The 1989 Belgian Grand Prix, otherwise known as the XLVII Champion Grand Prix de Belgique, was the eleventh round of the 1989 FIA Formula One World Championship, staged at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Spa, Belgium, on the 27 August 1989.[1] The race would see Ayrton Senna slither to victory on a soaking wet circuit, edging out teammate Alain Prost throughout the weekend.[1]
The race was heralded by a series of issues off-circuit, with news that Brabham owner Joachim Luhti had been arrested in Switzerland after allegations of fraud.[1] Benetton, meanwhile, had had a reshuffle, resulting in Flavio Briatore gaining power in the team, while Tyrrell handed Johnny Herbert a drive as Jean Alesi opted to focus on his bid for the Formula 3000 crown.[1]
Qualifying would see Senna just beat teammate Prost to pole position in their latest duel for top spot, with half a second separating them.[1] Gerhard Berger was best of the rest, almost a full second off of Prost, while Thierry Boutsen completed the second row for Williams-Renault.[1]
Satoru Nakajima and Nelson Piquet failure to qualify, the first time in the Lotus team's history that neither of its cars had qualified.
Raceday dawned miserable and very wet, with heavy rain delaying the start until conditions improved.[1] Ultimately, however a decision was made to get the race underway, with everyone starting on full wet tyres and setups.[1]
When the race did get underway it was Senna who made the best getaway, easing ahead of Prost as the field slithered into La Source.[1] Berger gave chased from third while Nigel Mansell completed an ambitious move to claim fourth, skating around the outside of both Williams-Renaults despite running onto the grass.[1]
Senna quickly established himself at the head of the field, leaving Prost to defend from Berger who was determined to get ahead of the Frenchman.[2] That was, until the Austrian spun himself out of contention on lap ten, leaving Mansell clear to harass the #2 McLaren.[2]
Indeed, Mansell threw everything he could at Prost to grab second, taking a variety of lines through La Source to try and out-traction the Frenchman on the long run to Les Combes.[2] They continued to fight right through to the chequered flag, as they both caught Senna in the closing stages.[2]
In truth the Brazilian had eased his pace during the final laps, and hence was only a second clear of Prost as they crossed the line.[1] Mansell was within two seconds of victory in third for Ferrari, while Boutsen, Alessandro Nannini and Derek Warwick completed the points.[1]
The results of the race meant that Prost held an eleven point lead in the Championship leaving Spa, with Senna his closest challenger. McLaren-Honda, had broken through the 100 point barrier in the Constructors' Championship, and hence left Belgium with a 68 point advantage.
Background[]
Ayrton Senna had gained a little ground in his private duel with Alain Prost for the Championship crown, moving fourteen behind the Frenchman with six races to go. Indeed, Nigel Mansell had also managed to gain ground on the duo after his second win of the season, moving six behind Senna as he made up for his run of retirements in the early part of the season. Elsewhere, Riccardo Patrese had secured his grip on fourth ahead of Thierry Boutsen, with 25 drivers on the score sheet.
McLaren-Honda were two points shy of a century at the conclusion of the Hungarian Grand Prix, having again managed to extend their lead. Williams-Renault were still their nearest threat, albeit some 56 points behind, while Ferrari had gained a little ground in third, ending the weekend on 34. Elsewhere, Benetton-Ford Cosworth were a secure fourth ahead of Arrows-Ford Cosworth, with fifteen teams on the board.
Entry List[]
The full entry list for the 1989 Belgian Grand Prix is outlined below:
Practice Overview[]
Qualifying[]
Pre-Qualifying[]
Pre-Qualifying Results[]
The full pre-qualifying results for the 1989 Belgian Grand Prix are outlined below:
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Constructor | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 36 |  Stefan Johansson
|
 Onyx-Ford Cosworth
|
1:56.279 | — |
| 2 | 29 |  Michele Alboreto
|
 Lola-Lamborghini
|
1:57.509 | +1.230s |
| 3 | 37 |  Bertrand Gachot
|
Onyx-Ford Cosworth
|
1:57.720 | +1.441s |
