The LIV Foster's Australian Grand Prix, otherwise known as the 1989 Australian Grand Prix, was the sixteenth and final round of the 1989 FIA Formula One World Championship, staged on the 5 November 1989 at the Adelaide Street Circuit.[1] The race was held in very wet conditions, resulting in freshly crowned Champion Alain Prost withdrawing from the race, as Thierry Boutsen slithered to victory.[1]
The build-up to the race would be dominated by the fallout from the Japanese Grand Prix, where Ayrton Senna had been disqualified to hand Prost the title.[1] Following the race McLaren-Honda had appealed against the decision, while Senna proclaimed that FISA and FIA president Jean-Marie Balestre had wanted Prost to take the crown.[1]
As such, Senna still had a chance at claiming the crown in Australia, although only if he won in Adelaide and won his appeal.[1] The Brazilian duly streaked to pole position during qualifying, ahead of teammate Prost, while Pierluigi Martini caused a stir by claiming third in the Minardi-Ford Cosworth.[1]
Raceday dawned wet and wild, with heavy rain ensuring that there were long delays to proceedings.[1] Indeed, the conditions were so poor that Prost led a call for the race to be abandoned, and almost refused to take the start when the field were assembled on the grid.[1]
Yet, Prost would get the jump on Senna at the start, only for Senna to throw a huge lunge at the Frenchman into the first corner to re-claim the lead.[2] Behind, JJ Lehto crashed at the first chicane amid a series of minor clashes, blocking the circuit and hence causing the race to be stopped.[2]
This delay caused even more talk of abandoning the race, with Prost flat out refusing to take the restart.[2] Ultimately, in-spite of having a fair amount of support, the Frenchman was the only driver not on the grid for the restart, and hence potentially gifted the lead to Senna.[2]
Senna unsurprisingly established a lead during the restart, and duly powered off to deny anyone else a shot of victory.[2] His bid was aided by a series of incidents to thin the field behind, with the spray proving almost impossible to drive through.[2]
Indeed, Senna's lead was so immense that he was able to survive several spins without losing too much time.[2] That was, until he completely misjudged the pace of Martin Brundle and destroyed both his and the Brit's cars, and hence ended his bid for the title.[2]
That left Boutsen at the head of the field, with Williams-Renault teammate Riccardo Patrese in second.[1] They subsequently crossed the line at the two hour time-limit split by Alessandro Nannini, who made a late bid for second, while Satoru Nakajima, Emanuele Pirro and Martini survived long enough to claim the final points of the season.[1]
McLaren's appeal against Senna's Japan disqualification was rejected a month after the race, leaving Prost as the 1989 World Champion by sixteen points.[2] McLaren-Honda, meanwhile, were still declared as the Constructors' Champions, while René Arnoux decided to call time on his F1 career after 149 Grand Prix.[2]
Background[]
Ayrton Senna's controversial disqualification from the Japanese Grand Prix had effectively brought the 1989 FIA Formula One World Championship to a conclusion, with Alain Prost declared as the Champion with a race to spare. Indeed, the Frenchman would head to Australia with a sixteen point advantage over the Brazilian, with Senna only able to score a maximum of nine. The Brazilian hence had to settle for second, while Nigel Mansell and Riccardo Patrese would battle for third at the finale.
McLaren-Honda had another rare double non-score in Japan, meaning their title winning advantage in the Constructors' Championship had been reduced. Indeed, Williams-Renault had climbed back into second after a double podium, moving to within 80 points of the Championship leaders. They would, however, have to fight to secure second in Australian, for Ferrari were just five behind in third.
