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The Ferrari team will participate in the South African Grand Prix unless the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the organizer of the Formula 1 World Championship, cancels the race. In a brief telegram, Enzo Ferrari declined the Proletarian Democracy Party's invitation to boycott the race and join the protest against the apartheid regime.
"As a sportsman, I am not familiar with the historical, environmental, and ethno-religious situation in South Africa. Therefore, I cannot make judgments, although I am against all forms of violence, including verbal, journalistic, and televised violence. I am convinced that when politics enter sports, they end up distorting them, as demonstrated by the last two Olympics".
Unsatisfied with the response, Proletarian Democracy requested to speak directly with Ferrari. Ferrari's stance reflects that of the other Formula 1 teams who have already indicated they have no intention of boycotting the Grand Prix individually, primarily for economic reasons. The FOCA regulations stipulate that annual prizes are divided only among the teams that participate in all races on the calendar. An unjustified absence from a single race—and a protest against apartheid would be considered such—causes a significant overall loss, especially for stronger teams, amounting to billions. Only the FOCA and the FIA could spare the teams the embarrassment of choosing between a deficit and aligning with global support for protesting the Pretoria regime by deciding not to hold the race. However, FOCA president Bernie Ecclestone has always prioritized economic issues over political ones. FISA president Jean-Marie Balestre specifies that he will cancel the race only if the South African organizers decide not to hold it. Concerns about potential disorder seem to prevail; the Kyalami circuit is located halfway between Johannesburg and Pretoria. The assessment is left to the South Africans. Even the sanctions proposed by the foreign ministers of the EEC in Luxembourg seem not to directly affect Formula 1. The ministers vaguely spoke of freezing sports agreements and discouraging participation in cultural, scientific, and sports events in South Africa without guarantees of racial integration.
This loophole allows many to argue that the problem does not exist, as there are no drivers of color in Formula 1. However, resistance to the global call to boycott the Grand Prix is beginning to crack due to initiatives that directly impact the drivers. The Brazilian government has informed Senna (Lotus) and Piquet (Brabham) that they will revoke their licenses if they race in South Africa. The Swedish government has done the same for Johansson (Ferrari). Finnish Minister of Education Kaarina Suonlahti says she will do everything in her power to prevent Rosberg (Williams) from participating in the race, so that their national anthem will not be played in a country that practices apartheid. The drivers quickly find a solution, constrained by ironclad contracts with their teams. With a few formalities, it is possible to replace their license with an equivalent one issued by another country. Johansson has announced that he will obtain an English license to bypass the obstacle, and Piquet, Senna, and Rosberg are likely to follow suit. What do Formula 1 drivers think about the problem in South Africa? First and foremost, they are concerned about the regularity of the championship. The upcoming races, Kyalami on Saturday, October 19 and the Australian Grand Prix on November 3 in Adelaide, could be decisive. However, opinions are divided. Some believe that the race should not take place, while others say they are professionals willing to compete if the race remains on the schedule. Some fear for their personal safety. Michele Alboreto, for example, says:
"If the Federation decides to hold the race, we will go to South Africa to do our job. I hope that in forty days, the local problems will be at least partially resolved and the situation will be calmer".
Stephan Johansson adds:
"My federation forbids me from going, but if the team wants to participate in the race, then I will go to South Africa and try to get another license, although I don't know what kind yet".
Jacques Laffite emphasizes:
"It's madness to race in a country at war".
Niki Lauda says:
"It would be a colossal mistake to go to Kyalami. There are serious enough events in South Africa that racing with Formula 1 cars shouldn't be a consideration".
Alain Prost underscores:
"It's madness to go to Kyalami. But if Alboreto goes, I will too".
Eddie Cheever adds:
"It's not right to race because the safety of all participants cannot be guaranteed. I have always felt politically embarrassed in South Africa, even though those in power claim these are local problems. I don't believe anyone can agree with them".
Nelson Piquet says:
"I am a professional, and I have a contract to respect. The International Federation must make a logical decision".
Elio De Angelis admits:
"For humanitarian reasons, I would be against this trip. I don't know the situation well, but I know people are being killed there. The Grand Prix could provide both opposing factions with an opportunity to exploit the situation".
Patrick Tambay declares:
"I personally consider the human problem with the utmost attention. However, I don't believe that the political crisis and motorsports are comparable".
Finally, Pierluigi Martini admits:
"For me, it's not a racial problem. I am certainly afraid to go to South Africa. The situation suggests not holding that race. There are many other circuits that would be happy to host our races instead of the Kyalami race".
