1989 Belgian Grand Prix

Last updated
1989 Belgian Grand Prix
Race 11 of 16 in the 1989 Formula One World Championship
Spa 1996.jpg
Race details
Date27 August 1989
Official name XLVII Grand Prix de Belgique
Location Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
Francorchamps, Wallonia, Belgium [1]
Course Permanent racing facility
Course length 6.940 km (4.312 miles)
Distance 44 laps, 305.360 km (189.741 miles)
Weather Wet, cloudy, cool
Pole position
Driver McLaren-Honda
Time 1:50.867
Fastest lap
Driver Flag of France.svg Alain Prost McLaren-Honda
Time 2:11.571 on lap 44
Podium
First McLaren-Honda
Second McLaren-Honda
Third Ferrari
Lap leaders
  • 1989 Belgian Grand Prix

The 1989 Belgian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Spa-Francorchamps on 27 August 1989. It was the eleventh race of the 1989 Formula One World Championship.

Contents

The 44-lap race was won from pole position by Brazilian driver Ayrton Senna, driving a McLaren-Honda. Senna finished just ahead of French teammate Alain Prost, with Briton Nigel Mansell third in a Ferrari. The win, Senna's fifth of the season, moved him to within 11 points of Prost in the Drivers' Championship.

Qualifying

Pre-qualifying report

In the Friday morning pre-qualifying session, an Onyx topped the time sheets for the fifth Grand Prix in succession. Stefan Johansson was again comfortably fastest by over a second, and his team-mate Bertrand Gachot also pre-qualified in third. The other two pre-qualifiers were the Larrousse-Lola cars of Michele Alboreto in second, and Philippe Alliot in fourth.

Those failing to proceed to the main qualifying sessions included both Osellas; Nicola Larini and Piercarlo Ghinzani close together in fifth and sixth. Roberto Moreno was seventh in his Coloni, with the AGS of Gabriele Tarquini eighth. The struggling Zakspeed drivers were ninth and tenth, Bernd Schneider marginally faster than Aguri Suzuki. The other AGS of Yannick Dalmas was next, ahead of Gregor Foitek, driving the older EuroBrun ER188B after the new car had not been successful. Foitek quit the team after this Grand Prix, to be replaced by their 1988 driver Oscar Larrauri. Bottom of the time sheets was the second Coloni of debutant Enrico Bertaggia, who was unable to put a proper timed lap together. He was replacing Pierre-Henri Raphanel, who had left Coloni to join Rial after Volker Weidler had quit the team. [2]

Pre-qualifying classification

PosNoDriverConstructorTimeGap
136 Flag of Sweden.svg Stefan Johansson Onyx-Ford 1:56.279
229 Flag of Italy.svg Michele Alboreto Lola-Lamborghini 1:57.509+1.230
337 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Bertrand Gachot Onyx-Ford 1:57.720+1.441
430 Flag of France.svg Philippe Alliot Lola-Lamborghini 1:57.748+1.469
517 Flag of Italy.svg Nicola Larini Osella-Ford 1:58.065+1.786
618 Flag of Italy.svg Piercarlo Ghinzani Osella-Ford 1:58.209+1.930
731 Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg Roberto Moreno Coloni-Ford 1:58.650+2.371
840 Flag of Italy.svg Gabriele Tarquini AGS-Ford 1:59.432+3.153
934 Flag of Germany.svg Bernd Schneider Zakspeed-Yamaha 2:00.713+4.434
1035 Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg Aguri Suzuki Zakspeed-Yamaha 2:00.757+4.478
1141 Flag of France.svg Yannick Dalmas AGS-Ford 2:02.205+5.926
1233 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Gregor Foitek EuroBrun-Judd 2:02.767+6.488
1332 Flag of Italy.svg Enrico Bertaggia Coloni-Ford 2:21.709+25.430

Qualifying report

Ayrton Senna gained pole position ahead of his teammate. Ayrton Senna 1989 Belgian GP.jpg
Ayrton Senna gained pole position ahead of his teammate.

Ayrton Senna took his eighth pole position of the season by nearly six-tenths of a second from McLaren teammate Alain Prost, with almost a further second back to Gerhard Berger in the Ferrari in third. The two Williams were fourth and fifth with Thierry Boutsen, in his home race, ahead of Riccardo Patrese, followed by Nigel Mansell in the second Ferrari. Alessandro Nannini was seventh in the Benetton, over two seconds behind Mansell, and the top ten was completed by Stefano Modena in the Brabham, Maurício Gugelmin in the March and Derek Warwick in the Arrows.

The major talking point, however, was the failure of both Nelson Piquet and Satoru Nakajima to qualify, the first time in the Lotus team's history that neither of its cars had qualified.

