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The black cloud that has haunted Formula 1 since the beginning of the season, disrupting qualifying sessions and races at random, has moved to Monza. From Tuesday, August 6, 1985, to Friday, August 9, 1985, free practice sessions are scheduled to continue. A storm is expected in the morning, followed by heavy rain in the afternoon. Only four cars took to the track: a Ferrari with Stefan Johansson, a Toleman with Teo Fabi, a Brabham with Nelson Piquet, and a McLaren with Alain Prost. About 7,000 people gathered in the covered grandstands in front of the pits, regardless of the downpour, to await Michele Alboreto. However, the Italian driver, having learned of the storm in Monza, decided to postpone his arrival until Wednesday evening to practice on Thursday. The applause intended for the Nürburgring winner was instead directed at the red Ferrari brought to the circuit by the mechanics. The fans celebrated it as if it were a person, almost as if it could respond with a greeting—perhaps with the roar of the engine. There is applause (and some boos) for Johansson, and of course, only boos for Prost. The Frenchman's relationship with Monza has always been difficult. Two years ago, fans insulted Prost several times, and he responded with a gesture. The same happened at Imola. Alain Prost says:
"I can't understand these boos, but I've gotten used to such treatment by now. I let myself go; I was in a tense moment. Even if I sent kisses to everyone, I would still get booed. It's too bad. I would like to have a different kind of relationship with this audience, which is the most knowledgeable and passionate in Formula 1".
The title fight with Michele Alboreto won't help either. But is it really just between the two of you?
"In this sport, you can never say anything for certain until there is mathematical certainty. With seven races still to be run, it's clear that it's difficult for any of our rivals to surpass both of us”.
What are your chances, individually?
"Exactly 50% each. But much depends on the circumstances and luck. Our cars are more or less equal. Ferrari is unbeatable on circuits like the Nürburgring. We are strong on twisty, high-speed circuits. It will still be a good battle".
Last year it was Niki Lauda; this year it's Michele Alboreto. "It's getting harder and harder to reach this coveted title.
"It has never been easy for anyone. Besides, it wouldn't be much of a victory without opponents. I'm happy just to be able to compete at a high level. I try not to think too much about the championship. Otherwise, I might develop a complex".
What are you most afraid of at the end of the season?
"Third parties. I would prefer a one-on-one battle with Alboreto. Instead, there are drivers like Rosberg, Senna, De Angelis, and Piquet who want to win races. They can influence the results and cause me or Alboreto to lose precious points. Unfortunately, I can't rely on my teammate Lauda much either. He's been so unlucky this year. He can't take a single placement away from Alboreto".
What are the main qualities of your opponent?
"He is strong and has character. I believe composure is one of his best qualities. I'm convinced that racing for Ferrari puts him under a lot of pressure. But he reacts the right way, as he did last Sunday. He's a guy who doesn't give in easily. It will be very tough for me".
On Wednesday, August 7, 1985, Michele Alboreto finally arrived at the Monza circuit. The Italian driver arrived in the late afternoon and took to the track with the Ferrari the following morning. To avoid being besieged by fans, Alboreto prefers to stop behind the pits, in the paddocks. With the return of the sun, about 15.000 people were in the stands, all waiting for the winner of the German Grand Prix and leader of the World Championship.
"I needed two days of tranquility. The result in Germany was necessary. It gave me and the team a boost of confidence. Every now and then, you have to rediscover the spirit of the early races, when you had nothing to lose and threw yourself into the fray with few responsibilities. It's nice to receive compliments, but I assure you that it's sometimes more difficult to achieve sixth place under certain conditions than to win. As for the championship, it's useless to talk about it. It's too early; many races are still to come".
While Alboreto speaks calmly, his colleagues run nonstop on the circuit. Or rather, with great commitment. Ferrari breaks two engines in the morning with Johansson. However, technician Tomaini is not overly concerned because these were engines that had already undergone rigorous testing. A McLaren with Prost also breaks an engine. Prost manages to play golf and then returns to set the best time of the day: 1'29"692. Fabi with the Toleman has the same problem and is on foot for a few hours, while Tambay's Renault has gearbox troubles. Behind Prost, Mansell with the Williams and De Angelis follow. Despite the stops, Johansson records the fourth fastest time, completing 61 laps and receiving applause every time he passes in front of the stands. On Thursday, August 8, 1985, Ferrari concludes the free practice sessions at Monza amid much uncertainty. Another engine failure occurs during the morning session, and a gearbox problem emerges in the afternoon, so Alboreto only completes 17 laps. Due to the many tests carried out, the recorded times do not have a precise meaning, but in any case, Prost is the fastest again, with a lap time of 1'28"195, ahead of De Angelis, Piquet, and Alboreto. Alain Prost says, satisfied:
"Our tests went very well. I hope to find the solutions to beat Alboreto here in Monza next Sunday at Zeltweg. In any case, I will attack".
