1986 Canadian Grand Prix: F1 Race, Qualifying & Winners

Nigel Mansell made it back-to-back victories at the 1986 Canadian Grand Prix, converting pole into a convincing win in Montreal. Alain Prost finished second and Nelson Piquet third, with Alain Prost’s consistency carrying him back into the championship lead.

Result	Driver / Time	Team
Pole position	Nigel Mansell	Williams
Pole time	1:24.118
Fastest lap	Nelson Piquet	Williams
Fastest-lap time	1:25.443 on lap 63
First	Nigel Mansell	Williams
Second	Alain Prost	McLaren
Third	Nelson Piquet	Williams

Weekend Schedule

Date	Session	Local Time
13 June 1986	Practice 1	Morning; start unconfirmed
13 June 1986	Qualifying 1	Start time unconfirmed
14 June 1986	Practice 2	Morning; start unconfirmed
14 June 1986	Qualifying 2	Start time unconfirmed
15 June 1986	Warm-up	Morning; start unconfirmed
15 June 1986	Race	Start time unconfirmed

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

Championship background

Ayrton Senna arrived at round 6 leading the 1986 F1 World Championship on 25 points, with Alain Prost on 23. McLaren – TAG headed the constructors’ standings after the preceding race with 34 points.

Race entries

Derek Warwick joined Brabham following the death of Elio de Angelis. Marc Surer was absent after a serious rally accident, leaving Thierry Boutsen as Arrows’s only driver. Christian Danner’s proposed move from Osella could not be completed in time, so he remained with the Italian team for this race.

Friday Free Practice

Heavy rain made Friday morning a difficult opportunity to establish settings for Montreal. With no pre-event testing available at the circuit, the teams had little time to work through their options before qualifying. Ayrton Senna was particularly effective in the wet, while the changing grip increased the risk of an expensive mistake.

Friday Qualifying

Ayrton Senna headed the damp Friday session, comfortably clear of Nelson Piquet. Teo Fabi crashed heavily near the pits, escaping injury but leaving Benetton with substantial damage to repair before the next day.

Friday Qualifying Classification

1986 Canadian Grand Prix first qualifying session, 13 June 1986

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time	Laps
1	12	Ayrton Senna	Lotus	1:27.422	—
2	6	Nelson Piquet	Williams	1:28.588	—
3	28	Stefan Johansson	Ferrari	1:28.881	—
4	5	Nigel Mansell	Williams	1:28.889	—
5	2	Keke Rosberg	McLaren	1:29.348	—
6	20	Gerhard Berger	Benetton	1:29.471	—
7	1	Alain Prost	McLaren	1:29.541	—
8	26	Jacques Laffite	Ligier	1:30.171	—
9	25	Rene Arnoux	Ligier	1:30.200	—
10	16	Patrick Tambay	Lola	1:31.487	—
11	14	Jonathan Palmer	Zakspeed	1:31.856	—
12	11	Johnny Dumfries	Lotus	1:32.144	—
13	4	Philippe Streiff	Tyrrell	1:32.307	—
14	23	Andrea de Cesaris	Minardi	1:32.619	—
15	7	Riccardo Patrese	Brabham	1:32.692	—
16	8	Derek Warwick	Brabham	1:33.231	—
17	15	Alan Jones	Lola	1:33.291	—
18	3	Martin Brundle	Tyrrell	1:34.233	—
19	24	Alessandro Nannini	Minardi	1:35.789	—
20	18	Thierry Boutsen	Arrows	1:35.843	—
21	21	Piercarlo Ghinzani	Osella	1:36.575	—
22	22	Christian Danner	Osella	1:41.436	—
23	27	Michele Alboreto	Ferrari	1:42.740	—
24	29	Huub Rothengatter	Zakspeed	1:46.280	—
25	19	Teo Fabi	Benetton	1:51.056	—

Saturday Free Practice

Ferrari’s preparations were repeatedly interrupted by turbo failures, and McLaren’s drivers were unhappy with aspects of the revised engine management. Brabham continued to search for better balance in its difficult BT55 as Derek Warwick settled into the team. Finding dependable race settings was as pressing as improving the grid position.

Saturday Qualifying

Nigel Mansell took pole on Saturday with 1:24.118, just 0.070 seconds ahead of Ayrton Senna. Nelson Piquet was third, with Alain Prost, Rene Arnoux and Keke Rosberg completing the first three rows. Williams had the speed to build on its Belgian success.

