Qualifying report
The pit entrance had been modified and slowed down; the drivers now entered the pits earlier than before. The two Renault turbo cars were on the front row with Alain Prost almost half a second quicker than teammate René Arnoux . It was the first pole position of Prost's F1 career. Williams locked out the second row with World Championship leader Carlos Reutemann third and teammate Alan Jones fourth. Didier Pironi was fifth in his Ferrari and Nelson Piquet was sixth in his Brabham . The top 10 wa...
Race report
The two Williams on the second row enjoyed a better start than the Renaults of Prost and Arnoux. Arnoux was overtaken both by Reutemann and Pironi before the first corner, and by Piquet tried a move in the Ostkurve but the two cars collided, deflating Arnoux's right rear tire and causing him to pit at the end of the lap. Piquet lost a place to Jones in the process, whilst Arnoux dropped through the field. On the second lap, Pironi's engine failed, making him retire from fourth. Consequently, Pro... On lap 21, the lead changed when Prost was overtaken by Jones as the duo were lapping Arnoux. Reutemann retired from the race on lap 28 with an engine failure. After around 30 laps, rain started to fall on the circuit and the Renaults suffered from poor handling and third place Piquet quickly overtook Prost for second. Jones' lead was diminished when his engine began to misfire, eventually dropping behind Piquet and Prost before heading to the pits, and he eventually finished a lap behind. Piquet held on to his lead and finished first, in front of Prost, Laffite and Héctor Rebaque . Eddie Cheever finished fifth to round up the top five, in front of John Watson in sixth.
Race Result
| Pos | No | Driver | Constructor | Tyre | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | Nelson Piquet | Brabham-Ford | G | 45 |
| 2 | 15 | Alain Prost | Renault | M | 45 |
| 3 | 26 | Jacques Laffite | Ligier-Matra | M | 45 |
| 4 | 6 | Héctor Rebaque | Brabham-Ford | G | 45 |
| 5 | 3 | Eddie Cheever | Tyrrell-Ford | A | 45 |
| 6 | 7 | John Watson | McLaren-Ford | M | 44 |
| 7 | 11 | Elio de Angelis | Lotus-Ford | G | 44 |
| 8 | 32 | Jean-Pierre Jarier | Osella-Ford | M | 44 |
| 9 | 22 | Mario Andretti | Alfa Romeo | M | 44 |
| 10 | 27 | Gilles Villeneuve | Ferrari | M | 44 |
Qualifying
| Pos | No | Driver | Constructor | Q1 | Q2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 | Alain Prost | Renault | 1:48.09 | 1:47.50 |
| 2 | 16 | René Arnoux | Renault | 1:47.96 | 1:48.08 |
| 3 | 2 | Carlos Reutemann | Williams-Ford | 1:50.20 | 1:48.43 |
| 4 | 1 | Alan Jones | Williams-Ford | 1:48.49 | 1:49.38 |
| 5 | 28 | Didier Pironi | Ferrari | 1:49.00 | 1:49.97 |
| 6 | 5 | Nelson Piquet | Brabham-Ford | 1:49.03 | 1:49.26 |
| 7 | 26 | Jacques Laffite | Ligier-Matra | 1:50.27 | 1:49.28 |
| 8 | 27 | Gilles Villeneuve | Ferrari | 1:49.44 | 1:50.24 |
| 9 | 7 | John Watson | McLaren-Ford | 1:49.52 | 1:50.36 |
| 10 | 8 | Andrea de Cesaris | McLaren-Ford | 1:50.07 | 1:49.58 |
Championship Standings After This Race
The Paddock Breakdown
Barry · Gary · KatGary — 33 · Three Fantasy F1 leagues
Let's examine Prost's qualifying time – a mere 1:31. 890. The Renault RS:11's turbocharger, at 750 horsepower, was generating significant frontal area drag, necessitating a near-perfect balance between downforce and airflow management. Considering the revised pit entrance, the team's aggressive aero configuration represents a calculated gamble, prioritizing lap time over outright stability. This demonstrates a clear understanding of the Hockenheimring's evolving demands.
Right then. Let's dissect this Hockenheim affair. The Renaults, predictably, dominated the qualifying session, securing the front row with Prost leading by a scant 0. 48 seconds – a figure suggesting a crucial aerodynamic sensitivity to the revised pit lane entry. Observe the disparity; a mere 0. 48 seconds separating the top two, a demonstration of the incremental gains sought by Renault's development team. Considering the planned two-race format, this qualifying performance, coupled with the established turbo car advantage, paints a stark picture of the championship's trajectory.
Kat — 30 · Technical journalist
Prost's tires—look at that blistering pace, a full 0. The revised pit entry, a deliberate bottleneck, is amplifying the differential. Observe the subtle shift in the Renault's yaw angle as Prost navigates the tighter turn; the rear axle load is critical here. This isn't merely speed; it's a calculated manipulation of aerodynamic forces, a dance with the regulations. The impact of this change on the car's overall balance is significant, demanding constant adjustments. A slight misstep, and the whole system unravels.
Prost. A twitch of the wrist, a barely perceptible adjustment to the steering wheel – the youngest man on the grid is already mapping this circuit's contours in his mind. The revised pit entry, a brutal imposition by the race organisers, seems to have unsettled him momentarily, but the focus is returning. Half a second separating him from Keke Rosberg's turbo charge… a margin that will be devoured with every passing lap. The Renault's turbocharger is exhibiting a disconcerting level of sensitivity to throttle changes; a subtle shift in boost pressure could easily disrupt the car's balance. This is a delicate dance, isn't it?