Alain Prost strengthened his championship lead with victory in the 1989 British Grand Prix, taking advantage when Ayrton Senna spun out with gear-selection trouble. Nigel Mansell gave the Silverstone crowd a Ferrari podium in second, while Alessandro Nannini finished third. Further back, Minardi secured a double points finish with consequences well beyond a single afternoon.
Race Guide
Season: 1989 F1 World Championship
Race date: 16 July 1989
Race start time: Start time unconfirmed local time (UTC+01:00)
Circuit: Silverstone Circuit
Laps: 64 laps
Circuit length: 4.778 km
1988 winner: Ayrton Senna
| Result | Driver / Time | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Pole position | Ayrton Senna | McLaren |
| Pole time | 1:09.099 | |
| Fastest lap | Nigel Mansell | Ferrari |
| Fastest-lap time | 1:12.017 on lap 57 | |
| First | Alain Prost | McLaren |
| Second | Nigel Mansell | Ferrari |
| Third | Alessandro Nannini | Benetton |
Weekend Schedule
| Date | Session | Local Time |
|---|---|---|
| 14 July 1989 | Pre-qualifying | Start time unconfirmed |
| 14 July 1989 | Practice 1 | Morning; start unconfirmed |
| 14 July 1989 | Qualifying 1 | Start time unconfirmed |
| 15 July 1989 | Practice 2 | Morning; start unconfirmed |
| 15 July 1989 | Qualifying 2 | Start time unconfirmed |
| 16 July 1989 | Warm-up | Morning; start unconfirmed |
| 16 July 1989 | 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 8 leading the 1989 F1 World Championship on 38 points, with Ayrton Senna on 27. McLaren – Honda headed the constructors’ standings after the preceding race with 65 points.
Race entries
Derek Warwick returned to Arrows after missing France, although his back injury still caused discomfort. Yannick Dalmas joined AGS in place of Joachim Winkelhock. Jean Alesi remained at Tyrrell after his impressive debut, and Éric Eric Bernard continued at Larrousse. This was the last race before the mid-season review determined which cars would have to pre-qualify for the remainder of the year.
Pre-qualifying
Bertrand Gachot headed pre-qualifying for the second successive race. Nicola Larini and both Brabham drivers also advanced, but Stefan Johansson and Alex Caffi missed out. Brabham already had enough points to escape the procedure after Silverstone. Onyx‘s situation was less secure: its two points from France could still be overtaken by a rival team during the Grand Prix.
Pre-qualifying Classification
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 37 | Bertrand Gachot | Onyx | 1:11.506 | — |
| 2 | 17 | Nicola Larini | Osella | 1:11.766 | +0.260 |
| 3 | 8 | Stefano Modena | Brabham | 1:11.809 | +0.303 |
| 4 | 7 | Martin Brundle | Brabham | 1:12.021 | +0.515 |
| 5 | 36 | Stefan Johansson | Onyx | 1:12.248 | +0.742 |
| 6 | 21 | Alex Caffi | Dallara | 1.12.501 | +0.995 |
| 7 | 33 | Gregor Foitek | EuroBrun | 1:13.128 | +1.622 |
| 8 | 18 | Piercarlo Ghinzani | Osella | 1:13.429 | +1.923 |
| 9 | 41 | Yannick Dalmas | AGS | 1:13.720 | +2.214 |
| 10 | 34 | Bernd Schneider | Zakspeed | 1:14.124 | +2.618 |
| 11 | 32 | Pierre-Henri Raphanel | Coloni | 1:14.206 | +2.700 |
| 12 | 35 | Aguri Suzuki | Zakspeed | 1:14.266 | +2.760 |
| 13 | 39 | Volker Weidler | Rial | 1:15.096 | +3.590 |
Friday Free Practice
Riccardo Patrese led Friday practice, with Nigel Mansell close behind and Maurício Mauricio Gugelmin third. McLaren was introducing its transverse gearbox, but the new arrangement brought oil leaks and hurried modifications rather than a trouble-free beginning. Ayrton Senna also suffered an engine failure during free practice over the weekend. The opposition had reason to be encouraged: Ferrari looked strong through Silverstone‘s fast corners, and Williams had set the initial benchmark while McLaren worked through its problems.
