1:25.602—
1026Andrea de CesarisLigier1:25.939—
116Keke RosbergWilliams1:26.017—
125Jacques LaffiteWilliams1:27.356—
1325Francois HesnaultLigier1:27.678—
1424Piercarlo GhinzaniOsella1:27.723—
1519Ayrton SennaToleman1:27.865—
1617Marc SurerArrows1:27.919—
1718Thierry BoutsenArrows1:28.000—
1822Riccardo PatreseAlfa Romeo1:28.072—
1920Johnny CecottoToleman1:28.241—
2021Mauro BaldiSpirit1:28.360—
2123Eddie CheeverAlfa Romeo1:28.961—
229Philippe AlliotRAM1:29.637—
2310Jonathan PalmerRAM1:29.778—
242Corrado FabiBrabham1:31.618—
2514Manfred WinkelhockATS1:52.889—

Saturday Free Practice

The second day’s running underlined the cost of even a small mistake between Monaco’s barriers. Brundle’s heavy accident during the meeting left him concussed and unable to continue, while Manfred Winkelhock also needed treatment after a crash. With only twenty places available, the surviving drivers faced a crowded and unforgiving final qualifying session.

Saturday Qualifying

Alain Prost took pole on Saturday with 1:22.661, narrowly ahead of Nigel Mansell. Rene Arnoux and Michele Alboreto filled the second row, with Derek Warwick and Patrick Tambay behind them. Ayrton Senna qualified thirteenth, while Bellof secured the final starting place.

Saturday Qualifying Classification

1984 Monaco Grand Prix second qualifying session, 2 June 1984

Pos.No.DriverTeamTimeLaps
17Alain ProstMcLaren1:22.661—
212Nigel MansellLotus1:22.752—
328Rene ArnouxFerrari1:22.935—
427Michele AlboretoFerrari1:22.937—
516Derek WarwickRenault1:23.237—
615Patrick TambayRenault1:23.414—
726Andrea de CesarisLigier1:23.578—
88Niki LaudaMcLaren1:23.886—
91Nelson PiquetBrabham1:23.918—
106Keke RosbergWilliams1:24.151—
1111Elio de AngelisLotus1:24.426—
1214Manfred WinkelhockATS1:24.473—
1319Ayrton SennaToleman1:25.009—
1422Riccardo PatreseAlfa Romeo1:25.101—
152Corrado FabiBrabham1:25.290—
165Jacques LaffiteWilliams1:25.719—
1725Francois HesnaultLigier1:25.815—
1820Johnny CecottoToleman1:25.872—
1924Piercarlo GhinzaniOsella1:25.877—
2017Marc SurerArrows1:26.273—
2123Eddie CheeverAlfa Romeo1:26.471—
2218Thierry BoutsenArrows1:26.514—
2310Jonathan PalmerRAM1:27.458—
249Philippe AlliotRAM1:29.576—
2521Mauro BaldiSpirit1:30.146—

Combined Qualifying Classification

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

Pos.No.DriverTeamThursday TimeSaturday TimeBest TimeLaps
17Alain ProstMcLaren1:23.9441:22.6611:22.661—
212Nigel MansellLotus1:24.9271:22.7521:22.752—
328René ArnouxFerrari1:24.6611:22.9351:22.935—
427Michele AlboretoFerrari1:23.5811:22.9371:22.937—
516Derek WarwickRenault1:23.7261:23.2371:23.237—
615Patrick TambayRenault1:24.8281:23.4141:23.414—
726Andrea de CesarisLigier1:25.9391:23.5781:23.578—
88Niki LaudaMcLaren1:24.5081:23.8861:23.886—
91Nelson PiquetBrabham1:24.1391:23.9181:23.918—
106Keke RosbergWilliams1:26.0171:24.1511:24.151—
1111Elio de AngelisLotus1:25.6021:24.4261:24.426—
1214Manfred WinkelhockATS1:52.8891:24.4731:24.473—
1319Ayrton SennaToleman1:27.8651:25.0091:25.009—
1422Riccardo PatreseAlfa Romeo1:28.0721:25.1011:25.101—
152Corrado FabiBrabham1:31.6181:25.2901:25.290—
165Jacques LaffiteWilliams1:27.3561:25.7191:25.719—
1725François HesnaultLigier1:27.6781:25.8151:25.815—
1820Johnny CecottoToleman1:28.2411:25.8721:25.872—
1924Piercarlo GhinzaniOsella1:27.7231:25.8771:25.877—
204Stefan BellofTyrrell1:27.8341:26.117——
2117Marc SurerArrows1:27.9191:26.2731:26.273—
223Martin BrundleTyrrell1:27.8911:26.373——
2323Eddie CheeverAlfa Romeo1:28.9611:26.4711:26.471—
2418Thierry BoutsenArrows1:28.0001:26.5141:26.514—
2510Jonathan PalmerRAM1:29.7781:27.4581:27.458—
2621Mauro BaldiSpirit1:28.3601:30.1461:28.360—
279Philippe AlliotRAM1:29.6371:29.5761:29.576—

Sunday warm-up

Rain made the Sunday warm-up a very different exercise from dry qualifying. Water carried into the tunnel mixed with the residue on its surface, creating a particularly awkward change of grip. Before the delayed start, the tunnel was wetted deliberately so the drivers would not encounter such a sharp contrast with the rest of the circuit.

