Alain Prost won the 1984 San Marino Grand Prix at Imola despite a spin and troublesome brakes. René Rene Arnoux finished second and Elio de Angelis third, while fuel consumption dictated the closing stages for several of the leading runners.
Race Guide
Season: 1984 F1 World Championship
Race date: 6 May 1984
Race start time: Start time unconfirmed local time (UTC+02:00)
Circuit: Autodromo Dino Ferrari
Laps: 60 laps
Circuit length: 5.040 km
1983 winner: Patrick Tambay
| Result | Driver / Time | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Pole position | Nelson Piquet | Brabham |
| Pole time | 1:28.517 | |
| Fastest lap | Nelson Piquet | Brabham |
| Fastest-lap time | 1:33.275 on lap 48 | |
| First | Alain Prost | McLaren |
| Second | René Arnoux | Ferrari |
| Third | Elio de Angelis | Lotus |
Weekend Schedule
| Date | Session | Local Time |
|---|---|---|
| 4 May 1984 | Practice 1 | 10:30 (delayed) |
| 4 May 1984 | Qualifying 1 | 13:30–14:30 |
| 5 May 1984 | Practice 2 | Morning; start unconfirmed |
| 5 May 1984 | Qualifying 2 | Start time unconfirmed |
| 6 May 1984 | Warm-up | Morning; start unconfirmed |
| 6 May 1984 | Race | Start 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 4 leading the 1984 F1 World Championship on 15 points, with Derek Warwick on 10. McLaren – TAG headed the constructors’ standings after the preceding race with 24 points.
Race entries
Jo Gartner made his debut in a second Osella, using the older naturally aspirated car. Marc Surer took over Arrows’s BMW-powered machine for this event while Thierry Boutsen used the Cosworth car. Toleman’s dispute with Pirelli prevented both of its drivers from running on Friday.
Friday Free Practice
The medical helicopter’s late arrival delayed Friday practice by half an hour. Eddie Cheever immediately suffered turbo trouble, while McLaren investigated Niki Lauda’s water pump and Renault adjusted Derek Warwick’s suspension. Patrick Tambay and Derek Warwick set the pace before rain arrived at the end of the session, changing the task for qualifying.
Friday Qualifying
Friday qualifying began on a wet track and finished in rapidly improving conditions. Nelson Piquet timed his effort well to head Alain Prost and Patrick Tambay, while Michele Alboreto’s difficulties included running out of fuel near the end. Toleman remained absent throughout the session.
Friday Qualifying Classification
1984 San Marino Grand Prix first qualifying session, 4 May 1984
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Time | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Nelson Piquet | Brabham | 1:35.493 | — |
| 2 | 7 | Alain Prost | McLaren | 1:35.687 | — |
| 3 | 15 | Patrick Tambay | Renault | 1:36.250 | — |
| 4 | 26 | Andrea de Cesaris | Ligier | 1:36.613 | — |
| 5 | 16 | Derek Warwick | Renault | 1:36.706 | — |
| 6 | 6 | Keke Rosberg | Williams | 1:37.024 | — |
| 7 | 2 | Teo Fabi | Brabham | 1:37.594 | — |
| 8 | 8 | Niki Lauda | McLaren | 1:38.021 | — |
| 9 | 12 | Nigel Mansell | Lotus | 1:38.363 | — |
| 10 | 28 | Rene Arnoux | Ferrari | 1:38.389 | — |
| 11 | 11 | Elio de Angelis | Lotus | 1:38.423 | — |
| 12 | 25 | Francois Hesnault | Ligier | 1:40.356 | — |
| 13 | 24 | Piercarlo Ghinzani | Osella | 1:40.790 | — |
| 14 | 18 | Thierry Boutsen | Arrows | 1:40.920 | — |
| 15 | 22 | Riccardo Patrese | Alfa Romeo | 1:41.363 | — |
| 16 | 5 | Jacques Laffite | Williams | 1:41.891 | — |
| 17 | 17 | Marc Surer | Arrows | 1:42.046 | — |
| 18 | 21 | Mauro Baldi | Spirit | 1:42.249 | — |
| 19 | 23 | Eddie Cheever | Alfa Romeo | 1:42.731 | — |
| 20 | 9 | Philippe Alliot | RAM | 1:43.132 | — |
| 21 | 14 | Manfred Winkelhock | ATS | 1:47.362 | — |
| 22 | 27 | Michele Alboreto | Ferrari | 1:47.919 | — |
| 23 | 30 | Jo Gartner | Osella | 1:50.979 | — |
| 24 | 10 | Jonathan Palmer | RAM | 1:53.014 | — |
Saturday Free Practice
Drizzle persisted through Saturday morning, limiting the value of set-up comparisons. Toleman finally joined the running, but its lost day left little margin for further problems. Ferrari tried different engine and exhaust arrangements as it sought a recovery from its disappointing opening sessions.