Niki Lauda also took to the track and will continue testing on Friday with his McLaren, along with Williams, Alfa Romeo, and Renault. Commenting on the news about his imminent retirement, the Austrian repeats that he will make a decision after the Austrian Grand Prix. Formula 1 is experiencing its most exciting period of the year. Races follow one another, and the competition between Michele Alboreto with Ferrari and Alain Prost with McLaren-Porsche for the World Championship title is heating up. Now it's Austria's turn. On Friday, August 16, 1985, the first day of practice will take place at Zeltweg for the tenth Grand Prix of the season, which will be followed immediately by the one in the Netherlands, just a week later. Thousands of Italians will follow the race. It's the Holiday Grand Prix, a race held on a spectacular circuit that is easy to reach from Italy. There will be tremendous support for Alboreto and Ferrari. The Italian driver is leading the World Championship with 46 points, five more than Prost. Elio De Angelis, Keke Rosberg, and Stefan Johansson are now trailing behind with 18, 16, and 13 points, respectively. The Zeltweg track favors the McLaren more than the Ferrari. It is a very fast circuit with breathtaking curves where speeds exceeding 230 km/h are possible. Thus, the tenth stage of the Formula 1 World Championship starts badly for Ferrari. While the McLaren team appears highly competitive on the first day of practice for the Austrian Grand Prix, the Maranello team experiences its most challenging and disconcerting hours of the season. Alain Prost set the fastest time and a fantastic circuit record, and Niki Lauda took second place. On the other hand, Johansson finished eleventh and Alboreto nineteenth, with a series of worrying problems. The Swedish driver's Ferrari exhibits significant oversteer, and the Italian driver breaks two and a half engines and fails to complete a single useful lap.
Based on the times obtained during the morning free practice session, the World Championship leader would have placed at least twelfth. The Zeltweg track is a fast, curvy circuit that suits the McLaren-Porsche. Prost, who has a new rear suspension on his car, completed a lap in 1'25"490; the previous record, held by Piquet, was 1'26"173. The average speed was 250.219 km/h (155.5 mph), breaking another barrier (it is the second-highest average in Formula 1 after Silverstone's 258.983 km/h). Prost, cautious and calm, says:
"Our cars are undoubtedly performing well, but we'll wait until the end of the race to talk".
There is also calm at Ferrari, despite everything going wrong. There was an engine failure in the morning, another one at the beginning of qualifying, and a third one on the first car due to an oil leak. This happened to Alboreto. The Italian driver was forced to qualify with Johansson's car at the last moment, facing all the associated difficulties (various adjustments, a cramped space, and worn-out tires). Why so many troubles? On Thursday, there was a strange story about electronic problems, those famous control units that now control the cars with computers. It's certainly not a congenital defect, but rather a matter of very difficult adjustments that change with every race. Otherwise, the positive results obtained so far by Ferrari would not be possible. These control units are filled with data provided by Ferrari technicians based on current needs, such as requested power and consumption. It is said - though no one confirms it at the moment - that inconveniences arise when the parameters are wrong. Alboreto makes the best of a bad situation and says:
"Theoretically, I should be at least among the top five. The car is not bad. Let's hope for the second qualifying session, assuming the rain doesn't come".