Warm-up Classification

1984 Monaco Grand Prix Warm-up, 3 June 1984

Pos.No.DriverTeamTime / GapLaps
18Niki LaudaMcLaren1:57.252—
226Andrea de CesarisLigier+1.026s—
36Keke RosbergWilliams+1.103s—
47Alain ProstMcLaren+1.963s—
516Derek WarwickRenault+2.533s—
611Elio de AngelisLotus+2.540s—
719Ayrton SennaToleman+2.640s—
827Michele AlboretoFerrari+3.003s—
924Piercarlo GhinzaniOsella+3.376s—
1012Nigel MansellLotus+4.096s—
1125Francois HesnaultLigier+4.870s—
121Nelson PiquetBrabham+5.130s—
132Corrado FabiBrabham+5.810s—
145Jacques LaffiteWilliams+5.876s—
1528Rene ArnouxFerrari+6.700s—
1622Riccardo PatreseAlfa Romeo+7.883s—
1720Johnny CecottoToleman+9.306s—
1815Patrick TambayRenault+10.450s—
1914Manfred WinkelhockATS+13.063s—

What happened in the 1984 Monaco Grand Prix?

Both Renaults were eliminated at the first corner, with Patrick Tambay suffering a leg injury. Alain Prost led initially, but Nigel Mansell moved ahead and began pulling away before sliding on the painted road surface and hitting the barriers. Niki Lauda also spun out as the rain continued.

Ayrton Senna advanced from thirteenth and rapidly closed on Alain Prost, whose brakes were difficult to keep at an effective temperature. Bellof was also charging through the field. Race control stopped the contest, with the result taken from the end of lap 31, when Alain Prost was still ahead.

Alain Prost was declared the winner and Ayrton Senna took his first podium. Bellof initially stood third, but Tyrrell’s later exclusion promoted Rene Arnoux, Keke Rosberg, de Elio de Angelis and Michele Alboreto in the revised points order. Half points were awarded because the race had ended well short of its scheduled distance.

After the race, Alain Prost headed the drivers’ standings with 28.5 points, followed by Niki Lauda on 18. McLaren – TAG led the constructors’ table on 46.5, with Ferrari on 24.5.

1984 Monaco Grand Prix race results

The 1984 Monaco Grand Prix was held on 3 June 1984.

Pos.No.DriverTeamLapsTime / RetiredPts.
17Alain ProstMcLaren311:01:07.7404.5
219Ayrton SennaToleman31+ 7.4463
328René ArnouxFerrari31+ 29.0772
46Keke RosbergWilliams31+ 35.2461.5
511Elio de AngelisLotus31+ 44.4391
627Michele AlboretoFerrari30+ 1 Lap0.5
724Piercarlo GhinzaniOsella30+ 1 Lap0
85Jacques LaffiteWilliams30+ 1 Lap0
DSQ4Stefan BellofTyrrell31Underweight car (+21.141)0
Ret22Riccardo PatreseAlfa Romeo24Steering0
Ret8Niki LaudaMcLaren23Spun Off0
Ret14Manfred WinkelhockATS22Spun Off0
Ret12Nigel MansellLotus15Spun Off0
Ret1Nelson PiquetBrabham14Electrical0
Ret25François HesnaultLigier12Electrical0
Ret2Corrado FabiBrabham9Electrical0
Ret20Johnny CecottoToleman1Spun Off0
Ret16Derek WarwickRenault0Collision0
Ret15Patrick TambayRenault0Collision0
Ret26Andrea de CesarisLigier0Accident0
DNQ17Marc SurerArrows0
DNQ3Martin BrundleTyrrell0
DNQ23Eddie CheeverAlfa Romeo0
DNQ18Thierry BoutsenArrows0
DNQ10Jonathan PalmerRAM0
DNQ21Mauro BaldiSpirit0
DNQ9Philippe AlliotRAM0