Saturday Qualifying Classification

1986 Canadian Grand Prix second qualifying session, 14 June 1986

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time	Laps
1	5	Nigel Mansell	Williams	1:24.118	—
2	12	Ayrton Senna	Lotus	1:24.188	—
3	6	Nelson Piquet	Williams	1:24.384	—
4	1	Alain Prost	McLaren	1:25.192	—
5	25	Rene Arnoux	Ligier	1:25.224	—
6	2	Keke Rosberg	McLaren	1:25.533	—
7	20	Gerhard Berger	Benetton	1:26.439	—
8	26	Jacques Laffite	Ligier	1:26.447	—
9	7	Riccardo Patrese	Brabham	1:26.483	—
10	8	Derek Warwick	Brabham	1:27.413	—
11	27	Michele Alboreto	Ferrari	1:27.495	—
12	18	Thierry Boutsen	Arrows	1:27.614	—
13	15	Alan Jones	Lola	1:28.058	—
14	16	Patrick Tambay	Lola	1:28.095	—
15	19	Teo Fabi	Benetton	1:28.102	—
16	11	Johnny Dumfries	Lotus	1:28.521	—
17	4	Philippe Streiff	Tyrrell	1:28.639	—
18	28	Stefan Johansson	Ferrari	1:29.078	—
19	3	Martin Brundle	Tyrrell	1:29.111	—
20	24	Alessandro Nannini	Minardi	1:29.653	—
21	23	Andrea de Cesaris	Minardi	1:29.854	—
22	14	Jonathan Palmer	Zakspeed	1:30.005	—
23	21	Piercarlo Ghinzani	Osella	1:31.479	—
24	29	Huub Rothengatter	Zakspeed	1:32.113	—

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	5	Nigel Mansell	Williams	1:28.889	1:24.118	1:24.118	—
2	12	Ayrton Senna	Lotus	1:27.422	1:24.188	1:24.188	—
3	6	Nelson Piquet	Williams	1:28.588	1:24.384	1:24.384	—
4	1	Alain Prost	McLaren	1:29.541	1:25.192	1:25.192	—
5	25	René Arnoux	Ligier	1:30.200	1:25.224	1:25.224	—
6	2	Keke Rosberg	McLaren	1:29.348	1:25.533	1:25.533	—
7	20	Gerhard Berger	Benetton	1:29.471	1:26.439	1:26.439	—
8	26	Jacques Laffite	Ligier	1:30.171	1:26.447	1:26.447	—
9	7	Riccardo Patrese	Brabham	1:32.692	1:26.483	1:26.483	—
10	8	Derek Warwick	Brabham	1:33.231	1:27.413	1:27.413	—
11	27	Michele Alboreto	Ferrari	1:42.740	1:27.495	1:27.495	—
12	18	Thierry Boutsen	Arrows	1:35.843	1:27.614	1:27.614	—
13	15	Alan Jones	Lola	1:33.291	1:28.058	1:28.058	—
14	16	Patrick Tambay	Lola	1:31.487	1:28.095	1:28.095	—
15	19	Teo Fabi	Benetton	1:51.056	1:28.102	1:28.102	—
16	11	Johnny Dumfries	Lotus	1:32.144	1:28.521	1:28.521	—
17	4	Philippe Streiff	Tyrrell	1:32.307	1:28.639	1:28.639	—
18	28	Stefan Johansson	Ferrari	1:28.881	1:29.078	1:28.881	—
19	3	Martin Brundle	Tyrrell	1:34.233	1:29.111	1:29.111	—
20	24	Alessandro Nannini	Minardi	1:35.789	1:29.653	1:29.653	—
21	23	Andrea de Cesaris	Minardi	1:32.619	1:29.854	1:29.854	—
22	14	Jonathan Palmer	Zakspeed	1:31.856	1:30.005	1:30.005	—
23	21	Piercarlo Ghinzani	Osella	1:36.575	1:31.479	1:31.479	—
24	29	Huub Rothengatter	Zakspeed	1:46.280	1:32.113	1:32.113	—
25	22	Christian Danner	Osella	1:41.436	no time	1:41.436	—

Sunday warm-up

Patrick Tambay suffered a heavy crash during the warm-up and injured his feet, forcing him to withdraw from the race. Keke Rosberg was fastest ahead of Alain Prost, but the session’s most significant consequence was the loss of the second Lola-Ford. Stefan Johansson also had an unusual inconvenience, borrowing a helmet after leaving his own in the paddock.