On Friday, the track is scorching hot, and the forecasts are good. It's worth noting that Alboreto, despite everything, was the fastest on the finish line (305 km/h), while Piquet's Brabham reached 340 km/h at the end of the main straight. On Saturday, the battle of lap times resumes. Alboreto desperately needs to gain positions. Prost will be attacked by the Williams cars (Rosberg is third, although he lost half a wing and had to use race tires because the softer ones didn't last a lap) and by Piquet. Due to a spin, the Brazilian used the reserve car with recycled tires. Fabi is currently sixth, Ghinzani - debuting with Toleman - is a good fifteenth. In difficulty, almost like Ferrari, are Lotus and Renault. Warwick collides with a guardrail, seriously damaging Tambay's borrowed car. Irishman Kenny Acheson makes his return to Formula 1 with RAM, replacing the late Winkelhock. But luck is not on his side: the pilot breaks the engine in the morning and manages to get on the track while they display the flag for the end of the tests, so his average speed is 5.9 km/h. As if he had walked. As mentioned, unfortunately, on Sunday, August 12, 1985, Manfred Winkelhock, the thirty-three-year-old German Formula 1 driver, died at Sunny Brook Medical Center, where he had been admitted with multiple fractures following an accident on the dangerous Mosport circuit during a World Endurance Championship race. The unfortunate driver underwent a three-and-a-half-hour brain operation in an attempt to remove a hematoma. Winkelhock, who raced in the Formula 1 World Championship with the RAM team, was a professional driver and rarely spent a Sunday without being involved in a race. He had participated with a private Porsche 962 in the race scheduled at Mosport, partnered with the Swiss Marc Surer. During the race, he had an accident, colliding with a slower car. He stopped at the pits to change tires and check the suspension, then restarted like a fury. Shortly after, he crashed into a wall at full speed, destroying his car to the point that it took rescuers 25 minutes to extract him. Winkelhock was then airlifted to Toronto, about 100 kilometers away from the racetrack. His condition appeared desperate from the start. His parents and wife Marianne arrived in Canada from Cologne, where he lived (he was born in Walblingen, nearby, on October 6, 1952). The late German driver had not won anything significant, but he had gained recognition for his courage and recklessness without malice. In 1980, he became famous for a spectacular accident at the Nürburgring when he was racing in Formula 2: his car took off like an airplane and crashed onto the track, disintegrating, but Winkelhock miraculously remained unscathed.
With the support of German industries, he joined Formula 1 in 1982. Prior to that, he had raced with ATS, which fired him at the end of 1984 for disparaging his team and failing to improve the car. He was with RAM from the beginning of the season. He achieved only one fifth-place finish in Brazil in 1982, after Rosberg and Piquet were disqualified. He participated in 48 Grand Prix races and went off the track many times. On Saturday, August 17, 1985, Niki Lauda bid a final farewell to Formula 1.
"I have spent eleven years of my life giving and receiving a lot from this terrible and fascinating sport. I have loved cars and racing. I still love them. But it's time to think about something else. Next year, I will not race in Formula 1".
At 9:00 a.m., Niki Lauda, dressed in a racing suit and accompanied by Ron Dennis, McLaren's manager, announces his second retirement from the sport, a bit moved. Lauda is 36 years old, married, and has two children. He resides in Ibiza, Spain. He debuted in 1971 with a March in the Austrian Grand Prix. He was with B.R.M. for four years and with Ferrari for four years (from 1974 to 1977). He was with Brabham for two years. In 1979, he suddenly left the Canadian Grand Prix practice session in Montreal to start his airline. He returned to racing with McLaren in 1982 with an impressive contract. Lauda won three World Championships and suffered severe burns in a fire involving his Ferrari at the Nürburgring in 1976. He nearly died and was both idolized and hated. By the end of the year, he will have participated in 173 Formula 1 races.
"I'm no longer motivated by Formula 1. Lauda Air is doing well. In 1986, we will purchase two new planes for charter flights, and I will be involved in that work, which I enjoy. I had four fantastic years at McLaren, despite the ups and downs. Which two races satisfied me the most? The one in Portugal last year, when I won my third World Championship, and the one two weeks ago at the Nürburgring, where I drove really well. This has been an unlucky season, but I still want to win because there are seven races left, and I won't back down. In 1979, I made an emotional decision. Now, I have meditated a lot".
Lauda leaves the door open for the future, although a third return at his age seems unlikely. Even after leaving racing, Lauda remains a protagonist. The vacancy left by Lauda at McLaren triggers a whirlwind of driver movements. Rosberg talks with Prost in the Marlboro van. According to rumors, the Finn has already signed with McLaren. Other possible changes are also hinted at: Piquet would like to stay with Brabham, but he wants a higher salary and is threatening to switch to Williams. Meanwhile, Brabham is considering De Angelis, but De Cesaris is also considering the English team. And Ferrari? Alboreto says he'll stay if they don't kick him out. For Johansson, there are tests for the remaining races. However, the Maranello team has a wide range of drivers in mind, including the German Bellof. Patrese and Cheever are also looking for a team. Ghinzani and Fabi hope to stay with Toleman. Tambay and Boutsen have been in contact with Beatrice. Warwick would like to move to Lotus. A few hours later, at the end of the second qualifying session, Michele Alboreto managed to climb ten positions in the lineup. The Italian driver drops from nineteenth to ninth place, meaning he will start in the fifth row. However, one fact remains: Michele's time was two seconds slower than Prost's. With four laps to go, the first drops of rain started to fall, and a miracle happened.
