Alain Prost won the 1989 Italian Grand Prix after Ayrton Senna‘s engine failed late in the race, extending his championship lead and securing the constructors’ title for McLaren. Gerhard Berger finally reached the finish for Ferrari and took second, with Thierry Boutsen third. Alain Prost‘s newly announced move to Ferrari ensured an unusually warm reception for a McLaren victory at Monza.
Race Guide
Season: 1989 F1 World Championship
Race date: 10 September 1989
Race start time: Start time unconfirmed local time (UTC+02:00)
Circuit: Autodromo Nazionale di Monza
Laps: 53 laps
Circuit length: 5.80 km
1988 winner: Gerhard Berger
| Result | Driver / Time | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Pole position | Ayrton Senna | McLaren |
| Pole time | 1:23.720 | |
| Fastest lap | Alain Prost | McLaren |
| Fastest-lap time | 1:28.107 on lap 43 | |
| First | Alain Prost | McLaren |
| Second | Gerhard Berger | Ferrari |
| Third | Thierry Boutsen | Williams |
Weekend Schedule
| Date | Session | Local Time |
|---|---|---|
| 8 September 1989 | Pre-qualifying | Start time unconfirmed |
| 8 September 1989 | Practice 1 | Morning; start unconfirmed |
| 8 September 1989 | Qualifying 1 | Start time unconfirmed |
| 9 September 1989 | Practice 2 | Morning; start unconfirmed |
| 9 September 1989 | Qualifying 2 | Start time unconfirmed |
| 10 September 1989 | Warm-up | Morning; start unconfirmed |
| 10 September 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 12 leading the 1989 F1 World Championship on 62 points, with Ayrton Senna on 51. McLaren – Honda headed the constructors’ standings after the preceding race with 113 points.
Race entries
Jean Alesi returned to Tyrrell after Johnny Herbert‘s Belgian appearance. Oscar Larrauri rejoined EuroBrun in place of Gregor Foitek. Away from the immediate line-up, Alain Prost confirmed that he would join Ferrari for the 1990 F1 World Championship, while Gerhard Berger was heading in the opposite direction. Ferrari also brought a revised V12 for its home event.
Pre-qualifying
Philippe Alliot and Michele Alboreto put the Lola-Lamborghinis first and second in pre-qualifying. Nicola Larini and Bertrand Gachot also advanced, while Stefan Johansson was eliminated after clutch trouble. Oscar Larrauri could not get the EuroBrun through on his return. Philippe Alliot‘s pace was particularly encouraging on a circuit that allowed the Lamborghini engine to show its strengths.
Pre-qualifying Classification
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30 | Philippe Alliot | Lola | 1:26.623 | — |
| 2 | 29 | Michele Alboreto | Lola | 1:27.829 | +1.206 |
| 3 | 17 | Nicola Larini | Osella | 1:27.980 | +1.357 |
| 4 | 37 | Bertrand Gachot | Onyx | 1:28.344 | +1.721 |
| 5 | 36 | Stefan Johansson | Onyx | 1:28.588 | +1.965 |
| 6 | 40 | Gabriele Tarquini | AGS | 1:28.813 | +2.190 |
| 7 | 31 | Roberto Moreno | Coloni | 1:28.864 | +2.241 |
| 8 | 18 | Piercarlo Ghinzani | Osella | 1:28.884 | +2.261 |
| 9 | 34 | Bernd Schneider | Zakspeed | 1:29.472 | +2.849 |
| 10 | 35 | Aguri Suzuki | Zakspeed | 1:30.085 | +3.462 |
| 11 | 33 | Oscar Larrauri | EuroBrun | 1:30.089 | +3.466 |
| 12 | 41 | Yannick Dalmas | AGS | 1:30.882 | +4.259 |
| 13 | 32 | Enrico Bertaggia | Coloni | 1:31.606 | +4.983 |
Friday Free Practice
Gerhard Berger led Friday practice by a narrow margin from Ayrton Senna, giving Ferrari an encouraging start at home. The team’s revised V12 was an important part of its effort to close the gap, while Alain Prost began a less comfortable weekend with concerns about both handling and engine response. Monza made those questions especially visible: a car needed confidence under braking and through the chicanes without sacrificing too much speed on the long straights.