Entry List[]
The full entry list for the 1989 Australian Grand Prix is outlined below:
Practice Overview[]
Qualifying[]
Pre-Qualifying[]
Pre-Qualifying Results[]
The full pre-qualifying results for the 1989 Australian Grand Prix are outlined below:
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Constructor | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17 |  Nicola Larini
|
Osella-Ford Cosworth
|
1:18.379 | — |
| 2 | 30 |  Philippe Alliot
|
Lola-Lamborghini
|
1:18.523 | +0.144s |
| 3 | 18 | Piercarlo Ghinzani
|
Osella-Ford Cosworth
|
1:19.153 | +0.774s |
| 4 | 37 |  JJ Lehto
|
 Onyx-Ford Cosworth
|
1:19.442 | +1.063s |
| DNPQ | 36 |  Stefan Johansson
|
Onyx-Ford Cosworth
|
1:19.539 | +1.160s |
| DNPQ | 29 | Michele Alboreto
|
Lola-Lamborghini
|
1:20.129 | +1.750s |
| DNPQ | 34 |  Bernd Schneider
|
Zakspeed-Yamaha
|
1:20.179 | +1.800s |
| DNPQ | 31 |  Roberto Moreno
|
Coloni-Ford Cosworth
|
1:20.183 | +1.804s |
| DNPQ | 33 |  Oscar Larrauri
|
EuroBrun-Judd
|
1:20.750 | +2.371s |
| DNPQ | 35 |  Aguri Suzuki
|
Zakspeed-Yamaha
|
1:21.012 | +2.633s |
| DNPQ | 41 | Yannick Dalmas
|
AGS-Ford Cosworth
|
1:21.022 | +2.643s |
| DNPQ | 40 | Gabriele Tarquini
|
AGS-Ford Cosworth
|
1:21.600 | +3.221s |
| DNPQ | 32 | Enrico Bertaggia
|
Coloni-Ford Cosworth
|
1:24.081 | +5.702s |
| Source:[4] | |||||
Friday Qualifying[]
Saturday Qualifying[]
The full qualifying results for the 1989 Australian Grand Prix are outlined below:
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Constructor | Time | Gap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | Q2 | |||||
| 1 | 1 | Ayrton Senna
|
McLaren-Honda
|
1:17.712 | 1:16.665 | — |
| 2 | 2 | Alain Prost
|
McLaren-Honda
|
1:17.403 | 1:17.624 | +0.738s |
| 3 | 23 | Pierluigi Martini
|
Minardi-Ford Cosworth
|
1:18.043 | 1:17.623 | +0.958s |
| 4 | 19 | Alessandro Nannini
|
Benetton-Ford Cosworth
|
1:18.271 | 1:17.762 | +1.097s |
| 5 | 5 |  Thierry Boutsen
|
Williams-Renault
|
1:17.791 | 1:18.586 | +1.126s |
| 6 | 6 | Riccardo Patrese
|
Williams-Renault
|
1:18.636 | 1:17.827 | +1.162s |
| 7 | 27 | Nigel Mansell
|
Ferrari
|
1:19.525 | 1:18.313 | +1.648s |
| 8 | 8 | Stefano Modena
|
Brabham-Judd
|
1:18.750 | 1:20.076 | +2.085s |
| 9 | 22 | Andrea de Cesaris
|
Dallara-Ford Cosworth
|
1:18.828 | 1:19.487 | +2.085s |
| 10 | 21 | Alex Caffi
|
Dallara-Ford Cosworth
|
1:18.857 | 1:18.899 | +2.192s |
| 11 | 17 | Nicola Larini
|
Osella-Ford Cosworth
|
1:19.305 | 1:19.110 | +2.445s |
| 12 | 7 | Martin Brundle
|
Brabham-Judd
|
1:19.136 | 1:19.428 | +2.471s |
| 13 | 20 | Emanuele Pirro
|
Benetton-Ford Cosworth
|
1:19.710 | 1:19.217 | +2.552s |
| 14 | 28 |  Gerhard Berger
|
Ferrari
|
1:19.238 | 1:20.615 | +2.573s |
| 15 | 4 | Jean Alesi
|
Tyrrell-Ford Cosworth
|
1:19.363 | 1:19.259 | +2.594s |
| 16 | 16 | Ivan Capelli
|
March-Judd
|
1:19.269 | 1:19.294 | +2.604s |
| 17 | 37 | JJ Lehto
|
Onyx-Ford Cosworth
|
1:20.767 | 1:19.309 | +2.644s |
| 18 | 11 | Nelson Piquet
|
Lotus-Judd
|
1:19.392 | 1:20.622 | +2.727s |
| 19 | 30 | Philippe Alliot
|
Lola-Lamborghini
|
1:19.568 | 1:19.579 | +2.903s |
| 20 | 9 | Derek Warwick
|
Arrows-Ford Cosworth
|
1:19.599 | 1:19.622 | +2.934s |
| 21 | 18 | Piercarlo Ghinzani
|
Osella-Ford Cosworth
|
1:19.691 | 1:20.718 | +3.026s |
| 22 | 10 |  Eddie Cheever
|
Arrows-Ford Cosworth
|
1:19.922 | 1:21.206 | +3.257s |
| 23 | 12 | Satoru Nakajima
|
Lotus-Judd
|
1:20.066 | 1:20.333 | +3.401s |
| 24 | 26 | Olivier Grouillard
|
Ligier-Ford Cosworth
|
1:21.882 | 1:20.073 | +3.408s |
| 25 | 15 | Maurício Gugelmin
|
