Qualifying
Completing the top 10 were Andrea de Cesaris 6th in his Alfa Romeo , Manfred Winkelhock 9th in his ATS BMW and Mauro Baldi 10th in the second of the Alfa Romeo V8 turbo's. At this power circuit, the fastest of the 3.0L, naturally aspirated V8 Cosworth DFY runners was reigning World Champion Keke Rosberg in his Williams who could only manage 16th on the 26 car grid. Rosberg's time was 6.169 seconds slower than Patrese's pole time in his Brabham who's turbo BMW engine which was putting out approximately 850 bhp (630 kW) in qualifying compared to about 540 bhp (400 kW) for the non-turbocharged Ford - Cosworth . 0158-4138
Race Result
| Pos | No | Driver | Constructor | Tyre | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | Nelson Piquet | Brabham-BMW | M | 52 |
| 2 | 28 | René Arnoux | Ferrari | G | 52 |
| 3 | 16 | Eddie Cheever | Renault | M | 52 |
| 4 | 27 | Patrick Tambay | Ferrari | G | 52 |
| 5 | 11 | Elio de Angelis | Lotus-Renault | P | 52 |
| 6 | 35 | Derek Warwick | Toleman-Hart | P | 52 |
| 7 | 36 | Bruno Giacomelli | Toleman-Hart | P | 52 |
| 8 | 12 | Nigel Mansell | Lotus-Renault | P | 52 |
| 9 | 25 | Jean-Pierre Jarier | Ligier-Ford | M | 51 |
| 10 | 29 | Marc Surer | Arrows-Ford | G | 51 |
Qualifying
| Pos | No | Driver | Constructor | Q1 | Q2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | Riccardo Patrese | Brabham-BMW | 1:30.253 | 1:29.122 |
| 2 | 27 | Patrick Tambay | Ferrari | 1:31.036 | 1:29.650 |
| 3 | 28 | René Arnoux | Ferrari | 1:30.799 | 1:29.901 |
| 4 | 5 | Nelson Piquet | Brabham-BMW | 1:30.202 | 1:30.475 |
| 5 | 15 | Alain Prost | Renault | 1:32.244 | 1:31.144 |
| 6 | 22 | Andrea de Cesaris | Alfa Romeo | 1:31.295 | 1:31.272 |
| 7 | 16 | Eddie Cheever | Renault | 1:31.613 | 1:31.564 |
| 8 | 11 | Elio de Angelis | Lotus-Renault | 1:32.590 | 1:31.628 |
| 9 | 9 | Manfred Winkelhock | ATS-BMW | 1:34.161 | 1:31.959 |
| 10 | 23 | Mauro Baldi | Alfa Romeo | 1:32.407 | 1:32.593 |
Championship Standings After This Race
The Paddock Breakdown
Barry · Gary · KatGary — 33 · Three Fantasy F1 leagues
The air at Monza crackles – a palpable tension forged in turbocharger screams and the desperate pursuit of a tenth. Patrese, in that McLaren, sliced through the Retifilo chicane at 305. 7 km/h, a brutal testament to Ford's engine development. But even that ferocious velocity couldn't secure him the lead, a sobering reminder of the brutal chess match unfolding on this legendary track. The Brabham, with Piquet, was a beast, but the Ferrari's, with Tambay and Arnoux, were proving a serious threat, hungry for victory.
Here we go… The air at Monza practically vibrates with anticipation! Thirty-five thousand souls, a sea of Italian flags, and the raw, untamed beast of turbo-charged Formula 1. Piquet's Brabham, flirting with 190 mph – a testament to engineering audacity, yet relegated to fourth on the grid. Observe, the Ferrari duo, Tambay and Arnoux, slicing through the speed trap with a blistering 186 mph, a clear signal of their intent. This is not merely a race; it's a brutal chess match of speed and strategy, and the statistics, my friends, will be the ultimate weapon.
Kat — 30 · Technical journalist
The air crackles! Patrese! A blistering launch, snatching the lead from Tambay by a hair's breadth – a Ferrari's heart stuttering before the first corner. That turbo, a snarling beast unleashed, demanding respect. Lauda, patient, calculating, sits just behind, observing the chaos. Can he capitalize on this early disruption? The championship, a fractured jewel, hangs precariously in the balance. This isn't just a race; it's a war.
The rain hammered down, a furious, insistent drumming against the asphalt – a fitting soundtrack to the tension crackling around Tambay. He stared at the stopwatch, a grim set to his jaw, a man wrestling with the capricious nature of Monza. A bead of sweat traced a path down his temple, mirroring the slick sheen on the track. He wasn't just chasing a lap time; he was battling the ghosts of previous attempts, the weight of Ferrari's expectations. This wasn't about speed, it was about control, a brutal, solitary dance with the elements. A whisper of frustration, a flicker of defiance – Tambay was a warrior, forged in the fires of Italian motorsport.