All the times were determined in the second qualifying session, after the first had taken place in wet conditions.

Qualifying classification

PosNoDriverConstructorQ1Q2Gap
11 Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg Ayrton Senna McLaren-Honda 2:11.1711:50.867
22 Flag of France.svg Alain Prost McLaren-Honda 2:12.7211:51.463+0.596
328 Flag of Austria.svg Gerhard Berger Ferrari 2:11.1021:52.391+1.524
45 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Thierry Boutsen Williams-Renault 2:13.0301:52.786+1.919
56 Flag of Italy.svg Riccardo Patrese Williams-Renault 2:12.5811:52.875+2.008
627 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Nigel Mansell Ferrari 2:12.0421:52.898+2.031
719 Flag of Italy.svg Alessandro Nannini Benetton-Ford 2:14.1171:55.075+4.208
88 Flag of Italy.svg Stefano Modena Brabham-Judd 2:19.1611:55.642+4.775
915 Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg Maurício Gugelmin March-Judd 2:16.4011:55.729+4.862
109 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Derek Warwick Arrows-Ford 2:13.0051:55.864+4.997
1130 Flag of France.svg Philippe Alliot Lola-Lamborghini 2:14.3571:55.890+5.023
1221 Flag of Italy.svg Alex Caffi Dallara-Ford 2:17.6041:55.892+5.025
1320 Flag of Italy.svg Emanuele Pirro Benetton-Ford 2:15.0681:55.902+5.035
1423 Flag of Italy.svg Pierluigi Martini Minardi-Ford 2:15.5151:56.115+5.248
1536 Flag of Sweden.svg Stefan Johansson Onyx-Ford 2:17.3291:56.129+5.262
164 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Johnny Herbert Tyrrell-Ford 2:17.7141:56.248+5.381
1725 Flag of France.svg René Arnoux Ligier-Ford 2:14.3441:56.251+5.384
1822 Flag of Italy.svg Andrea de Cesaris Dallara-Ford 2:17.5121:56.257+5.390
1916 Flag of Italy.svg Ivan Capelli March-Judd 2:15.8631:56.291+5.424
207 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Martin Brundle Brabham-Judd 2:18.6631:56.327+5.460
213 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jonathan Palmer Tyrrell-Ford 2:18.4051:56.600+5.733
2229 Flag of Italy.svg Michele Alboreto Lola-Lamborghini 2:17.2401:56.616+5.749
2337 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Bertrand Gachot Onyx-Ford 2:18.1511:56.716+5.849
2410 Flag of the United States.svg Eddie Cheever Arrows-Ford 2:14.6411:56.748+5.881
2524 Flag of Spain.svg Luis Pérez-Sala Minardi-Ford 2:18.9071:56.957+6.090
2626 Flag of France.svg Olivier Grouillard Ligier-Ford 2:18.1751:57.027+6.160
2712 Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg Satoru Nakajima Lotus-Judd 2:13.6771:57.251+6.384
2811 Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg Nelson Piquet Lotus-Judd 2:14.3581:57.771+6.904
2938 Flag of Germany.svg Christian Danner Rial-Ford 2:20.5032:00.247+9.380
3039 Flag of France.svg Pierre-Henri Raphanel Rial-Ford 2:21.1802:02.937+12.070

Race

Race report

Ayrton Senna ahead of Alain Prost at the race start. Behind, Gerhard Berger, Thierry Boutsen and Nigel Mansell running wide. 1989 Belgian GP race start 02.jpg
Ayrton Senna ahead of Alain Prost at the race start. Behind, Gerhard Berger, Thierry Boutsen and Nigel Mansell running wide.

The race was delayed for some time due to the wet conditions. At the start, Senna led the way from Prost and Berger. Mansell managed to pass both Williams on the grass on the run to La Source hairpin to claim fourth position by the first corner. Johnny Herbert retired when he spun off on lap 4 in his first race for Tyrrell. René Arnoux then retired in the pit lane on lap 5 after a collision with the Lola of Philippe Alliot at La Source. Early on, Berger pressured Prost but was unable to find a way through. Senna comfortably led from start to finish in conditions similar to those in which he won his first Belgian Grand Prix in 1985. Behind him, Berger suffered his tenth consecutive retirement of the season when he spun out on lap 10, leaving Prost to fend off a charging Mansell who, in his efforts to pass the McLaren, made a number of unorthodox moves at the exit of La Source in an attempt to gain a better run at the McLaren through Eau Rouge and on to the long uphill straight. Senna eased up in the last few laps, allowing Prost and Mansell to finish within two seconds of him. Boutsen finished fourth in his 100th race. Johnny Herbert, in his first race for Tyrrell (replacing Jean Alesi who was busy competing in the F3000 championship), said during the BBC commentary that in order to see the car in front it was necessary to press the helmet visor against the lens of the rear-facing visibility light from the car in front. Unusually, Eddie Cheever received the black and white warning flag for 'unsportsmanlike behaviour' for his alleged baulking of Mansell. [3]