"I can't say if it was luck or misfortune. In an hour, I would have certainly done better, but I would have needed to see how the others were progressing, too. Talking about tactics for the race is useless. If the car allows me to reach fifth place, for example, then I have to finish fifth. If things go better, I'll try to do better; in short, I'll do my best as always. However, catching up to McLaren seems difficult. This is not a track that allows you to pass four opponents at the first turn".
Ferrari faces perhaps the most challenging race of the season at a crucial moment in the Formula 1 World Championship. At the Austrian Grand Prix, held on the fast Österreichring circuit, the Maranello team and its lead driver, Michele Alboreto, will engage in a direct duel with McLaren, driven by Alain Prost. Five points separate the two drivers (Alboreto has 46 points, and Prost has 41 points).
Anything can theoretically happen: consolidation of the position by the Italian driver, reduction of the advantage margin, overtaking by the Frenchman. Unfortunately, the first hypothesis is on paper the least likely. The comparison takes place at the height of McLaren's competitiveness. The track is suitable for the technical characteristics of the English car with a Porsche engine, and Prost, for the first time this season (the 11th of his career), has managed to maintain pole position. Furthermore, Ferrari reported in recent days, just after Alboreto's victory at the Nürburgring and starting from the free practice sessions at Monza, a series of unexplained engine failures. On Saturday, for example, in the non-qualifying tests held in the morning, another engine fails after the three on Friday. Despite this serious inconvenience and despite the qualification tests lasting practically only ten minutes, instead of the scheduled hour due to a furious storm that flooded the circuit, Alain Prost, who did not even go out on the track (in the morning, he slightly burned his back due to a fuel leak in the cockpit of his McLaren), content but measured, says:
"We are in excellent shape, but we will do the math only after the race. You can puncture a tire after a hundred meters, and all dreams could fade away. The important thing is to have confidence in your abilities and a bit of luck".
During the ten-minute test, fifteen drivers improved their performance. Mansell took second place from Lauda in the Williams. Meanwhile, Rosberg, Piquet, Fabi, and De Angelis slipped back. Tambay, driving for Renault, finished just 0.014 seconds ahead of Alboreto. Patrese performed well with Alfa Romeo, placing tenth, while Johansson remained in twelfth place. Senna and De Cesaris remain distant due to a broken turbo. Niki Lauda, last year's winner who announced his retirement at the end of the season, could be the key figure in the race. Will McLaren rein in the world champion's ardor? Lauda likes to come in first, especially at home, and he wouldn't pass up the opportunity to show his teammate a gesture of appreciation for many reasons. Despite an earlier storm, the track was dry on Sunday, August 18, 1985. This means that the grass runoff areas are still soaked. At the start of the Austrian Grand Prix, Lauda passes Prost in the first turn. Meanwhile, Mansell got off to a slow start due to an engine problem, and Teo Fabi remained stationary on the grid. Elio De Angelis also had a poor start due to an engine malfunction. Patrick Tambay squeezes between the two Italian drivers. Michele Alboreto was unable to avoid the cars and lost his front suspension. Gerhard Berger came from behind and collided with both the Toleman and the Lotus. Following the incident, race officials displayed the red flag, interrupting the race. The race then restarted over the original distance. Piercarlo Ghinzani was the only driver unable to start the second attempt. He was not involved in the incident but experienced engine failure during the first lap. De Angelis, Fabi, Alboreto, and Berger returned to the track with spare cars, as did Prost, who had mechanical problems with his official car.
