Race
This was the first German Grand Prix that was held on the new GP-Strecke section of the track that replaced the old Südschleife section that had not been used since 1970. It was also the first time in nine years the German GP was held at Nürburgring; previously the German Grand Prix had been held on the Nordschleife configuration until 1976, after which the Grand Prix was moved to the Hockenheimring , following Niki Lauda 's near-fatal accident at the 1976 German Grand Prix . The GP-Strecke woul... As it was the German Grand Prix (and that the team still only had 1 new car built) Tyrrell team boss Ken Tyrrell gave his German driver Stefan Bellof use of the Renault powered Tyrrell 014 for the weekend instead of the car's usual driver Martin Brundle , who was given Bellof's Cosworth powered 012 to drive. To get around a FISA rule stating that a team and driver could not run more than 2 engines in the one chassis during a season (with the 012 running the Cosworth and 014 the Renault), Tyrrell... As of 2024, Alboreto's win remains the last for an Italian driver driving for Ferrari in Formula One.
Qualifying
Pole position went to Teo Fabi, the first of his career and the only pole for the Toleman team. He set his pole time during the Friday qualifying session; rain on Saturday meant that none of the drivers could improve their times. [ citation needed ]
Race Result
| Pos | No | Driver | Constructor | Laps | Time/Retired |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 27 | Michele Alboreto | Ferrari | 67 | 1:35:31.337 |
| 2 | 2 | Alain Prost | McLaren-TAG | 67 | + 11.661 |
| 3 | 26 | Jacques Laffite | Ligier-Renault | 67 | + 51.154 |
| 4 | 18 | Thierry Boutsen | Arrows-BMW | 67 | + 55.279 |
| 5 | 1 | Niki Lauda | McLaren-TAG | 67 | + 1:13.972 |
| 6 | 5 | Nigel Mansell | Williams-Honda | 67 | + 1:16.820 |
| 7 | 17 | Gerhard Berger | Arrows-BMW | 66 | + 1 Lap |
| 8 | 3 | Stefan Bellof | Tyrrell-Renault | 66 | + 1 Lap |
| 9 | 28 | Stefan Johansson | Ferrari | 66 | + 1 Lap |
| 10 | 4 | Martin Brundle | Tyrrell-Ford | 63 | + 4 Laps |
Qualifying
| Pos | No | Driver | Constructor | Q1 | Q2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19 | Teo Fabi | Toleman-Hart | 1:17.429 | |
| 2 | 28 | Stefan Johansson | Ferrari | 1:18.616 | 1:46.919 |
| 3 | 2 | Alain Prost | McLaren-TAG | 1:18.725 | 1:43.088 |
| 4 | 6 | Keke Rosberg | Williams-Honda | 1:18.781 | 1:39.547 |
| 5 | 12 | Ayrton Senna | Lotus-Renault | 1:18.792 | 1:36.471 |
| 6 | 7 | Nelson Piquet | Brabham-BMW | 1:18.802 | 1:49.347 |
| 7 | 11 | Elio de Angelis | Lotus-Renault | 1:19.120 | 1:29.714 |
| 8 | 27 | Michele Alboreto | Ferrari | 1:19.194 | 1:41.490 |
| 9 | 22 | Riccardo Patrese | Alfa Romeo | 1:19.338 | |
| 10 | 5 | Nigel Mansell | Williams-Honda | 1:19.475 | 1:42.050 |
Championship Standings After This Race
The Paddock Breakdown
Barry · Gary · KatGary — 33 · Three Fantasy F1 leagues
Albo's Renault, sporting the M22 engine, demonstrates a 3. 2-horsepower advantage over the Ferrari 16M2/05 – a statistically significant differential considering the prevailing tire grip limitations of the time. The GP-Strecke's increased track length, nearly 1. 3 kilometers longer than the Südschleife, has demonstrably favored Renault's higher-revving powerplant. McLaren-TAG's M2/2, while possessing a comparable displacement, lags by 1. 8 horsepower, suggesting a crucial difference in TAG's internal combustion efficiency.
Albo's pole position represents a statistically improbable event given McLaren's dominant qualifying pace throughout the season. Analyzing qualifying data, the margin between Albo's 1:21. 33 and second-place Prost's 1:22. 18 equates to a 78% performance delta, the highest recorded across the entire 1985 season thus far. This disparity suggests a critical vulnerability in McLaren's setup, a weakness potentially exploitable in the race itself. The GP-Strecke's introduction adds another layer; data on lap times within the first five laps will be crucial to understanding if this new circuit amplified this initial performance gap.
Kat — 30 · Technical journalist
Alain Prost's lead, a precarious 1. 2 seconds, evaporated with a stuttering rear end. The telemetry screams it – a sudden torque drop coinciding with the tight right-hander approaching the Carousel. Simulation models predicted a 0. 8 second delta here, but the real-world execution… disastrous. Albedo's tires, already showing early degradation, are now demonstrably compromised. The probability of a McLaren surge, given their superior cornering speed, is escalating exponentially. This isn't just a battle; it's a data-driven implosion.
Alain Prost, a meticulous study in controlled aggression, adjusted his helmet, the subtle shift mirroring the reconfiguration of the track itself. The GP-Strecke demanded a different calculus – a reduced reliance on outright raw speed, favoring precision and tire management. His lap times, currently 1. 4 seconds slower than Keke Rosberg's, aren't merely a deficit; they represent a 17. 8% reduction in optimal cornering velocity compared to the Hockenheimring configuration. This necessitates a 9. 2% increase in braking zone application, a strategic shift suggesting a calculated risk aversion. The data unequivocally demonstrates a prioritization of consistency over immediate gains, a tactical deployment reflecting the inherent instability of this new circuit.