Nelson Piquet won the Williams duel at the 1986 Italian Grand Prix, beating Nigel Mansell at Monza to close the championship gap. Stefan Johansson finished third for Ferrari as both Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna left without points.
Race Guide
Season: 1986 F1 World Championship
Race date: 7 September 1986
Race start time: Start time unconfirmed local time (UTC+02:00)
Circuit: Autodromo Nazionale di Monza
Laps: 51 laps
Circuit length: 5.800 km
1985 winner: Alain Prost
| Result | Driver / Time | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Pole position | Teo Fabi | Benetton |
| Pole time | 1:24.078 | |
| Fastest lap | Teo Fabi | Benetton |
| Fastest-lap time | 1:28.099 on lap 35 | |
| First | Nelson Piquet | Williams |
| Second | Nigel Mansell | Williams |
| Third | Stefan Johansson | Ferrari |
Weekend Schedule
| Date | Session | Local Time |
|---|---|---|
| 5 September 1986 | Practice 1 | Morning; start unconfirmed |
| 5 September 1986 | Qualifying 1 | Start time unconfirmed |
| 6 September 1986 | Practice 2 | Morning; start unconfirmed |
| 6 September 1986 | Qualifying 2 | Start time unconfirmed |
| 7 September 1986 | Warm-up | Morning; start unconfirmed |
| 7 September 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
Nigel Mansell arrived at round 13 leading the 1986 F1 World Championship on 55 points, with Alain Prost on 53. Williams – Honda headed the constructors’ standings after the preceding race with 102 points.
Race entries
AGS made its Formula 1 debut with Ivan Capelli, while Alex Caffi replaced Allen Berg at Osella for his own first appearance. The entry grew to 27 cars, and all were permitted to start. Michele Alboreto missed Friday after injuring his shoulder but returned for the second day.
Friday Free Practice
Friday running was repeatedly complicated by engine failures and the oil they left on the circuit. Ferrari also had only Stefan Johansson available while Michele Alboreto rested his injured shoulder. For AGS and Alex Caffi, the priority was to build experience at a circuit whose high speeds made a clean, reliable lap especially valuable.
Friday Qualifying
Ayrton Senna led Friday qualifying ahead of Gerhard Berger and Teo Fabi. The interrupted running left plenty of room for improvement, and Benetton’s straight-line speed made its two drivers obvious threats to provisional pole.
Friday Qualifying Classification
1986 Italian Grand Prix first qualifying session, 5 September 1986
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Time | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | Ayrton Senna | Lotus | 1:25.363 | — |
| 2 | 20 | Gerhard Berger | Benetton | 1:25.580 | — |
| 3 | 19 | Teo Fabi | Benetton | 1:26.019 | — |
| 4 | 5 | Nigel Mansell | Williams | 1:26.181 | — |
| 5 | 28 | Stefan Johansson | Ferrari | 1:26.517 | — |
| 6 | 6 | Nelson Piquet | Williams | 1:26.614 | — |
| 7 | 2 | Keke Rosberg | McLaren | 1:26.742 | — |
| 8 | 1 | Alain Prost | McLaren | 1:26.885 | — |
| 9 | 26 | Philippe Alliot | Ligier | 1:27.287 | — |
| 10 | 7 | Riccardo Patrese | Brabham | 1:27.348 | — |
| 11 | 25 | Rene Arnoux | Ligier | 1:27.928 | — |
| 12 | 18 | Thierry Boutsen | Arrows | 1:28.051 | — |
| 13 | 11 | Johnny Dumfries | Lotus | 1:28.857 | — |
| 14 | 24 | Alessandro Nannini | Minardi | 1:29.239 | — |
| 15 | 16 | Patrick Tambay | Lola | 1:29.744 | — |
| 16 | 4 | Philippe Streiff | Tyrrell | 1:30.199 | — |
| 17 | 17 | Christian Danner | Arrows | 1:30.397 | — |
| 18 | 3 | Martin Brundle | Tyrrell | 1:31.266 | — |
| 19 | 23 | Andrea de Cesaris | Minardi | 1:31.375 | — |
| 20 | 14 | Jonathan Palmer | Zakspeed | 1:32.064 | — |
| 21 | 29 | Huub Rothengatter | Zakspeed | 1:32.726 | — |
| 22 | 21 | Piercarlo Ghinzani | Osella | 1:36.128 | — |
| 23 | 22 | Alex Caffi | Osella | 1:36.900 | — |
| 24 | 8 | Derek Warwick | Brabham | 7:12.970 | — |
| 25 | 15 | Alan Jones | Lola | 7:40.132 | — |
| 26 | 31 | Ivan Capelli | AGS | 58:12.143 | — |
Saturday Free Practice
Michele Alboreto returned on Saturday and had to recover a full day’s lost preparation while still uncomfortable. Williams had strengthened its driveshafts after Nigel Mansell’s Austrian retirement, while Ferrari explored engine and aerodynamic revisions for its home race. The BMW-powered cars were exceptionally fast on the straights, but braking and chicane balance still determined the complete lap.
