Nigel Mansell took a major step towards the drivers’ title with a commanding win in the 1986 Portuguese Grand Prix. Alain Prost finished second and Nelson Piquet third after Ayrton Senna ran out of fuel on the final lap, while Williams secured the constructors’ championship.
Race Guide
Season: 1986 F1 World Championship
Race date: 21 September 1986
Race start time: Start time unconfirmed local time (UTC+01:00)
Circuit: Autódromo do Estoril
Laps: 70 laps
Circuit length: 4.35 km
1985 winner: Ayrton Senna
| Result | Driver / Time | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Pole position | Ayrton Senna | Lotus |
| Pole time | 1:16.673 | |
| Fastest lap | Nigel Mansell | Williams |
| Fastest-lap time | 1:20.943 on lap 53 | |
| First | Nigel Mansell | Williams |
| Second | Alain Prost | McLaren |
| Third | Nelson Piquet | Williams |
Weekend Schedule
| Date | Session | Local Time |
|---|---|---|
| 19 September 1986 | Practice 1 | Morning; start unconfirmed |
| 19 September 1986 | Qualifying 1 | Start time unconfirmed |
| 20 September 1986 | Practice 2 | Morning; start unconfirmed |
| 20 September 1986 | Qualifying 2 | Start time unconfirmed |
| 21 September 1986 | Warm-up | Morning; start unconfirmed |
| 21 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 14 leading the 1986 F1 World Championship on 61 points, with Nelson Piquet on 56. Williams – Honda headed the constructors’ standings after the preceding race with 117 points.
Race entries
Allen Berg returned to Osella in place of Alex Caffi, and Ivan Capelli continued with AGS for its second appearance. All 27 entrants were again allowed to start. Keke Rosberg’s McLaren carried a special gold-and-white livery for this race, while Alain Prost arrived with a revised engine and a new chassis.
Friday Free Practice
Williams brought two cars for each of its title contenders, giving Nigel Mansell and Nelson Piquet equal equipment for their increasingly close contest. Revised cooling arrangements were among the developments assessed before the race. Alain Prost had new machinery to understand, while AGS concentrated on gaining experience before ending its brief 1986 programme.
Friday Qualifying
Nigel Mansell headed Friday qualifying ahead of Nelson Piquet and Alain Prost. Nelson Piquet damaged his car’s floor over a kerb, adding repair work to his preparations for the decisive session.
Friday Qualifying Classification
1986 Portuguese Grand Prix first qualifying session, 19 September 1986
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Time | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | Nigel Mansell | Williams | 1:19.047 | — |
| 2 | 6 | Nelson Piquet | Williams | 1:19.410 | — |
| 3 | 1 | Alain Prost | McLaren | 1:19.692 | — |
| 4 | 20 | Gerhard Berger | Benetton | 1:19.923 | — |
| 5 | 12 | Ayrton Senna | Lotus | 1:19.943 | — |
| 6 | 2 | Keke Rosberg | McLaren | 1:20.556 | — |
| 7 | 19 | Teo Fabi | Benetton | 1:20.957 | — |
| 8 | 27 | Michele Alboreto | Ferrari | 1:21.123 | — |
| 9 | 7 | Riccardo Patrese | Brabham | 1:21.257 | — |
| 10 | 28 | Stefan Johansson | Ferrari | 1:21.621 | — |
| 11 | 26 | Philippe Alliot | Ligier | 1:21.693 | — |
| 12 | 25 | Rene Arnoux | Ligier | 1:21.876 | — |
| 13 | 16 | Patrick Tambay | Lola | 1:22.396 | — |
| 14 | 15 | Alan Jones | Lola | 1:22.612 | — |
| 15 | 23 | Andrea de Cesaris | Minardi | 1:23.361 | — |
| 16 | 18 | Thierry Boutsen | Arrows | 1:23.412 | — |
| 17 | 8 | Derek Warwick | Brabham | 1:23.455 | — |
| 18 | 11 | Johnny Dumfries | Lotus | 1:23.778 | — |
| 19 | 4 | Philippe Streiff | Tyrrell | 1:23.895 | — |
| 20 | 14 | Jonathan Palmer | Zakspeed | 1:23.941 | — |
| 21 | 17 | Christian Danner | Arrows | 1:24.665 | — |
| 22 | 24 | Alessandro Nannini | Minardi | 1:24.724 | — |
| 23 | 3 | Martin Brundle | Tyrrell | 1:25.114 | — |
| 24 | 31 | Ivan Capelli | AGS | 1:25.795 | — |
| 25 | 29 | Huub Rothengatter | Zakspeed | 1:25.928 | — |
| 26 | 21 | Piercarlo Ghinzani | Osella | 1:26.552 | — |
| 27 | 22 | Allen Berg | Osella | 1:29.724 | — |
Saturday Free Practice
The teams continued to work around very different handling problems on Saturday. Benetton’s drivers battled understeer, while the older Arrows cars were unsettled over the bumps. Jonathan Palmer lost running to engine failures. The spread of problems made a clean session particularly valuable before the final attempt to improve grid positions.