Saturday Qualifying
Nelson Piquet retained pole on Saturday, ahead of Alain Prost, Keke Rosberg and Derek Warwick. Ayrton Senna’s misfiring engine left him outside the grid after only one day of running; it would be the only failure to qualify of his Formula 1 career. Piercarlo Ghinzani also missed the race.
Saturday Qualifying Classification
1984 San Marino Grand Prix second qualifying session, 5 May 1984
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Time | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Nelson Piquet | Brabham | 1:28.517 | — |
| 2 | 7 | Alain Prost | McLaren | 1:28.628 | — |
| 3 | 6 | Keke Rosberg | Williams | 1:29.418 | — |
| 4 | 16 | Derek Warwick | Renault | 1:29.682 | — |
| 5 | 8 | Niki Lauda | McLaren | 1:30.325 | — |
| 6 | 28 | Rene Arnoux | Ferrari | 1:30.411 | — |
| 7 | 14 | Manfred Winkelhock | ATS | 1:30.723 | — |
| 8 | 23 | Eddie Cheever | Alfa Romeo | 1:30.843 | — |
| 9 | 2 | Teo Fabi | Brabham | 1:30.950 | — |
| 10 | 22 | Riccardo Patrese | Alfa Romeo | 1:31.163 | — |
| 11 | 11 | Elio de Angelis | Lotus | 1:31.173 | — |
| 12 | 26 | Andrea de Cesaris | Ligier | 1:31.256 | — |
| 13 | 27 | Michele Alboreto | Ferrari | 1:31.282 | — |
| 14 | 15 | Patrick Tambay | Renault | 1:31.663 | — |
| 15 | 5 | Jacques Laffite | Williams | 1:32.600 | — |
| 16 | 17 | Marc Surer | Arrows | 1:33.063 | — |
| 17 | 25 | Francois Hesnault | Ligier | 1:33.186 | — |
| 18 | 12 | Nigel Mansell | Lotus | 1:34.477 | — |
| 19 | 20 | Johnny Cecotto | Toleman | 1:35.568 | — |
| 20 | 18 | Thierry Boutsen | Arrows | 1:36.018 | — |
| 21 | 9 | Philippe Alliot | RAM | 1:36.733 | — |
| 22 | 21 | Mauro Baldi | Spirit | 1:36.916 | — |
| 23 | 10 | Jonathan Palmer | RAM | 1:37.262 | — |
| 24 | 30 | Jo Gartner | Osella | 1:38.948 | — |
| 25 | 19 | Ayrton Senna | Toleman | 1:41.585 | — |
| 26 | 24 | Piercarlo Ghinzani | Osella | 2:05.421 | — |
Combined Qualifying Classification
Each driver’s faster time from the two qualifying sessions determined the overall order.
