Alain Prost took a decisive victory in the 1985 Italian Grand Prix after Keke Rosberg’s late retirement. Nelson Piquet and Ayrton Senna completed the podium, while Michele Alboreto’s engine failure left Ferrari’s home crowd facing a damaging turn in the championship.
Race Guide
Season: 1985 F1 World Championship
Race date: 8 September 1985
Race start time: Start time unconfirmed local time (UTC+02:00)
Circuit: Autodromo Nazionale di Monza
Laps: 51 laps
Circuit length: 5.800 km
1984 winner: Niki Lauda
| Result | Driver / Time | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Pole position | Ayrton Senna | Lotus |
| Pole time | 1:25.084 | |
| Fastest lap | Nigel Mansell | Williams |
| Fastest-lap time | 1:28.283 on lap 38 | |
| First | Alain Prost | McLaren |
| Second | Nelson Piquet | Brabham |
| Third | Ayrton Senna | Lotus |
Weekend Schedule
| Date | Session | Local Time |
|---|---|---|
| 6 September 1985 | Practice 1 | Morning; start unconfirmed |
| 6 September 1985 | Qualifying 1 | Start time unconfirmed |
| 7 September 1985 | Practice 2 | Morning; start unconfirmed |
| 7 September 1985 | Qualifying 2 | Start time unconfirmed |
| 8 September 1985 | Warm-up | Morning; start unconfirmed |
| 8 September 1985 | 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 12 leading the 1985 F1 World Championship on 56 points, with Michele Alboreto on 53. Ferrari headed the constructors’ standings after the preceding race with 75 points.
Race entries
Alan Jones returned with the new Haas Lola team and its Hart-powered car. Tyrrell entered only Martin Brundle following Stefan Bellof’s death in the Spa sports-car race. Zakspeed also missed Monza because Jonathan Palmer had been injured during practice at the same meeting.
Friday Free Practice
Ayrton Senna used Friday morning to learn Monza for the first time, while the long straights immediately put engines under sustained pressure. The teams arrived without major new designs, but detailed development of power, cooling and suspension continued. Ferrari’s supporters hoped the home circuit would allow Michele Alboreto to regain the initiative against Alain Prost.
Friday Qualifying
Nelson Piquet headed Friday qualifying with 1:25.679, ahead of Keke Rosberg and Nigel Mansell. Ayrton Senna was fourth as he continued to find time on the unfamiliar circuit.
Friday Qualifying Classification
1985 Italian Grand Prix first qualifying session, 6 September 1985
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Time | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | Nelson Piquet | Brabham | 1:25.679 | — |
| 2 | 6 | Keke Rosberg | Williams | 1:26.161 | — |
| 3 | 5 | Nigel Mansell | Williams | 1:26.960 | — |
| 4 | 12 | Ayrton Senna | Lotus | 1:27.009 | — |
| 5 | 11 | Elio de Angelis | Lotus | 1:27.098 | — |
| 6 | 27 | Michele Alboreto | Ferrari | 1:27.552 | — |
| 7 | 2 | Alain Prost | McLaren | 1:27.576 | — |
| 8 | 17 | Gerhard Berger | Arrows | 1:27.746 | — |
| 9 | 8 | Marc Surer | Brabham | 1:27.799 | — |
| 10 | 16 | Derek Warwick | Renault | 1:28.119 | — |
| 11 | 18 | Thierry Boutsen | Arrows | 1:28.369 | — |
| 12 | 1 | Niki Lauda | McLaren | 1:28.472 | — |
| 13 | 15 | Patrick Tambay | Renault | 1:28.578 | — |
| 14 | 28 | Stefan Johansson | Ferrari | 1:29.011 | — |
| 15 | 19 | Teo Fabi | Toleman | 1:29.050 | — |
| 16 | 22 | Riccardo Patrese | Alfa Romeo | 1:29.068 | — |
| 17 | 23 | Eddie Cheever | Alfa Romeo | 1:29.298 | — |
| 18 | 26 | Jacques Laffite | Ligier | 1:30.186 | — |
| 19 | 20 | Piercarlo Ghinzani | Toleman | 1:30.271 | — |
| 20 | 25 | Philippe Streiff | Ligier | 1:31.727 | — |
| 21 | 3 | Martin Brundle | Tyrrell | 1:33.503 | — |
| 22 | 24 | Huub Rothengatter | Osella | 1:33.529 | — |
| 23 | 10 | Kenny Acheson | RAM | 1:34.919 | — |
| 24 | 33 | Alan Jones | Lola | 1:34.943 | — |
| 25 | 29 | Pierluigi Martini | Minardi | 1:35.770 | — |
| 26 | 9 | Philippe Alliot | RAM | 1:36.221 | — |
Saturday Free Practice
Alan Jones lost both Hart engines during Saturday testing, leaving the new team struggling to complete replacements in time for qualifying. Nigel Mansell also survived a high-speed rear-tyre deflation without hitting the barriers. Williams inspected his car while he switched to the spare for the timed session.