Saturday Qualifying
Ayrton Senna produced a remarkable 1:16.673 on Saturday, more than eight-tenths clear of Nigel Mansell. Alain Prost qualified third, followed by Gerhard Berger and Teo Fabi, while Nelson Piquet was sixth. Lotus had won the single-lap contest emphatically, but Williams remained a formidable race prospect.
Saturday Qualifying Classification
1986 Portuguese Grand Prix second qualifying session, 20 September 1986
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Time | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | Ayrton Senna | Lotus | 1:16.673 | — |
| 2 | 5 | Nigel Mansell | Williams | 1:17.489 | — |
| 3 | 1 | Alain Prost | McLaren | 1:17.710 | — |
| 4 | 20 | Gerhard Berger | Benetton | 1:17.742 | — |
| 5 | 19 | Teo Fabi | Benetton | 1:18.071 | — |
| 6 | 6 | Nelson Piquet | Williams | 1:18.180 | — |
| 7 | 2 | Keke Rosberg | McLaren | 1:18.360 | — |
| 8 | 28 | Stefan Johansson | Ferrari | 1:19.332 | — |
| 9 | 7 | Riccardo Patrese | Brabham | 1:19.637 | — |
| 10 | 25 | Rene Arnoux | Ligier | 1:19.657 | — |
| 11 | 26 | Philippe Alliot | Ligier | 1:19.769 | — |
| 12 | 8 | Derek Warwick | Brabham | 1:19.882 | — |
| 13 | 27 | Michele Alboreto | Ferrari | 1:20.019 | — |
| 14 | 16 | Patrick Tambay | Lola | 1:20.761 | — |
| 15 | 11 | Johnny Dumfries | Lotus | 1:21.594 | — |
| 16 | 23 | Andrea de Cesaris | Minardi | 1:21.611 | — |
| 17 | 15 | Alan Jones | Lola | 1:21.646 | — |
| 18 | 24 | Alessandro Nannini | Minardi | 1:21.702 | — |
| 19 | 3 | Martin Brundle | Tyrrell | 1:21.835 | — |
| 20 | 14 | Jonathan Palmer | Zakspeed | 1:21.929 | — |
| 21 | 18 | Thierry Boutsen | Arrows | 1:22.068 | — |
| 22 | 17 | Christian Danner | Arrows | 1:22.274 | — |
| 23 | 4 | Philippe Streiff | Tyrrell | 1:22.388 | — |
| 24 | 21 | Piercarlo Ghinzani | Osella | 1:23.566 | — |
| 25 | 31 | Ivan Capelli | AGS | 1:23.987 | — |
| 26 | 29 | Huub Rothengatter | Zakspeed | 1:24.105 | — |
| 27 | 22 | Allen Berg | Osella | 1:26.861 | — |
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 | 1:19.943 | 1:16.673 | 1:16.673 | — |
| 2 | 5 | Nigel Mansell | Williams | 1:19.047 | 1:17.489 | 1:17.489 | — |
| 3 | 1 | Alain Prost | McLaren | 1:19.692 | 1:17.710 | 1:17.710 | — |
| 4 | 20 | Gerhard Berger | Benetton | 1:19.923 | 1:17.742 | 1:17.742 | — |
| 5 | 19 | Teo Fabi | Benetton | 1:20.957 | 1:18.071 | 1:18.071 | — |
| 6 | 6 | Nelson Piquet | Williams | 1:19.410 | 1:18.180 | 1:18.180 | — |
| 7 | 2 | Keke Rosberg | McLaren | 1:20.556 | 1:18.360 | 1:18.360 | — |
| 8 | 28 | Stefan Johansson | Ferrari | 1:21.621 | 1:19.332 | 1:19.332 | — |
| 9 | 7 | Riccardo Patrese | Brabham | 1:21.257 | 1:19.637 | 1:19.637 | — |
| 10 | 25 | René Arnoux | Ligier | 1:21.876 | 1:19.657 | 1:19.657 | — |
| 11 | 26 | Philippe Alliot | Ligier | 1:21.693 | 1:19.769 | 1:19.769 | — |
| 12 | 8 | Derek Warwick | Brabham | 1:23.455 | 1:19.882 | 1:19.882 | — |
| 13 | 27 | Michele Alboreto | Ferrari | 1:21.123 | 1:20.019 | 1:20.019 | — |
| 14 | 16 | Patrick Tambay | Lola | 1:22.396 | 1:20.761 | 1:20.761 | — |