Friday Practice Classification
1989 British Grand Prix Practice, 14 July 1989
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Time / Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | Riccardo Patrese | Williams | 1:10.060 | — |
| 2 | 27 | Nigel Mansell | Ferrari | +0.132s | — |
| 3 | 15 | Mauricio Gugelmin | March | +0.651s | — |
| 4 | 16 | Ivan Capelli | March | +0.696s | — |
| 5 | 28 | Gerhard Berger | Ferrari | +1.010s | — |
| 6 | 5 | Thierry Boutsen | Williams | +1.090s | — |
| 7 | 2 | Alain Prost | McLaren | +1.372s | — |
| 8 | 23 | Pierluigi Martini | Minardi | +1.522s | — |
| 9 | 17 | Nicola Larini | Osella | +1.882s | — |
| 10 | 19 | Alessandro Nannini | Benetton | +2.134s | — |
| 11 | 11 | Nelson Piquet | Lotus | +2.191s | — |
| 12 | 30 | Philippe Alliot | Lola | +2.501s | — |
| 13 | 1 | Ayrton Senna | McLaren | +2.574s | — |
| 14 | 37 | Bertrand Gachot | Onyx | +2.588s | — |
| 15 | 24 | Luis Perez-Sala | Minardi | +2.708s | — |
| 16 | 7 | Martin Brundle | Brabham | +2.714s | — |
| 17 | 12 | Satoru Nakajima | Lotus | +2.960s | — |
| 18 | 31 | Roberto Moreno | Coloni | +3.144s | — |
| 19 | 9 | Derek Warwick | Arrows | +3.288s | — |
| 20 | 10 | Eddie Cheever | Arrows | +3.380s | — |
| 21 | 22 | Andrea de Cesaris | Dallara | +3.447s | — |
| 22 | 25 | Rene Arnoux | Ligier | +3.457s | — |
| 23 | 40 | Gabriele Tarquini | AGS | +3.535s | — |
| 24 | 4 | Jean Alesi | Tyrrell | +3.621s | — |
| 25 | 26 | Olivier Grouillard | Ligier | +3.642s | — |
| 26 | 29 | Eric Bernard | Lola | +3.843s | — |
| 27 | 20 | Emanuele Pirro | Benetton | +3.915s | — |
| 28 | 3 | Jonathan Palmer | Tyrrell | +4.023s | — |
| 29 | 38 | Christian Danner | Rial | +6.633s | — |
Friday Qualifying
Ayrton Senna overcame McLaren‘s unsettled build-up to head Friday qualifying. Nigel Mansell and Gerhard Berger followed, giving Ferrari a strong provisional position, while Alain Prost still had time to find. The fast circuit allowed the Ferrari to make good use of its strengths through the sweeping corners.
Friday Qualifying Classification
1989 British Grand Prix first qualifying session, 14 July 1989
Saturday Free Practice
Alain Prost recovered to head Saturday morning practice, narrowly ahead of Nigel Mansell. McLaren still had work to do around the new transmission, and Alain Prost reported an awkward downchange and a soft clutch pedal during the weekend. Both March drivers suffered engine failures on Saturday morning, interrupting a promising showing on a circuit that suited the chassis. For Nigel Mansell, another competitive session reinforced the prospect of taking the fight to McLaren in front of his home crowd.
Saturday Practice Classification
1989 British Grand Prix Practice, 15 July 1989
Saturday Qualifying
Ayrton Senna improved slightly to 1:09.099 on Saturday and retained pole. Alain Prost joined him on the front row, ahead of the two Ferraris, with Riccardo Patrese fifth and Maurício Mauricio Gugelmin sixth on their best times. Derek Warwick qualified nineteenth on his return. Eddie Cheever and René Rene Arnoux were among those who missed the race.