Meanwhile, Ferrari's testing at Monza continues. On Tuesday, September 10, 1985, Johansson tested at Monza, experiencing a gearbox problem after five laps in the morning. He had to push the car alone for many meters towards the pits. Meanwhile, Alboreto conducted tests at the private Fiorano circuit. The best news came from Fiorano, where Alboreto completed 50 laps testing three cars. Two were similar to the one in Monza and one was different, featuring technical solutions that had been seen before. It seems that some of the issues that led to Prost's significant defeat have been identified. According to rumors from Maranello, where Magneti Marelli-Weber technicians also worked, the trouble may be due to piston segments consuming too much oil. After a day in which Ferrari's staff remained isolated in the Monza paddock, not speaking with journalists, the technical manager in charge of chassis in Maranello, Englishman Harvey Postlethwaite, said:
"We believe we have identified the engine problem through telemetry surveys that simulate the same conditions as the race. The same critical situation occurred. There was also a gearbox failure, and we sent it to the workshop for inspection. The car malfunctions when certain average speeds are exceeded. We need to work on setups, suspensions, and aerodynamics".
At Ferrari, there is still a glimmer of hope, albeit tied to probability calculations.
"So far, Prost has not experienced the slightest malfunction since the beginning of the championship. Of course, we cannot rely solely on his retirement at Spa, but that's part of the game in Formula 1. We will try to improve our performance".
The Belgian Grand Prix is just around the corner. However, in the world of Formula 1, people are talking more about the increasingly controversial Grand Prix in South Africa, which is scheduled for Saturday, October 19, 1985, at Kyalami, near Johannesburg. On Thursday, September 12, 1985, Bernie Ecclestone, the head of FOCA (and Brabham), reiterated that there would be no boycotts, relocations, or schedule changes. However, almost simultaneously, the constructors' front fractured when Renault announced that it would not field its drivers, Patrick Tambay and Derek Warwick, at Kyalami. The French automaker's brief statement came less than twenty-four hours after Minister Alain Calmat called for a boycott.
"The Minister of Youth and Sports has invited French teams and drivers to conscientiously consider the implications of their participation in the Kyalami Grand Prix. Renault announces that it has decided not to enter its cars in this race".
It was difficult for the state-owned company to ignore the government's call. Furthermore, it should be noted that France has a particularly active anti-apartheid movement. The Mitterrand government withdrew the ambassador from Pretoria and banned all commercial relations with South Africa. The powerful anti-racism association SOS Racisme organized demonstrations with hundreds of thousands of participants. Among other actions, SOS Racisme wrote to Renault, Ligier, Prost, and Alboreto, inviting them to boycott. By not competing at Kyalami, Renault will forfeit all rights to the annual Formula 1 prizes. The company has no other reprisals to fear, as it has already decided not to field its own team next season. Bernie Ecclestone, on the other hand, holds a different opinion.
"The South African Grand Prix will take place as scheduled on October 19, 1985. This is certain".
Despite a swollen lip, the English manager speaks with ease and determination, seated near the RAM team's motorhome. Evidently, moral and political issues do not concern him. Perhaps they are secondary to what matters most to him: he is personally involved in organizing the Kyalami race and wants everything to proceed according to plan. It would be illogical to expect a different stance from him. Previously, when asked about the Australian transport workers' union's decision not to unload Formula 1 material from South Africa, Ecclestone stated:
"These people are concerned about what happens in other countries. They talk about racism after exterminating the Aborigines..".
There are no other updates on the official front. Indifferent to the positions of many nations and even the objections of moderates, the FIA has not addressed the issue, even though the regularity of the World Championship could be compromised. President Balestre, who clarified FISA's position in Zandvoort ("The race can only be canceled at the organizers' request"), states:
"No official statement. It will be discussed at the meeting scheduled for October 7 at Brands Hatch".
It's a bit late to find a substitute venue. In any case, discomfort over the South African issue is growing. Beyond statements and quoted speeches, a growing awareness is emerging. On Thursday afternoon, an informal meeting of technicians and team managers will take place. Kyalami will surely be discussed, but no one wants to explain the terms or objectives. It seems that much will depend on the conditions under which the race can take place and the political pressures exerted in various directions. In the past few days, Balestre stated that Formula 1 did not back down when the Buenos Aires circuit was surrounded by armed military personnel and when the Corsica Rally was held amid hundreds of bombs from local autonomists. Perhaps this is a show of strength, and the only hope for a wise decision is for those in power to make their voices heard. Meanwhile, 105 days have passed since the Belgian Grand Prix was suspended due to poor track conditions and rescheduled for the following Sunday. Since then, everything has changed. The circuit's road surface has been completely rebuilt and appears solid. Most importantly, the Ferrari, which was on the rise, securing provisional pole position on Friday with Michele Alboreto (1'56"046, ahead of the two Lotuses of De Angelis and Senna), now appears to be in crisis. At that time, McLaren was in trouble.