Friday Practice Classification
1989 Italian Grand Prix Practice, 8 September 1989
Friday Qualifying
Ferrari held the provisional front row after Friday qualifying, with Gerhard Berger just five thousandths of a second ahead of Nigel Mansell. Ayrton Senna was third. Philippe Alliot also impressed in the Lola–Lamborghini, eventually securing seventh on the grid, while Jean Alesi‘s rear-wing infringement wiped out his first-day time.
Friday Qualifying Classification
1989 Italian Grand Prix first qualifying session, 8 September 1989
Saturday Free Practice
Rain affected Saturday morning before the decisive qualifying session. Ayrton Senna headed practice, with Nigel Mansell second and Alessandro Nannini third. Jean Alesi had particular reason to watch the conditions: his Friday qualifying time had been cancelled for a rear-wing infringement, leaving him dependent on Saturday. Ferrari‘s development engine programme also suffered a setback when Gerhard Berger‘s unit failed. The changing weather made the final session more than a routine chance to refine the previous day’s order.
Saturday Practice Classification
1989 Italian Grand Prix Practice, 9 September 1989
Saturday Qualifying
Ayrton Senna found a dramatic improvement on Saturday, taking pole in 1:23.720. The Ferraris could not improve their Friday times but retained second and third, ahead of Alain Prost. Jean Alesi recovered tenth. Stefano Modena was excluded for failing to comply with a weight check, allowing Luis Pérez-Sala onto the grid; Eddie Cheever again failed to qualify.
Saturday Qualifying Classification
1989 Italian Grand Prix second qualifying session, 9 September 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 | 1:25.021 | 1:23.720 | 1:23.720 | — |
| 2 | 28 | Gerhard Berger | Ferrari | 1:24.734 | 1:24.998 | 1:24.734 | — |
| 3 | 27 | Nigel Mansell | Ferrari | 1:24.739 | 1:24.979 | 1:24.739 | — |
| 4 | 2 | Alain Prost | McLaren | 1:25.872 | 1:25.510 | 1:25.510 | — |
| 5 | 6 | Riccardo Patrese | Williams | 1:26.195 | 1:25.545 | 1:25.545 | — |
| 6 | 5 | Thierry Boutsen | Williams | 1:26.155 | 1:26.392 | 1:26.155 | — |
| 7 | 30 | Philippe Alliot | Lola | 1:27.118 | 1:26.985 | 1:26.623 | — |
| 8 | 19 | Alessandro Nannini | Benetton | 1:27.162 | 1:27.052 | 1:27.052 | — |
| 9 | 20 | Emanuele Pirro | Benetton | 1:28.367 | 1:27.397 | 1:27.397 | — |
| 10 | 4 | Jean Alesi | Tyrrell | 1:28.799 | 1:27.399 | 1:27.399 | — |
| 11 | 11 | Nelson Piquet | Lotus | 1:28.135 | 1:27.508 | 1:27.508 | — |
| 12 | 7 | Martin Brundle | Brabham | 1:27.627 | 1:27.637 | 1:27.627 | — |
| 13 | 29 | Michele Alboreto | Lola | 1:28.586 | 1:27.803 | 1:27.829 | — |
| 14 | 3 | Jonathan Palmer | Tyrrell | 1:29.187 | 1:27.822 | 1:27.822 | — |
| 15 | 23 | Pierluigi Martini | Minardi | 1:28.397 | 1:27.923 | 1:27.923 | — |
| 16 | 9 | Derek Warwick | Arrows | 1:28.092 | 1:29.031 | 1:28.092 | — |
| 17 | 22 | Andrea de Cesaris | Dallara | 1:28.129 | 1:28.180 | 1:28.129 | — |
| 18 | 16 | Ivan Capelli | March | 1:31.969 | 1:28.430 | 1:28.430 | — |