Prost maintains the lead in the second start, while Mansell has another slow start. Keke Rosberg capitalizes on this and moves into second place, passing close to the wall. Niki Lauda, Nelson Piquet, Elio De Angelis, and Mansell follow. Rosberg's race ends on the fourth lap due to an oil pressure loss. Meanwhile, the two McLarens set an impossible pace for their competitors. By the end of the tenth lap, Prost had a 24.5-second lead over Piquet in third place. Teo Fabi enters the points zone by overtaking Patrick Tambay, who stopped in the pits on the ninth lap to change tires due to a puncture. On the fourteenth lap, Andrea de Cesaris spins out at the Texaco turn. His Ligier flips after hitting a depression in the ground. The driver emerges unharmed. In the following laps, Teo Fabi lost several positions due to an underperforming engine. Nigel Mansell climbed to fourth place on the 18th lap after passing Elio De Angelis. Later, on the 23rd lap, the Italian driver loses another position to Ayrton Senna. Meanwhile, Alain Prost realized that the adjustments to the spare car were causing excessive tire wear. This allows Lauda to reduce the gap to the race leader to two seconds. Mansell's comeback continues on the 25th lap, overtaking Nelson Piquet. On the 26th lap, Alain Prost pits to change tires that are now worn out. After an 11-second stop, the French driver re-enters the race in second place, behind Niki Lauda. Nelson Piquet also decides to pit but retires due to a lack of turbocharger pressure. Shortly afterward, Nigel Mansell abandons the race due to an engine failure.
Niki Lauda is in the lead, followed by Alain Prost. Ayrton Senna, Elio de Angelis, Michele Alboreto, Stefan Johansson, and Marc Surer occupy positions three through seven. On the 31st lap, De Angelis makes a pit stop. The Lotus driver re-entered the track behind the two Ferraris of Alboreto and Johansson. Lauda had a lead of almost 30 seconds over Prost, who managed to reduce the gap lap after lap with new tires. Meanwhile, Stefan Johansson unsuccessfully attempts to pass Michele Alboreto. Niki Lauda's engine explodes on the 40th lap at the Rindt turn, causing a change in the lead. Prost finds himself in the lead, over 42 seconds ahead of Senna (whose car is plagued by severe vibrations) and over 55 seconds ahead of Alboreto. On the 48th lap, Patrick Tambay's Renault engine explodes. At the Sebring turn, the Frenchman skids on the oil spilled by his own car and spins out. Prost won the Austrian Grand Prix. Alboreto fought to the maximum of Ferrari's capabilities and finished third, behind a determined Senna. The Italian driver manages to avoid losing the lead in the World Championship standings, but Prost catches up to him with 50 points. It was a thrilling and uncertain battle, at least on paper. However, the loss casts a shadow over Alboreto's and Ferrari's future. Prost now has four victories (compared to his rival's two) with one fewer race result. If one were to consider the discard rule, which allows a maximum of twelve placements in sixteen races to be counted, the McLaren driver would certainly have an advantage. However, that's not the only concern. Ferrari's inconsistent performances on different circuits are particularly worrying. Meanwhile, the English team has shown on some occasions that it is still at the top, despite not having the total supremacy of the previous year. Alain Prost focused on beating his teammate, Niki Lauda, who was unlucky once again, and was not threatened at all by Ayrton Senna or Michele Alboreto. The two rivals both speak of luck. Prost says that Alboreto can thank the race director for stopping the race after the initial incident. Had the race continued, the Ferrari driver would have had to stay in the pits. However, the Frenchman has no complaints. Lauda's retirement and the last-minute replacement of the car (the one originally planned for the race had a faulty joint) are certainly not his achievements. However, Alain Prost performed exceptionally well. He made no mistakes and did not let his nerves get the better of him as had happened in the past. Alboreto, commenting on the World Championship situation, declares with sincerity:
"He has won five races; now, he can only lose the title if he makes a mistake".
This doesn't mean that Michele has given up, but it recognizes the strength of his rival and his car. The race itself was not exciting. Only Senna made overtakes: Warwick, Johansson, and Surer at the start; Alboreto on the eighth lap; Fabi when he was already in trouble; and De Angelis. With Lauda, Mansell, and Piquet retiring (Rosberg was out by the fourth lap due to a broken Honda engine), Senna found himself in second place by the end, a well-deserved position. The only exciting incident, aside from the accidents (De Cesaris's was spectacular), was the possible duel between Prost and Lauda. The Austrian, who had taken the lead at the first start, attacked vigorously. Prost remained in the lead until the 25th lap, with a maximum lead of about seven seconds. Then Niki closed in, and the Frenchman, seeing him in the rearview mirror, decided to return for a tire change, making a conventional sign to the pits. He had chosen tires that were harder on the left and softer on the right. He replaced them with soft tires and reduced the 29-second disadvantage from the pit stop by setting a series of record laps, bringing it down to 17 seconds by the 39th lap. Just when everyone expected an epic duel, Lauda stopped next to the pit exit with the turbocharger pressure almost at zero. What would McLaren have done if Lauda had denied his teammate a victory or stolen valuable points? The answer will have to wait until the next race. Meanwhile, Johansson's fourth-place finish was commendable for a loyal teammate. De Angelis's fifth-place finish was unsatisfactory, as he was forced to change tires on an uncompetitive Lotus. Surer's sixth-place finish was challenging, as he had to deal with a broken exhaust, just like Piquet. The Osella reached the finish line with Rothengatter in ninth place, four laps down. Alain Prost smiled for the first time this season, looking relaxed and calm. The victory tied him with Michele Alboreto for first place, but more importantly, it boosted his confidence.