The British team had hit rock bottom, with Prost earning the second-to-last qualifying time and experiencing three engine failures in one day. Now, however, they are dominating the World Championship, with Prost leading the standings. Therefore, there is great anticipation for the return to Francorchamps, a spectacular yet dangerous track. For the Maranello team, this is truly their last chance at the title. If Prost wins again and Alboreto does not place at least third in the event that the South African race is canceled, Alain's chances are mathematically over. Ferrari arrives in Belgium with a relatively favorable track record (last year, Alboreto secured the team's only victory of the season at Zolder). However, the continuous changes to the cars and uninterrupted tests have left the technicians and drivers exhausted. Three 156/85 cars have been brought to Belgium: two in the most modern version, featuring two openings in the front of the chassis, a biplane rear wing, and a cut slide. The third car appears to be a replica of the one that secured the fastest time for the Italian driver on May 31. There are minor changes, but it's clear that the Maranello team intends to conduct comparative tests to determine their next steps. There are no major changes for the other teams. Alain Prost displays a certain confidence:
"If I win here, so much the better. But I'm not in a hurry. I feel quite calm. The role of the attacker now belongs to my rival, with all the risks it entails".
Outsiders must also be considered in the game. There's the usual Rosberg and Mansell with Williams, Piquet with Brabham, and the unpredictable Niki Lauda. Then there are the Lotuses, which performed well in the spring tests. After a lap of the track with a normal car, a focused and attentive Ayrton Senna explains:
"We need to see what has changed. The asphalt is different; it's more slippery. On the other hand, there are fewer bumps. Everything can change".
The outcome is uncertain, even though McLaren is the favorite. Few drivers are present at the circuit on Thursday, and no one thinks to place flowers at the spot just after the pits where the young German driver Stefan Bellof lost his life in an endurance race. The guardrails remain propped up against a wall and an embankment in that area. Only a row of tires has been added for additional protection. After all, three motorcyclists have also died in Francorchamps from May until now. But that's motorsports; they travel at 300 km/h and forget just as quickly. The terrible accident occurred during the 1000 km of Spa, the ninth race of the World Endurance Championship. It happened 18 laps before the end of the race, when the Lancia-Martini of Patrese-Wollek-Baldi was in the lead. They were considered the winners of the tragic race. Eyewitnesses report that, during lap 75, Bellof, a spirited young driver who had become the World Champion in the discipline last year and had stood out in Formula 1 with courageous races driving for Tyrrell, asked too much of his daring skill. He was in third place, just one second behind Jacky Ickx in another car, the official one of the German manufacturer. Racing in tandem with Boutsen of Belgium, Bellof had taken the wheel a few minutes earlier. After the straight of the old pit, under the eyes of thousands of terrified spectators, on the climb to the Eau Rouge turn, Bellof tried to pass Boutsen on the right. The two cars collided. Ickx spun two or three times and ended up with his coupe against the barriers, suffering only a neck contusion. Bellof, meanwhile, plummeted at about 200 km/h, hugging the tangent and hitting the guardrail on the left edge of the track. The car crashed into a wall placed just half a meter behind a metal barrier, crumpling the front of the car and causing it to catch fire immediately. Rescue teams arrived quickly, but it took several minutes to extract the nearly lifeless driver. According to the organizers, he died as soon as he was transported to the resuscitation center. Stefan Bellof was considered one of the most talented drivers of recent generations.
He was likable, easygoing, athletic (he played football well), and a true motorsports enthusiast. His skill had caught the attention of several teams, although Ken Tyrrell was unlikely to let him slip away. Bellof was born in Olsberg on November 20, 1957, and was unmarried. He made his Formula 1 debut in the Brazilian Grand Prix last year. In 1984, he won the Endurance World Championship title by beating his teammate, Jochen Mass, in the final race. His untimely death undoubtedly left a deep mark of sorrow and bitterness on the motorsports world. Drivers at Francorchamps protested the circuit's danger. The tragedy particularly affected Riccardo Patrese, a friend of Bellof's who was on the verge of a significant victory for the first time that season, driving the Lancia-Martini with Wollek and Baldi. However, the incident overshadowed this victory. Alain Prost continued to dominate his opponents. On Friday, September 13, 1985, Prost set the fastest time in the first qualifying session for the Belgian Grand Prix with a time of 1:56:563 at an average speed of 214.339 km/h. In a day that saw Niki Lauda as an unfortunate protagonist in an accident, the McLaren driver made further progress. It was a demonstration of the strength of both the man and the car to warn those hoping to snatch a possible decisive victory from him. The results were interesting, allowing for a comparison with times recorded three months earlier. Thirteen drivers improved, eight worsened, and three had no comparable results. Prost made the most significant improvement. He had serious problems in the spring and was twenty-fifth, practically without a valid time. However, on that day, at the end of the morning free practice session, when qualifying setup tests are conducted, he clocked a time of 1'58"102. He lowered this time by about 1.5 seconds. Johansson lowered his personal limit by about a second. Alboreto was among the drivers who regressed; he went from a track record of 1'66"046 to 1'56"999. Although the road surface had changed, it didn't justify the negative timing outcome. For this reason, the Italian driver, who was still in contention for the world championship title, seemed particularly upset.
"I encountered traffic on the track, and Fabi and Danner hindered me. On the day I could have taken pole position, I find myself in sixth place".
Alboreto doesn't want to make accusations or justify himself. In the morning, he lost half an hour testing an old car with technical solutions similar to those used on May 31. This car was inferior to Johansson's new, more competitive car. There's also the impression that the engine on Michele's car performs worse than the one used by the Swede. These things happen.
