Race
Keke Rosberg 's pole position was the last for the Cosworth DFV engine, and the last for a car with a naturally aspirated engine until turbos were banned in 1989 . It was also the last pole position for Cosworth until 1993 . Rosberg was disqualified for a push start in the pits, after his car momentarily caught fire during refueling. It was the second consecutive Brazilian Grand Prix in which Rosberg was disqualified from second place. For reasons unknown, FISA did not promote the drivers who finished behind Rosberg, so the six points for second place were officially not awarded.
Race Result
| Pos | No | Driver | Constructor | Tyre | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | Nelson Piquet | Brabham-BMW | M | 63 |
| 2 | Not awarded (see above) | Not awarded (see above) | Not awarded (see above) | Not awarded (see above) | Not awarded (see above) |
| 3 | 8 | Niki Lauda | McLaren-Ford | M | 63 |
| 4 | 2 | Jacques Laffite | Williams-Ford | G | 63 |
| 5 | 27 | Patrick Tambay | Ferrari | G | 63 |
| 6 | 29 | Marc Surer | Arrows-Ford | G | 63 |
| 7 | 15 | Alain Prost | Renault | M | 62 |
| 8 | 35 | Derek Warwick | Toleman-Hart | P | 62 |
| 9 | 30 | Chico Serra | Arrows-Ford | G | 62 |
| 10 | 28 | René Arnoux | Ferrari | G | 62 |
Qualifying
| Pos | No | Driver | Constructor | Q1 | Q2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Keke Rosberg | Williams-Ford | 1:34.526 | 1:35.226 |
| 2 | 15 | Alain Prost | Renault | 1:34.672 | 1:34.873 |
| 3 | 27 | Patrick Tambay | Ferrari | 1:34.993 | 1:34.758 |
| 4 | 5 | Nelson Piquet | Brabham-BMW | 1:35.815 | 1:35.114 |
| 5 | 35 | Derek Warwick | Toleman-Hart | 1:35.206 | 16:44.720 |
| 6 | 28 | René Arnoux | Ferrari | 1:36.390 | 1:35.547 |
| 7 | 6 | Riccardo Patrese | Brabham-BMW | 1:35.958 | 1:36.827 |
| 8 | 16 | Eddie Cheever | Renault | 1:37.005 | 1:36.051 |
| 9 | 8 | Niki Lauda | McLaren-Ford | 1:36.054 | 1:36.900 |
| 10 | 23 | Mauro Baldi | Alfa Romeo | 1:36.126 | 1:36.652 |
Championship Standings After This Race
The Paddock Breakdown
Barry · Gary · KatGary — 33 · Three Fantasy F1 leagues
Let's examine Cecotto's Arrows. The 98/9 turbo, sporting a relatively modest 1400cc displacement, was generating a staggering 660 bhp – a testament to the increasing reliance on precisely-tuned exhaust gas recirculation to manage that extreme power output. Fabi's Brabham, conversely, operated with a 3. 5-liter naturally aspirated BMW engine producing a more conservative 280 bhp, highlighting the dramatic shift in performance philosophy occurring within the sport. Rosberg's dominant Ford-powered Williams, of course, leveraged the DFV's 275 bhp to secure the front row, a strategic advantage underscored by tire management during the demanding Jacarepaguá circuit.
Let's dissect this Jacarepaguá spectacle. Cecotto's arrival in Formula 1, a former motorcycle grand prix champion, immediately injected a fascinating element into the weekend – a stark contrast in operational philosophies. The exclusion of de Cesaris, attempting to circumvent the mandated weight checks, presents a critical question: how precisely are teams interpreting the regulations regarding ballast distribution within the 890T's complex V8 turbo chassis? Consider the telemetry data; Rosberg's pole time, a 1:26. 52, is 1. 3 seconds faster than second-placed Fabi, a difference suggesting a significant aerodynamic advantage, or perhaps, a crucial differential in tire management.
Kat — 30 · Technical journalist
Sullivan's car is spinning! The rear tires are losing grip—a catastrophic failure in the rear suspension geometry, exacerbated by the track's inherent elevation change. Observe the subtle shift in the diffuser's airflow; the sudden deceleration has disrupted the pressure differential, creating a localized vacuum. Fabi's engine is screaming, attempting to compensate, but the DFV simply cannot generate the necessary thrust at this speed. The Cosworth's valving is struggling, a consequence of the rapid deceleration, and the resultant pressure spike is causing harmonic vibrations. This isn't just a loss of traction; it's a cascade of mechanical instability.
Cecotto. A man who's life was a chaotic symphony of speed and near-disaster. Watching him in the garage, meticulously adjusting the fuel flow, you sensed a controlled fury. A brilliant racer, certainly, but one perpetually flirting with the edge of oblivion. The Alfa Romeo team seemed to be trying to contain him, a futile effort, I suspect. Let's see if he can translate that raw instinct onto the track today – a dangerous proposition, to be sure.