Warm-up Classification

1986 Canadian Grand Prix Warm-up, 15 June 1986

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	2	Keke Rosberg	McLaren	1:27.310	—
2	1	Alain Prost	McLaren	+0.290s	—
3	5	Nigel Mansell	Williams	+0.616s	—
4	25	Rene Arnoux	Ligier	+0.700s	—
5	6	Nelson Piquet	Williams	+1.210s	—
6	28	Stefan Johansson	Ferrari	+1.820s	—
7	27	Michele Alboreto	Ferrari	+2.463s	—
8	26	Jacques Laffite	Ligier	+2.483s	—
9	7	Riccardo Patrese	Brabham	+2.726s	—
10	20	Gerhard Berger	Benetton	+2.793s	—
11	12	Ayrton Senna	Lotus	+2.856s	—
12	8	Derek Warwick	Brabham	+3.260s	—
13	19	Teo Fabi	Benetton	+3.293s	—
14	3	Martin Brundle	Tyrrell	+3.726s	—
15	15	Alan Jones	Lola	+3.876s	—
16	23	Andrea de Cesaris	Minardi	+4.060s	—
17	18	Thierry Boutsen	Arrows	+4.356s	—
18	4	Philippe Streiff	Tyrrell	+4.496s	—
19	16	Patrick Tambay	Lola	+4.650s	—
20	21	Piercarlo Ghinzani	Osella	+5.260s	—
21	11	Johnny Dumfries	Lotus	+5.346s	—
22	29	Huub Rothengatter	Zakspeed	+5.700s	—
23	14	Jonathan Palmer	Zakspeed	+6.210s	—
24	24	Alessandro Nannini	Minardi	+7.426s	—
25	22	Christian Danner	Osella	+10.196s	—

What happened in the 1986 Canadian Grand Prix?

Nigel Mansell made a strong start and quickly opened a gap as Ayrton Senna held up the pursuing group. Alain Prost and Keke Rosberg worked their way past the Lotus, while Nelson Piquet also moved forward. Fuel consumption and tyre stops then shaped the contest behind the leader.

Nigel Mansell maintained command as the chasing drivers traded positions. Stefan Johansson’s recovery ended in a collision with Johnny Dumfries as the Lotus emerged from the pits; Michele Alboreto avoided the wreckage but lost time in a spin. The accident removed two cars from a race already testing reliability and concentration.

Nigel Mansell won by more than 20 seconds from Alain Prost, with Nelson Piquet completing the podium. Keke Rosberg finished fourth, followed by Ayrton Senna and Rene Arnoux. Alain Prost’s six points put him two clear of both Nigel Mansell and Ayrton Senna, leaving the championship tightly poised.

After the race, Alain Prost headed the drivers’ standings with 29 points, followed by Nigel Mansell on 27. Williams – Honda led the constructors’ table on 46, with McLaren – TAG on 43.

1986 Canadian Grand Prix race results

The 1986 Canadian Grand Prix was held on 15 June 1986.

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time / Retired	Pts.
1	5	Nigel Mansell	Williams	69	1:42:26.415	9
2	1	Alain Prost	McLaren	69	+ 20.659	6
3	6	Nelson Piquet	Williams	69	+ 36.262	4
4	2	Keke Rosberg	McLaren	69	+ 1:35.673	3
5	12	Ayrton Senna	Lotus	68	+ 1 lap	2
6	25	René Arnoux	Ligier	68	+ 1 lap	1
7	26	Jacques Laffite	Ligier	68	+ 1 lap	0
8	27	Michele Alboreto	Ferrari	68	+ 1 lap	0
9	3	Martin Brundle	Tyrrell	67	+ 2 laps	0
10	15	Alan Jones	Lola	66	+ 3 laps	0
11	4	Philippe Streiff	Tyrrell	65	+ 4 laps	0
12	29	Huub Rothengatter	Zakspeed	63	+ 6 laps	0
Ret	7	Riccardo Patrese	Brabham	44	Turbo	0
Ret	21	Piercarlo Ghinzani	Osella	43	Gearbox	0
Ret	23	Andrea de Cesaris	Minardi	40	Gearbox	0
Ret	18	Thierry Boutsen	Arrows	38	Electrical	0
Ret	20	Gerhard Berger	Benetton	34	Turbo	0
Ret	28	Stefan Johansson	Ferrari	29	Accident	0
Ret	11	Johnny Dumfries	Lotus	28	Accident	0
Ret	14	Jonathan Palmer	Zakspeed	24	Engine	0
Ret	8	Derek Warwick	Brabham	20	Engine	0
Ret	24	Alessandro Nannini	Minardi	17	Turbo	0
Ret	19	Teo Fabi	Benetton	13	Battery	0
Ret	22	Christian Danner	Osella	6	Turbo	0
DNS	16	Patrick Tambay	Lola	0	Accident in morning warmup	0