| 19 | 12 | Satoru Nakajima | Lotus | 1:28.769 | 1:28.441 | 1:28.441 | — |
| 20 | 21 | Alex Caffi | Dallara | 1:28.596 | 1:28.708 | 1:28.596 | — |
| 21 | 26 | Olivier Grouillard | Ligier | 1:28.669 | 1:29.537 | 1:28.669 | — |
| 22 | 37 | Bertrand Gachot | Onyx | 1:28.684 | 1:29.058 | 1:28.344 | — |
| 23 | 25 | René Arnoux | Ligier | 1:28.685 | 1:28.843 | 1:28.685 | — |
| 24 | 17 | Nicola Larini | Osella | 1:29.265 | 1:28.773 | 1:27.980 | — |
| 25 | 15 | Maurício Gugelmin | March | 1:29.192 | 1:28.923 | 1:28.923 | — |
| 26 | 24 | Luis Pérez-Sala | Minardi | 1:29.592 | 1:29.293 | 1:29.293 | — |
| 27 | 10 | Eddie Cheever | Arrows | 1:29.884 | 1:29.554 | 1:29.554 | — |
| 28 | 38 | Christian Danner | Rial | 1:32.074 | 1:31.830 | 1:31.830 | — |
| 29 | 39 | Pierre-Henri Raphanel | Rial | 1:31.994 | 1:36.295 | 1:36.295 | — |
| EX | 8 | Stefano Modena | Brabham | 1:28.377 | — | — | — |
Sunday warm-up
Ayrton Senna led the warm-up ahead of Nigel Mansell and Alain Prost. Alain Prost still complained of poor engine response and straight-line speed, and McLaren altered his setup before the race. Derek Warwick also had a fuel-system problem that would persist into the afternoon. Gerhard Berger‘s build-up included transmission work, so Ferrari‘s hopes of ending his long run without a finish were accompanied by another mechanical concern despite its strong grid positions.
Warm-up Classification
1989 Italian Grand Prix Warm-up, 10 September 1989
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Time / Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Ayrton Senna | McLaren | 1:27.637 | — |
| 2 | 27 | Nigel Mansell | Ferrari | +0.297s | — |
| 3 | 2 | Alain Prost | McLaren | +1.512s | — |
| 4 | 4 | Jean Alesi | Tyrrell | +2.136s | — |
| 5 | 19 | Alessandro Nannini | Benetton | +2.230s | — |
| 6 | 30 | Philippe Alliot | Lola | +2.284s | — |
| 7 | 3 | Jonathan Palmer | Tyrrell | +2.344s | — |
| 8 | 23 | Pierluigi Martini | Minardi | +2.364s | — |
| 9 | 20 | Emanuele Pirro | Benetton | +2.473s | — |
| 10 | 5 | Thierry Boutsen | Williams | +2.490s | — |
| 11 | 29 | Michele Alboreto | Lola | +2.503s | — |
| 12 | 6 | Riccardo Patrese | Williams | +2.524s | — |
| 13 | 11 | Nelson Piquet | Lotus | +2.828s | — |
| 14 | 37 | Bertrand Gachot | Onyx | +3.099s | — |
| 15 | 7 | Martin Brundle | Brabham | +3.127s | — |
| 16 | 12 | Satoru Nakajima | Lotus | +3.234s | — |
| 17 | 26 | Olivier Grouillard | Ligier | +3.357s | — |
| 18 | 21 | Alex Caffi | Dallara | +3.398s | — |
| 19 | 28 | Gerhard Berger | Ferrari | +3.624s | — |
| 20 | 9 | Derek Warwick | Arrows | +3.762s | — |
| 21 | 22 | Andrea de Cesaris | Dallara | +3.780s | — |
| 22 | 17 | Nicola Larini | Osella | +3.828s | — |
| 23 | 25 | Rene Arnoux | Ligier | +3.889s | — |
| 24 | 16 | Ivan Capelli | March | +4.294s | — |
| 25 | 15 | Mauricio Gugelmin | March | +4.916s | — |
| 26 | 24 | Luis Perez-Sala | Minardi | +5.137s | — |
What happened in the 1989 Italian Grand Prix?