Saturday Qualifying Classification
1989 British Grand Prix second qualifying session, 15 July 1989
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 | 1 | Ayrton Senna | McLaren | 1:09.124 | 1:09.099 | 1:09.099 | — |
| 2 | 2 | Alain Prost | McLaren | 1:10.156 | 1:09.266 | 1:09.266 | — |
| 3 | 27 | Nigel Mansell | Ferrari | 1:09.488 | 1:10.279 | 1:09.488 | — |
| 4 | 28 | Gerhard Berger | Ferrari | 1:09.855 | 1:10.130 | 1:09.855 | — |
| 5 | 6 | Riccardo Patrese | Williams | 1:09.865 | 1:09.963 | 1:09.865 | — |
| 6 | 15 | Maurício Gugelmin | March | 1:10.336 | 1:12.665 | 1:10.336 | — |
| 7 | 5 | Thierry Boutsen | Williams | 1:10.376 | 1:10.771 | 1:10.376 | — |
| 8 | 16 | Ivan Capelli | March | 1:10.650 | 1:11.544 | 1:10.650 | — |
| 9 | 19 | Alessandro Nannini | Benetton | 1:11.034 | 1:10.798 | 1:10.798 | — |
| 10 | 11 | Nelson Piquet | Lotus | 1:11.589 | 1:10.925 | 1:10.925 | — |
| 11 | 23 | Pierluigi Martini | Minardi | 1:11.368 | 1:11.582 | 1:11.368 | — |
| 12 | 30 | Philippe Alliot | Lola | 1:11.541 | 1:12.408 | 1:11.541 | — |
| 13 | 29 | Éric Bernard | Lola | 1:12.193 | 1:11.687 | 1:11.687 | — |
| 14 | 8 | Stefano Modena | Brabham | 1:12.262 | 1:11.755 | 1:11.809 | — |
| 15 | 24 | Luis Pérez-Sala | Minardi | 1:11.955 | 1:11.826 | 1:11.826 | — |
| 16 | 12 | Satoru Nakajima | Lotus | 1:12.326 | 1:11.960 | 1:11.960 | — |
| 17 | 17 | Nicola Larini | Osella | 1:12.061 | 1:12.395 | 1:11.766 | — |
| 18 | 3 | Jonathan Palmer | Tyrrell | 1:12.070 | 1:12.157 | 1:12.070 | — |
| 19 | 9 | Derek Warwick | Arrows | 1:12.295 | 1:12.208 | 1:12.208 | — |
| 20 | 7 | Martin Brundle | Brabham | 1:12.616 | 1:12.327 | 1:12.021 | — |
| 21 | 37 | Bertrand Gachot | Onyx | 1:12.329 | 1:12.928 | 1:11.506 | — |
| 22 | 4 | Jean Alesi | Tyrrell | 1:12.994 | 1:12.341 | 1:12.341 | — |
| 23 | 31 | Roberto Moreno | Coloni | 1:12.680 | 1:12.412 | 1:12.412 | — |
| 24 | 26 | Olivier Grouillard | Ligier | 1:12.853 | 1:12.605 | 1:12.605 | — |
| 25 | 22 | Andrea de Cesaris | Dallara | 1:13.335 | 1:12.904 | 1:12.904 | — |
| 26 | 20 | Emanuele Pirro | Benetton | 1:13.233 | 1:13.148 | 1:13.148 | — |
| 27 | 25 | René Arnoux | Ligier | 1:13.240 | 1:13.550 | 1:13.240 | — |
| 28 | 10 | Eddie Cheever | Arrows | 1:13.655 | 1:13.386 | 1:13.386 | — |
| 29 | 40 | Gabriele Tarquini | AGS | 1:13.496 | 1:13.997 | 1:13.496 | — |
| 30 | 38 | Christian Danner | Rial | 1:15.387 | 1:15.394 | 1:15.387 | — |
Sunday warm-up
Nigel Mansell topped Sunday’s warm-up ahead of Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna, giving the grandstands further encouragement. Gerhard Berger was less fortunate: an oil leak from his Ferrari‘s gearbox foreshadowed more trouble in the race. Bertrand Gachot crashed his Onyx and had to use the spare, a serious setback with the team’s pre-qualifying future still unresolved. The morning therefore sharpened two contrasting stories—Nigel Mansell‘s growing confidence and the vulnerability of several other challengers.