There are figures that confirm this hypothesis. Stefan was 4-5 km/h faster at both the finish line and the maximum speed point. The battle for times remains uncertain, as the top six are separated by only 0.4 seconds. Not to mention that the Williams doesn't seem comfortable on this circuit, the Lotus misjudged the setup completely (Senna had all kinds of problems), and Piquet broke the engine on his best Brabham. The Formula 1 season is particularly tense and troubled. In addition to the headline-making events, there are rumors, rumors, and more rumors that complicate things and make the atmosphere even more heated. For example, on Friday, Nigel Mansell broke the steering column on his first flying lap but immediately returned to the pits without incident. However, someone immediately compared him to Nuvolari, who maneuvered the steering wheel with his hands at the Valentino circuit. There is also talk of the difficulties Ecclestone is facing in replacing Piquet at Brabham next year. Others insinuate a sensational split between Alboreto and Ferrari. The truth is that the English manager is having trouble with sponsors because he is without a top driver. In this regard, Olivetti has reportedly threatened to leave due to dissatisfaction with the situation in the British team. Here's another piece of news from a British source: Alain Jones, the returning Beatrice driver who was stopped for drunk driving in London three months ago, has been prosecuted and sentenced to a one-year suspension of his license (though not his racing license). From a technical standpoint, two noteworthy performances stand out: Berger's fifth place finish in the Arrows-BMW and Alliot's thirteenth place finish in the Ram. The explanation for the young Austrian's success is simple: the Arrows, with some aerodynamic modifications, has proven to be quite effective. More interesting is the reason for RAM's improvement. They have only one car, so Acheson was left at home due to a lack of engines. The British team has used a new type of fuel, significantly improving the performance of the Hart engine, as has been the case with Toleman for some time. Interestingly, it's not the same fuel. Formula 1 has become so sophisticated that each car now requires a different fuel depending on its supercharging system.
These fuels are always special, heavy, chemically produced substances with particular properties. Today, we start again with a Ferrari in better shape than at Monza. Much can change unless the usual storm arrives, which started on Friday a few minutes before the end of practice. Meanwhile, the case of South Africa continues to attract attention in the Formula 1 world, although the sporting event has reduced discussions and controversies. The only new development is that Jean-Marie Balestre has announced a press conference for Saturday at 11:30 a.m. It appears that the FISA president has been given free rein by the FIA and its president, Prince Metternich, to confirm the calendar and hold the South African Grand Prix as scheduled. At least, this is what will be announced at the meeting, pending developments. Rumor has it that the sports authorities would reserve the right to cancel the second to last championship race if the title fight were already decided. It's a ridiculously compromising and delaying solution. Balestre is also the president of the French federation, and the Paris government seems determined to pressure everything French in Formula 1. This includes Balestre himself, drivers Prost, Laffite, and Alliot, and Ligier, which seems more resigned than inclined to follow Renault's example and avoid a pro-racist position in front of the French public. Perhaps even Michelin is included in this pressure. The possible shortening of the program directly affects McLaren, which is having difficulty with its second driver. Niki Lauda was seriously injured when he crashed off the track during free practice in Stavelot due to a stuck accelerator. The car hit the barriers with the broken left front suspension. The recoil from the impact caused the world champion to sustain a severe bruise on his right wrist. When Lauda tried to operate the gearbox, he felt a stabbing pain. He immediately flew to Vienna, where he had an X-ray taken and received treatment from his trusted physical trainer, Willy Dungl. Lauda was diagnosed with a traumatic distortion of the wrist ligaments and was put in a cast. It seems that he cannot return to racing before October 6 at Brands Hatch. It remains to be seen if Niki will be replaced in the meantime. De Cesaris's name was immediately mentioned. On Saturday, September 14, 1985, Alain Prost was unleashed.
With the world title within reach, the McLaren driver leaves no room for his opponents. He closes every gap and compensates for Niki Lauda's absence, assuming the Austrian could or would help him. The Frenchman starts in pole position in the Belgian Grand Prix, a race that, if held three months ago, would have likely caused him regret. This time, however, he is the clear favorite. Ferrari seems to be able to defend itself well, with fourth place going to Alboreto and fifth place to Johansson. However, the rival's superiority in terms of time is undeniable, even in qualifications. The small French driver has become as bold as the most swaggering of the Four Musketeers. He's a kind of miniature D'Artagnan who repels all attacks and attacks in turn. In the two days leading up to the race, Prost was the fastest. This is true in the free and timed practices on Friday and in the two sessions on Saturday, which were delayed by an hour due to dense fog lingering over the circuit in the morning but dissipating by the afternoon. Thirty-six minutes after the second qualifying session started, Alain was still in the lead with a time of 1'55"306, setting a new circuit record at an average speed of 216.676 km/h. It is a beautiful, close battle with minimal differences. Senna starts by placing himself at the top of the provisional standings. Then, Alboreto enters, followed by Piquet. However, Prost concludes the carousel of fast laps with his record. Alboreto and Senna tried again to take his pole position, but the Italian driver was slowed down by other competitors and the Brazilian by the deterioration of his tires, which could not last a full lap. Alain Prost says:
"I could have gone faster and done it in under two minutes if I hadn't encountered traffic. I am very satisfied with my McLaren. Normally, in qualifying, we are not the fastest, except at Zeltweg. This means that I should be even more competitive in the race. Our advantage lies in our ability to exploit the tires better. I'm starting in first place, but I don't want to do anything reckless to stay there, even though it will be difficult to pass me. In any case, I'm racing against Alboreto because I intend to increase my lead in the World Championship standings".
