Monaco GP 1985

Monaco GP, 1985

In the fortnight between the San Marino and Monaco Grands Prix, Toleman finally managed to find tires by buying Spirit's supply of Pirellis. This meant that Spirit dropped out and Toleman was able to field one car. As part of the deal Toleman agreed a three-year sponsorship with Benetton. The team announced that it would run Teo Fabi as Alfa Romeo has refused to release Eddie Cheever to join the operation. Otherwise the field was unchanged.

Pole position again went to Ayrton Senna in the Lotus-Renault with Nigel Mansell second quickest for Williams-Honda. Then came Michele Alboreto (Ferrari), Eddie Cheever (Alfa Romeo), Alain Prost (McLaren-TAG) and Thierry Boutsen in his Arrows-BMW. The top 10 was completed by Keke Rosberg (Williams-Honda), Andrea de Cesaris (Ligier-Renault), Elio de Angelis (Lotus-Renault) and Derek Warwick in the factory Renault.

At the start of the race Senna went away well leading Mansell, Alboreto and Prost, who had overtaken Cheever on the run to the first corner. Further back Gerhard Berger started well in his Arrows-BMW but the engine died almost immediately and he was hit by both Patrick Tambay's Renault and Stefan Johansson's Ferrari. All three were effectively out. At the front Alboreto made quick work of Mansell and the Englishman quickly dropped behind Prost, Cheever, de Angelis and Rosberg. The order then stabilized until lap 14 when Senna suffered an engine failure. Alboreto led for five laps during which time Riccardo Patrese (Alfa Romeo) and Nelson Piquet (Brabham) had a big accident going into Ste Devote. This left oil all over the road and caused Alboreto go go wide and lose the lead to Prost. Lauda went off and stalled. Alboreto had also picked up a slow puncture from wreckage of the road and so had to pit for new tires and dropped behind de Cesaris. he fought back and retook the place and late in the race was able to pass de Angelis as well to take second. But victory was Prost's. Behind Alboreto came de Angelis, de Cesaris, Warwick and and Jacques Laffite (Ligier-Renault).

POSNODRIVERENTRANTLAPSTIME/RETIREMENTQUAL POS
Alain Prost McLaren-TAG Porsche  78 1h51m58.034s  
27 Michele Alboreto Ferrari  78 1h52m05.575s  
11 Elio de Angelis Lotus-Renault  78 1h53m25.205s  
25 Andrea de Cesaris Ligier-Renault  77  
16 Derek Warwick Renault  77  10 
26 Jacques Laffite Ligier-Renault  77  16 
Nigel Mansell Williams-Honda  77  
Keke Rosberg Williams-Honda  76  
18 Thierry Boutsen Arrows-BMW  76  
10 Martin Brundle Tyrrell-Cosworth  74  18 
11 30 Jonathan Palmer Zakspeed  74  19 
Niki Lauda McLaren-TAG Porsche  17 Spin 14 
22 Riccardo Patrese Alfa Romeo  16 Accident 12 
Nelson Piquet Brabham-BMW  16 Accident 13 
19 Teo Fabi Toleman-Hart  16 Turbo 20 
12 Ayrton Senna Lotus-Renault  13 Engine 
23 Eddie Cheever Alfa Romeo  10 Alternator 
28 Stefan Johansson Ferrari  Accident/rear Suspension 15 
15 Patrick Tambay Renault  Accident 17 
17 Gerhard Berger Arrows-BMW  Accident 11 
nq 24 Piercarlo Ghinzani Osella-Alfa Romeo    21 
nq Stefan Bellof Tyrrell-Cosworth    22 
nq 10 Philippe Alliot RAM-Hart    23 
nq Manfred Winkelhock RAM-Hart    24 
nq Francois Hesnault Brabham-BMW    25 
nq 29 Pierluigi Martini Minardi-Cosworth   Accident/injury 26