1984 Season

Driver changes

The most significant arrival is Alain Prost, who rejoins McLaren after being fired by Renault. He started his career at McLaren before spending three seasons with the French constructor. Patrick Tambay, dropped by Ferrari, takes Prost’s place at Renault alongside former Toleman driver Derek Warwick. At Ferrari, Michele Alboreto becomes the first Italian driver signed by Enzo Ferrari since Ludovico Scarfiotti in 1963.

Ayrton Senna, the 1983 British Formula Three champion, makes his Formula One debut with Toleman, the team Warwick has vacated. Martin Brundle, Senna’s rival from British F3, also makes his Grand Prix debut — with Tyrrell.

Eddie Cheever departs Renault for Alfa Romeo, where he is joined by Riccardo Patrese, who has moved across from Brabham. At Brabham, Teo Fabi — backed by Italian dairy company Parmalat — is promoted as Nelson Piquet’s new teammate. The reigning World Champion returns to defend his title.

Team changes

Theodore Racing has withdrawn from Formula One at the end of 1983. No new manufacturers enter the grid for 1984.

Calendar

The 16-race season opens in Brazil and closes in Portugal. Long Beach has been dropped, replaced by the Dallas Grand Prix on a street circuit at Fair Park in Texas — only the third overseas round alongside Canada and Detroit, but placed in the peak of the Texas summer heat. The South African Grand Prix moves from the end of the calendar to the second race of the year; the Portuguese Grand Prix at Estoril takes the season-finale slot, returning to the calendar for the first time since 1960.

Three pairs of circuits alternate this year. The Belgian Grand Prix is at Zolder instead of Spa-Francorchamps. The British Grand Prix moves to Brands Hatch rather than Silverstone. The German Grand Prix runs at the Hockenheimring rather than the Nürburgring. The French and San Marino Grands Prix have also swapped positions — Imola now hosts its round before the French race rather than after.

A Spanish Grand Prix at a new street circuit in Fuengirola was on the provisional calendar, as were a New York City Grand Prix and a first Hungarian Grand Prix at Népliget Park, but none came to fruition. The European Grand Prix at the Nürburgring has been added in place of the cancelled Hungarian round.

Regulation changes

The FISA has introduced fuel economy rules intended to reduce speeds. Turbocharged cars are limited to 220 litres of fuel per race, enforced by a maximum fuel tank volume of 220 litres, which must be positioned centrally between the driver and engine. Refuelling is banned for the entire season. All drivers must now hold a superlicence to compete, and concrete walls are permitted to replace guardrails at circuits.