During the race, the Frenchman feared Lauda would beat him. But then the danger disappeared, and his first-place finish reassured him.
"I must say immediately that Alboreto was lucky to secure tenth place this time. If they hadn't canceled the first start, he wouldn't have been able to race at all. I had some problems, but I certainly would have earned points and maybe could have distanced him. However, I am happy. Our car proved to be formidable and very competitive. I made the decision to stop at the pits to change tires. I chose strange tires: harder on the left and softer on the right. I felt vibrations and knew I couldn't go all out, especially since Lauda was catching up. I signaled that I would return, and everything went perfectly. By the time Niki retired, I was about to catch up to him. I certainly would have overtaken him".
The Frenchman also talks about the World Championship situation:
"I can't complain. We're on equal terms, but I have a slight advantage: I have four victories, not counting the one taken away from me in Imola, and a good series of placements. If we were to exclude some points, I would be ahead of my rival. But what gives me more confidence are the car's performances. Everyone said McLaren was in decline, yet we've won half of the championship races. In short, it's finally a favorable situation, and I hope to improve upon it in the upcoming races”.
But don't you think Ferrari can still be a serious threat?
"Of course. The Maranello car has once again shown great reliability. It always finishes and takes away valuable points, even when it's not the fastest. If they improve, it will be difficult for me”.
While the winner celebrates with champagne, Niki Lauda leaves in his helicopter. The Austrian is furious:
"Nothing is going my way. I can't understand it. Prost pushes his car to the limit and never breaks. I treat mine with care, and I'm always stuck. Anyway, maybe it's better this way...".
Niki concludes his brief interview with a joke:
"If I hadn't stopped, maybe it would have been worse".
Apparently, the world champion, who has already announced his retirement at the end of the year, is referring to the discomfort he would have caused the team by taking points away from Prost. It's worth noting that Prost raced with the reserve car, which had an engine built last year, as revealed by Metzer, Porsche's chief designer. It was a car that had been kept aside without any intention of using it, and Prost skillfully brought it to victory. Meanwhile, the atmosphere at Ferrari is serene yet slightly concerned. Michele Alboreto, holding his left wrist with his right hand due to the impact of the first start, says:
"I knew McLaren could excel on this track. We all knew it. They were clearly superior in qualifying. I was hoping for Lauda and his great determination. I believed Niki would win another race. He aims to beat Stewart's record of 27 victories, but he's only won 24 so far. Unfortunately, things went wrong for both of us. The race was very difficult. I experienced understeer and couldn't keep up with the leaders".
He is asked about the only overtaking he suffered, that of Senna.
"The Brazilian passed me while I was dueling with Tambay: his Lotus got into the slipstream of my car and was faster at the end of the pit straight. He passed me, and I couldn't catch up. My engine was more powerful, but he performed better in the slower parts of the circuit. Too bad because a second place would have allowed me to stay at the top of the World Championship".
About the championship title, is it now all compromised?
"Not compromised, but it's difficult to compete against an opponent who has practically won five races out of ten contested. The statistics would condemn us even though we, of course, haven't lost hope. And in any case, a lot of fighting is ahead. McLaren has made further progress. We had closed the gap at the beginning of the season. They have an impressive chassis, and it's evident that the new suspensions have yielded results. Now we have to respond on the technical front".
Will Alboreto be able to give an immediate response to his great rival in the Dutch Grand Prix?
"We shouldn't perform poorly in the Netherlands. Of course, McLaren has become a formidable opponent again. Now I'll try to address this wrist that hurts; tomorrow I'll have an X-ray, and hopefully, I'll be able to respond promptly to Prost".
For the sports director, Marco Piccinini, the result is neither good nor bad.
