1985 Belgian Grand Prix

Championship standings

Prost won at Monza to extend his lead over Alboreto. Senna is closing in third.

Previous race

At Monza, Prost won. Rosberg dominated and looked set for victory until his engine failed; Prost then led home Piquet and Senna. It was Prost’s fifth win of the season.

Between-race developments

This is the rescheduled Belgian Grand Prix, originally scheduled for 2 June. The track surface broke up during Friday practice in June, was repaired overnight, then crumbled again within 25 minutes of Saturday practice restarting. FISA president Jean-Marie Balestre was furious at the Belgian ASN and fined the organisers. The circuit has since been thoroughly repaired and the race has been moved here in September, slotted after Italy and before the European Grand Prix, which was pushed back a week to accommodate.

Haas Lola and Alan Jones are not permitted to enter this race — the team was not on the original entry list when the June date was set.

Niki Lauda was injured in practice in Belgium. During the Friday session his McLaren’s throttle stuck open while he was touring back to the pits, and the car slid into a guardrail, wrenching his wrist. X-rays revealed no break but he is not fit to race and has returned to Austria for treatment. McLaren hoped to put John Watson in the car but this required the approval of all other teams; Ferrari refused, leaving Prost as McLaren’s sole entry this weekend.

FISA president Balestre has announced during the build-up that the controversial South African Grand Prix will go ahead despite international pressure. Renault and Ligier had been lobbying for it to be cancelled.

Entrants

1985 Formula 3000 champion Christian Danner makes his Formula One debut with Zakspeed, standing in for the injured Jonathan Palmer. RAM enter only one car.