Ayrton Senna announced himself as a Grand Prix winner with a magnificent wet-weather drive at Estoril in 1985. He led every lap from his first pole position, finishing more than a minute ahead of Michele Alboreto as Patrick Tambay completed the podium.
Race Guide
Season: 1985 F1 World Championship
Race date: 21 April 1985
Race start time: Start time unconfirmed local time (UTC+01:00)
Circuit: Autódromo do Estoril
Laps: 67 laps (70 laps scheduled)
Circuit length: 4.35 km
1984 winner: Alain Prost
| Result | Driver / Time | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Pole position | Ayrton Senna | Lotus |
| Pole time | 1:21.007 | |
| Fastest lap | Ayrton Senna | Lotus |
| Fastest-lap time | 1:44.121 on lap 15 | |
| First | Ayrton Senna | Lotus |
| Second | Michele Alboreto | Ferrari |
| Third | Patrick Tambay | Renault |
Weekend Schedule
| Date | Session | Local Time |
|---|---|---|
| 19 April 1985 | Practice 1 | Morning; start unconfirmed |
| 19 April 1985 | Qualifying 1 | Start time unconfirmed |
| 20 April 1985 | Practice 2 | Morning; start unconfirmed |
| 20 April 1985 | Qualifying 2 | Start time unconfirmed |
| 21 April 1985 | Warm-up | Morning; start unconfirmed |
| 21 April 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 2 leading the 1985 F1 World Championship on 9 points, with Michele Alboreto on 6. McLaren – TAG headed the constructors’ standings after the preceding race with 9 points.
Race entries
Stefan Johansson joined Ferrari following Rene Arnoux’s departure, while Stefan Bellof returned to Tyrrell. Zakspeed made its debut with Jonathan Palmer, bringing its own chassis and turbo engine. Toleman remained absent as it continued searching for a tyre supply.
Friday Free Practice
Changeable weather complicated Friday’s preparations. Lotus was still tracing the misfire that had troubled Ayrton Senna in Brazil, and a clutch problem in the spare also cost him running. Stefan Johansson had a new Ferrari to learn, while Zakspeed’s first Grand Prix weekend was as much about establishing reliable operation as chasing lap times.
Friday Qualifying
Ayrton Senna headed Friday qualifying from de Elio de Angelis, putting Lotus in a strong position despite its mechanical interruptions. Niki Lauda was third, but the changing conditions left the grid far from settled.
Friday Qualifying Classification
1985 Portuguese Grand Prix first qualifying session, 19 April 1985
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Time | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | Ayrton Senna | Lotus | 1:21.708 | — |
| 2 | 11 | Elio de Angelis | Lotus | 1:22.306 | — |
| 3 | 1 | Niki Lauda | McLaren | 1:23.670 | — |
| 4 | 27 | Michele Alboreto | Ferrari | 1:23.831 | — |
| 5 | 2 | Alain Prost | McLaren | 1:23.887 | — |
| 6 | 22 | Riccardo Patrese | Alfa Romeo | 1:24.519 | — |
| 7 | 16 | Derek Warwick | Renault | 1:24.538 | — |
| 8 | 25 | Andrea de Cesaris | Ligier | 1:24.723 | — |
| 9 | 18 | Thierry Boutsen | Arrows | 1:24.747 | — |
| 10 | 23 | Eddie Cheever | Alfa Romeo | 1:24.880 | — |
| 11 | 26 | Jacques Laffite | Ligier | 1:24.943 | — |
| 12 | 28 | Stefan Johansson | Ferrari | 1:25.136 | — |
| 13 | 7 | Nelson Piquet | Brabham | 1:25.580 | — |
| 14 | 15 | Patrick Tambay | Renault | 1:25.718 | — |
| 15 | 17 | Gerhard Berger | Arrows | 1:26.154 | — |
| 16 | 5 | Nigel Mansell | Williams | 1:26.459 | — |
| 17 | 4 | Stefan Bellof | Tyrrell | 1:27.284 | — |
| 18 | 10 | Philippe Alliot | RAM | 1:27.430 | — |
| 19 | 30 | Jonathan Palmer | Zakspeed | 1:28.166 | — |
| 20 | 3 | Martin Brundle | Tyrrell | 1:28.694 | — |
| 21 | 21 | Mauro Baldi | Spirit | 1:30.231 | — |
| 22 | 24 | Piercarlo Ghinzani | Osella | 1:30.855 | — |
| 23 | 29 | Pierluigi Martini | Minardi | 1:31.205 | — |
| 24 | 9 | Manfred Winkelhock | RAM | 1:34.876 | — |
| 25 | 8 | Francois Hesnault | Brabham | 14:46.042 | — |
| 26 | 6 | Keke Rosberg | Williams | 15:59.178 | — |
Saturday Free Practice
Williams had a difficult build-up, with abrupt Honda power delivery adding to its drivers’ workload. Nigel Mansell’s weekend also included a collision involving the Alfa Romeos, leaving repairs to complete. Ferrari was searching for better traction, and several Pirelli runners found race tyres more useful than the qualifying compounds in the conditions.