1984 Monaco Grand Prix Fastest Laps

Pos.No.DriverTeamLapTime
119Ayrton SennaToleman241:54.334
211Elio de AngelisLotus261:55.026
312Nigel MansellLotus131:55.112
427Michele AlboretoFerrari221:55.437
528Rene ArnouxFerrari261:55.541
67Alain ProstMcLaren191:55.596
714Manfred WinkelhockATS211:55.712
86Keke RosbergWilliams251:55.775
95Jacques LaffiteWilliams251:56.946
108Niki LaudaMcLaren221:56.996
1124Piercarlo GhinzaniOsella101:57.439
1222Riccardo PatreseAlfa Romeo241:58.527
131Nelson PiquetBrabham111:58.897
1425Francois HesnaultLigier121:59.644
152Corrado FabiBrabham62:04.465
1620Johnny CecottoToleman12:35.136

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

1984 Post-Race F1 Championship Standings

Championship standings after the 1984 Monaco Grand Prix.

1984 Post-Race F1 Drivers' Championship Standings

POSDriverNationalityCarPTS
1Alain ProstFrenchMcLaren28.5
2Niki LaudaAustrianMcLaren18
3René ArnouxFrenchFerrari15
4Derek WarwickBritishRenault13
5Elio de AngelisItalianLotus13
6Keke RosbergFinnishWilliams11.5
7Michele AlboretoItalianFerrari9.5
8Patrick TambayFrenchRenault8
9Ayrton SennaBrazilianToleman5
10Nigel MansellBritishLotus4
11Eddie CheeverAmericanAlfa Romeo3
12Riccardo PatreseItalianAlfa Romeo3
13Andrea de CesarisItalianLigier3
14Thierry BoutsenBelgianArrows3
–Marc SurerSwissArrows0
–Piercarlo GhinzaniItalianOsella0
–Mauro BaldiItalianSpirit0
–Jacques LaffiteFrenchWilliams0
–Jonathan PalmerBritishRAM0
–Nelson PiquetBrazilianBrabham0
–Teo FabiItalianBrabham0
–François HesnaultFrenchLigier0
–Stefan BellofGermanTyrrell0
–Martin BrundleBritishTyrrell0
–Manfred WinkelhockGermanATS0
–Philippe AlliotFrenchRAM0
–Johnny CecottoVenezuelanToleman0
–Jo GartnerAustrianOsella0
–Corrado FabiItalianBrabham0

1984 Post-Race F1 Constructors' Championship Standings

POSCarPTS
1McLaren – TAG46.5
2Ferrari24.5
3Renault21
4Lotus – Renault17
5Williams – Honda11.5
6Alfa Romeo6
7Toleman – Hart5
8Arrows – Ford3
9Ligier – Renault3
—Osella – Alfa Romeo0
—Spirit – Hart0
—RAM – Hart0
—Brabham – BMW0
—Arrows – BMW0
—Tyrrell – Ford0
—ATS – BMW0

Drivers counted their best eleven results; constructors counted every round. The standings here show the position after this race. These results and points include Tyrrell’s retrospective exclusion from the entire season. Contemporary standings before the redistribution differ.

1984 Formula 1 Race Calendar

RoundGrand PrixCircuitDate
11984 Brazilian Grand PrixJacarepaguá, Rio de Janeiro25 March
21984 South African Grand PrixKyalami, Midrand7 April
31984 Belgian Grand PrixCircuit Zolder, Heusden-Zolder29 April
41984 San Marino Grand PrixAutodromo Dino Ferrari, Imola6 May
51984 French Grand PrixDijon-Prenois, Dijon20 May
61984 Monaco Grand PrixCircuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo3 June
71984 Canadian Grand PrixCircuit Gilles-Villeneuve, Montréal17 June
81984 Detroit Grand PrixDetroit Street Circuit, Detroit, Michigan24 June
91984 Dallas Grand PrixFair Park, Dallas, Texas8 July
101984 British Grand PrixBrands Hatch, West Kingsdown22 July
111984 German Grand PrixHockenheimring, Hockenheim5 August
121984 Austrian Grand PrixÖsterreichring, Spielberg19 August
131984 Dutch Grand PrixCircuit Zandvoort, Zandvoort26 August
141984 Italian Grand PrixAutodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza9 September
151984 European Grand PrixNürburgring, Nürburg7 October
161984 Portuguese Grand PrixAutódromo do Estoril, Estoril21 October

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Ben Bush

Staff Writer

Ben Bush

Ben is a staff writer specialising in F1 from the 1990s to the modern era. Ben has been following Formula 1 since 1986 and is an avid researcher who loves understanding the technology that makes it one of the most exciting motorsport on the planet. He listens to podcasts about F1 on a daily basis, and enjoys reading books from the inspirational Adrian Newey to former F1 drivers.