1984 Dutch Grand Prix

Championship standings

Lauda leads the championship by 4.5 points from Prost after winning at the Österreichring. Prost spun out on oil after half distance when he was running second, and Lauda seized the lead to take his fourth win of the season.

Previous race

Lauda won at the Österreichring — his home race — from pole-sitter Piquet. Prost was running second when he hit oil dropped by de Angelis’s failing Lotus and spun into the barrier. The race had to be stopped and restarted after chaos with the starting lights at the first attempt. Berger finished 12th on his Formula One debut.

Entrants

Huub Rothengatter makes his Formula One debut, driving for Spirit. For his home race at Zandvoort, the Spirit 101-Hart has been repainted in Dutch racing orange.

Between-race developments

It is rumoured that Ayrton Senna is set to leave Toleman and sign a three-year contract with Lotus for the 1985 season. The move has not been confirmed, but it is widely discussed in the paddock ahead of the race.

Frank Williams has signed Nigel Mansell for 1985 alongside Keke Rosberg, after his original choice Derek Warwick decided to stay with Renault. It will be Mansell’s last season with Lotus.