Saturday Qualifying
Ayrton Senna improved to 1:21.007 on Saturday and secured his first pole. Alain Prost joined him on the front row, ahead of Keke Rosberg and de Elio de Angelis. Michele Alboreto was fifth, while Stefan Johansson qualified eleventh for his Ferrari debut.
Saturday Qualifying Classification
1985 Portuguese Grand Prix second qualifying session, 20 April 1985
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Time | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | Ayrton Senna | Lotus | 1:21.007 | — |
| 2 | 2 | Alain Prost | McLaren | 1:21.420 | — |
| 3 | 6 | Keke Rosberg | Williams | 1:21.904 | — |
| 4 | 11 | Elio de Angelis | Lotus | 1:22.159 | — |
| 5 | 27 | Michele Alboreto | Ferrari | 1:22.577 | — |
| 6 | 16 | Derek Warwick | Renault | 1:23.084 | — |
| 7 | 1 | Niki Lauda | McLaren | 1:23.288 | — |
| 8 | 25 | Andrea de Cesaris | Ligier | 1:23.302 | — |
| 9 | 5 | Nigel Mansell | Williams | 1:23.594 | — |
| 10 | 7 | Nelson Piquet | Brabham | 1:23.618 | — |
| 11 | 28 | Stefan Johansson | Ferrari | 1:23.652 | — |
| 12 | 15 | Patrick Tambay | Renault | 1:24.111 | — |
| 13 | 22 | Riccardo Patrese | Alfa Romeo | 1:24.230 | — |
| 14 | 23 | Eddie Cheever | Alfa Romeo | 1:24.563 | — |
| 15 | 9 | Manfred Winkelhock | RAM | 1:24.721 | — |
| 16 | 17 | Gerhard Berger | Arrows | 1:24.842 | — |
| 17 | 8 | Francois Hesnault | Brabham | 1:25.717 | — |
| 18 | 26 | Jacques Laffite | Ligier | 1:26.181 | — |
| 19 | 10 | Philippe Alliot | RAM | 1:26.187 | — |
| 20 | 18 | Thierry Boutsen | Arrows | 1:26.695 | — |
| 21 | 4 | Stefan Bellof | Tyrrell | 1:27.474 | — |
| 22 | 3 | Martin Brundle | Tyrrell | 1:27.602 | — |
| 23 | 21 | Mauro Baldi | Spirit | 1:28.473 | — |
| 24 | 29 | Pierluigi Martini | Minardi | 1:28.596 | — |
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 | 1:21.708 | 1:21.007 | 1:21.007 | — |
| 2 | 2 | Alain Prost | McLaren | 1:23.887 | 1:21.420 | 1:21.420 | — |
| 3 | 6 | Keke Rosberg | Williams | 15:59.178 | 1:21.904 | 1:21.904 | — |
| 4 | 11 | Elio de Angelis | Lotus | 1:22.306 | 1:22.159 | 1:22.159 | — |
| 5 | 27 | Michele Alboreto | Ferrari | 1:23.831 | 1:22.577 | 1:22.577 | — |
| 6 | 16 | Derek Warwick | Renault | 1:24.538 | 1:23.084 | 1:23.084 | — |
| 7 | 1 | Niki Lauda | McLaren | 1:23.670 | 1:23.288 | 1:23.288 | — |
| 8 | 25 | Andrea de Cesaris | Ligier | 1:24.723 | 1:23.302 | 1:23.302 | — |
| 9 | 5 | Nigel Mansell | Williams | 1:26.459 | 1:23.594 | 1:23.594 | — |
| 10 | 7 | Nelson Piquet | Brabham | 1:25.580 | 1:23.618 | 1:23.618 | — |
| 11 | 28 | Stefan Johansson | Ferrari | 1:25.136 | 1:23.652 | 1:23.652 | — |
| 12 | 15 | Patrick Tambay | Renault | 1:25.718 | 1:24.111 | 1:24.111 | — |
| 13 | 22 | Riccardo Patrese | Alfa Romeo | 1:24.519 | 1:24.230 | 1:24.230 | — |
| 14 | 23 | Eddie Cheever | Alfa Romeo | 1:24.880 | 1:24.563 | 1:24.563 | — |
