A novelty was the limit of 220 liters of fuel in the tank. But the
teams used frozen fuel (!). By doing this they could use almost 15
liters more in the tank..., althought in many races some drivers had
reduced turbo pressure to save fuel trying to finish the race. Another
evolution was the elargement of eletronics for better control of the
car, mainly the fuel injection. The prominance of the season was new
McLaren, with a big supremacy. Designed by John Barnard, powered by
Porsche Turbo, Michelin tyres and two great drivers: Lauda and Prost.
Piquet and his Brabham-BMW were the quickest car, but they could finish
only 5 races in points. Excelents performances for italians De Angelis
(Renault-Turbo) and Alboreto (Ferrari-Turbo).
1 � BRAZIL First ever pole for De Angelis. But in the lights Alboreto took the
lead, while Lauda and Warwick (Renault-Turbo) touched wheels and Piquet
let his engine off. After 11 laps, when it seemed Alboreto would
control the race to the flag, he spun off due to brake fluid loss, so
Lauda took the lead. Piquet already 7th, in a terrific recovering, had
to stop with engine bad function. Then Lauda, with ignition failure,
stopped in lap 38. Prost inherited the lead, but as he pit, Warwick
(Renault-Turbo) came to first place. Otherwise, with only 10 laps to
the final, his front suspension broke and Prost retook leadership and
won. Rosberg (Williams-Honda) � 2nd, De Angelis -3rd, Cheever (Alfa
Romeo) � 4th, Brundle (Tyrrell-Ford) � 5th and Tambay (Renault) 6th.
Senna debut (Toleman-Hart Turbo) starting 14th, but had to stop just 8
laps after the green light.
2 � SOUTH AFRICA First season�s pole for Piquet, who dominated the week-end until
his engine blew up. So, Lauda could lead without any pressure. His
team-mate, Prost, who started from the pit with T-car, made a great
recovery, finishing 2nd. Warwick this time finished 3rd one lap down,
but had two stops for tyres and raced last 20 laps with no clutch.
Another 4th place for Alfa Romeo, this time with Patrese where group by
5th for De Cesaris (Ligier-Renault Turbo) and first point for Senna,
6th.
3 � BELGIUM Two years after Gille�s fatal accident in Zolder and eighteen years
after the last italian driver winning with Ferrari
(L.Scarfiotti-Monza/66), Michele Alboreto could celebrate his own
conquest in great style: pole and leading from lights to flag, more
then 40 seconds ahead of Warwick (2nd)! Both McLaren had engines
broken. Another points for Rosberg 4th and De Angelis 5th. Also first
points for another promising driver: german S. Beloff (Tyrrell-Ford),
made a fantastic race to finish in 6th place. Piquet was in 3rd, but
his engine...
4 � SAN MARINO Second pole for Piquet, but Prost jumped to the front and led all
race. Piquet, apparently saving fuel and engine, secured second
position many laps. Suddenly, when it seemed he was pushing to catch
Prost and escaping from Arnoux, settled fastest lap and...another
broken engine! Lauda, Alboreto and Rosberg were also out. So Prost won
easily, with Arnoux 2nd, De Angelis 3rd and Warwick 4th again in
points. Another great race for Beloff with 5th and Boutsen 6th.
5 � FRENCH Fourth victory for McLaren, second for Lauda. But Tambay starting
from pole, pushed very looking for his home town victory, but soon he
had some brake problems and Lauda could take the lead. When the
austrian went for pit, Tambay could lead again, giving all his best.
But Lauda using new tyres, smahed his advantage and retook the lead
from the french, who had to accept McLaren�s superiority. Prost
finished 7th, due wheels problems. Once more De Angelis 5th and Rosberg
6th were in points, just behind Mansell (Lotus-Renault) and Arnoux.
6 � MONACO This race will be forever remebered by the decision of the race
director, Jacky Ickx. He interrupted the race in lap 31, due to
dreadful weather conditions. Prost was leading with 8�0 ahead Senna and
20�0 of Beloff on that moment, but that difference were in 30�0 some
laps before. Both young drivers were in a amazing demonstration of
their incredibles abilities. The track was so wet, the visibility so
awful, that even Beloff agreed with the decision, but Senna not! Prost
would be regretten in the very last race of the season, as he collected
only 4,5 points here, because the race ended with less than 50% of
total. 7 � CANADA Third pole for Piquet. But this time he wouldn�t have any problem
and controlled all the race. He had a perfect week-end: pole, lead all
race and marked fastest lap, scoring his first points of the season!
Lauda 2nd and Prost 3rd.
8 � USA_WEST It was necessary two starts to begin the race, as Mansell
unskilfulness in the first one caused a bang in the first corner! In
the second, Piquet (4th year�s pole), jumped in front and again could
control all the race. Only six drivers survived to the final. Brundle
(Tyrrell-Ford) was a superb 2nd, De Angelis 3rd, Fabi 4th, Prost 5th
and Laffite (Williams-Honda) 6th. As in Canada, Brabham team were using
new front oil radiator to guarantee better refrigeration to their
engines, and it seemed that they were functioning very well!