Ferrari has taken up the challenge. Progress in practice is evident, although it is too early to say whether the Maranello cars have improved their race pace since Monza. There are two concrete data points to consider. First, the race is run with average speeds close to 210 km/h, a speed the Maranello cars have handled well so far. The other figure to take into account is the weight of the car. Prost's McLaren, with a bit of fuel on board, weighs 557 kilograms, while Alboreto's Ferrari weighs 573 kilograms. Assuming the checks are accurate and considering that the Italian driver weighs 10 kilograms more than his opponent, this difference poses a slight yet significant challenge for the Modena team. However, this is not the main problem to overcome. The 156/85 cars demonstrate good reliability and noteworthy performance. At the end of the tests, Michele is upset with himself for missing a favorable opportunity.
"I encountered traffic again with the second set of tires. The car deserved better; perhaps even pole position. Anyway, things are going well enough. McLaren is always strong, but we're better prepared than in the last three races. If Prost wins again, our chances of winning the title will only remain on paper, assuming there are still three races afterward. I am ready to fight. The only uncertainty is the choice of tires, especially the left rear, which could be harder than the other three".
The other competitors should not play a significant role in the Prost-Alboreto duel. Senna and Piquet should always be taken into consideration, especially since Piquet may schedule a tire change. Meanwhile, the Williams of Mansell and Rosberg do not seem capable of repeating their recent exploits due to poor setup. Meanwhile, McLaren is trying in vain to replace Niki Lauda with John Watson. The driver arrived in Spa on Friday evening from Stuttgart, but the Belgian sports commissioners rejected his entry. The regulations prevent changing drivers during the same race. Later, McLaren asks the other teams to vote unanimously for an exception to this rule. However, Ferrari opposes it. Ron Dennis, the manager of the English team, admits:
"Unfortunately, the Constructors' World Championship is also at stake. If I were the Maranello team, I would have done the same".
However, Watson is still an option for McLaren and could drive one of their cars at the European Grand Prix if Lauda is not ready to return by October 6. There are rumors that Niki may have suffered a minor wrist fracture as well. Turning to the second topic of the day, the South African Grand Prix remains on the Formula 1 World Championship calendar as the penultimate race on October 19. Jean-Marie Balestre, president of FISA, officially announced this, reading a lengthy statement signed by Paul Metternich on behalf of the executive committee of the FIA. The FIA is the sports emanation of the FISA. In summary, the FIA does not want to cancel the race, as doing so could set a dangerous precedent and lead to divisions within the organization, which includes 93 countries from around the world. The race will only be canceled at the last moment if there are safety concerns for the participants, which have not yet been called into question.
"The FIA stands for peace, freedom, and fraternity among peoples; the respect of human rights; and considers automobiles and auto racing an important means of connecting people. We must respect Article 2 of our statute, which prohibits our members from engaging in discriminatory activities or actions for political, racial, or religious reasons. Since the Automobile Club of South Africa does not prevent drivers of any nationality or color from participating in races, we cannot take away their organization of the Grand Prix. If it takes action contrary to this directive, it will be excluded immediately".
Clearly, the problem does not exist since there are no drivers of color participating in the Kyalami race. On the surface, ethics are upheld. However, the moral and safety issues remain. Regarding the former, Balestre reiterates:
"We raced in Argentina with generals and in Corsica with separatist bombs. We have races and rallies scheduled in the United States, the Soviet Union, Brazil, Mexico, Hungary, Portugal, Israel, and Syria. I don't see why we should succumb to pressure not to go to South Africa".
Regarding safety, the French manager answers questions:
"We have two permanent observers on the ground. We can cancel the race at any time, as was done at the end of May by the sports authorities in Belgium due to other issues. If the situation becomes untenable, we will take extraordinary measures".
According to the regulations, the president of FISA threatens sanctions against teams and drivers who voluntarily give up the race (as Renault did and as Ligier seems about to do). He then recalls that, in Imola in 1982, only fourteen cars participated in the race during the break between the constructors.
"If we had listened to the pressures that FISA received at the time Fangio won world titles, we would have had to prevent him from participating in the championship. So far, no National Automobile Club has asked us to cancel the race. Only two governments, the French and the Finnish, have done so. But they are not our interlocutors".
On Sunday, September 15, 1985, a heavy storm hit the track in the morning, forcing the drivers to switch to wet tires even though the precipitation had stopped. The air temperature was still very low at around 13 °C.