Saturday Qualifying
Ayrton Senna took pole on Saturday with 1:25.084, beating Keke Rosberg and Nigel Mansell. Nelson Piquet qualified fourth, with his final attempt compromised by oil from Thierry Boutsen’s failed engine. Alain Prost started fifth and Michele Alboreto seventh, setting up another demanding race for the title contenders.
Saturday Qualifying Classification
1985 Italian Grand Prix second qualifying session, 7 September 1985
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Time | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | Ayrton Senna | Lotus | 1:25.084 | — |
| 2 | 6 | Keke Rosberg | Williams | 1:25.230 | — |
| 3 | 5 | Nigel Mansell | Williams | 1:25.486 | — |
| 4 | 7 | Nelson Piquet | Brabham | 1:25.584 | — |
| 5 | 2 | Alain Prost | McLaren | 1:25.790 | — |
| 6 | 11 | Elio de Angelis | Lotus | 1:26.044 | — |
| 7 | 27 | Michele Alboreto | Ferrari | 1:26.468 | — |
| 8 | 15 | Patrick Tambay | Renault | 1:27.020 | — |
| 9 | 8 | Marc Surer | Brabham | 1:27.153 | — |
| 10 | 28 | Stefan Johansson | Ferrari | 1:27.473 | — |
| 11 | 17 | Gerhard Berger | Arrows | 1:27.723 | — |
| 12 | 16 | Derek Warwick | Renault | 1:28.112 | — |
| 13 | 22 | Riccardo Patrese | Alfa Romeo | 1:28.340 | — |
| 14 | 19 | Teo Fabi | Toleman | 1:28.386 | — |
| 15 | 23 | Eddie Cheever | Alfa Romeo | 1:28.629 | — |
| 16 | 18 | Thierry Boutsen | Arrows | 1:28.760 | — |
| 17 | 3 | Martin Brundle | Tyrrell | 1:28.793 | — |
| 18 | 1 | Niki Lauda | McLaren | 1:28.949 | — |
| 19 | 25 | Philippe Streiff | Ligier | 1:29.839 | — |
| 20 | 26 | Jacques Laffite | Ligier | 1:30.376 | — |
| 21 | 20 | Piercarlo Ghinzani | Toleman | 1:31.449 | — |
| 22 | 29 | Pierluigi Martini | Minardi | 1:33.981 | — |
| 23 | 9 | Philippe Alliot | RAM | 1:37.664 | — |
| 24 | 24 | Huub Rothengatter | Osella | 1:37.664 | — |
| 25 | 10 | Kenny Acheson | RAM | 1:38.325 | — |
| 26 | 33 | Alan Jones | Lola | 1:45.823 | — |
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 | 12 | Ayrton Senna | Lotus | 1:27.009 | 1:25.084 | 1:25.084 | — |
| 2 | 6 | Keke Rosberg | Williams | 1:26.161 | 1:25.230 | 1:25.230 | — |
| 3 | 5 | Nigel Mansell | Williams | 1:26.960 | 1:25.486 | 1:25.486 | — |
| 4 | 7 | Nelson Piquet | Brabham | 1:25.679 | 1:25.584 | 1:25.584 | — |
| 5 | 2 | Alain Prost | McLaren | 1:27.576 | 1:25.790 | 1:25.790 | — |
| 6 | 11 | Elio de Angelis | Lotus | 1:27.098 | 1:26.044 | 1:26.044 | — |
| 7 | 27 | Michele Alboreto | Ferrari | 1:27.552 | 1:26.468 | 1:26.468 | — |
| 8 | 15 | Patrick Tambay | Renault | 1:28.578 | 1:27.020 | 1:27.020 | — |
| 9 | 8 | Marc Surer | Brabham | 1:27.799 | 1:27.153 | 1:27.153 | — |
| 10 | 28 | Stefan Johansson | Ferrari | 1:29.011 | 1:27.473 | 1:27.473 | — |
| 11 | 17 | Gerhard Berger | Arrows | 1:27.746 | 1:27.723 | 1:27.723 | — |
| 12 | 16 | Derek Warwick | Renault | 1:28.119 | 1:28.112 | 1:28.112 | — |
| 13 | 22 | Riccardo Patrese | Alfa Romeo | 1:29.068 | 1:28.340 | 1:28.340 | — |
