1984 Formula One World Championship facts for kids

Niki Lauda won his third and final Drivers' Championship by half a point

Lauda's teammate Alain Prost (pictured in 2008) was runner-up 0.5 points behind

The 1984 FIA Formula One World Championship was a super exciting year in Formula One racing! Drivers and teams competed in 16 big races called Grands Prix. They were all trying to win the titles for the best driver and the best team. The season ran from March 5th to October 21st.

This year, the championship came down to a thrilling fight between two drivers from the same team, McLaren: Alain Prost and Niki Lauda. Prost won seven races, while Lauda won five. Even though Prost won more races, Lauda managed to win the championship by just half a point! This was the smallest winning difference ever in Formula One history. It was Lauda's third championship title. McLaren also easily won the championship for the best team.

This was the last time an Austrian Formula One driver won the championship. It was also only the second time in history that the champion didn't get a single "pole position" (starting first on the grid) all season. The first time this happened was in 1967 with Denny Hulme.

Who Were the Main Teams and Drivers?

The 1984 Formula One season featured many famous teams and talented drivers. Here's a look at some of the key players:

Top Teams and Their Engines

• McLaren-TAG: This team was super strong! They had a special TAG-Porsche turbo engine. This engine was not the most powerful, but it was great at saving fuel. This helped them win many races. Their car was called the McLaren MP4/2.
• Brabham-BMW: This team had the reigning champion, Nelson Piquet. Their BMW turbo engines were very fast, but they often had problems and broke down. Their car was the Brabham BT53.
• Ferrari: This famous Italian team used their own Ferrari turbo engines. Their car was the 126C4. They were the champions for the best team in 1983.
• Renault: The factory Renault team used their own Renault turbo engines. Their car was the Renault RE50.
• Williams-Honda: This team used powerful Honda turbo engines. Their car was the Williams FW09.
• Lotus-Renault: This team also used Renault turbo engines. Their car was the Lotus 95T.
• Toleman-Hart: This was a newer team that used Hart turbo engines. Their cars were the Toleman TG183B and the new Toleman TG184.

Important Driver Changes

Many drivers moved to new teams or started their first F1 season in 1984:

• Alain Prost moved to McLaren after leaving Renault. He joined Niki Lauda, forming a very strong team.
• Ayrton Senna made his Formula One debut with Toleman. He was a rising star and a former British Formula 3 champion.
• Patrick Tambay and Derek Warwick joined the Renault team.
• Michele Alboreto became the first Italian driver at Ferrari since 1973.
• Martin Brundle and Stefan Bellof were new drivers for the Tyrrell team. Tyrrell was the only team to use a naturally-aspirated (non-turbo) engine all season.

What Races Were Held?

The 1984 Formula One season had 16 races around the world. Here are some of the key events:

Race Schedule

• The season started in Brazil and ended in Portugal.
• There were races in South Africa, Belgium, San Marino (Italy), France, Monaco, Canada, and Great Britain.
• The United States hosted two races: the Detroit Grand Prix and the new Dallas Grand Prix.
• Other races included Germany, Austria, Netherlands, and Italy. The European Grand Prix was held at the new Nürburgring circuit.

Changes to the Race Calendar

• The Spanish Grand Prix was supposed to return but was canceled. The Portuguese Grand Prix took its place.
• The New York Grand Prix was also canceled for the second year in a row.
• The Dallas Grand Prix was a new race for 1984, but it only happened once.
• The South African Grand Prix moved from being the last race to the second race of the season.

How Did the Season Unfold?

The 1984 season was full of exciting moments, unexpected problems, and a very close championship battle.

Stefan Bellof driving for Tyrrell in the 1984 Dallas Grand Prix. The Tyrrell team was later disqualified from the championship due to a technical rule break.

Keke Rosberg won the 1984 Dallas Grand Prix for Williams-Honda.

Michele Alboreto finished fourth in the Drivers' Championship in his first season at Ferrari.

McLaren's Dominance and Fuel Rules

Many people thought the season would be a close fight between Brabham, Renault, and Ferrari. But McLaren surprised everyone! Their new TAG-Porsche turbo engine and the amazing John Barnard-designed McLaren MP4/2 car were incredibly good.