Michele Alboreto had to switch to the backup car because of a fuel leak in his primary car. Christian Danner faced a similar fate and had to use the reserve car due to a gearbox failure. He started from the pits. Huub Rothengatter raced in the old 1984 Osella FA1F after being involved in an incident during the warm-up. At the start of the Belgian Grand Prix, Senna got off to a strong start, passing Alain Prost immediately. Nelson Piquet also overtook Prost, but at the Source hairpin, he put two wheels on the curb, spun, and was passed by the group. Fortunately, no other drivers hit him. Senna led the pack, followed by Prost, Alboreto, and Mansell. On the first lap at Pouhon, Mansell overtook Alboreto. Hindered by a clutch problem, the Italian driver was overtaken by many other drivers and retired from the race shortly after. The track was still wet, but on the third lap, Keke Rosberg switched to slick tires. During the fourth lap, Mansell passed Prost on the long Kemmel straight. Meanwhile, the track began to dry, and many drivers opted for dry tires after seeing that Rosberg was the fastest on track. On the eighth lap, Stefan Johansson retired after spinning out due to an engine problem. The following lap saw Ayrton Senna, Nigel Mansell, and Alain Prost make pit stops to change tires. Elio de Angelis and Thierry Boutsen took the lead. Mansell left the pits first, ahead of Senna. However, the Brazilian managed to pass the English driver at Eau Rouge, aided by preheated Goodyear tires. At the end of the lap, Boutsen pitted to switch to slicks. During the tenth lap, Senna and Mansell passed de Angelis, moving into first and second place. Behind the top three, Rosberg moved up, followed by Prost, Berger, and Boutsen. On the eleventh lap, Mansell spun out but was able to restart without losing positions. Meanwhile, De Angelis also pitted to change tires. In the following lap, Berger returned to the track as well. After fifteen laps, Senna was in the lead, 9.4 seconds ahead of Mansell, 15.8 seconds ahead of Rosberg, 16.2 seconds ahead of Prost, and over 48 seconds ahead of Boutsen. A few minutes later, a heavy storm hit the pit area. This forced the drivers to increase their pace by about ten seconds per lap. However, the storm quickly subsided. Patrick Tambay retired on lap 25 due to a gearbox failure while in sixth place. Over the next few laps, Rosberg and Mansell engaged in a fierce battle, with Rosberg attempting to overtake Mansell on a track where passing was challenging due to the wet areas off the ideal racing line.
The duel ended on the 33rd lap, when Rosberg had to return to the pits due to a left front brake air intake failure. Shortly after, Mansell went straight into a corner at Combes, jumped over a curb, crossed the grass, and returned to the track unharmed. After a quick repair, Rosberg rejoined the race in fourth place behind Prost. Meanwhile, the track dried up again. Senna led by a wide margin over Mansell, though his Lotus engine was not functioning perfectly. Boutsen was also penalized by a technical failure; in his case, it was a gearbox issue. On the 39th lap, both Warwick and Piquet passed Boutsen. On the 40th lap, the Brazilian Brabham driver also managed to overtake Warwick. A few laps before the end of the race, Boutsen retired. In Formula 1, if there is water on the track, there are two races. One is for Ayrton Senna and the other is for the rest of the drivers. This was the case in Portugal amid heavy rainfall and in the Belgian Grand Prix, which was repeatedly interrupted by passing storms. The Lotus driver won with not only his acrobatic skills, but also his tactical sensitivity and ability to drive at the limit without making mistakes. Williams tried to attack Rosberg, who made a spectacular comeback, but without success. Alain Prost did not even try, settling for third place behind Mansell. Ferrari was never in contention during the race and was plagued by a series of issues, leaving everyone disappointed after their promising performances in recent days. The Maranello cars' race began in the morning during the usual half-hour warm-up. On the wet track, with various excursions by Fabi, Piquet, Rothengatter, and Martini, Alboreto stayed out for only a short time. He returned to the pits after a few laps due to a fuel circuit problem. A similar issue had occurred to Johansson on Friday. The Maranello mechanics immediately got to work changing the entire system and testing the engine as fuel flowed regularly. However, during the reconnaissance lap, the car experienced another issue: an oil leak caused a fire near the waste-gate valve. The fire was quickly put out, but Michele had to switch cars, taking the backup car that he had only tested for half an hour on Friday. The Italian driver left the pits just in time to line up at the start. When he arrived at the starting line, he jumped out of the car and ran toward the Ferrari motorhome, which was quite far away. Various hypotheses were proposed, including the most absurd ones (abandoning the race like Niki Lauda in Canada in 1979!) and chasing the driver who had only gone to change his dirty helmet visor. Then came the start, with some doubts already present.
