1985 Austrian Grand Prix

Previous race

At the Nürburgring, Alboreto won after Prost spun on a rare mistake and Senna and Rosberg collided. It was Alboreto’s fifth Formula One victory. A third Renault car appeared in the race carrying the sport’s first onboard camera — the entry was not eligible for points and marked the last time a team entered more than two cars.

Between-race developments

Manfred Winkelhock, RAM’s driver, was killed in a sportscar race at Mosport, Canada, the week after Germany. Kenny Acheson replaces him at RAM for the remaining rounds.

Milestones

Before Saturday morning practice, Niki Lauda — flanked by a visibly unhappy Ron Dennis — announces to the media that he will retire from Formula One at the end of the season, after the Australian Grand Prix. Dennis reportedly paid Lauda a considerable sum to bring him back in 1982 and had been trying to convince the Austrian to continue into 1986. A now relaxed Lauda gives his home crowd at the Österreichring something to cheer about: he qualified a season-best third.