The 1986 FIA Formula One World Championship began on 23 March and concluded on 26 October, over 16 race weekends.
Season
The World Drivers’ Championship was won by Alain Prost, who successfully defended the title he had secured the previous year. In doing so, Prost became the first driver to win consecutive Drivers’ Championships since Jack Brabham achieved the feat in 1959 and 1960. Prost’s success came during one of the most competitive seasons of the decade, as he battled against several of the sport’s leading drivers throughout the year.
The championship fight was largely dominated by four drivers: Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell, Nelson Piquet, and Ayrton Senna. Their consistent performances and frequent presence at the front of the field led journalists and fans to refer to them collectively as the “Gang of Four.” These drivers traded victories and championship momentum throughout the season, producing one of the most intense title contests of the era.
In the Constructors’ Championship, Williams-Honda emerged victorious, delivering a strong performance across the season. The achievement was historically significant as it marked the first time a Japanese engine manufacturer—Honda—won the Formula One Constructors’ Championship, highlighting the growing influence of Japanese engineering in the sport during the 1980s.
The season also marked the final Formula One campaign of Keke Rosberg, the 1982 World Drivers’ Champion. Rosberg competed for McLaren in 1986 but endured a difficult season, and he chose to retire from Formula One at the end of the year, bringing his Grand Prix career to a close.
Another notable development transpired at the end of the season, when Renault withdrew from Formula One as an engine supplier due to internal restructuring. Despite this departure, Renault would later return to the sport in 1989, continuing its influential role in Formula One engine development.
1986 F1 Entries Drivers and Teams
1986 Formula 1 Race Calendar
1986 Formula 1 Race Results
Grands Prix
1986 Formula 1 Standings
Driver standings
| Pos | Driver | Nationality | Car | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alain Prost | FRA | McLaren TAG | 72 |
| 2 | Nigel Mansell | GBR | Williams Honda | 70 |
| 3 | Nelson Piquet | BRA | Williams Honda | 69 |
| 4 | Ayrton Senna | BRA | Lotus Renault | 55 |
| 5 | Stefan Johansson | SWE | Ferrari | 23 |
| 6 | Keke Rosberg | FIN | McLaren TAG | 22 |
| 7 | Gerhard Berger | AUT | Benetton BMW | 17 |
| 8 | Jacques Laffite | FRA | Ligier Renault | 14 |
| 9 | Michele Alboreto | ITA | Ferrari | 14 |
| 10 | Rene Arnoux | FRA | Ligier Renault | 14 |
| 11 | Martin Brundle | GBR | Tyrrell Renault | 8 |
| 12 | Alan Jones | AUS | Lola Ford | 4 |
| 13 | Johnny Dumfries | GBR | Lotus Renault | 3 |
| 14 | Philippe Streiff | FRA | Tyrrell Renault | 3 |
| 15 | Teo Fabi | ITA | Benetton BMW | 2 |
| 16 | Patrick Tambay | FRA | Lola Ford | 2 |
| 17 | Riccardo Patrese | ITA | Brabham BMW | 2 |
| 18 | Philippe Alliot | FRA | Ligier Renault | 1 |
| 19 | Christian Danner | GER | Arrows BMW | 1 |
Team standings
| Pos | Team | PTS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Williams Honda | 141 |
| 2 | McLaren TAG | 96 |
| 3 | Lotus Renault | 58 |
| 4 | Ferrari | 37 |
| 5 | Ligier Renault | 29 |
| 6 | Benetton BMW | 19 |
| 7 | Tyrrell Renault | 11 |
| 8 | Lola Ford | 6 |
| 9 | Brabham BMW | 2 |
| 10 | Arrows BMW | 1 |