| 15 | 9 | Manfred Winkelhock | RAM | 1:34.876 | 1:24.721 | 1:24.721 | — |
| 16 | 18 | Thierry Boutsen | Arrows | 1:24.747 | 1:26.695 | 1:24.747 | — |
| 17 | 17 | Gerhard Berger | Arrows | 1:26.154 | 1:24.842 | 1:24.842 | — |
| 18 | 26 | Jacques Laffite | Ligier | 1:24.943 | 1:26.181 | 1:24.943 | — |
| 19 | 8 | François Hesnault | Brabham | 14:46.042 | 1:25.717 | 1:25.717 | — |
| 20 | 10 | Philippe Alliot | RAM | 1:27.430 | 1:26.187 | 1:26.187 | — |
| 21 | 4 | Stefan Bellof | Tyrrell | 1:27.284 | 1:27.474 | 1:27.284 | — |
| 22 | 3 | Martin Brundle | Tyrrell | 1:28.694 | 1:27.602 | 1:27.602 | — |
| 23 | 30 | Jonathan Palmer | Zakspeed | 1:28.166 | 1:28.166 | — | |
| 24 | 21 | Mauro Baldi | Spirit | 1:30.231 | 1:28.473 | 1:28.473 | — |
| 25 | 29 | Pierluigi Martini | Minardi | 1:31.205 | 1:28.596 | 1:28.596 | — |
| 26 | 24 | Piercarlo Ghinzani | Osella | 1:30.855 | 1:30.855 | — |
Sunday warm-up
The warm-up took place on a dry track, with Alain Prost fastest. That preparation was soon overtaken by events as heavy rain arrived before the start. Nigel Mansell and Pierluigi Martini damaged their cars on the way to the grid and had to begin from the pits, while the entire field faced a race very different from the morning session.
Warm-up Classification
1985 Portuguese Grand Prix Warm-up, 21 April 1985
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Time / Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | Alain Prost | McLaren | 1:24.680 | — |
| 2 | 11 | Elio de Angelis | Lotus | +0.116s | — |
| 3 | 28 | Stefan Johansson | Ferrari | +0.920s | — |
| 4 | 27 | Michele Alboreto | Ferrari | +1.093s | — |
| 5 | 1 | Niki Lauda | McLaren | +1.970s | — |
| 6 | 6 | Keke Rosberg | Williams | +2.496s | — |
| 7 | 12 | Ayrton Senna | Lotus | +2.656s | — |
| 8 | 25 | Andrea de Cesaris | Ligier | +2.823s | — |
| 9 | 30 | Jonathan Palmer | Zakspeed | +2.836s | — |
| 10 | 23 | Eddie Cheever | Alfa Romeo | +2.886s | — |
| 11 | 22 | Riccardo Patrese | Alfa Romeo | +3.000s | — |
| 12 | 7 | Nelson Piquet | Brabham | +3.323s | — |
| 13 | 18 | Thierry Boutsen | Arrows | +3.353s | — |
| 14 | 5 | Nigel Mansell | Williams | +3.436s | — |
| 15 | 16 | Derek Warwick | Renault | +3.693s | — |
| 16 | 26 | Jacques Laffite | Ligier | +3.713s | — |
| 17 | 4 | Stefan Bellof | Tyrrell | +4.183s | — |
| 18 | 15 | Patrick Tambay | Renault | +4.206s | — |
| 19 | 17 | Gerhard Berger | Arrows | +4.213s | — |
| 20 | 9 | Manfred Winkelhock | RAM | +4.253s | — |
| 21 | 21 | Mauro Baldi | Spirit | +5.013s | — |
| 22 | 3 | Martin Brundle | Tyrrell | +5.123s | — |
| 23 | 10 | Philippe Alliot | RAM | +5.510s | — |
| 24 | 24 | Piercarlo Ghinzani | Osella | +5.943s | — |
| 25 | 8 | Francois Hesnault | Brabham | +6.780s | — |
| 26 | 29 | Pierluigi Martini | Minardi | +8.513s | — |
What happened in the 1985 Portuguese Grand Prix?