Ayrton Senna led from the start, with Gerhard Berger pursuing him. Alain Prost initially ran behind both Ferraris before advancing as Nigel Mansell developed gearbox trouble. Nigel Mansell eventually retired, and Alain Prost passed Gerhard Berger for second, drawing cheers from supporters already looking ahead to his arrival at Ferrari.
Ayrton Senna still appeared in control until his Honda engine failed approaching the Parabolica late in the race. Alain Prost inherited the lead and went on to win, while Gerhard Berger finally ended his long sequence of retirements with second. Thierry Boutsen took third, ahead of Riccardo Patrese.
Jean Alesi finished fifth and Martin Brundle sixth. Alain Prost also set the fastest lap, and his victory secured McLaren‘s constructors’ championship. He now had eleven scoring results, meaning further points would have to replace existing scores under the retained-results rule. Ayrton Senna‘s twenty-point deficit was substantial, but the scoring system still gave him a mathematical route back into the contest.
After the race, Alain Prost headed the drivers’ standings with 71 points, followed by Ayrton Senna on 51. McLaren – Honda led the constructors’ table on 122, with Williams – Renault on 52.
1989 Italian Grand Prix race results
The 1989 Italian Grand Prix was held on 10 September 1989.
1989 Italian Grand Prix Fastest Laps
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Lap | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | Alain Prost | McLaren | 43 | 1:28.107 |
| 2 | 1 | Ayrton Senna | McLaren | 43 | 1:28.179 |
| 3 | 5 | Thierry Boutsen | Williams | 43 | 1:28.245 |
| 4 | 28 | Gerhard Berger | Ferrari | 43 | 1:28.712 |
| 5 | 27 | Nigel Mansell | Ferrari | 33 | 1:28.820 |
| 6 | 6 | Riccardo Patrese | Williams | 33 | 1:28.857 |
| 7 | 19 | Alessandro Nannini | Benetton | 27 | 1:29.726 |
| 8 | 16 | Ivan Capelli | March | 9 | 1:30.236 |
| 9 | 7 | Martin Brundle | Brabham | 32 | 1:30.437 |
| 10 | 4 | Jean Alesi | Tyrrell | 32 | 1:30.588 |
| 11 | 11 | Nelson Piquet | Lotus | 8 | 1:30.976 |
| 12 | 21 | Alex Caffi | Dallara | 42 | 1:31.112 |
| 13 | 22 | Andrea de Cesaris | Dallara | 38 | 1:31.138 |
| 14 | 23 | Pierluigi Martini | Minardi | 37 | 1:31.468 |
| 15 | 24 | Luis Perez-Sala | Minardi | 41 | 1:31.535 |
| 16 | 26 | Olivier Grouillard | Ligier | 29 | 1:31.639 |
| 17 | 12 | Satoru Nakajima | Lotus | 42 | 1:31.931 |
| 18 | 9 | Derek Warwick | Arrows | 12 | 1:32.302 |
| 19 | 17 | Nicola Larini | Osella | 7 | 1:32.416 |
| 20 | 3 | Jonathan Palmer | Tyrrell | 12 | 1:32.474 |
| 21 | 29 | Michele Alboreto | Lola | 13 | 1:32.548 |
| 22 | 25 | Rene Arnoux | Ligier | 6 | 1:32.577 |
| 23 | 37 | Bertrand Gachot | Onyx | 15 | 1:32.691 |
| 24 | 15 | Mauricio Gugelmin | March | 9 | 1:33.571 |
| 25 | 30 | Philippe Alliot | Lola | 1 | 1:44.035 |
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 Italian Grand Prix.
1989 Post-Race F1 Drivers' Championship Standings
1989 Post-Race F1 Constructors' Championship Standings
| POS | Car | PTS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | McLaren – Honda | 122 |
| 2 | Williams – Renault | 52 |
| 3 | Ferrari | 44 |
| 4 | Benetton – Ford | 19 |
| 5 | Tyrrell – Ford | 12 |
| 6 | Arrows – Ford | 12 |
| 7 | Lotus – Judd | 9 |
| 8 | Dallara – Ford | 8 |
| 9 | Brabham – Judd | 6 |
| 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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