"Better third than further back. Is the balance good? We'll see in the next race. We had major problems in qualifying, the race didn't go too badly. Certainly, we're not extremely satisfied".
Fourth place is fine for Stefan Johansson.
"In my situation, earning points is always a great result. I tried to attack Alboreto once, but he reacted immediately, and I realized I wouldn't make it. In any case, these things are better left between teammates".
Ferrari is staying in Austria now. On Monday, all the teams will work at Zeltweg to fine-tune the cars, and then they will leave immediately for the Netherlands. The schedule is tight. Immediately after the race in Zandvoort on August 28 and 29, there are two simultaneous test sessions planned: one at Monza with Johansson and one at Brands Hatch with Alboreto. Two dramatic incidents, fortunately without consequences, occurred during the Austrian Grand Prix. One occurred at the start and the other during the race, both starring Andrea De Cesaris. The first incident provoked a series of controversies that were quickly quelled by the race results, which ultimately satisfied those who could protest more vigorously — perhaps excluding Renault, whose driver, Jean-Pierre Jabouille, started well in the first opportunity but was less fortunate in the second. What happened at the start at 2:30 p.m.? Exactly at the third row on the two lines, two cars failed to start when the green light came on. Teo Fabi, with the Toleman, remained stationary on the right. Behind him, after many cars swerved to the inside of the track, Berger descended. The Austrian crashed into Fabi, losing both of the Arrows' front wheels. Simultaneously, on the other side, Elio De Angelis raised his arm because his Lotus engine had stalled. Behind De Angelis was Alboreto's Ferrari.
"I saw the obstacle and tried to move left to avoid ending up in the center and getting hit by competitors moving in the same direction. Unfortunately, there was no space, and I hit the rear left of the Lotus with the front right of my car. The tire came off, and I took a big hit to my left wrist".
With four cars stopped on the track and one struggling (Bellof, who was marginally involved in the pile-up), the race director decided to immediately suspend the race. According to the regulations, Grand Prix races that are interrupted before completing two laps must be completely restarted with the original starting lineup. This allowed the teams to replace the cars involved in the accident with their reserves. Ferrari changed Alboreto's #27; Arrows did the same with Berger; Toleman did the same with Fabi; and Lotus did the same with De Angelis. Ghinzani was left out of the lineup because the engine of the second Toleman, the only one available, was out of order. The decision sparked controversy. Lauda supported it, while Tambay and Laffite protested. At the end of the race, Prost said that Alboreto was lucky and that if the restart hadn't occurred, Michele would have lost valuable points. In reality, Prost was involved in an incident and risked being eliminated before the start. The deployed McLaren reported a joint failure during the initial reconnaissance, with unexpected play and an oil leak. The Frenchman tried to switch cars and had the reserve car moved onto the track. However, race officials immediately sent him back because the regulations don't allow competitors to be on the circuit with two cars simultaneously. McLaren then decided to let Prost continue with the struggling car. After the incident, the car was replaced. The only off-track incident was De Cesaris's on lap 13. It was an incredible flight, a series of frightening loops reminiscent of Villeneuve's tragedy. Fortunately, the Ligier ended up on its wheels, semi-destroyed. The Italian driver recounts:
"I was driving a car with a lot of understeer. Suddenly, the car veered off the track, and I ended up on the grass at the edge. Then, I started to fly".
Although he was miraculously unharmed in the terrible accident, Andrea De Cesaris received some bad news. Guy Ligier had decided to drop him, and only one car would be raced in the upcoming Dutch Grand Prix: Jacques Laffite's. Officially, the French constructor claims not to have enough time to rebuild the destroyed car. With only two cars available, one driver has to sit out. However, the incident has the air of a punishment. The Italian driver is accused of damaging too many cars, as had happened during his time at McLaren. The off-track excursion at Zeltweg, with its incredible series of flips in the air and on the ground, should make the driver reflect. Perhaps his competitive spirit and undeniable speed push the cars beyond their limits. Regarding Ligier, which is uncertain about participating in the 1986 World Championship with Renault engines, there is a credible rumor that they have signed a contract with René Arnoux for next year. It would be easy to create a completely national team with two old glories like Laffite and Arnoux. As for De Cesaris, Lotus is reportedly interested in him, while if released by Ferrari, Johansson would be of interest to Toleman. In closing, there are rumors of negotiations between Patrese and Brabham and between Cheever and Toleman. Two Brazilians were the day's protagonists, one for a non-racing reason and the other for a splendid race that ended with a second-place finish. Nelson Piquet and Ayrton Senna. Piquet retired after 26 laps due to an exhaust break on the Brabham, which mainly animated the driver market. Nelson signed with Williams. The news is not official yet, but it is now public knowledge; the Brabham mechanics jokingly put Williams on his car yesterday. There is talk of a $3.000.000 salary. This is a sensational departure, as the South American debuted with Ensign in 1978, participated in three races with McLaren that same season, and then started driving for Brabham in Canada. Piquet spent seven years with the English team, winning two world titles and finishing second. Piquet has not commented on the move yet, but his decision is mainly due to Lauda's departure. The Austrian left the McLaren seat to Rosberg, enabling this transfer. Senna, on the other hand, started in fourteenth position and was practically the only one to make a series of passes. After the first lap, he was in tenth place. Then, he attacked Alboreto and became eighth after four laps. He finished strong behind Prost.