Ayrton Senna led de Elio de Angelis away and rapidly built an advantage in the rain. Alain Prost pressed the second Lotus but could not find a way through, while spins and collisions disrupted much of the field. The Pirelli runners struggled particularly badly for grip.
As the rain intensified, Alain Prost spun into retirement and Ayrton Senna signalled his concern about the conditions. The race continued, with Michele Alboreto passing de Elio de Angelis for second. Patrick Tambay also moved ahead of the Lotus as de Elio de Angelis managed a tyre problem near the finish.
The two-hour limit ended the race after 67 laps. Ayrton Senna had lapped everyone except Michele Alboreto, producing an extraordinary first victory. Patrick Tambay finished third, followed by de Elio de Angelis, Nigel Mansell and Stefan Bellof, whose naturally aspirated Tyrrell collected the final point.
After the race, Michele Alboreto headed the drivers’ standings with 12 points, followed by Alain Prost on 9. Lotus – Renault led the constructors’ table on 16, with Ferrari on 15.
1985 Portuguese Grand Prix race results
The 1985 Portuguese Grand Prix was held on 21 April 1985.
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Laps | Time / Retired | Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | Ayrton Senna | Lotus | 67 | 2:00:28.006 | 9 |
| 2 | 27 | Michele Alboreto | Ferrari | 67 | + 1:02.978 | 6 |
| 3 | 15 | Patrick Tambay | Renault | 66 | + 1 lap | 4 |
| 4 | 11 | Elio de Angelis | Lotus | 66 | + 1 lap | 3 |
| 5 | 5 | Nigel Mansell | Williams | 65 | + 2 laps | 2 |
| 6 | 4 | Stefan Bellof | Tyrrell | 65 | + 2 laps | 1 |
| 7 | 16 | Derek Warwick | Renault | 65 | + 2 laps | 0 |
| 8 | 28 | Stefan Johansson | Ferrari | 62 | + 5 laps | 0 |
| 9 | 24 | Piercarlo Ghinzani | Osella | 61 | + 6 laps | 0 |
| NC | 9 | Manfred Winkelhock | RAM | 50 | + 17 laps | 0 |
| Ret | 1 | Niki Lauda | McLaren | 49 | Engine | 0 |
| Ret | 23 | Eddie Cheever | Alfa Romeo | 36 | Engine | 0 |
| Ret | 2 | Alain Prost | McLaren | 30 | Spun Off | 0 |
| Ret | 25 | Andrea de Cesaris | Ligier | 29 | Tyre | 0 |
| Ret | 7 | Nelson Piquet | Brabham | 28 | Tyre | 0 |
| Ret | 18 | Thierry Boutsen | Arrows | 28 | Electrical | 0 |
| Ret | 3 | Martin Brundle | Tyrrell | 20 | Transmission | 0 |
| Ret | 21 | Mauro Baldi | Spirit | 19 | Spun off | 0 |
| Ret | 6 | Keke Rosberg | Williams | 16 | Spun off | 0 |
| Ret | 26 | Jacques Laffite | Ligier | 15 | Tyre | 0 |
| Ret | 17 | Gerhard Berger | Arrows | 12 | Spun off | 0 |
| Ret | 29 | Pierluigi Martini | Minardi | 12 | Spun off | 0 |
| Ret | 22 | Riccardo Patrese | Alfa Romeo | 4 | Spun off | 0 |
| Ret | 10 | Philippe Alliot | RAM | 3 | Spun off | 0 |
| Ret | 8 | François Hesnault | Brabham | 3 | Electrical | 0 |
| Ret | 30 | Jonathan Palmer | Zakspeed | 2 | Suspension | 0 |
1985 Portuguese Grand Prix Fastest Laps
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Lap | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | Ayrton Senna | Lotus | 15 | 1:44.121 |
| 2 | 27 | Michele Alboreto | Ferrari | 5 | 1:44.864 |
| 3 | 2 | Alain Prost | McLaren | 8 | 1:44.901 |
| 4 | 11 | Elio de Angelis | Lotus | 13 | 1:45.212 |
| 5 | 6 | Keke Rosberg | Williams | 14 | 1:45.717 |
