1989 F1 World Championship
Thierry Boutsen Won Maiden Formula 1 Grand Prix in Canada
During the opening races of the 1989 Formula 1 season Alain Prost played second fiddle to his McLaren team-mate Ayrton Senna. The Phoenix street circuit in America was new to everyone, and provided the Frenchman with a chance to beat Senna for the first time that season.
Prost Wins US Grand Prix in Phoenix
Just one week after Senna’s victory in Mexico the Formula 1 teams were back in action at the Phoenix street circuit in Arizona. Senna set the quickest time in qualifying, but Prost joined him on the front row. Next in line was Alessandro Nannini, third in his Benetton.
Senna maintained his lead at the start, but Nannini had an unplanned excursion up an escape road. For a while Ferrari’s Nigel Mansell ran in third place, until his gearbox once again failed. Senna, leading the race, also suffered bad luck when his electronics played up and forced him to retire.
With Senna and Mansell out it was Prost who led the US Grand Prix. Behind him was Alex Caffi, enjoying an excellent run in the Scuderia Italia Dallara. He stopped for tyres but was making his way back up the order when he was eliminated from the race in a collision with his team-mate Andrea De Cesaris. Gerhard Berger was in second place for a while, before his Ferrari’s alternator broke.
At the conclusion of the race it was Prost in front, taking his first victory of the 1989 season. Riccardo Patrese finished second for Williams with Eddie Cheever a surprise third in the Arrows.
Boutsen Scores Maiden Formula 1 Victory in Canada
Prost got the better of Senna during qualifying at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, taking pole ahead of his team-mate. Benetton’s Johnny Herbert, still suffering from the injuries received in his Formula 3000 crash at Brands Hatch, failed to qualify.
The Canadian Grand Prix started in bizarre circumstances on a damp track. After pitting for tyres at the end of the warm-up lap Nigel Mansell and Alessandro Nannini exited the pits before the rest of the field had passed. Both drivers were subsequently disqualified.
In the real race Prost led from Senna, but the formers McLaren had its suspension fail, eliminating him from the Grand Prix. While other drivers pitted for slick tyres Patrese elected to stay out, and it proved to be a shrewd decision. The rain returned, forcing his rivals to switch back to treaded rubber.
Patrese eventually had to pit for fresh wets, allowing Derek Warwick into the lead. The Englishman was passed by a charging Senna, only for both drivers to retire. Thierry Boutsen managed to pass his team-mate Patrese and hold on for his first Grand Prix victory. Patrese completed a Williams 1-2 by finishing second, with De Cesaris third.
Coloni Formula 1 car
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