| 14 | 18 | Thierry Boutsen | Arrows | 1:28.369 | 1:28.760 | 1:28.369 | — |
| 15 | 19 | Teo Fabi | Toleman | 1:29.050 | 1:28.386 | 1:28.386 | — |
| 16 | 1 | Niki Lauda | McLaren | 1:28.472 | 1:28.949 | 1:28.472 | — |
| 17 | 23 | Eddie Cheever | Alfa Romeo | 1:29.298 | 1:28.629 | 1:28.629 | — |
| 18 | 3 | Martin Brundle | Tyrrell | 1:33.503 | 1:28.793 | 1:28.793 | — |
| 19 | 25 | Philippe Streiff | Ligier | 1:31.727 | 1:29.839 | 1:29.839 | — |
| 20 | 26 | Jacques Laffite | Ligier | 1:30.186 | 1:30.376 | 1:30.186 | — |
| 21 | 20 | Piercarlo Ghinzani | Toleman | 1:30.271 | 1:31.449 | 1:30.271 | — |
| 22 | 24 | Huub Rothengatter | Osella | 1:33.529 | 1:37.664 | 1:33.529 | — |
| 23 | 29 | Pierluigi Martini | Minardi | 1:35.770 | 1:33.981 | 1:33.981 | — |
| 24 | 10 | Kenny Acheson | RAM | 1:34.919 | 1:38.325 | 1:34.919 | — |
| 25 | 33 | Alan Jones | Lola | 1:34.943 | 1:45.823 | 1:34.943 | — |
| 26 | 9 | Philippe Alliot | RAM | 1:36.221 | 1:37.664 | 1:36.221 | — |
Sunday warm-up
Alain Prost and Niki Lauda led the warm-up, confirming McLaren’s familiar improvement in race trim. Ayrton Senna felt his race engine lacked performance, but checks did not reveal a reason to replace it. With fuel consumption and tyre wear both important, several teams chose different strategies for their two drivers.
Warm-up Classification
1985 Italian Grand Prix Warm-up, 8 September 1985
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Time / Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | Alain Prost | McLaren | 1:29.361 | — |
| 2 | 1 | Niki Lauda | McLaren | +0.610s | — |
| 3 | 11 | Elio de Angelis | Lotus | +1.220s | — |
| 4 | 5 | Nigel Mansell | Williams | +1.290s | — |
| 5 | 7 | Nelson Piquet | Brabham | +1.736s | — |
| 6 | 27 | Michele Alboreto | Ferrari | +1.993s | — |
| 7 | 6 | Keke Rosberg | Williams | +2.240s | — |
| 8 | 8 | Marc Surer | Brabham | +2.696s | — |
| 9 | 15 | Patrick Tambay | Renault | No time | — |
| 10 | 20 | Piercarlo Ghinzani | Toleman | +3.173s | — |
| 11 | 12 | Ayrton Senna | Lotus | +3.280s | — |
| 12 | 28 | Stefan Johansson | Ferrari | +3.350s | — |
| 13 | 17 | Gerhard Berger | Arrows | +3.396s | — |
| 14 | 26 | Jacques Laffite | Ligier | +3.873s | — |
| 15 | 16 | Derek Warwick | Renault | No time | — |
| 16 | 23 | Eddie Cheever | Alfa Romeo | +4.270s | — |
| 17 | 3 | Martin Brundle | Tyrrell | +4.273s | — |
| 18 | 19 | Teo Fabi | Toleman | +4.640s | — |
| 19 | 18 | Thierry Boutsen | Arrows | +4.706s | — |
| 20 | 22 | Riccardo Patrese | Alfa Romeo | +5.213s | — |
| 21 | 25 | Philippe Streiff | Ligier | +5.243s | — |
| 22 | 29 | Pierluigi Martini | Minardi | +6.736s | — |
| 23 | 9 | Philippe Alliot | RAM | +7.250s | — |
| 24 | 33 | Alan Jones | Lola | +8.706s | — |
| 25 | 24 | Huub Rothengatter | Osella | +9.193s | — |
| 26 | 10 | Kenny Acheson | RAM | +10.346s | — |
What happened in the 1985 Italian Grand Prix?