Exactly in the half of the season, championship positions were:
Prost � 35,5 where group by Lauda � 24 where group by De Angelis � 22
where group by Piquet � 18 where group by Arnoux � 16,5 where group by
Warwick -14 where group by Rosberg � 11,5 and Alboreto � 9,5.
9 � USA_EST This was a unusual race: at last twelve drivers hit or brushed the
wall, in a dirty and bump track. Rosberg got first Williams Honda-Turbo
victory. Mansell and De Angelis dominated the practices, while Brundle
had foot injuries in a big shunt on Friday. Mansell led until lap 35,
when a little gearbox problem made him slow down. Rosberg commanded the
race for 12 laps, but Prost overtook him, but seven laps later he
scape...from the track, so Rosberg could led to the flag. Arnoux made a
amazing recovering from last to be 2nd. Again De Angelis were in points
in 3rd, Laffite 4th and P.Ghinzani (Osella-Alfa Romeo) marked the first
ever championshiop points for the team and himself. Mansell, as would
be usual on his great career, made a theatrical, but brave, scene:
pushed his car to finished line and ...collapsed as wheather was very
arid and hot!
10 � GREAT BRITAIN Just after the start, Cheever, Patrese, Gartner (Osella-Alfa Romeo)
and Alliot (Ram Hart) were envolved in an accident and only the italian
were capable to continue. Piquet, who started from pole led until a
small turbo pressure problem made him slow down, what allowed Prost
took the lead. But Palmer (Ram-Hart) crashed heavily and the race was
interrupted with eleven laps. Prost sustained his position in the
re-start, but about twenty laps ahead, with gearbox problems, Lauda get
the front and run to his 3rd victory of the season. Warwick 2nd, Senna
3rd (first ever podium finish), De Angelis 4th (eighth consecutive time
in points), Alboreto 5th and Arnoux 6th.
11 � GERMANY De Angelis get the front at the green lights, with Prost and Piquet
following him. But when it seemed he would fight for the victory the
first time this year, had a engine broken. So, Piquet, who had passed
Prost, took the front increasing this advantage until had gearbox
failure. So, Prost could retake the lead, with Lauda in a comfortable
2nd place, and marked his 4th victory of the year. Senna had an big
accident, when his rear wing broke in the back straight. Luckily he had
no injuries.
12 � AUSTRIA From pole Piquet led until lap 39, when rear tyres excessive
consumption made him slow down. But, previously at lap 28, he had
demonstrated great ability to control his car, as he and Prost crossed
De Angelis oil at Rindt�s corner getting sideways. Althoght Prost lost
control of his car and shunt (he was driving with one hand due to shift
crack). Lauda took the lead, but with few laps to flag, he suddenly
slowed with gearbox problems. Somehow he got speed again, but was
clearly in with big problems. Unbeliavable that nobody advised Piquet,
in 2nd, to push the limit to catch Lauda...
13 � NETHERLANDS Prost started from pole, but Piquet led however a lack oil pressure
forced another abandonment. So, Prost managed to a easy-going 5th
victory. Lauda was 2nd, followed by Mansell, De Angelis, Fabi and
Tambay. 14 � ITALY Once more Piquet led until engine problems took in out. Tambay,
making his best race for Renault, with new engine specification, took
the front and led for 28 laps. Lauda and Fabi were following him
nearly. Then the french had a trottle failure at the same time Fabi had
a engine broken, so Lauda could drive quiet easily to his 5th victory
this season. Alboreto and Patrese complete the podium, followed by
Johansson (Toleman-Hart), Gartner (Osella-Alfa Romeo) and Berger
(ATS-BMW). Those three drivers took their first ever points in F1.
15 � EUROPE Prost won his 7th GP of the year and had a little help from his
team-mate, Lauda. The austrian was in a usual recovering, starting from
15th place, when made a rarely mistake and spun. But he could return to
finish 4th. Piquet, with excessive fuel consumption, had to cede the
second place to Alboreto. So Prost and Lauda would fight for the tittle
in the very last race, separed by only 3,5 points: Lauda � 66 and Prost
� 62,5.
16 � PORTUGAL Piquet marked another pole, but eveyone were only looking for
Prost, 2nd and Lauda, 11th. At the lights, Rosberg jumped from fourth
to the lead, with Mansell 2nd, Prost 3rd. Lauda sustained his 11th
place, but Piquet beyond a very bad start, lost control of his car and
spun, completing the first lap in the last place! Rosberg led 9 laps,
but Prost and Mansell overtook him. Lauda and Piquet were recovering
very quick. Almost in the half of the race, Lauda was in 5th place, but
very close to Rosberg, 4th and Senna 3rd, but more than 30 seconds
behind Mansell, 2nd. Piquet was 14th. For Prost take the championship,
he must win and Lauda get no more than 3rd place. But Lauda outpaced
Rosberg and Senna, and started chasing Mansell. Finally at lap 51,
Mansell with brakes failure, went out of the track and Lauda could
reduce the difference drastically, also marking the fastest lap.