March-Judd
|
1:20.191 | 1:20.260 | +3.526s |
| 26 | 25 | René Arnoux
|
Ligier-Ford Cosworth
|
1:20.872 | 1:20.391 | +3.726s |
| DNQ | 3 | Jonathan Palmer
|
Tyrrell-Ford Cosworth
|
1:20.428 | 1:20.451 | +3.763s |
| DNQ | 24 |  Luis Pérez-Sala
|
Minardi-Ford Cosworth
|
1:20.633 | 1:20.866 | +3.968s |
| DNQ | 39 | Bertrand Gachot
|
Rial-Ford Cosworth
|
1:22.267 | 1:24.913 | +5.602s |
| DNQ | 38 | Pierre-Henri Raphanel
|
Rial-Ford Cosworth
|
1:22.305 | 1:22.391 | +5.640s |
| DNPQ | 36 | Stefan Johansson
|
Onyx-Ford Cosworth
|
1:19.539 | ||
| DNPQ | 29 | Michele Alboreto
|
Lola-Lamborghini
|
1:20.129 | ||
| DNPQ | 34 | Bernd Schneider
|
Zakspeed-Yamaha
|
1:20.179 | ||
| DNPQ | 31 | Roberto Moreno
|
Coloni-Ford Cosworth
|
1:20.183 | ||
| DNPQ | 33 | Oscar Larrauri
|
EuroBrun-Judd
|
1:20.750 | ||
| DNPQ | 35 | Aguri Suzuki
|
Zakspeed-Yamaha
|
1:21.012 | ||
| DNPQ | 41 | Yannick Dalmas
|
AGS-Ford Cosworth
|
1:21.022 | ||
| DNPQ | 40 | Gabriele Tarquini
|
AGS-Ford Cosworth
|
1:21.600 | ||
| DNPQ | 32 | Enrico Bertaggia
|
Coloni-Ford Cosworth
|
1:24.081 | ||
| Source:[5][6][7] | ||||||
- T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car to set their best time in that session.
- Bold indicates a driver's best/qualifying time.
Grid[]
| Pos. | Pos. | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver | Driver | |
| ______________ | ||
| Row 1 | 1 | ______________ |
| Ayrton Senna | 2 | |
| ______________ | Alain Prost | |
| Row 2 | 3 | ______________ |
| Pierluigi Martini | 4 | |
| ______________ | Alessandro Nannini | |
| Row 3 | 5 | ______________ |
| Thierry Boutsen | 6 | |
| ______________ | Riccardo Patrese | |
| Row 4 | 7 | ______________ |
| Nigel Mansell | 8 | |
| ______________ | Stefano Modena | |
| Row 5 | 9 | ______________ |
| Andrea de Cesaris | 10 | |
| ______________ | Alex Caffi | |
| Row 6 | 11 | ______________ |
| Nicola Larini | 12 | |
| ______________ | Martin Brundle | |
| Row 7 | 13 | ______________ |
| Emanuele Pirro | 14 | |
| ______________ | Gerhard Berger | |
| Row 8 | 15 | ______________ |
| Jean Alesi | 16 | |
| ______________ | Ivan Capelli | |
| Row 9 | 17 | ______________ |
| JJ Lehto | 18 | |
| ______________ | Nelson Piquet | |
| Row 10 | 19 | ______________ |
| Philippe Alliot | 20 | |
| ______________ | Derek Warwick | |
| Row 11 | 21 | ______________ |
| Piercarlo Ghinzani | 22 | |
| ______________ | Eddie Cheever | |
| Row 12 | 23 | ______________ |
| Satoru Nakajima | 24 | |
| ______________ | Olivier Grouillard | |
| Row 13 | 25 | ______________ |
| Maurício Gugelmin | 26 | |
| ______________ | René Arnoux |
Race[]
Report[]
Results[]
The full results for the 1989 Australian Grand Prix are outlined below:
- T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car.
Milestones[]
- René Arnoux made his 149th and final Grand Prix start.[2]
- Ivan Capelli made his 50th Grand Prix appearance.[2]
- Tenth entry for Emanuele Pirro.[9]
- Second career victory for Thierry Boutsen.[2]
- Williams registered their 42nd win as a constructor.[2]
- Maiden fastest lap for Satoru Nakajima.[2]
Standings[]
The bitterly fought 1989 FIA Formula One World Championship finally came to its conclusion in Australia, with Alain Prost able to collect his third World Championship by sixteen points. Ayrton Senna was his closest challenger come the end of the season in second, while Riccardo Patrese broke into the top three at the final hurdle, 36 off the lead. Nigel Mansell hence slipped to fourth on the final day, a point ahead of Thierry Boutsen.