Keke Rosberg took the lead at the start, with Nigel Mansell following him until a boost-control problem forced a stop. Alain Prost moved into second and kept the Williams in sight. Keke Rosberg regained the lead after his tyre stop and appeared on course for victory.
A late engine problem ended Keke Rosberg’s race and handed the lead back to Alain Prost. Michele Alboreto then retired with engine failure, deepening Ferrari’s disappointment. Nelson Piquet worked forward after an early tyre stop, while Marc Surer’s harder tyres allowed him a strong non-stop run.
Alain Prost won comfortably from Nelson Piquet and Ayrton Senna, with Marc Surer close behind the Lotus in fourth. Stefan Johansson was classified fifth despite running out of fuel on his final lap, and de Elio de Angelis took sixth. Alain Prost’s championship advantage grew significantly as the season moved towards its conclusion.
After the race, Alain Prost headed the drivers’ standings with 65 points, followed by Michele Alboreto on 53. McLaren – TAG led the constructors’ table on 79, with Ferrari on 77.
1985 Italian Grand Prix race results
The 1985 Italian Grand Prix was held on 8 September 1985.
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Laps | Time / Retired | Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | Alain Prost | McLaren | 51 | 1:17:59.451 | 9 |
| 2 | 7 | Nelson Piquet | Brabham | 51 | + 51.635 | 6 |
| 3 | 12 | Ayrton Senna | Lotus | 51 | + 1:00.390 | 4 |
| 4 | 8 | Marc Surer | Brabham | 51 | + 1:00.609 | 3 |
| 5 | 28 | Stefan Johansson | Ferrari | 50 | + 1 Lap | 2 |
| 6 | 11 | Elio de Angelis | Lotus | 50 | + 1 Lap | 1 |
| 7 | 15 | Patrick Tambay | Renault | 50 | + 1 Lap | 0 |
| 8 | 3 | Martin Brundle | Tyrrell | 50 | + 1 Lap | 0 |
| 9 | 18 | Thierry Boutsen | Arrows | 50 | + 1 Lap | 0 |
| 10 | 25 | Philippe Streiff | Ligier | 49 | + 2 Laps | 0 |
| 11 | 5 | Nigel Mansell | Williams | 47 | Engine | 0 |
| 12 | 19 | Teo Fabi | Toleman | 47 | + 4 Laps | 0 |
| 13 | 27 | Michele Alboreto | Ferrari | 45 | Engine | 0 |
| Ret | 6 | Keke Rosberg | Williams | 44 | Engine | 0 |
| Ret | 26 | Jacques Laffite | Ligier | 40 | Engine | 0 |
| Ret | 1 | Niki Lauda | McLaren | 33 | Transmission | 0 |
| Ret | 22 | Riccardo Patrese | Alfa Romeo | 31 | Exhaust | 0 |
| Ret | 24 | Huub Rothengatter | Osella | 26 | Engine | 0 |
| Ret | 9 | Philippe Alliot | RAM | 19 | Turbo | 0 |
| Ret | 17 | Gerhard Berger | Arrows | 13 | Engine | 0 |
| Ret | 16 | Derek Warwick | Renault | 9 | Transmission | 0 |
| Ret | 33 | Alan Jones | Lola | 6 | Engine | 0 |
| Ret | 23 | Eddie Cheever | Alfa Romeo | 3 | Engine | 0 |
