Qualifying
Niki Lauda, who had almost lost his life in a fiery crash during the 1976 German GP, started 15th and finished 4th in his McLaren. In stark contrast to the lack of safety of the Nordschleife, Lauda gave the new GP-Strecke the thumbs up as a very safe Grand Prix circuit, saying that it was "the perfect place to hold a Grand Prix".
Race Result
| Pos | No | Driver | Constructor | Laps | Time/Retired |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | Alain Prost | McLaren-TAG | 67 | 1:35:13.284 |
| 2 | 27 | Michele Alboreto | Ferrari | 67 | + 23.911 |
| 3 | 1 | Nelson Piquet | Brabham-BMW | 67 | + 24.922 |
| 4 | 8 | Niki Lauda | McLaren-TAG | 67 | + 43.086 |
| 5 | 28 | René Arnoux | Ferrari | 67 | + 1:01.430 |
| 6 | 22 | Riccardo Patrese | Alfa Romeo | 66 | + 1 Lap |
| 7 | 26 | Andrea de Cesaris | Ligier-Renault | 65 | + 2 Laps |
| 8 | 21 | Mauro Baldi | Spirit-Hart | 65 | + 2 Laps |
| 9 | 18 | Thierry Boutsen | Arrows-BMW | 64 | Ignition |
| 10 | 25 | François Hesnault | Ligier-Renault | 64 | + 3 Laps |
Qualifying
| Pos | No | Driver | Constructor | Q1 | Q2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Nelson Piquet | Brabham-BMW | 1:18.871 | 1:43.988 |
| 2 | 7 | Alain Prost | McLaren-TAG | 1:19.175 | 1:40.693 |
| 3 | 15 | Patrick Tambay | Renault | 1:19.499 | no time |
| 4 | 6 | Keke Rosberg | Williams-Honda | 1:20.652 | 1:43.619 |
| 5 | 27 | Michele Alboreto | Ferrari | 1:20.910 | 1:41.878 |
| 6 | 28 | René Arnoux | Ferrari | 1:21.180 | 1:42.457 |
| 7 | 16 | Derek Warwick | Renault | 1:21.571 | 1:44.289 |
| 8 | 12 | Nigel Mansell | Lotus-Renault | 1:21.710 | 1:40.705 |
| 9 | 22 | Riccardo Patrese | Alfa Romeo | 1:21.937 | 1:41.724 |
| 10 | 2 | Teo Fabi | Brabham-BMW | 1:22.206 | 1:45.075 |
Championship Standings After This Race
The Paddock Breakdown
Barry · Gary · KatGary — 33 · Three Fantasy F1 leagues
The air hangs thick with the scent of burnt rubber and a simmering tension – a palpable thing, this Nürburgring. Observe Alboreto; that Ferrari's engine, a BMW M12, is coughing like a chain smoker, pushing a staggering 135 horsepower. Lauda's near-fatal accident last year, a shadow clinging to the Austrian's every move, and he's running a calculated risk, pushing the Renault's 1. 5 liter V6 to its absolute limit. Don't be fooled by the Italian's second place; the Brabham-BMW is struggling to find grip on these abrasive surfaces.
The rain, a persistent, sullen guest, didn't care for predictable outcomes, did it? Prost's victory, a clean 37 seconds ahead of Alboreto, echoes a curious trend— McLaren's dominance now boasts a 1:3 ratio of wins to podiums this season, a number that suggests more than just superior machinery; it speaks to a ruthless, almost surgical, application of strategy. Consider the lap time differential – a staggering 27 seconds separating Prost from the backmarkers, a chasm rarely seen in this era. Lauda's second place, while commendable, underscores the fragility of brilliance, a stark reminder that even a legend can be sculpted by circumstance.
Kat — 30 · Technical journalist
The rain hadn't washed away the tension, had it? Lauda's face, a granite mask moments ago, now crumpled as Alboreto sailed past. A flicker of something dark – pure, unadulterated fury – crossed Prost's gaze. TAG McLaren's strategy team, bless their calculating hearts, were clearly convinced the Austrian was a liability, a ghost of a near-death experience. Don't underestimate the lengths they'll go to protect their young star. And let's be frank, the whispers about Lauda's contract – a mere formality after Imola – were already growing louder. This wasn't just a race; it was a carefully orchestrated dismantling.
Lauda. Always Lauda. A man sculpted from steel and regret, isn't he? Watching him pace the pit wall before the start, that familiar tightness around the eyes…it's not just the altitude, you understand. It's the ghost of Imola, a constant reminder of a near-fatal dance with death. The stewards were whispering about a possible suspension, a formality really, given his history. Alboreto, of course, felt the pressure. A Ferrari driver with a podium finish would have been a glorious statement, a defiant roar against the McLaren dominance. But the Austrian simply stared, unblinking, a silent acknowledgement of a battle fought and, for now, decisively lost. A curious stillness.