The 1984 Formula 1 season started with a victory for Alain Prost, in his first drive for McLaren. After the opening round in Brazil the Grand Prix community moved to Kyalami in South Africa, where Nelson Piquet hoped to start his title defence.
Piquet Retires and McLaren Score a 1-2
Piquet demonstrated the speed of his Brabham-BMW during qualifying at Kyalami, setting a scorching pace to take pole. There was disappointment in the race, however, as his turbo failed. During the remainder of the season the team never did get on top of its reliability issues.
Victory in South Africa went to Niki Lauda’s McLaren, as the Austrian finished over a minute ahead of team-mate Alain Prost. Derek Warwick had another strong outing, bringing his Renault home in third. The 1984 Renault looked promising, a fact highlighted by Warwick’s team-mate, Patrick Tambay, who set the fastest race lap. In sixth place came Ayrton Senna’s Toleman, as the Brazilian scored the first World Championship point of his career.
Alboreto and Ferrari Win Belgian Grand Prix
Zolder hosted a Formula 1 World Championship Grand Prix for the final time in 1984. The weekend was dominated by Michele Alboreto and Ferrari. Two years previously the Italian team had experienced profound tragedy at the same track, when their mercurial driver Gilles Villeneuve died in qualifying.
Alboreto started from pole position and went on to win the Belgian Grand Prix. Warwick once again impressed, improving one place on his Kyalami result by finishing second. In third was the other Ferrari 126C4, driven by the diminutive Frenchman René Arnoux, who adored the turbo cars. Senna was once again in the points, sixth for Toleman.
Prost and McLaren Victorious at Imola
During qualifying for the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola it was once again Piquet who set the pace, taking pole in his Brabham. In the race it was once again a case of massive disappointment for the defending champion, as his BMW turbo expired. Being credited with the fastest lap was scant consolation for the Brazilian.
Meanwhile, Prost proceeded to win his second Grand Prix of the 1984 season. Arnoux pleased the home fans by finishing second in his Ferrari. Elio De Angelis was classified third, despite running out of fuel near the end. After two points finishes Senna failed to qualify at Imola. It was the only time he failed to do so during his remarkable Formula 1 career.
1984 Formula 1 season review continues here.
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