| Ret | 10 | Kenny Acheson | RAM | 2 | Clutch | 0 |
| Ret | 29 | Pierluigi Martini | Minardi | Fuel Pump | 0 | |
| DNS | 20 | Piercarlo Ghinzani | Toleman | Non Starter | 0 |
1985 Italian Grand Prix Fastest Laps
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Lap | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | Nigel Mansell | Williams | 38 | 1:28.283 |
| 2 | 6 | Keke Rosberg | Williams | 39 | 1:28.421 |
| 3 | 2 | Alain Prost | McLaren | 27 | 1:29.714 |
| 4 | 1 | Niki Lauda | McLaren | 30 | 1:29.998 |
| 5 | 27 | Michele Alboreto | Ferrari | 45 | 1:30.163 |
| 6 | 7 | Nelson Piquet | Brabham | 36 | 1:30.436 |
| 7 | 28 | Stefan Johansson | Ferrari | 48 | 1:30.795 |
| 8 | 8 | Marc Surer | Brabham | 48 | 1:30.935 |
| 9 | 12 | Ayrton Senna | Lotus | 43 | 1:31.703 |
| 10 | 15 | Patrick Tambay | Renault | 43 | 1:31.745 |
| 11 | 11 | Elio de Angelis | Lotus | 10 | 1:31.896 |
| 12 | 26 | Jacques Laffite | Ligier | 27 | 1:32.448 |
| 13 | 18 | Thierry Boutsen | Arrows | 29 | 1:32.820 |
| 14 | 16 | Derek Warwick | Renault | 5 | 1:33.330 |
| 15 | 3 | Martin Brundle | Tyrrell | 20 | 1:33.418 |
| 16 | 25 | Philippe Streiff | Ligier | 35 | 1:33.575 |
| 17 | 19 | Teo Fabi | Toleman | 24 | 1:33.864 |
| 18 | 22 | Riccardo Patrese | Alfa Romeo | 24 | 1:34.784 |
| 19 | 9 | Philippe Alliot | RAM | 18 | 1:35.308 |
| 20 | 23 | Eddie Cheever | Alfa Romeo | 3 | 1:36.311 |
| 21 | 17 | Gerhard Berger | Arrows | 6 | 1:36.425 |
| 22 | 33 | Alan Jones | Lola | 6 | 1:36.536 |
| 23 | 24 | Huub Rothengatter | Osella | 18 | 1:37.585 |
| 24 | 10 | Kenny Acheson | RAM | 1 | 2:14.092 |
Only drivers with a recorded lap time appear. No fastest-lap bonus point was awarded.
1985 Post-Race F1 Championship Standings
Championship standings after the 1985 Italian Grand Prix.
1985 Post-Race F1 Drivers' Championship Standings
1985 Post-Race F1 Constructors' Championship Standings
| POS | Car | PTS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | McLaren – TAG | 79 |
| 2 | Ferrari | 77 |
| 3 | Lotus – Renault | 54 |
| 4 | Williams – Honda | 25 |
| 5 | Brabham – BMW | 24 |
| 6 | Renault | 15 |
| 7 | Ligier – Renault | 13 |
| 8 | Arrows – BMW | 9 |
| 9 | Tyrrell – Ford | 4 |
| — | Tyrrell – Renault | 0 |
| — | Alfa Romeo | 0 |
| — | Osella – Alfa Romeo | 0 |
| — | RAM – Hart | 0 |
| — | Zakspeed | 0 |
| — | Minardi – Motori Moderni | 0 |
| — | Toleman – Hart | 0 |
| — | Minardi – Ford | 0 |
| — | Spirit – Hart | 0 |
| — | Lola – Hart | 0 |
Drivers counted their best eleven results; constructors counted every round. The standings here show the position after this race.
1985 Formula 1 Race Calendar
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