| 4 | 30 | Philippe Alliot
|
Lola-Lamborghini
|
1:57.748 | +1.469s |
| DNPQ | 17 | Nicola Larini
|
Osella-Ford Cosworth
|
1:58.065 | +1.786s |
| DNPQ | 18 | Piercarlo Ghinzani
|
Osella-Ford Cosworth
|
1:58.209 | +1.930s |
| DNPQ | 31 |  Roberto Moreno
|
Coloni-Ford Cosworth
|
1:58.650 | +2.371s |
| DNPQ | 40 | Gabriele Tarquini
|
AGS-Ford Cosworth
|
1:59.432 | +3.153s |
| DNPQ | 34 |  Bernd Schneider
|
Zakspeed-Yamaha
|
2:00.713 | +4.434s |
| DNPQ | 35 |  Aguri Suzuki
|
Zakspeed-Yamaha
|
2:00.757 | +4.478s |
| DNPQ | 41 | Yannick Dalmas
|
AGS-Ford Cosworth
|
2:02.205 | +5.926s |
| DNPQ | 33 |  Gregor Foitek
|
EuroBrun-Judd
|
2:02.767 | +6.488s |
| DNPQ | 32 | Enrico Bertaggia
|
Coloni-Ford Cosworth
|
2:21.709 | +25.430s |
| Source:[4] | |||||
Friday Qualifying[]
Saturday Qualifying[]
Qualifying Results[]
The full qualifying results for the 1989 Belgian Grand Prix are outlined below:
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Constructor | Time | Gap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | Q2 | |||||
| 1 | 1 | Ayrton Senna
|
McLaren-Honda
|
2:11.171 | 1:50.867 | — |
| 2 | 2 | Alain Prost
|
McLaren-Honda
|
2:12.721 | 1:51.463 | +0.596s |
| 3 | 28 |  Gerhard Berger
|
Ferrari
|
2:11.102 | 1:52.391 | +1.524s |
| 4 | 5 | Thierry Boutsen
|
Williams-Renault
|
2:13.030 | 1:52.786 | +1.919s |
| 5 | 6 | Riccardo Patrese
|
Williams-Renault
|
2:12.581 | 1:52.875 | +2.008s |
| 6 | 27 | Nigel Mansell
|
Ferrari
|
2:12.042 | 1:52.898 | +2.031s |
| 7 | 19 | Alessandro Nannini
|
Benetton-Ford Cosworth
|
2:14.117 | 1:55.075 | +4.208s |
| 8 | 8 | Stefano Modena
|
Brabham-Judd
|
2:19.161 | 1:55.642 | +4.775s |
| 9 | 15 | Maurício Gugelmin
|
March-Judd
|
2:16.401 | 1:55.729 | +4.862s |
| 10 | 9 | Derek Warwick
|
Arrows-Ford Cosworth
|
2:13.005 | 1:55.864 | +4.997s |
| 11 | 30 | Philippe Alliot
|
Lola-Lamborghini
|
2:14.357 | 1:55.890 | +5.023s |
| 12 | 21 | Alex Caffi
|
Dallara-Ford Cosworth
|
2:17.604 | 1:55.892 | +5.025s |
| 13 | 20 | Emanuele Pirro
|
Benetton-Ford Cosworth
|
2:15.068 | 1:55.902 | +5.035s |
| 14 | 23 | Pierluigi Martini
|
Minardi-Ford Cosworth
|
2:15.515 | 1:56.115 | +5.248s |
| 15 | 36 | Stefan Johansson
|
Onyx-Ford Cosworth
|
2:17.329 | 1:56.129 | +5.262s |
| 16 | 4 | Johnny Herbert
|
Tyrrell-Ford Cosworth
|
2:17.714 | 1:56.248 | +5.381s |
| 17 | 25 | René Arnoux
|
Ligier-Ford Cosworth
|
2:14.344 | 1:56.251 | +5.384s |
| 18 | 22 | Andrea de Cesaris
|
Dallara-Ford Cosworth
|
2:17.512 | 1:56.257 | +5.390s |
| 19 | 16 | Ivan Capelli
|
March-Judd
|
2:15.863 | 1:56.291 | +5.424s |
| 20 | 7 | Martin Brundle
|
Brabham-Judd
|
2:18.663 | 1:56.327 | +5.460s |
| 21 | 3 | Jonathan Palmer
|
Tyrrell-Ford Cosworth
|
2:18.405 | 1:56.600 | +5.733s |
| 22 | 29 | Michele Alboreto
|
Lola-Lamborghini
|
2:17.240 | 1:56.616 | +5.748s |
| 23 | 37 | Bertrand Gachot
|
Onyx-Ford Cosworth
|
2:18.151 | 1:56.716 | +5.849s |
| 24 | 10 |  Eddie Cheever
|
Arrows-Ford Cosworth
|
2:14.641 | 1:56.748 | +5.881s |
| 25 | 24 |  Luis Pérez-Sala
|
Minardi-Ford Cosworth
|
2:18.907 | 1:56.957 | +6.090s |
| 26 | 26 | Olivier Grouillard
|
Ligier-Ford Cosworth
|
2:18.175 | 1:57.027 | +6.160s |
| DNQ | 12 | Satoru Nakajima
|
Lotus-Judd
|
2:13.677 | 1:57.251 | +6.384s |
| DNQ | 11 | Nelson Piquet
|
Lotus-Judd
|
2:14.358 | 1:57.771 | +6.904s |
| DNQ | 38 | Christian Danner
|
Rial-Ford Cosworth
|
2:20.503 | 2:00.247 | +9.380s |
| DNQ | 39 | Pierre-Henri Raphanel
|
Rial-Ford Cosworth
|
2:21.180 | 2:02.937 | +12.070s |
| DNPQ | 17 | Nicola Larini
|
Osella-Ford Cosworth
|
1:58.065 | ||
| DNPQ | 18 | Piercarlo Ghinzani
|
Osella-Ford Cosworth
|
1:58.209 | ||
| DNPQ | 31 | Roberto Moreno
|
Coloni-Ford Cosworth
|
1:58.650 | ||
| DNPQ | 40 | Gabriele Tarquini
|
AGS-Ford Cosworth
|
1:59.432 | ||
| DNPQ | 34 | Bernd Schneider
|
Zakspeed-Yamaha
|
2:00.713 | ||
| DNPQ | 35 | Aguri Suzuki
|
Zakspeed-Yamaha
|
2:00.757 | ||
| DNPQ | 41 | Yannick Dalmas
|
AGS-Ford Cosworth
|
2:02.205 | ||
| DNPQ | 33 | Gregor Foitek
|
EuroBrun-Judd
|
2:02.767 | ||
| DNPQ | 32 | Enrico Bertaggia
|
Coloni-Ford Cosworth
|
2:21.709 | ||
| 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 |
| 2 | Ayrton Senna | |
| Alain Prost | ______________ | |
| Row 2 | ______________ | 3 |
| 4 | Gerhard Berger | |
| Thierry Boutsen | ______________ | |
| Row 3 | ______________ | 5 |
| 6 | Riccardo Patrese | |
| Nigel Mansell | ______________ | |
