1988 Australian Grand Prix

Championship standings

Ayrton Senna clinched the World Championship at Suzuka. He arrives in Adelaide as the new champion for his first race since securing the title.

Between-race developments

Senna sustained a sprained left wrist playing beach soccer in Bali during the two-week break between Japan and Australia. There was speculation that McLaren test driver Emanuele Pirro might replace him, but Senna insisted on competing despite the injury.

Alain Prost spent the gap between races at a golf resort in Queensland.

Entrants

Nigel Mansell competes in his final race for Williams before joining Ferrari for the 1989 season.

Milestones

This is the final race in which turbocharged engines are eligible in Formula One until 2014. Honda wanted to finish the turbo era on the highest possible note with the RA168-E, ruling out any early deployment of their new V10.

Weather

Conditions are cloudy and hot.