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Friday Time | Saturday Time | Best Time | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Nelson Piquet | Brabham | 1:35.493 | 1:28.517 | 1:28.517 | — |
| 2 | 7 | Alain Prost | McLaren | 1:35.687 | 1:28.628 | 1:28.628 | — |
| 3 | 6 | Keke Rosberg | Williams | 1:37.024 | 1:29.418 | 1:29.418 | — |
| 4 | 16 | Derek Warwick | Renault | 1:36.706 | 1:29.682 | 1:29.682 | — |
| 5 | 8 | Niki Lauda | McLaren | 1:38.021 | 1:30.325 | 1:30.325 | — |
| 6 | 28 | René Arnoux | Ferrari | 1:38.389 | 1:30.411 | 1:30.411 | — |
| 7 | 14 | Manfred Winkelhock | ATS | 1:47.362 | 1:30.723 | 1:30.723 | — |
| 8 | 23 | Eddie Cheever | Alfa Romeo | 1:42.731 | 1:30.843 | 1:30.843 | — |
| 9 | 2 | Teo Fabi | Brabham | 1:37.594 | 1:30.950 | 1:30.950 | — |
| 10 | 22 | Riccardo Patrese | Alfa Romeo | 1:41.363 | 1:31.163 | 1:31.163 | — |
| 11 | 11 | Elio de Angelis | Lotus | 1:38.423 | 1:31.173 | 1:31.173 | — |
| 12 | 26 | Andrea de Cesaris | Ligier | 1:36.613 | 1:31.256 | 1:31.256 | — |
| 13 | 27 | Michele Alboreto | Ferrari | 1:47.919 | 1:31.282 | 1:31.282 | — |
| 14 | 15 | Patrick Tambay | Renault | 1:36.250 | 1:31.663 | 1:31.663 | — |
| 15 | 5 | Jacques Laffite | Williams | 1:41.891 | 1:32.600 | 1:32.600 | — |
| 16 | 17 | Marc Surer | Arrows | 1:42.046 | 1:33.063 | 1:33.063 | — |
| 17 | 25 | François Hesnault | Ligier | 1:40.356 | 1:33.186 | 1:33.186 | — |
| 18 | 12 | Nigel Mansell | Lotus | 1:38.363 | 1:34.477 | 1:34.477 | — |
| 19 | 20 | Johnny Cecotto | Toleman | no time | 1:35.568 | 1:35.568 | — |
| 20 | 18 | Thierry Boutsen | Arrows | 1:40.920 | 1:36.018 | 1:36.018 | — |
| 21 | 4 | Stefan Bellof | Tyrrell | 1:39.765 | 1:36.059 | — | — |
| 22 | 3 | Martin Brundle | Tyrrell | 1:41.123 | 1:36.531 | — | — |
| 23 | 9 | Philippe Alliot | RAM | 1:43.132 | 1:36.733 | 1:36.733 | — |
| 24 | 21 | Mauro Baldi | Spirit | 1:42.249 | 1:36.916 | 1:36.916 | — |
| 25 | 10 | Jonathan Palmer | RAM | 1:53.014 | 1:37.262 | 1:37.262 | — |
| 26 | 30 | Jo Gartner | Osella | 1:50.979 | 1:38.948 | 1:38.948 | — |
| 27 | 24 | Piercarlo Ghinzani | Osella | 1:40.790 | 2:05.421 | 1:40.790 | — |
| 28 | 19 | Ayrton Senna | Toleman | no time | 1:41.585 | 1:41.585 | — |
Sunday warm-up
Sunshine transformed the circuit for Sunday’s warm-up. Teams had only half an hour to check dry settings, ride heights and tyre choices after the mixed conditions of practice. Patrick Tambay’s engine overheated when a protective radiator cover was left in place, prompting an urgent replacement before the race.