Indeed, Senna immediately escaped Prost on the wet asphalt and Piquet took a big risk at the Source hairpin. The two Ferraris passed three centimeters from the sideways Brabham on the track. Meanwhile, Alboreto was forced to retire immediately due to a clutch failure. It's a crisis for Ferrari beyond even the most pessimistic forecasts. The Maranello team did not overreact to the retirements of Alboreto and Johansson. It was disheartening to see the mechanics pack up all the equipment immediately and prepare to leave while the others on the track, including Prost, competed for the points at stake. It had not happened in a long time - indeed, it had never happened during the season - that both cars finished out of the race. Alboreto stopped after four laps and seemed quite serene, although he naturally felt the blow.
"It's a negative day. Now, Prost also has an extra advantage over me. It's too bad because the car could have won. We had improved, and in recent days, we had also been cautious in our statements. Everything happened: First, the race car broke down, and then the clutch on the reserve car broke right after the start. Don't talk to me about the World Championship. Miracles? Some say they exist, but I don't believe it".
For Stefan Johansson, it's another bitter disappointment and missed goal.
"It's a real disappointment because I was free to run my race. The engine suddenly crashed. I don't understand what happened, especially since we've never had these kinds of problems before. I think I could have finished in the top three, or even won”.
Sports director Marco Piccinini's analysis is also calm:
"We absolutely cannot talk about bad luck. It's our fault. If we had gotten a flat tire or if a brick had fallen on us, we would be cursing our bad luck right now. Instead, we had more mechanical problems, which takes away any chance of complaining. Johansson's engine failure is concerning because we thought we had solved the problems in this area. Now, we will proceed as planned. There should be no further tests beyond those scheduled at Fiorano. We will study all the technical data and decide how to proceed. On paper, we are not yet defeated, but McLaren has surpassed us in both the driver and constructor standings".
Everyone wants to know if Ferrari will be able to overcome this long crisis, which has lasted several races now.
"Although there hasn't been much positivity lately, we have improved our performance. However, we lost three cars in one day, which is difficult to explain. We will conduct in-depth examinations to see if we can recover, at least in part".
Some competitors have made severe comments about the Maranello team, especially Prost, his direct adversary:
"I can't understand what happened because I really thought they were capable of returning to the highest levels. Instead, I was wrong. I believe the Italian team has lost not only races, but also focus. The English teams are better in this regard and perhaps handle difficult moments more easily. There is too much pressure on Alboreto and his teammates, which is certainly a disadvantage. So, I have an additional advantage".
At the same time, three men are happy but also somewhat disappointed. This was evident during the press conference where Senna, Mansell, and Prost spoke at length.
Despite securing the second win of his career, the Brazilian is not too satisfied because he knows he is out of the running for the world championship, even though he has reached third place in the overall standings. The Englishman, on the other hand, achieved his best result since starting in Formula 1 and had hoped to win at least once, but the South American took that away from him. As for Prost, the Frenchman is happy with his placement, but a first-place finish would have been better. Ayrton Senna says:
"It was a nice victory, but not the most beautiful. I preferred the one in Portugal. Firstly, because it was my first, and secondly, because it was more challenging. It was all under the rain, and the driving style highlighted the driver's skills more. Here, the credit is 50% for the man and 50% for the machine".
Mansell, standing next to Prost, congratulates him as the reigning World Champion.
"Now that Alain has won, there are no more doubts. As for me, I believe I had a good race. I had problems with the brakes. When I went straight into the chicane, Surer forced me into the wrong trajectory to avoid a collision".
Prost smiles, satisfied and content to be the 1985 World Champion. The Frenchman doesn't mention it, but the four points he earned also carry weight in his competition with Alboreto.
"Of course, it's a step forward. Now, with only three races left, my main task will be to control Ferrari number 27. My car was fantastic, and I didn't take any risk".
Why didn't he try to secure the world title with an immediate win?
"I would have gladly done it, but it wasn't possible. The track was getting wet and drying up rapidly. Taking too many risks to catch up to the two Williams and Senna would have been unwise. At the start, I wasn't quick because our large turbines don't allow for an immediate boost. If it hadn't rained, I would have won with extreme ease. Instead, I had to avoid pushing too hard and try to reach the finish line. My minimum goal was to earn three points, and I surpassed it".
What did Prost feel when he saw that Alboreto had stopped immediately in a meadow?
"I realized I had a clear path. But in Formula 1, you never know. Anything can happen. That's why I remained calm. It would have been foolish to take risks. I only feared going off the track once, when I was overtaking an Arrows. Otherwise, I always drove with extreme caution".
Any predictions for the upcoming races?
"In three weeks, we'll be at Brands Hatch. I think McLaren could be favored there as well. I think Williams will always be the main rival for that track. Ferrari? It's a mystery. They had a very reliable car, but now they have a lot of problems. I think this is also the secret to our team's success".
The sparse audience at the Belgian Grand Prix (about 20,000 people) was mostly French fans.
