After Alain Prost’s win in the 1984 San Marino Grand Prix McLaren’s rivals had to acknowledge that the team was a contender for overall title honours. Prost had also won the opening race in Brazil, while his team-mate Niki Lauda tasted victory in the South African Grand Prix.
Renault Fail to Win Home Grand Prix
No team was more irritated by McLaren’s success than Renault. The French organisation had fired Prost after a difficult 1983 Grand Prix season. For their home race at Dijon-Prenois Renault intended to finally defeat McLaren. Although the weekend started well their plan fell apart on race day.
Patrick Tambay qualified his Renault on pole but was struck by misfortune in the race. A loose wheel allowed Lauda to close on Tambay and eventually pass the Renault. Both drivers stopped for fresh tyres, after which Tambay once again found himself in the lead, but it was to be Lauda’s day as he re-passed the Frenchman. Tambay finished second with the Lotus-Renault driven by Nigel Mansell third.
Senna and Bellof Shine in Controversial Monaco Grand Prix
The 1984 Monaco Grand Prix has passed into racing legend, for its controversial ending and two brilliant performances by Formula 1 newcomers. Prost claimed pole in his McLaren but race day was wet, causing the start of the Grand Prix to be delayed.
When the race eventually got underway Prost led initially but was soon passed by Mansell. The Englishman proceeded to pull away at an astonishing rate, only to lose adhesion on the approach to Casino Square and aquaplane into the barriers.
Prost once again assumed the lead of the race but, as the rain continued, his McLaren’s brakes struggled to cope with the conditions. Closing in fast was Senna in the Toleman. Also enjoying the conditions was Stefan Bellof, who hurled his normally aspirated Tyrrell around the street course. It made for a fascinating battle, with Senna closing on the leader and Bellof closing in on both of them.
Just as Senna passed Prost for the lead as the two cars flashed down the start/finish straight the race was stopped. Clerk of the Course Jacky Ickx had decided that conditions were too dangerous and brought proceedings to a halt. Results were taken from the previous lap and Prost declared the winner, with Senna second. Drivers were awarded half points for their efforts. Although Bellof finished third on the road it was René Arnoux who eventually inherited the position after Tyrrell’s disqualification from the 1984 championship.
Conspiracy theories abounded after the race stoppage. Ickx was a Porsche sports car driver and had stopped the race just as the leading car, powered by a Porsche engine, was about to be passed. Whatever the truth, it was a truly remarkable Grand Prix.
1984 F1 season review continues here.
 |
