Race
Patrick Tambay had an accident in which he and Martin Brundle tangled at Mirabeau, and Tambay's Lola - Ford went right over Brundle's Tyrrell - Renault , caught six feet of air and barrel-rolled into the protective Armco right next to some spectators, and in the process almost went over the Armco into a bar next to the track. The Lola landed upright, and Tambay was able to walk away from the accident unscathed. This was also the last Grand Prix for Italian Elio de Angelis , before his fatal testing accident at Paul Ricard three days later.
Race Result
| Pos | No | Driver | Constructor | Tyre | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Alain Prost | McLaren-TAG | G | 78 |
| 2 | 2 | Keke Rosberg | McLaren-TAG | G | 78 |
| 3 | 12 | Ayrton Senna | Lotus-Renault | G | 78 |
| 4 | 5 | Nigel Mansell | Williams-Honda | G | 78 |
| 5 | 25 | René Arnoux | Ligier-Renault | P | 77 |
| 6 | 26 | Jacques Laffite | Ligier-Renault | P | 77 |
| 7 | 6 | Nelson Piquet | Williams-Honda | G | 77 |
| 8 | 18 | Thierry Boutsen | Arrows-BMW | G | 75 |
| 9 | 17 | Marc Surer | Arrows-BMW | G | 75 |
| 10 | 28 | Stefan Johansson | Ferrari | G | 75 |
Qualifying
| Pos | No | Driver | Constructor | Q1 | Q2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Alain Prost | McLaren-TAG | 1:26.059 | 1:22.627 |
| 2 | 5 | Nigel Mansell | Williams-Honda | 1:30.919 | 1:23.047 |
| 3 | 12 | Ayrton Senna | Lotus-Renault | 1:25.222 | 1:23.175 |
| 4 | 27 | Michele Alboreto | Ferrari | 1:26.839 | 1:23.904 |
| 5 | 20 | Gerhard Berger | Benetton-BMW | 1:26.280 | 1:23.960 |
| 6 | 7 | Riccardo Patrese | Brabham-BMW | 1:26.872 | 1:24.102 |
| 7 | 26 | Jacques Laffite | Ligier-Renault | 1:26.702 | 1:24.402 |
| 8 | 16 | Patrick Tambay | Lola-Ford | 1:27.038 | 1:24.686 |
| 9 | 2 | Keke Rosberg | McLaren-TAG | 1:25.662 | 1:24.701 |
| 10 | 3 | Martin Brundle | Tyrrell-Renault | 1:28.564 | 1:24.860 |
Championship Standings After This Race
The Paddock Breakdown
Barry · Gary · KatGary — 33 · Three Fantasy F1 leagues
A cloud of Ligier-Renault dust, a testament to Alain Prost's relentless pace, now obscures the harbor. The turbocharged 258 horsepower engine of his car, a considerable advantage over the McLaren's 247, is carving a decisive margin. Observe Tambay's Lola – Ford, momentarily airborne after that collision at Mirabeau; a stark reminder that even the most sophisticated machinery can be undone by a fleeting misjudgment, and a considerable 16 meters added to the circuit length has created a treacherous new element.
Tambay's tumble at Mirabeau, a brutal, vertical spasm of metal and rubber, underscores a recurring theme within this circuit's history: the inherent volatility of a track so intimately linked to the very edges of control. Observe, the number of times a driver has lost control in the first ten laps of the Monaco Grand Prix – a tally that, historically, approaches a disheartening half of the field. The statistical probability of a significant incident, particularly within the confines of this unforgiving streetscape, remains a constant, a chilling reminder of the delicate balance between speed and precision.
Kat — 30 · Technical journalist
There! A sickening spin for Tambay. The Lola, a fractured sculpture against the harbor wall, momentarily suspended above Brundle's Tyrrell. The crowd, a collective intake of breath, mirroring perhaps the anxieties felt across Europe as the Soviet Union tightened its grip. This isn't simply a crash; it's a confrontation with the inherent risk, the raw, untamed spirit that defines motorsport. The echoes of the 1960s, the battles for survival, resonate powerfully here.
The rain, a persistent, sullen grey, mirrored the apprehension settling over the pit wall of Ferrari. Niki Lauda, a granite statue of composure, meticulously adjusted a telemetry readout – a familiar ritual, yet tonight, the meticulousness seemed edged with a palpable tension. Young Alain Prost, barely twenty, shifted restlessly beside him, a youthful impatience battling the seasoned wisdom of his teammate. The Monaco air, thick with moisture and the scent of diesel, carried whispers of Tambay's spectacular tumble, a jarring punctuation mark on an already fraught session. The reconfiguration of the Nouvelle Chicane, a bold alteration by the race organizers, had amplified the inherent dangers of this unforgiving street circuit. A significant length added to the track, coupled with the treacherous conditions, promised a day of high stakes and, perhaps, a dramatic shift in the championship standings. One could almost feel the weight of history pressing down on the Principality.