1986 Canadian Grand Prix Fastest Laps

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Lap	Time
1	6	Nelson Piquet	Williams	63	1:25.443
2	5	Nigel Mansell	Williams	33	1:26.552
3	1	Alain Prost	McLaren	63	1:26.859
4	2	Keke Rosberg	McLaren	19	1:27.479
5	12	Ayrton Senna	Lotus	63	1:27.503
6	26	Jacques Laffite	Ligier	60	1:27.742
7	25	Rene Arnoux	Ligier	63	1:27.981
8	27	Michele Alboreto	Ferrari	37	1:28.408
9	28	Stefan Johansson	Ferrari	27	1:28.853
10	15	Alan Jones	Lola	58	1:29.366
11	3	Martin Brundle	Tyrrell	57	1:29.553
12	20	Gerhard Berger	Benetton	34	1:30.361
13	23	Andrea de Cesaris	Minardi	37	1:30.514
14	7	Riccardo Patrese	Brabham	15	1:30.731
15	18	Thierry Boutsen	Arrows	28	1:30.975
16	8	Derek Warwick	Brabham	18	1:31.139
17	11	Johnny Dumfries	Lotus	6	1:31.623
18	4	Philippe Streiff	Tyrrell	55	1:32.209
19	19	Teo Fabi	Benetton	11	1:32.317
20	24	Alessandro Nannini	Minardi	5	1:33.173
21	29	Huub Rothengatter	Zakspeed	8	1:33.568
22	21	Piercarlo Ghinzani	Osella	19	1:33.598
23	14	Jonathan Palmer	Zakspeed	7	1:33.764
24	22	Christian Danner	Osella	4	1:37.444

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

1986 Post-Race F1 Championship Standings

Championship standings after the 1986 Canadian Grand Prix.

1986 Post-Race F1 Drivers' Championship Standings

POS	Driver	Nationality	Car	PTS
1	Alain Prost	French	McLaren	29
2	Nigel Mansell	British	Williams	27
3	Ayrton Senna	Brazilian	Lotus	27
4	Nelson Piquet	Brazilian	Williams	19
5	Keke Rosberg	Finnish	McLaren	14
6	Stefan Johansson	Swedish	Ferrari	7
7	Jacques Laffite	French	Ligier	7
8	Gerhard Berger	Austrian	Benetton	6
9	René Arnoux	French	Ligier	6
10	Michele Alboreto	Italian	Ferrari	3
11	Teo Fabi	Italian	Benetton	2
12	Martin Brundle	British	Tyrrell	2
13	Riccardo Patrese	Italian	Brabham	1
–	Thierry Boutsen	Belgian	Arrows	0
–	Philippe Streiff	French	Tyrrell	0
–	Patrick Tambay	French	Lola	0
–	Elio de Angelis	Italian	Brabham	0
–	Marc Surer	Swiss	Arrows	0
–	Johnny Dumfries	British	Lotus	0
–	Alan Jones	Australian	Lola	0
–	Jonathan Palmer	British	Zakspeed	0
–	Huub Rothengatter	Dutch	Zakspeed	0
–	Piercarlo Ghinzani	Italian	Osella	0
–	Andrea de Cesaris	Italian	Minardi	0
–	Christian Danner	German	Osella	0
–	Alessandro Nannini	Italian	Minardi	0
–	Derek Warwick	British	Brabham	0

1986 Post-Race F1 Constructors' Championship Standings

POS	Car	PTS
1	Williams – Honda	46
2	McLaren – TAG	43
3	Lotus – Renault	27
4	Ligier – Renault	13
5	Ferrari	10
6	Benetton – BMW	8
7	Tyrrell – Renault	2
8	Brabham – BMW	1
—	Arrows – BMW	0
—	Lola – Hart	0
—	Lola – Ford	0
—	Zakspeed	0
—	Osella – Alfa Romeo	0
—	Minardi – Motori Moderni	0

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

1986 Formula 1 Race Calendar

Round	Grand Prix	Circuit	Date
1	1986 Brazilian Grand Prix	Jacarepaguá, Rio de Janeiro	23 March
2	1986 Spanish Grand Prix	Circuito de Jerez, Jerez de la Frontera	13 April
3	1986 San Marino Grand Prix	Autodromo Dino Ferrari, Imola	27 April
4	1986 Monaco Grand Prix	Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo	11 May
5	1986 Belgian Grand Prix	Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot	25 May
6	1986 Canadian Grand Prix	Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, Montréal	15 June
7	1986 Detroit Grand Prix	Detroit Street Circuit, Detroit, Michigan	22 June
8	1986 French Grand Prix	Circuit Paul Ricard, Le Castellet	6 July
9	1986 British Grand Prix	Brands Hatch, West Kingsdown	13 July
10	1986 German Grand Prix	Hockenheimring, Hockenheim	27 July
11	1986 Hungarian Grand Prix	Hungaroring, Mogyoród	10 August
12	1986 Austrian Grand Prix	Österreichring, Spielberg	17 August
13	1986 Italian Grand Prix	Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza	7 September
14	1986 Portuguese Grand Prix	Autódromo do Estoril, Estoril	21 September
15	1986 Mexican Grand Prix	Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Mexico City	12 October
16	1986 Australian Grand Prix	Adelaide Street Circuit, Adelaide	26 October