Disappointed by Renault and Ligier, fans poured their passion into Alain Prost. Despite his repeated successes, Prost was not the French driver with the most support until now. As the McLaren racer prepares to become the first Frenchman to win the Formula 1 world title, everyone is rallying around him, appreciating his skills even when he has to restrain himself, as he did on Sunday. Alain Prost is a champion and fully deserves the world title he is about to win. There is no doubt about that. His twenty-one victories (he had an impressive number of wins in minor series even before entering Formula 1) and his four years at the top of the standings demonstrate his commitment and considerable talent. He has been very unlucky thus far, but now he is reaping the rewards of his significant effort and talent. Some may wonder how he has improved since 1984, when he lost the World Championship by half a point. The answer is simple: he learned from a great teacher, Niki Lauda. Last year, Prost paid for lessons from the Austrian, and now he's getting his revenge. Only mathematics is missing from his conquest of the title. The chances that Alboreto can surpass Prost at the last minute are linked only to an unthinkable series of favorable coincidences for the Italian driver, given the situation of Ferrari. Essentially, the McLaren driver will have the opportunity to become World Champion in the next race, which will take place at Brands Hatch on Sunday, October 6. Assuming there are three more races (there is always doubt about South Africa), the Frenchman will reach his goal with two races to spare if: Prost must lead Alboreto by at least two points. Even if Alboreto wins the last two races, he will reach 71 points, but lose due to fewer victories.
This calculation does not consider possible discards, which will only be made beyond the eleven results for each of the two rivals (Prost has ten and Alboreto has nine). Prost will reach the goal if he finishes ahead of Alboreto in the points zone (up to sixth place) and the two opponents do not finish in the top two positions. Prost finishes behind Alboreto and the Italian does not finish in the top two (Alboreto third, Prost fourth, etc.). Everything plays in Alain's favor, even though Michele has not given up yet. If Prost somehow loses this title, he would have to retire three times, and Alboreto would have to win at least two races. He should consider changing professions. There is only one word to describe Ferrari's situation in the Formula 1 world championship: crisis. It is the worst in recent years. It's not just about the result of the Belgian Grand Prix or Alboreto and Johansson retiring in the early laps. After all, the Maranello team is consistently ranked second in both the Drivers' and Constructors' World Championships, with little hope of overtaking in the last minute. What is worrying is their inability to react positively and recover against direct opponents. They lost competitiveness at Monza and Francorchamps, and the cars became unreliable. It was a bad day, to be sure, but also a sign of a downward trend that could have consequences for the future. None of the professionals feel comfortable criticizing Ferrari directly. It would be impossible to ask John Barnard, the McLaren designer, or Gérard Ducarouge, the Lotus technical manager, to talk about the Maranello team's problems. They prefer to remain silent, even though they have opinions. Some have spoken in the past and put forward hypotheses, but now is not the time. They respect each other's work because everyone is at risk of making mistakes. Consider Gordon Murray, the genius behind Brabham, who apparently miscalculated this year. Some insight can be gained from Alain Prost and Niki Lauda, whose different experiences have shaped their views. Alain Prost says:
"Since the beginning of the season, my McLaren has been improving. I finished all but two races due to off-road excursions. The car is competitive and reliable, but Ferrari doesn't have the same consistency. Their technical managers must simultaneously fine-tune the car and find new solutions. Sometimes they succeed; other times, they don't. Our car has been gradually modified in small details. We are in the realm of certainty, while our opponents are exploring uncharted territory".
Lauda, on the other hand, is more incisive:
"Ferrari lacks a brain capable of consolidating the work of specialists in various areas. Dividing tasks is right, but especially in Formula 1, there always needs to be someone capable of setting a direction".
These evaluations are interesting, but they alone do not explain the difficulties the Modena team faces. Since its inception, Ferrari has relied on the excellent engines produced in Maranello. This superiority, even in horsepower, has almost always allowed them to overcome any deficiencies in aerodynamics or chassis. This supremacy lasted until last year, when the Maranello team was second only to Renault in terms of experience with turbocharged engines, but had surpassed the French brand, which was tied to an outdated engine that could not be improved upon. Now, cars like the McLaren (with a Porsche engine) and the Williams (with a Honda engine) seem to have significantly superior power in both qualifying and races. For this reason, Ferrari is forced to take risks and impose unsustainable efforts on its six-cylinder engine. This explains the repeated breakdowns. Essentially, if Maranello wants to recover, it will have to develop a new engine, as the four-cylinder engine developed recently does not seem to have produced the expected results. But that's not enough. To manage a Formula 1 team, you need someone who can make technical decisions quickly and take full responsibility for them. With all due respect to Tomaini and Maurizio Nardon, who is responsible for setting up Alboreto and Johansson's cars, it does not seem that this goal has been achieved. When a technician must call Maranello every time to ask permission to make even the slightest adjustment, he is rendered useless. No matter how politically skilled a sports director is, he cannot make certain decisions. At Williams, McLaren, and Lotus, designers are on the circuits. They see the other cars and move independently, with the team manager's full trust. They can make mistakes too, but they certainly have an easier task. It's too late for Ferrari to change anything now, but it's certainly time to start working on 1986. Thinking about Indianapolis at this moment seems like a waste of time, especially since Bobby Rahal's March is running at Fiorano with 48 laps and a best time of 1'12"74. This will provide comparative data in case the project to race in the United States materializes.