| Row 4 | ______________ | 7 |
| 8 | Alessandro Nannini | |
| ______________ | ||
| Row 5 | ______________ | 9 |
| 10 | Maurício Gugelmin | |
| Derek Warwick | ______________ | |
| Row 6 | ______________ | 11 |
| 12 | Philippe Alliot | |
| Alex Caffi | ______________ | |
| Row 7 | ______________ | 13 |
| 14 | Emanuele Pirro | |
| Pierluigi Martini | ______________ | |
| Row 8 | ______________ | 15 |
| 16 | Stefan Johansson | |
| Johnny Herbert | ______________ | |
| Row 9 | ______________ | 17 |
| 18 | René Arnoux | |
| Andrea de Cesaris | ______________ | |
| Row 10 | ______________ | 19 |
| 20 | Ivan Capelli | |
| Martin Brundle | ______________ | |
| Row 11 | ______________ | 21 |
| 22 | Jonathan Palmer | |
| Michele Alboreto | ______________ | |
| Row 12 | ______________ | 23 |
| 24 | Bertrand Gachot | |
| Eddie Cheever | ______________ | |
| Row 13 | ______________ | 25 |
| 26 | Luis Pérez-Sala | |
| Olivier Grouillard | ______________ |
- * Modena started the race from the pit lane.[8]
Race[]
Report[]
Results[]
The full results for the 1989 Belgian Grand Prix are outlined below:
- T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car.
- * Alliot was still classified despite retiring as he had completed 90% of the race distance.[8]
Milestones[]
- 5000th registered entry for a car using a Ford Cosworth engine.[9]
- Thierry Boutsen made his 100th Grand Prix start.[2]
- Maiden entry for Enrico Bertaggia.[9]
- Ayrton Senna claimed the 50th pole position for McLaren as a constructor.[2]
- Nineteenth victory for Senna.[2]
- 78th win for McLaren as a constructor.[2]
- Alain Prost recorded his 30th fastest lap.[2]
Standings[]
Alain Prost had retained his lead in the Championship hunt, although his advantage had been reduced to eleven points with five races to go. Indeed, Ayrton Senna was inching his way back towards his teammate in their duel for the title, and had moved thirteen points clear of Nigel Mansell in third. Elsewhere, Riccardo Patrese and Thierry Boutsen completed the top five, while Alessandro Nannini moved clear of Nelson Piquet in sixth.
McLaren-Honda smashed through the 100 point barrier in Spa, and hence left Spa with 113 points to their name. That also ensured that they were some 68 points clear of Williams-Renault at the end of the weekend, and could therefore win the Constructors Championship in Italy if they outscored their Anglo-French rivals. Elsewhere, Ferrari had closed to within seven points of Williams in third, while Benetton-Ford Cosworth had inched away from Arrows-Ford Cosworth in fourth.
Only point scoring drivers and constructors are shown.
References[]
Images and Videos:
References:
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 'Belgian GP, 1989', grandprix.com, (Inside F1 Inc., 2015), http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr479.html, (Accessed 21/04/2019)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 '11. Belgium 1989', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1989/belgique.aspx, (Accessed 21/04/2019)
- ↑ 'Belgium 1989: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1989/belgique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 21/04/2019)
- ↑ '1989 Belgium GP: Pre-Qualifying'. chicanef1.com, (Chicane F1, 2014), http://www.chicanef1.com/race.pl?year=1989&gp=Brazilian%20GP&r=1&type=preq, (Accessed 21/04/2019)
- ↑ 'Belgian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1989/races/553/belgium/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 21/04/2019)
- ↑ 'Belgian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1989/races/553/belgium/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 21/04/2019)
- ↑ 'Belgium 1989: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1989/belgique/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 21/04/2019)
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 'Belgium 1989: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1989/belgique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 21/04/2019)
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 '1989 Belgian GP', chicanef1.com, (Chicane F1, 2014), http://www.chicanef1.com/racetit.pl?year=1989&gp=Belgian%20GP&r=1, (Accessed 21/04/2019)
| 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 | Belgian Grand Prix
|
|
|---|---|---|
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