Warm-up Classification
1989 British Grand Prix Warm-up, 16 July 1989
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Time / Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 27 | Nigel Mansell | Ferrari | 1:12.130 | — |
| 2 | 2 | Alain Prost | McLaren | +0.385s | — |
| 3 | 1 | Ayrton Senna | McLaren | +0.400s | — |
| 4 | 28 | Gerhard Berger | Ferrari | +0.557s | — |
| 5 | 19 | Alessandro Nannini | Benetton | +1.241s | — |
| 6 | 23 | Pierluigi Martini | Minardi | +1.666s | — |
| 7 | 11 | Nelson Piquet | Lotus | +1.746s | — |
| 8 | 5 | Thierry Boutsen | Williams | +1.944s | — |
| 9 | 3 | Jonathan Palmer | Tyrrell | +2.091s | — |
| 10 | 6 | Riccardo Patrese | Williams | +2.095s | — |
| 11 | 16 | Ivan Capelli | March | +2.122s | — |
| 12 | 12 | Satoru Nakajima | Lotus | +2.294s | — |
| 13 | 4 | Jean Alesi | Tyrrell | +2.638s | — |
| 14 | 17 | Nicola Larini | Osella | +2.662s | — |
| 15 | 20 | Emanuele Pirro | Benetton | +2.738s | — |
| 16 | 29 | Eric Bernard | Lola | +2.786s | — |
| 17 | 30 | Philippe Alliot | Lola | +2.888s | — |
| 18 | 26 | Olivier Grouillard | Ligier | +2.890s | — |
| 19 | 8 | Stefano Modena | Brabham | +3.210s | — |
| 20 | 15 | Mauricio Gugelmin | March | +3.359s | — |
| 21 | 31 | Roberto Moreno | Coloni | +3.644s | — |
| 22 | 22 | Andrea de Cesaris | Dallara | +3.768s | — |
| 23 | 7 | Martin Brundle | Brabham | +3.844s | — |
| 24 | 9 | Derek Warwick | Arrows | +4.346s | — |
| 25 | 37 | Bertrand Gachot | Onyx | +4.721s | — |
| 26 | 24 | Luis Perez-Sala | Minardi | +9.055s | — |
What happened in the 1989 British Grand Prix?
Ayrton Senna held the lead through the opening corner, ahead of Alain Prost and Nigel Mansell. His race ended on lap twelve when gear-selection trouble sent him spinning off at Becketts. Alain Prost inherited the lead, while Nigel Mansell pursued him. Riccardo Patrese later crashed when a radiator failure put water onto his rear tyres.
Nigel Mansell kept the pressure on until a puncture forced a stop. Alain Prost‘s own tyre change was delayed, but he retained enough of an advantage to win by nineteen seconds. Alessandro Nannini passed Nelson Piquet late in the race for third, giving the new Benetton a podium; Nelson Piquet finished fourth after a determined drive in the Lotus.
Pierluigi Martini and Luis Pérez-Sala brought both Minardis home in the points, fifth and sixth. Those three points kept the team out of pre-qualifying for the second half of the season and left Onyx facing the early-morning session. For Alain Prost, another victory combined with Ayrton Senna‘s retirement opened a twenty-point championship advantage at the halfway stage.
After the race, Alain Prost headed the drivers’ standings with 47 points, followed by Ayrton Senna on 27. McLaren – Honda led the constructors’ table on 74, with Williams – Renault on 35.
