After winning the San Marino Grand Prix Lotus driver Elio De Angelis found himself a surprise leader of the Formula 1 World Championship. The Italian driver was a stalwart of the team, but as the 1985 season progressed life became increasingly difficult. Teamed with the precocious and brilliant young Brazilian Ayrton Senna, De Angelis felt more and more excluded at Lotus. Senna took De Angelis’s mechanic to work on his car instead, as he sought to establish himself as undisputed number one.
The final insult to De Angelis came during a test session shortly after his Imola victory, where he was allowed barely any time in the car. He is quoted talking about the experience in the book, “Remembering Elio”, written by Lorie Coffey and published in 2006 by Coterie Press;
“I was put on one side by Lotus. Starting right then, all they could think about was Senna… Imagine, on the day that I was leading the World Championship, and left to trundle round like some new kid on the team.”
De Angelis honoured his Lotus contract, staying until the end of the 1985 season. He moved to Brabham for 1986, a partnership which ended in the most tragic fashion possible during a test session at Paul Ricard.
Prost Beats Alboreto in Monaco Grand Prix
After San Marino the Formula 1 teams moved to Monaco, where Senna claimed another pole position, only to have his engine expire during the Grand Prix. The Brazilian attracted criticism after qualifying from Niki Lauda and Michele Alboreto for alleged blocking tactics. Even at this early stage of his career Senna was gaining a reputation as an uncompromising driver.
Prost scored his second victory of 1985 around the streets of Monte Carlo, beating Alboreto by over seven seconds. In third place was De Angelis, who scored enough points to retain his lead in the World Championship. From Monaco the Formula 1 circus left Europe and headed for Canada.
Alboreto Takes Formula 1 Title Lead in Canada
Alboreto relieved De Angelis of his place at the top of the standings following a great victory at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. On a perfect day for Ferrari Stefan Johansson finished less than two seconds behind his team-mate. Prost scored useful points with a third place finish while pole-sitter De Angelis could only manage fifth. Alboreto looked like being a serious threat to Prost’s title hopes, if Ferrari could remain competitive and reliable for the rest of the season.
1985 Formula 1 season review continues here.
 |