| 15 | 11 | Johnny Dumfries | Lotus | 1:23.778 | 1:21.594 | 1:21.594 | — |
| 16 | 23 | Andrea de Cesaris | Minardi | 1:23.361 | 1:21.611 | 1:21.611 | — |
| 17 | 15 | Alan Jones | Lola | 1:22.612 | 1:21.646 | 1:21.646 | — |
| 18 | 24 | Alessandro Nannini | Minardi | 1:24.724 | 1:21.702 | 1:21.702 | — |
| 19 | 3 | Martin Brundle | Tyrrell | 1:25.114 | 1:21.835 | 1:21.835 | — |
| 20 | 14 | Jonathan Palmer | Zakspeed | 1:23.941 | 1:21.929 | 1:21.929 | — |
| 21 | 18 | Thierry Boutsen | Arrows | 1:23.412 | 1:22.068 | 1:22.068 | — |
| 22 | 17 | Christian Danner | Arrows | 1:24.665 | 1:22.274 | 1:22.274 | — |
| 23 | 4 | Philippe Streiff | Tyrrell | 1:23.895 | 1:22.388 | 1:22.388 | — |
| 24 | 21 | Piercarlo Ghinzani | Osella | 1:26.552 | 1:23.566 | 1:23.566 | — |
| 25 | 31 | Ivan Capelli | AGS | 1:25.795 | 1:23.987 | 1:23.987 | — |
| 26 | 29 | Huub Rothengatter | Zakspeed | 1:25.928 | 1:24.105 | 1:24.105 | — |
| 27 | 22 | Allen Berg | Osella | 1:29.724 | 1:26.861 | 1:26.861 | — |
Sunday warm-up
Alain Prost was comfortably fastest in the warm-up, but the promise came with a concern: his new engine was running poorly enough to prompt a switch to the spare for the race. McLaren’s pace therefore offered no guarantee of an uncomplicated afternoon. With the championship at stake, reliability mattered as much as the headline lap time.
Warm-up Classification
1986 Portuguese Grand Prix Warm-up, 21 September 1986
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Time / Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Alain Prost | McLaren | 1:20.403 | — |
| 2 | 2 | Keke Rosberg | McLaren | +1.826s | — |
| 3 | 5 | Nigel Mansell | Williams | +1.893s | — |
| 4 | 12 | Ayrton Senna | Lotus | +2.440s | — |
| 5 | 20 | Gerhard Berger | Benetton | +2.910s | — |
| 6 | 27 | Michele Alboreto | Ferrari | +3.293s | — |
| 7 | 6 | Nelson Piquet | Williams | +3.346s | — |
| 8 | 28 | Stefan Johansson | Ferrari | +3.593s | — |
| 9 | 16 | Patrick Tambay | Lola | +3.803s | — |
| 10 | 15 | Alan Jones | Lola | +3.840s | — |
| 11 | 19 | Teo Fabi | Benetton | +3.923s | — |
| 12 | 7 | Riccardo Patrese | Brabham | +4.113s | — |
| 13 | 26 | Philippe Alliot | Ligier | +4.223s | — |
| 14 | 3 | Martin Brundle | Tyrrell | +4.323s | — |
| 15 | 8 | Derek Warwick | Brabham | +4.676s | — |
| 16 | 14 | Jonathan Palmer | Zakspeed | +4.740s | — |
| 17 | 25 | Rene Arnoux | Ligier | +4.806s | — |
| 18 | 18 | Thierry Boutsen | Arrows | +5.246s | — |
| 19 | 11 | Johnny Dumfries | Lotus | +5.793s | — |
| 20 | 17 | Christian Danner | Arrows | +5.850s | — |
| 21 | 4 | Philippe Streiff | Tyrrell | +6.170s | — |
| 22 | 23 | Andrea de Cesaris | Minardi | +6.963s | — |
| 23 | 24 | Alessandro Nannini | Minardi | +7.176s | — |
| 24 | 29 | Huub Rothengatter | Zakspeed | +7.400s | — |
| 25 | 31 | Ivan Capelli | AGS | +7.550s | — |
| 26 | 21 | Piercarlo Ghinzani | Osella | +8.720s | — |
| 27 | 22 | Allen Berg | Osella | +10.186s | — |
What happened in the 1986 Portuguese Grand Prix?