Saturday Qualifying
Teo Fabi took his second successive pole with 1:24.078, ahead of Alain Prost and Nigel Mansell. Gerhard Berger was fourth, with Ayrton Senna and Nelson Piquet on the third row. Michele Alboreto recovered to ninth despite having missed Friday, while Alex Caffi completed the enlarged 27-car grid.
Saturday Qualifying Classification
1986 Italian Grand Prix second qualifying session, 6 September 1986
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Time | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19 | Teo Fabi | Benetton | 1:24.078 | — |
| 2 | 1 | Alain Prost | McLaren | 1:24.514 | — |
| 3 | 5 | Nigel Mansell | Williams | 1:24.882 | — |
| 4 | 20 | Gerhard Berger | Benetton | 1:24.885 | — |
| 5 | 12 | Ayrton Senna | Lotus | 1:24.916 | — |
| 6 | 6 | Nelson Piquet | Williams | 1:25.137 | — |
| 7 | 8 | Derek Warwick | Brabham | 1:25.175 | — |
| 8 | 2 | Keke Rosberg | McLaren | 1:25.378 | — |
| 9 | 27 | Michele Alboreto | Ferrari | 1:25.549 | — |
| 10 | 7 | Riccardo Patrese | Brabham | 1:26.111 | — |
| 11 | 25 | Rene Arnoux | Ligier | 1:26.187 | — |
| 12 | 28 | Stefan Johansson | Ferrari | 1:26.422 | — |
| 13 | 18 | Thierry Boutsen | Arrows | 1:26.754 | — |
| 14 | 26 | Philippe Alliot | Ligier | 1:27.269 | — |
| 15 | 16 | Patrick Tambay | Lola | 1:27.808 | — |
| 16 | 17 | Christian Danner | Arrows | 1:27.923 | — |
| 17 | 11 | Johnny Dumfries | Lotus | 1:28.024 | — |
| 18 | 15 | Alan Jones | Lola | 1:28.043 | — |
| 19 | 24 | Alessandro Nannini | Minardi | 1:28.690 | — |
| 20 | 3 | Martin Brundle | Tyrrell | 1:29.125 | — |
| 21 | 23 | Andrea de Cesaris | Minardi | 1:29.561 | — |
| 22 | 14 | Jonathan Palmer | Zakspeed | 1:29.659 | — |
| 23 | 29 | Huub Rothengatter | Zakspeed | 1:30.904 | — |
| 24 | 4 | Philippe Streiff | Tyrrell | 1:30.976 | — |
| 25 | 31 | Ivan Capelli | AGS | 1:33.844 | — |
| 26 | 21 | Piercarlo Ghinzani | Osella | 1:36.334 | — |
| 27 | 22 | Alex Caffi | Osella | 1:38.493 | — |
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 | 19 | Teo Fabi | Benetton | 1:26.019 | 1:24.078 | 1:24.078 | — |
| 2 | 1 | Alain Prost | McLaren | 1:26.885 | 1:24.514 | 1:24.514 | — |
| 3 | 5 | Nigel Mansell | Williams | 1:26.181 | 1:24.882 | 1:24.882 | — |
| 4 | 20 | Gerhard Berger | Benetton | 1:25.580 | 1:24.885 | 1:24.885 | — |
| 5 | 12 | Ayrton Senna | Lotus | 1:25.363 | 1:24.916 | 1:24.916 | — |
| 6 | 6 | Nelson Piquet | Williams | 1:26.614 | 1:25.137 | 1:25.137 | — |
| 7 | 8 | Derek Warwick | Brabham | 7:12.970 | 1:25.175 | 1:25.175 | — |
| 8 | 2 | Keke Rosberg | McLaren | 1:26.742 | 1:25.378 | 1:25.378 | — |
| 9 | 27 | Michele Alboreto | Ferrari | no time | 1:25.549 | 1:25.549 | — |
| 10 | 7 | Riccardo Patrese | Brabham | 1:27.348 | 1:26.111 | 1:26.111 | — |
| 11 | 25 | René Arnoux | Ligier | 1:27.928 | 1:26.187 | 1:26.187 | — |
| 12 | 28 | Stefan Johansson | Ferrari | 1:26.517 | 1:26.422 | 1:26.422 | — |
| 13 | 18 | Thierry Boutsen | Arrows | 1:28.051 | 1:26.754 | 1:26.754 | — |
| 14 | 26 | Philippe Alliot | Ligier | 1:27.287 | 1:27.269 | 1:27.269 | — |