Warm-up Classification
1984 San Marino Grand Prix Warm-up, 6 May 1984
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Time / Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | Alain Prost | McLaren | 1:33.540 | — |
| 2 | 28 | Rene Arnoux | Ferrari | +0.233s | — |
| 3 | 27 | Michele Alboreto | Ferrari | +0.810s | — |
| 4 | 8 | Niki Lauda | McLaren | +0.946s | — |
| 5 | 15 | Patrick Tambay | Renault | +1.526s | — |
| 6 | 1 | Nelson Piquet | Brabham | +1.776s | — |
| 7 | 2 | Teo Fabi | Brabham | +2.150s | — |
| 8 | 16 | Derek Warwick | Renault | +2.196s | — |
| 9 | 26 | Andrea de Cesaris | Ligier | +2.420s | — |
| 10 | 11 | Elio de Angelis | Lotus | +2.746s | — |
| 11 | 6 | Keke Rosberg | Williams | +3.403s | — |
| 12 | 5 | Jacques Laffite | Williams | +3.420s | — |
| 13 | 22 | Riccardo Patrese | Alfa Romeo | +3.450s | — |
| 14 | 12 | Nigel Mansell | Lotus | +3.730s | — |
| 15 | 25 | Francois Hesnault | Ligier | +3.936s | — |
| 16 | 23 | Eddie Cheever | Alfa Romeo | +4.000s | — |
| 17 | 14 | Manfred Winkelhock | ATS | +5.196s | — |
| 18 | 21 | Mauro Baldi | Spirit | +5.450s | — |
| 19 | 20 | Johnny Cecotto | Toleman | +6.286s | — |
| 20 | 18 | Thierry Boutsen | Arrows | +6.330s | — |
| 21 | 10 | Jonathan Palmer | RAM | +6.720s | — |
| 22 | 17 | Marc Surer | Arrows | +7.693s | — |
| 23 | 9 | Philippe Alliot | RAM | +8.016s | — |
| 24 | 30 | Jo Gartner | Osella | +9.386s | — |
What happened in the 1984 San Marino Grand Prix?
Alain Prost took control as the race developed, with McLaren again showing strong pace over a stint. A brake-related spin forced him to change his flat-spotted tyres, but his advantage was large enough to survive the stop. Nelson Piquet’s challenge ended with engine trouble.
Rene Arnoux moved into second as Derek Warwick had to reduce his pace to conserve fuel. De Elio de Angelis ran out on the final lap but had completed enough distance to remain third. Derek Warwick could not safely unlap himself and make another circuit, so settled for fourth.
Alain Prost secured his second victory of the season, ahead of Rene Arnoux and de Elio de Angelis. Thierry Boutsen and de Andrea de Cesaris ultimately completed the points after Bellof’s result was removed with Tyrrell’s season-long exclusion. The closing laps underlined how heavily the new fuel restrictions could influence the result.
After the race, Alain Prost headed the drivers’ standings with 24 points, followed by Derek Warwick on 13. McLaren – TAG led the constructors’ table on 33, with Ferrari on 19.
1984 San Marino Grand Prix race results
The 1984 San Marino Grand Prix was held on 6 May 1984.