| 6 | 16 | Derek Warwick | Renault | 63 | 1:45.985 |
| 7 | 15 | Patrick Tambay | Renault | 52 | 1:46.290 |
| 8 | 28 | Stefan Johansson | Ferrari | 11 | 1:46.297 |
| 9 | 1 | Niki Lauda | McLaren | 4 | 1:46.633 |
| 10 | 5 | Nigel Mansell | Williams | 62 | 1:46.697 |
| 11 | 4 | Stefan Bellof | Tyrrell | 11 | 1:47.861 |
| 12 | 23 | Eddie Cheever | Alfa Romeo | 14 | 1:47.908 |
| 13 | 3 | Martin Brundle | Tyrrell | 14 | 1:48.395 |
| 14 | 17 | Gerhard Berger | Arrows | 11 | 1:48.561 |
| 15 | 18 | Thierry Boutsen | Arrows | 13 | 1:49.518 |
| 16 | 25 | Andrea de Cesaris | Ligier | 3 | 1:49.658 |
| 17 | 9 | Manfred Winkelhock | RAM | 3 | 1:50.480 |
| 18 | 26 | Jacques Laffite | Ligier | 5 | 1:50.491 |
| 19 | 10 | Philippe Alliot | RAM | 3 | 1:50.643 |
| 20 | 7 | Nelson Piquet | Brabham | 5 | 1:51.619 |
| 21 | 22 | Riccardo Patrese | Alfa Romeo | 3 | 1:51.658 |
| 22 | 24 | Piercarlo Ghinzani | Osella | 3 | 1:51.747 |
| 23 | 8 | Francois Hesnault | Brabham | 3 | 1:53.975 |
| 24 | 21 | Mauro Baldi | Spirit | 3 | 1:54.588 |
| 25 | 29 | Pierluigi Martini | Minardi | 3 | 1:56.040 |
| 26 | 30 | Jonathan Palmer | Zakspeed | 1 | 2:55.894 |
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 Portuguese Grand Prix.
1985 Post-Race F1 Drivers' Championship Standings
| POS | Driver | Nationality | Car | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michele Alboreto | Italian | Ferrari | 12 |
| 2 | Alain Prost | French | McLaren | 9 |
| 3 | Ayrton Senna | Brazilian | Lotus | 9 |
| 4 | Elio de Angelis | Italian | Lotus | 7 |
| 5 | Patrick Tambay | French | Renault | 6 |
| 6 | René Arnoux | French | Ferrari | 3 |
| 7 | Nigel Mansell | British | Williams | 2 |
| 8 | Jacques Laffite | French | Ligier | 1 |
| 9 | Stefan Bellof | German | Tyrrell | 1 |
| – | Stefan Johansson | Swedish | Tyrrell / Ferrari | 0 |
| – | Derek Warwick | British | Renault | 0 |
| – | Martin Brundle | British | Tyrrell | 0 |
| – | Piercarlo Ghinzani | Italian | Osella | 0 |
| – | Philippe Alliot | French | RAM | 0 |
| – | Thierry Boutsen | Belgian | Arrows | 0 |
| – | Manfred Winkelhock | German | RAM | 0 |
| – | Niki Lauda | Austrian | McLaren | 0 |
| – | Eddie Cheever | American | Alfa Romeo | 0 |
| – | Andrea de Cesaris | Italian | Ligier | 0 |
| – | Gerhard Berger | Austrian | Arrows | 0 |
| – | Nelson Piquet | Brazilian | Brabham | 0 |
| – | Pierluigi Martini | Italian | Minardi | 0 |
| – | Mauro Baldi | Italian | Spirit | 0 |
| – | Keke Rosberg | Finnish | Williams | 0 |
| – | Riccardo Patrese | Italian | Alfa Romeo | 0 |
| – | François Hesnault | French | Brabham | 0 |
| – | Jonathan Palmer | British | Zakspeed | 0 |
1985 Post-Race F1 Constructors' Championship Standings
| POS | Car | PTS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lotus – Renault | 16 |
| 2 | Ferrari | 15 |
| 3 | McLaren – TAG | 9 |
| 4 | Renault | 6 |
| 5 | Williams – Honda | 2 |
| 6 | Tyrrell – Ford | 1 |
| 7 | Ligier – Renault | 1 |
| — | Osella – Alfa Romeo | 0 |
| — | RAM – Hart | 0 |
| — | Arrows – BMW | 0 |
| — | Alfa Romeo | 0 |
| — | Minardi – Ford | 0 |
| — | Brabham – BMW | 0 |
| — | Spirit – Hart | 0 |
| — | Zakspeed | 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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