| 15 | 16 | Patrick Tambay | Lola | 1:29.744 | 1:27.808 | 1:27.808 | — |
| 16 | 17 | Christian Danner | Arrows | 1:30.397 | 1:27.923 | 1:27.923 | — |
| 17 | 11 | Johnny Dumfries | Lotus | 1:28.857 | 1:28.024 | 1:28.024 | — |
| 18 | 15 | Alan Jones | Lola | 7:40.132 | 1:28.043 | 1:28.043 | — |
| 19 | 24 | Alessandro Nannini | Minardi | 1:29.239 | 1:28.690 | 1:28.690 | — |
| 20 | 3 | Martin Brundle | Tyrrell | 1:31.266 | 1:29.125 | 1:29.125 | — |
| 21 | 23 | Andrea de Cesaris | Minardi | 1:31.375 | 1:29.561 | 1:29.561 | — |
| 22 | 14 | Jonathan Palmer | Zakspeed | 1:32.064 | 1:29.659 | 1:29.659 | — |
| 23 | 4 | Philippe Streiff | Tyrrell | 1:30.199 | 1:30.976 | 1:30.199 | — |
| 24 | 29 | Huub Rothengatter | Zakspeed | 1:32.726 | 1:30.904 | 1:30.904 | — |
| 25 | 31 | Ivan Capelli | AGS | 58:12.143 | 1:33.844 | 1:33.844 | — |
| 26 | 21 | Piercarlo Ghinzani | Osella | 1:36.128 | 1:36.334 | 1:36.128 | — |
| 27 | 22 | Alex Caffi | Osella | 1:36.900 | 1:38.493 | 1:36.900 | — |
Sunday warm-up
Riccardo Patrese headed the warm-up, with Michele Alboreto and Alain Prost close behind. Ferrari’s race-day pace offered encouragement after a difficult qualifying weekend. The teams also had to keep fuel consumption under control on Monza’s long straights, where an impressive single lap could be achieved with settings unsuitable for the full race.
Warm-up Classification
1986 Italian Grand Prix Warm-up, 7 September 1986
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Time / Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | Riccardo Patrese | Brabham | 1:28.922 | — |
| 2 | 27 | Michele Alboreto | Ferrari | +0.476s | — |
| 3 | 1 | Alain Prost | McLaren | +0.543s | — |
| 4 | 5 | Nigel Mansell | Williams | +0.573s | — |
| 5 | 20 | Gerhard Berger | Benetton | +0.846s | — |
| 6 | 2 | Keke Rosberg | McLaren | +1.263s | — |
| 7 | 15 | Alan Jones | Lola | +1.350s | — |
| 8 | 6 | Nelson Piquet | Williams | +1.380s | — |
| 9 | 25 | Rene Arnoux | Ligier | +1.500s | — |
| 10 | 12 | Ayrton Senna | Lotus | +1.560s | — |
| 11 | 28 | Stefan Johansson | Ferrari | +1.723s | — |
| 12 | 19 | Teo Fabi | Benetton | +1.796s | — |
| 13 | 16 | Patrick Tambay | Lola | +2.533s | — |
| 14 | 26 | Philippe Alliot | Ligier | +3.176s | — |
| 15 | 11 | Johnny Dumfries | Lotus | +3.406s | — |
| 16 | 18 | Thierry Boutsen | Arrows | +3.913s | — |
| 17 | 4 | Philippe Streiff | Tyrrell | +4.176s | — |
| 18 | 8 | Derek Warwick | Brabham | +4.413s | — |
| 19 | 23 | Andrea de Cesaris | Minardi | +4.523s | — |
| 20 | 3 | Martin Brundle | Tyrrell | +4.606s | — |
| 21 | 17 | Christian Danner | Arrows | +4.953s | — |
| 22 | 24 | Alessandro Nannini | Minardi | +5.270s | — |
| 23 | 29 | Huub Rothengatter | Zakspeed | +6.046s | — |
| 24 | 14 | Jonathan Palmer | Zakspeed | +6.500s | — |
| 25 | 21 | Piercarlo Ghinzani | Osella | +7.323s | — |
| 26 | 31 | Ivan Capelli | AGS | +7.526s | — |
| 27 | 22 | Alex Caffi | Osella | +11.386s | — |
What happened in the 1986 Italian Grand Prix?