1989 British Grand Prix race results
The 1989 British Grand Prix was held on 16 July 1989.
1989 British Grand Prix Fastest Laps
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Lap | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 27 | Nigel Mansell | Ferrari | 57 | 1:12.017 |
| 2 | 2 | Alain Prost | McLaren | 58 | 1:12.193 |
| 3 | 19 | Alessandro Nannini | Benetton | 54 | 1:12.397 |
| 4 | 28 | Gerhard Berger | Ferrari | 29 | 1:13.477 |
| 5 | 11 | Nelson Piquet | Lotus | 55 | 1:13.565 |
| 6 | 15 | Mauricio Gugelmin | March | 27 | 1:13.735 |
| 7 | 1 | Ayrton Senna | McLaren | 10 | 1:13.737 |
| 8 | 16 | Ivan Capelli | March | 8 | 1:14.224 |
| 9 | 5 | Thierry Boutsen | Williams | 57 | 1:14.248 |
| 10 | 23 | Pierluigi Martini | Minardi | 55 | 1:14.388 |
| 11 | 26 | Olivier Grouillard | Ligier | 54 | 1:14.446 |
| 12 | 37 | Bertrand Gachot | Onyx | 62 | 1:14.484 |
| 13 | 24 | Luis Perez-Sala | Minardi | 61 | 1:14.492 |
| 14 | 6 | Riccardo Patrese | Williams | 17 | 1:14.586 |
| 15 | 12 | Satoru Nakajima | Lotus | 57 | 1:14.720 |
| 16 | 20 | Emanuele Pirro | Benetton | 61 | 1:15.293 |
| 17 | 7 | Martin Brundle | Brabham | 49 | 1:15.363 |
| 18 | 30 | Philippe Alliot | Lola | 34 | 1:15.405 |
| 19 | 9 | Derek Warwick | Arrows | 60 | 1:15.443 |
| 20 | 8 | Stefano Modena | Brabham | 31 | 1:15.489 |
| 21 | 4 | Jean Alesi | Tyrrell | 26 | 1:15.519 |
| 22 | 3 | Jonathan Palmer | Tyrrell | 27 | 1:15.931 |
| 23 | 29 | Eric Bernard | Lola | 4 | 1:16.264 |
| 24 | 17 | Nicola Larini | Osella | 22 | 1:16.901 |
| 25 | 22 | Andrea de Cesaris | Dallara | 3 | 1:18.076 |
| 26 | 31 | Roberto Moreno | Coloni | 2 | 1:20.498 |
Only drivers with a recorded lap time appear. No fastest-lap bonus point was awarded.
1989 Post-Race F1 Championship Standings
Championship standings after the 1989 British Grand Prix.
1989 Post-Race F1 Drivers' Championship Standings
1989 Post-Race F1 Constructors' Championship Standings
| POS | Car | PTS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | McLaren – Honda | 74 |
| 2 | Williams – Renault | 35 |
| 3 | Ferrari | 21 |
| 4 | Benetton – Ford | 17 |
| 5 | Tyrrell – Ford | 10 |
| 6 | Dallara – Ford | 8 |
| 7 | Arrows – Ford | 8 |
| 8 | Lotus – Judd | 6 |
| 9 | Brabham – Judd | 5 |
| 10 | March – Judd | 4 |
| 11 | Rial – Ford | 3 |
| 12 | Ligier – Ford | 3 |
| 13 | Minardi – Ford | 3 |
| 14 | Onyx – Ford | 2 |
| 15 | AGS – Ford | 1 |
| — | Lola – Lamborghini | 0 |
| — | Osella – Ford | 0 |
| — | Zakspeed – Yamaha | 0 |
| — | EuroBrun – Judd | 0 |
| — | Coloni – Ford | 0 |
Drivers counted their best eleven results; constructors counted every round. The standings here show the position after this race.
1989 Formula 1 Race Calendar
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