Therefore Lauda surpassed Mansell for Prost disillusion. The impact for
the french was so hard that the difference to Lauda came down from more
than 30 to 13 seconds in the last 10 laps! Piquet got 6th place from
Tambay in the final, with amazing recovering. Senna, 3rd and Alboreto,
4th were separated by only 0�275 seconds!
Third title for Lauda to be driver with the best decade results.
Curious facts * Team Tyrrell and their drivers were throwed-out from
championship, losing all their points. The decision was based in fuel
sample analysis occurred just after Brundle�s 2nd place in USA-Detroit
GP. Tyrrell appealed, but could only took part in four races until FISA
final decision, even when J.Barnard (McLaren) and P.Head (Williams)
attested in behalf of them!.
* Emerson Fittipaldi tested for Spirt-Hart during two days in
Jacarepagu�, Brasil, but denied to sign with the team for the season.
* Just after the checkered flag in Brasil, Cheever stopped with no
fuel. Exactly the same happened with his team-mate, Patrese, in South
Africa. Both finishing 4th place with their Alfa Romeo!
* In San Marino, Ayrton Senna failed to qualify. On Friday his
team had a big fight with Pirelli, when they want to break up their
contract. On Saturday finally he went to the track, but had engine
problems...
* In Brazil and San Marino team-mates, Piquet and Fabi, had their engines broken in the same lap: 32nd and 48th!
* Johhny Cecotto had a big accident in the practices of Great Britain GP. He had his legs and an ankle broken.
* Austria GP was the first one of the history to have only
turbocharged cars in the grid, as both Tyrrell-Ford failed to qualify.
* Before Netherlands GP, Lotus announced that had signed a three
year contract with Ayrton Senna. As punishment, Toleman team suspended
the driver for next GP (Italy). But Ayrton�s decision was legally based
in a contract clause, so the team had to accept his decision to break
his three year contract with them and he was reitegrated at Europe GP.
* With his 1st place at Italy GP, Niki Lauda reached 24 victories, drawing with Fangio.
* Prost even Clark�s 1963 record with 7 victories in a season.
* Nelson Piquet recorded 9 seasons pole, even with Peterson (73) and Lauda (74-75).
* Team McLaren stabilished new season�s points record with 143,5 and also for victories: 12!
* Michelin decided to retire from F1 at the end of the season.
First appearance * Drivers: A.Senna, S.Bellof, P.Alliot, F.Hesnault, C.Fabi, H.Rohtengatter, J.Gartner, G.Berger.
1984 Formula One season
The 1984 Formula One season was the 35th FIAFormula One World Championship season. It commenced on March 25, 1984, and ended on October 21 after sixteen races.
During the season, the Tyrrell team had its results stripped after a technical infringement.
The season had been expected to see a continuation of the
Brabham-Renault-Ferrari battle, with supporting roles for McLaren,
Honda and Lotus. McLaren however had stolen a march on its competitors
thanks to its TAG turbo engine.
The FISA had introduced new fuel economy rules aimed at reducing
speeds, providing 240 litres of fuel for the entire race. TAG
commissioned German sports car manufacturer Porsche to design and build
a turbo engine. Porsche had extensive experience with similar economy
rules due to its participation in endurance racing and this translated
in superior fuel economy.
Reigning world driver's champion Nelson Piquet and his Brabham-BMW
were usually the fastest combination on track but appalling reliability
meant he was never able to challenge consistently.
The season saw a titanic battle between both McLaren drivers Niki
Lauda and Alain Prost. Prost had been sacked by Renault after failing
to win the 1983 title. Fast and ambitious, the Frenchman quickly
established his dominance over his teammate.
Austrian Niki Lauda had returned to F1 in 1982 and soon showed he
had lost nothing of his earlier determination and guile. He regularly
matched the pace of his 1982-1983 McLaren team mate John Watson, but
Alain Prost was a different kettle of fish. Lauda quickly realized he
could not beat his young team mate on speed. The wily Austrian
therefore ignored qualifying and concentrated on his race strategies.
By winning races when Prost ran into trouble and scoring relentlessly
when Prost proved quicker, Lauda was just able to win the title. He was
the only second driver after Denny Hulme in 1967 to have ever won the title without achieving a single pole position in the season.
On 18 July, Tyrrell was disqualified from all races so far that
season, and banned from competing in remaining races, because the team
had run illegal cars
1984 Drivers Championship final standings
Drivers' Championship points were awarded on a 9-6-4-3-2-1 basis to the first six finishers in each round.
McLaren-TAG
Ferrari
Renault
ATS-BMW
Niki Lauda
Nelson Piquet
Keke Rosberg
Thierry Boutsen
Eddie Cheever
Stefan Johansson
Marc Surer