Race classification

Ayrton Senna and Nigel Mansell at the podium Ayrton Senna and Nigel Mansell 1989 Belgian GP podium.jpg
Ayrton Senna and Nigel Mansell at the podium
PosNoDriverConstructorLapsTime/RetiredGridPoints
11 Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg Ayrton Senna McLaren-Honda 441:40:54.19619
22 Flag of France.svg Alain Prost McLaren-Honda 44+ 1.30426
327 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Nigel Mansell Ferrari 44+ 1.82464
45 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Thierry Boutsen Williams-Renault 44+ 54.40843
519 Flag of Italy.svg Alessandro Nannini Benetton-Ford 44+ 1:08.80572
69 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Derek Warwick Arrows-Ford 44+ 1:18.316101
715 Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg Maurício Gugelmin March-Judd 43+ 1 lap9 
836 Flag of Sweden.svg Stefan Johansson Onyx-Ford 43+ 1 lap15 
923 Flag of Italy.svg Pierluigi Martini Minardi-Ford 43+ 1 lap14 
1020 Flag of Italy.svg Emanuele Pirro Benetton-Ford 43+ 1 lap13 
1122 Flag of Italy.svg Andrea de Cesaris Dallara-Ford 43+ 1 lap18 
1216 Flag of Italy.svg Ivan Capelli March-Judd 43+ 1 lap19 
1326 Flag of France.svg Olivier Grouillard Ligier-Ford 43+ 1 lap26 
143 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jonathan Palmer Tyrrell-Ford 42+ 2 laps21 
1524 Flag of Spain.svg Luis Pérez-Sala Minardi-Ford 41+ 3 laps25 
1630 Flag of France.svg Philippe Alliot Lola-Lamborghini 39Engine11 
Ret10 Flag of the United States.svg Eddie Cheever Arrows-Ford 38Wheel24 
Ret37 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Bertrand Gachot Onyx-Ford 21Spun off23 
Ret6 Flag of Italy.svg Riccardo Patrese Williams-Renault 20Collision5 
Ret29 Flag of Italy.svg Michele Alboreto Lola-Lamborghini 19Collision22 
Ret21 Flag of Italy.svg Alex Caffi Dallara-Ford 13Spun off12 
Ret7 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Martin Brundle Brabham-Judd 12Brakes20 
Ret28 Flag of Austria.svg Gerhard Berger Ferrari 9Spun off3 
Ret8 Flag of Italy.svg Stefano Modena Brabham-Judd 9Handling8 
Ret25 Flag of France.svg René Arnoux Ligier-Ford 4Collision damage17 
Ret4 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Johnny Herbert Tyrrell-Ford 3Spun off16 
DNQ12 Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg Satoru Nakajima Lotus-Judd     
DNQ11 Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg Nelson Piquet Lotus-Judd     
DNQ38 Flag of Germany.svg Christian Danner Rial-Ford     
DNQ39 Flag of France.svg Pierre-Henri Raphanel Rial-Ford     
DNPQ17 Flag of Italy.svg Nicola Larini Osella-Ford     
DNPQ18 Flag of Italy.svg Piercarlo Ghinzani Osella-Ford     
DNPQ31 Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg Roberto Moreno Coloni-Ford     
DNPQ40 Flag of Italy.svg Gabriele Tarquini AGS-Ford     
DNPQ34 Flag of Germany.svg Bernd Schneider Zakspeed-Yamaha     
DNPQ35 Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg Aguri Suzuki Zakspeed-Yamaha     
DNPQ41 Flag of France.svg Yannick Dalmas AGS-Ford     
DNPQ33 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Gregor Foitek EuroBrun-Judd     
DNPQ32 Flag of Italy.svg Enrico Bertaggia Coloni-Ford     
Source: [4]

Championship standings after the race

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References

  1. "1989 Belgian GP". Motor Sport . Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  2. Walker, Murray (1989). Murray Walker's Grand Prix Year. First Formula Publishing. pp. 93–100. ISBN   1-870066-22-7.
  3. Murray Walker's 1989 Grand Prix Year, First Frost 1989, p.100
  4. "1989 Belgian Grand Prix". formula1.com. Archived from the original on 18 January 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  5. 1 2 "Belgium 1989 - Championship • STATS F1". www.statsf1.com. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
Previous race:
1989 Hungarian Grand Prix
FIA Formula One World Championship
1989 season
Next race:
1989 Italian Grand Prix
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1988 Belgian Grand Prix
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1990 Belgian Grand Prix