1984 San Marino Grand Prix Fastest Laps
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Lap | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Nelson Piquet | Brabham | 48 | 1:33.275 |
| 2 | 28 | Rene Arnoux | Ferrari | 44 | 1:33.373 |
| 3 | 7 | Alain Prost | McLaren | 50 | 1:33.580 |
| 4 | 26 | Andrea de Cesaris | Ligier | 55 | 1:34.415 |
| 5 | 11 | Elio de Angelis | Lotus | 54 | 1:34.525 |
| 6 | 8 | Niki Lauda | McLaren | 11 | 1:34.686 |
| 7 | 2 | Teo Fabi | Brabham | 44 | 1:35.534 |
| 8 | 23 | Eddie Cheever | Alfa Romeo | 27 | 1:35.849 |
| 9 | 16 | Derek Warwick | Renault | 12 | 1:36.000 |
| 10 | 27 | Michele Alboreto | Ferrari | 20 | 1:36.053 |
| 11 | 17 | Marc Surer | Arrows | 25 | 1:37.089 |
| 12 | 14 | Manfred Winkelhock | ATS | 11 | 1:37.319 |
| 13 | 10 | Jonathan Palmer | RAM | 44 | 1:37.472 |
| 14 | 9 | Philippe Alliot | RAM | 47 | 1:38.199 |
| 15 | 20 | Johnny Cecotto | Toleman | 52 | 1:38.208 |
| 16 | 5 | Jacques Laffite | Williams | 11 | 1:38.517 |
| 17 | 22 | Riccardo Patrese | Alfa Romeo | 3 | 1:39.389 |
| 18 | 21 | Mauro Baldi | Spirit | 46 | 1:39.404 |
| 19 | 18 | Thierry Boutsen | Arrows | 52 | 1:39.430 |
| 20 | 6 | Keke Rosberg | Williams | 2 | 1:39.769 |
| 21 | 30 | Jo Gartner | Osella | 41 | 1:40.949 |
| 22 | 12 | Nigel Mansell | Lotus | 2 | 1:41.622 |
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 San Marino Grand Prix.
1984 Post-Race F1 Drivers' Championship Standings
| POS | Driver | Nationality | Car | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alain Prost | French | McLaren | 24 |
| 2 | Derek Warwick | British | Renault | 13 |
| 3 | René Arnoux | French | Ferrari | 10 |
| 4 | Elio de Angelis | Italian | Lotus | 10 |
| 5 | Michele Alboreto | Italian | Ferrari | 9 |
| 6 | Niki Lauda | Austrian | McLaren | 9 |
| 7 | Keke Rosberg | Finnish | Williams | 9 |
| 8 | Eddie Cheever | American | Alfa Romeo | 3 |
| 9 | Riccardo Patrese | Italian | Alfa Romeo | 3 |
| 10 | Thierry Boutsen | Belgian | Arrows | 3 |
| 11 | Andrea de Cesaris | Italian | Ligier | 3 |
| 12 | Patrick Tambay | French | Renault | 2 |
| 13 | Ayrton Senna | Brazilian | Toleman | 2 |
| – | Marc Surer | Swiss | Arrows | 0 |
| – | Mauro Baldi | Italian | Spirit | 0 |
| – | Jonathan Palmer | British | RAM | 0 |
| – | Nelson Piquet | Brazilian | Brabham | 0 |
| – | François Hesnault | French | Ligier | 0 |
| – | Martin Brundle | British | Tyrrell | 0 |
| – | Stefan Bellof | German | Tyrrell | 0 |
| – | Philippe Alliot | French | RAM | 0 |
| – | Johnny Cecotto | Venezuelan | Toleman | 0 |
| – | Nigel Mansell | British | Lotus | 0 |
| – | Teo Fabi | Italian | Brabham | 0 |
| – | Manfred Winkelhock | German | ATS | 0 |
| – | Jacques Laffite | French | Williams | 0 |
| – | Jo Gartner | Austrian | Osella | 0 |
| – | Piercarlo Ghinzani | Italian | Osella | 0 |
1984 Post-Race F1 Constructors' Championship Standings
| POS | Car | PTS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | McLaren – TAG | 33 |
| 2 | Ferrari | 19 |
| 3 | Renault | 15 |
| 4 | Lotus – Renault | 10 |
| 5 | Williams – Honda | 9 |
| 6 | Alfa Romeo | 6 |
| 7 | Arrows – Ford | 3 |
| 8 | Ligier – Renault | 3 |
| 9 | Toleman – Hart | 2 |
| — | Spirit – Hart | 0 |
| — | RAM – Hart | 0 |
| — | Brabham – BMW | 0 |
| — | Tyrrell – Ford | 0 |
| — | Osella – Alfa Romeo | 0 |
| — | ATS – BMW | 0 |
| — | Arrows – BMW | 0 |
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
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