"I experienced terrible vibrations. On the straightaway, I had to release the wheel with one hand at a time to avoid cramping up. My engine wasn't as powerful as Ferrari's, so I had to push hard and take risks to pass Alboreto. It was a very difficult race - perhaps the most challenging of my career - but I gained great satisfaction from it. The title fight doesn't interest me anymore, but I want to win again. Unfortunately, as time passes, my car becomes less competitive, so I have to settle for second-rate results".
Senna is bound to Lotus by an ironclad contract. Still, there are rumors that Ecclestone intends to bring him to Brabham to replace Piquet. It will undoubtedly be a fierce battle, with millions of dollars at stake. Meanwhile, the current Formula 1 World Championship resets to 50 points, with Alain Prost and Michele Alboreto tied. In Zandvoort, there will be another showdown between McLaren and Ferrari, as well as between the two rival drivers. Prost scored a crucial victory in the Austrian Grand Prix, while Alboreto limited the damage with his third-place finish. Based on his results (four victories) and statistics, Prost is now undoubtedly favored. Still, the most optimistic estimate is that he will make a few mistakes in the next six races, considering he has had no mechanical problems so far, while Lauda has retired eight times. The calculations are challenging, so we can postpone them. The only concrete fact is that the French driver is in great form and has been lucky. He is undoubtedly a driving champion, even though he lacks the titles of Lauda, Piquet, and Rosberg, just to name a few. In Zeltweg, Prost achieved his twentieth Formula 1 victory out of 83 races. Had he not been disqualified in Imola, he would average more than one win every four races. Only Stewart (27), Clark (25), Fangio, and Lauda (24) won more races than he did. However, the Austrian participated in 167 Grand Prix races. Therefore, Alain Prost is unleashed not only on the track, but also with his words. He has never appeared so determined, confident, and convinced of his abilities. His analysis of the situation is clear and attentive, even provocative in some details.
"I'm aiming for the world title, and I'm on the right track, although anything can happen in our sport. I might even lose by one point, but I'm ready to start over next year with the same spirit. I don't believe in luck or misfortune. I think more about favorable or unfavorable circumstances".
When asked if he fears Alboreto or Ferrari more, he responds,
"It's a combination that cannot be separated. Today, however, the car matters more than the driver. In a way, I am advantaged compared to Michele. He's on a more demanding team with many responsibilities. Also, he is not used to competing at the highest level".
Does this mean that Prost wouldn't drive a Ferrari?
"I would very much like to drive a Maranello car, but not at this moment. Some time ago, I read statements by Enzo Ferrari saying that his team would never have contact with me. I would like to take this opportunity to mention that we had talks for more than a year. But things were never clear. It wasn't a clear process. It seems to me that Ferrari doesn't have a high opinion of drivers. At least, it seems to me that McLaren's managers have more consideration. Take it as you will".
How does Alain Prost see the end of the season?
"The usual commitment and desire to win. It's said that the Ferrari in Zandvoort is better than the McLaren. We'll see. As for the future, I heard someone worrying that my next teammate might be Keke Rosberg. It doesn't scare me. Rosberg is an extremely fast driver with a tough character, but he's also sincere and loyal. That's what's important. If he has to come, then so be it".
These are Prost's hopes and truths. Not everything he says should be taken as gospel. Didn't he demand a lead driver contract from Renault to get rid of the inconvenient Arnoux? However, the only certain thing is that if Alboreto wants to win the World Championship title, he will have to beat a very strong opponent.