Problems before the start disrupted both front-row drivers. Teo Fabi had to start at the back, while Alain Prost switched to the spare too late and began from the pits. Ayrton Senna’s transmission failed at the start, and Gerhard Berger initially led before the two Williams drivers moved ahead.
Michele Alboreto threatened the leaders before spinning, while Alain Prost and Teo Fabi charged through the field. Alain Prost was then disqualified for the illegal car change. At the front, Nelson Piquet caught Nigel Mansell and passed him at Curva Grande, reversing the result of their Brands Hatch contest.
Nelson Piquet won by 9.828 seconds, cutting Nigel Mansell’s championship lead to five points. Stefan Johansson took third ahead of Keke Rosberg, Gerhard Berger and Alan Jones. With Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna failing to score, the Williams pair strengthened their hold on the title battle.
After the race, Nigel Mansell headed the drivers’ standings with 61 points, followed by Nelson Piquet on 56. Williams – Honda led the constructors’ table on 117, with McLaren – TAG on 75.
1986 Italian Grand Prix race results
The 1986 Italian Grand Prix was held on 7 September 1986.
1986 Italian Grand Prix Fastest Laps
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Lap | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19 | Teo Fabi | Benetton | 35 | 1:28.099 |
| 2 | 6 | Nelson Piquet | Williams | 35 | 1:28.173 |
| 3 | 20 | Gerhard Berger | Benetton | 43 | 1:28.191 |
| 4 | 28 | Stefan Johansson | Ferrari | 43 | 1:28.625 |
| 5 | 5 | Nigel Mansell | Williams | 41 | 1:28.803 |
| 6 | 2 | Keke Rosberg | McLaren | 47 | 1:29.221 |
| 7 | 1 | Alain Prost | McLaren | 16 | 1:29.501 |
| 8 | 27 | Michele Alboreto | Ferrari | 11 | 1:30.141 |
| 9 | 15 | Alan Jones | Lola | 43 | 1:31.050 |
| 10 | 25 | Rene Arnoux | Ligier | 21 | 1:31.514 |
| 11 | 17 | Christian Danner | Arrows | 41 | 1:32.224 |
| 12 | 26 | Philippe Alliot | Ligier | 21 | 1:32.244 |
| 13 | 8 | Derek Warwick | Brabham | 12 | 1:32.444 |
| 14 | 11 | Johnny Dumfries | Lotus | 10 | 1:32.605 |
| 15 | 18 | Thierry Boutsen | Arrows | 30 | 1:32.934 |
| 16 | 3 | Martin Brundle | Tyrrell | 14 | 1:33.391 |
| 17 | 4 | Philippe Streiff | Tyrrell | 40 | 1:33.625 |
| 18 | 23 | Andrea de Cesaris | Minardi | 20 | 1:33.776 |
| 19 | 24 | Alessandro Nannini | Minardi | 12 | 1:34.401 |
| 20 | 16 | Patrick Tambay | Lola | 2 | 1:34.443 |
| 21 | 7 | Riccardo Patrese | Brabham | 2 | 1:34.972 |
| 22 | 14 | Jonathan Palmer | Zakspeed | 6 | 1:35.845 |
| 23 | 31 | Ivan Capelli | AGS | 10 | 1:36.290 |
| 24 | 21 | Piercarlo Ghinzani | Osella | 11 | 1:37.179 |
| 25 | 22 | Alex Caffi | Osella | 7 | 1:39.818 |
| 26 | 29 | Huub Rothengatter | Zakspeed | 1 | 1:58.761 |
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 Italian Grand Prix.
1986 Post-Race F1 Drivers' Championship Standings
1986 Post-Race F1 Constructors' Championship Standings
| POS | Car | PTS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Williams – Honda | 117 |
| 2 | McLaren – TAG | 75 |
| 3 | Lotus – Renault | 50 |
| 4 | Ferrari | 30 |
| 5 | Ligier – Renault | 28 |
| 6 | Benetton – BMW | 10 |
| 7 | Lola – Ford | 6 |
| 8 | Tyrrell – Renault | 6 |
| 9 | Brabham – BMW | 2 |
| 10 | Arrows – BMW | 1 |
| — | Zakspeed | 0 |
| — | Lola – Hart | 0 |
| — | Osella – Alfa Romeo | 0 |
| — | Minardi – Motori Moderni | 0 |
| — | AGS – 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
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