Nigel Mansell beat Ayrton Senna to the first corner and never surrendered the lead. He built a gap while the cars behind him fought for position, with Alain Prost and Nelson Piquet working past the Benettons. Keke Rosberg’s afternoon ended with electrical trouble.
Ayrton Senna appeared set for second until his fuel ran out on the final lap. Alain Prost and Nelson Piquet passed the stranded Lotus, changing the championship arithmetic at the last moment. Nigel Mansell, meanwhile, completed a controlled drive and also recorded fastest lap.
Nigel Mansell’s fifth victory gave him a ten-point lead over Nelson Piquet with two races remaining. Ayrton Senna was classified fourth, ahead of Michele Alboreto and Stefan Johansson, but his title challenge was over. Williams had already done enough to secure its third constructors’ championship.
After the race, Nigel Mansell headed the drivers’ standings with 70 points, followed by Nelson Piquet on 60. Williams – Honda led the constructors’ table on 130, with McLaren – TAG on 81.
1986 Portuguese Grand Prix race results
The 1986 Portuguese Grand Prix was held on 21 September 1986.
1986 Portuguese Grand Prix Fastest Laps
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Lap | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | Nigel Mansell | Williams | 53 | 1:20.943 |
| 2 | 1 | Alain Prost | McLaren | 61 | 1:21.092 |
| 3 | 6 | Nelson Piquet | Williams | 60 | 1:21.100 |
| 4 | 12 | Ayrton Senna | Lotus | 60 | 1:21.283 |
| 5 | 27 | Michele Alboreto | Ferrari | 58 | 1:22.073 |
| 6 | 2 | Keke Rosberg | McLaren | 36 | 1:22.242 |
| 7 | 28 | Stefan Johansson | Ferrari | 50 | 1:22.347 |
| 8 | 19 | Teo Fabi | Benetton | 53 | 1:22.999 |
| 9 | 11 | Johnny Dumfries | Lotus | 49 | 1:23.737 |
| 10 | 20 | Gerhard Berger | Benetton | 26 | 1:23.850 |
| 11 | 16 | Patrick Tambay | Lola | 59 | 1:23.889 |
| 12 | 7 | Riccardo Patrese | Brabham | 36 | 1:24.243 |
| 13 | 17 | Christian Danner | Arrows | 64 | 1:24.268 |
| 14 | 18 | Thierry Boutsen | Arrows | 52 | 1:24.350 |
| 15 | 25 | Rene Arnoux | Ligier | 53 | 1:24.356 |
| 16 | 26 | Philippe Alliot | Ligier | 38 | 1:24.516 |
| 17 | 14 | Jonathan Palmer | Zakspeed | 37 | 1:24.947 |
| 18 | 8 | Derek Warwick | Brabham | 18 | 1:25.113 |
| 19 | 15 | Alan Jones | Lola | 6 | 1:25.681 |
| 20 | 23 | Andrea de Cesaris | Minardi | 28 | 1:26.034 |
| 21 | 4 | Philippe Streiff | Tyrrell | 27 | 1:26.242 |
| 22 | 3 | Martin Brundle | Tyrrell | 15 | 1:26.612 |
| 23 | 31 | Ivan Capelli | AGS | 6 | 1:27.861 |
| 24 | 24 | Alessandro Nannini | Minardi | 4 | 1:27.910 |
| 25 | 29 | Huub Rothengatter | Zakspeed | 7 | 1:28.397 |
| 26 | 21 | Piercarlo Ghinzani | Osella | 3 | 1:30.016 |
| 27 | 22 | Allen Berg | Osella | 34 | 1:30.477 |
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 Portuguese Grand Prix.
1986 Post-Race F1 Drivers' Championship Standings
1986 Post-Race F1 Constructors' Championship Standings
| POS | Car | PTS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Williams – Honda | 130 |
| 2 | McLaren – TAG | 81 |
| 3 | Lotus – Renault | 53 |
| 4 | Ferrari | 33 |
| 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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