In the Constructors' Championship, meanwhile, McLaren-Honda rounded out the season with 141 points to their name, almost 60 shy of their tally from 1988. That was, however, more than enough to see them crowned as Champions for the second season running, with Williams-Renault 64 behind in second. Third went to the scarlet Ferraris, while Benetton-Ford Cosworth and Tyrrell-Ford Cosworth completed the top five ahead of Lotus-Judd.
Only point scoring drivers and constructors are shown.
References[]
Images and Videos:
References:
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 'Australian GP, 1989', grandprix.com, (Inside F1 Inc., 2015), http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr484.html, (Accessed 23/04/2019)
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 '16. Australia 1989', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1989/australie.aspx, (Accessed 23/04/2019)
- ↑ 'Australia 1989: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1989/australie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 23/04/2019)
- ↑ '1989 Australian GP: Pre-Qualifying'. chicanef1.com, (Chicane F1, 2014), http://www.chicanef1.com/race.pl?year=1989&gp=Australian%20GP&r=1&type=preq, (Accessed 23/04/2019)
- ↑ 'Foster's Australian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1989/races/558/australia/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 23/04/2019)
- ↑ 'Foster's Australian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1989/races/558/australia/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 23/04/2019)
- ↑ 'Australia 1989: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1989/australie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 23/04/2019)
- ↑ 'Australia 1989: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1989/australie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 23/04/2019)
- ↑ '1989 Australian GP', chicanef1.com, (Chicane F1, 2015), http://www.chicanef1.com/racetit.pl?year=1989&gp=Australian%20GP&r=1, (Accessed 23/04/2019)
| V T E | 1989 Formula One Season | |
|---|---|---|
| Teams | McLaren • Tyrrell • Williams • Brabham • Arrows • Lotus • March • Osella • Benetton • Dallara • Minardi • Ligier • Ferrari • Lola • Coloni • EuroBrun • Zakspeed • Onyx • Rial • AGS | |
| Engines | Ferrari • Ford • Honda • Judd • Lamborghini • Renault • Yamaha | |
| Drivers | 1 Senna • 2 Prost • 3 Palmer • 4 Alboreto • 4 Alesi • 4 Herbert • 5 Boutsen • 6 Patrese • 7 Brundle • 8 Modena • 9 Warwick • 9 Donnelly • 10 Cheever • 11 Piquet • 12 Nakajima • 15 Gugelmin • 16 Capelli • 17 Larini • 18 Ghinzani • 19 Nannini • 20 Herbert • 20 Pirro • 21 Caffi • 22 De Cesaris • 23 Martini • 23 Barilla • 24 Pérez-Sala • 25 Arnoux • 26 Grouillard • 27 Mansell • 28 Berger • 29 Dalmas • 29 Bernard • 29 Alboreto • 30 Alliot • 31 Moreno • 32 Raphanel • 32 Bertaggia • 33 Foitek • 33 Larrauri • 34 Schneider • 35 Suzuki • 36 Johansson • 37 Gachot • 37 Lehto • 38 Danner • 38 Foitek • 38 Gachot • 39 Weidler • 39 Raphanel • 40 Streiff • 40 Tarquini • 41 Winkelhock • 41 Dalmas | |
| Other Drivers | Dumfries • Giacomelli | |
| Cars | McLaren MP4/5 • Williams FW12C • Williams FW13 • Ferrari 640 • Benetton B188 • Benetton B189 • Tyrrell 017B • Tyrrell 018 • Lotus 101 • Arrows A11 • Dallara F189 • Brabham BT58 • Onyx ORE-1 • Minardi M188B • Minardi M189 • March 881 • March CG891 • Rial ARC2 • Ligier JS33 • AGS JH23B • AGS JH24 • Lola LC88B • Lola LC89 • Osella FA1M89 • Coloni FC188B • Coloni C3 • Zakspeed 891 • EuroBrun ER188B • EuroBrun ER189 | |
| Tyres | Goodyear • Pirelli | |
| Races | Brazil • San Marino • Monaco • Mexico • United States • Canada • France • Britain • Germany • Hungary • Belgium • Italy • Portugal • Spain • Japan • Australia | |
| See also | 1988 Formula One Season • 1990 Formula One Season • Category | |
| V T E |  Australian Grand Prix
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Circuits | Adelaide Street Circuit (1985–1995) • Albert Park Circuit (1996–present) |  |
| Races | 1985 • 1986 • 1987 • 1988 • 1989 • 1990 • 1991 • 1992 • 1993 • 1994 • 1995 • 1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999 • 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011 • 2012 • 2013 • 2014 • 2015 • 2016 • 2017 • 2018 • 2019 • |
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