New rules for 1984 meant that cars with turbo engines could only use 220 liters of fuel per race, and they couldn't refuel during the race. Porsche, who built the TAG engine for McLaren, had a lot of experience saving fuel from other types of racing. This made McLaren's cars very fuel-efficient. Combined with the car's great design, the McLarens were almost impossible to beat in races.

Piquet's Bad Luck

Nelson Piquet, the reigning champion, and his Brabham-BMW car were often the fastest in qualifying, getting 9 pole positions. However, his car kept breaking down early in the season. He didn't score any points in the first six races because of engine problems. Even though he won two races later, he couldn't catch up in the championship.

The Lauda vs. Prost Showdown

The season became a thrilling battle between the two McLaren teammates, Niki Lauda and Alain Prost. Prost was very fast, especially in qualifying. Lauda, a two-time world champion, was very smart and focused on his race strategy. He knew he couldn't always beat Prost on pure speed, so he worked on being consistent and finishing races.

Lauda won the championship by just half a point! He also became only the second driver ever to win the title without getting a single pole position all season.

Prost was a bit unlucky. He won 7 races compared to Lauda's 5. He also lost potential points when the Monaco Grand Prix was stopped early due to heavy rain. Prost was leading, but because the race didn't complete enough laps, only half points were given. This decision was controversial, and it might have cost Prost the championship.

Tyrrell Team Disqualified

During the season, the Tyrrell team faced a big problem. After the Detroit Grand Prix, officials found that their cars had a "technical infringement." This meant they broke a rule about how their cars were built or how they used water injection. The team was disqualified from the rest of the championship and lost all the points they had earned. Even though they were allowed to keep racing for a while, they couldn't score any more points. Many people felt the punishment was very harsh.

McLaren's Big Win

McLaren truly dominated the season. Prost won 7 races, matching a record set by Jim Clark in 1963. Lauda won 5 races. Together, they won 12 out of 16 races! McLaren also had four 1-2 finishes (where their two drivers finished first and second). They easily won the Constructors' Championship with a record 143.5 points, far ahead of Ferrari in second place.

Honda's First Win in Years

Keke Rosberg's win at the Dallas Grand Prix was a big moment for Honda. It was their first Formula One win since 1967! The Dallas race itself was very tough. It was held in extreme heat, and the track surface broke apart badly. Only 7 cars finished the race, making it a real challenge for the drivers.

Race by Race Highlights

Brazil: A Hot Start

The season began in the hot and humid city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Alain Prost won his first race for McLaren. It was also Ayrton Senna's first Formula One race, but his car had to retire early.

South Africa: Lauda's Comeback

The South African Grand Prix was held at the fast Kyalami circuit. Niki Lauda won this race for McLaren, showing his strong comeback. Senna finished 6th, earning his very first championship point.

Belgium: Ferrari's Win

The Belgian Grand Prix returned to the Zolder circuit. Michele Alboreto won for Ferrari. This was the last time Formula One raced at Zolder.

San Marino: Prost Wins Again

At the San Marino Grand Prix in Italy, Nelson Piquet was fastest in qualifying. However, he retired from the race. Alain Prost won, with Elio de Angelis finishing third. Senna surprisingly did not qualify for this race.

France: Lauda Takes Victory

The French Grand Prix was held at the fast Dijon-Prenois circuit. Niki Lauda won for McLaren. This was the last time the French Grand Prix was held at Dijon.

Monaco: Rain and Controversy

The Monaco Grand Prix was very wet. Alain Prost was leading, but the race was stopped early due to heavy rain. Ayrton Senna was catching Prost very quickly. Because the race was stopped before three-quarters of the distance, only half points were awarded. This decision was very debated.

Canada & Detroit: Piquet's Wins

Nelson Piquet finally won races in Canada and Detroit. The Detroit race was very tough, with only 6 cars finishing because of the heat and a breaking track.

Dallas: A Brutal Race

The Dallas Grand Prix in Texas was incredibly hot, with track temperatures reaching 66°C (151°F)! The track surface broke up badly. Keke Rosberg won this challenging race. Nigel Mansell pushed his broken car across the finish line and collapsed from exhaustion.

Great Britain: Lauda's Strategy Wins

At Brands Hatch in England, Niki Lauda won after a race that was restarted due to an accident. Ayrton Senna finished third.

Germany: Prost's Victory

At the very fast Hockenheim circuit in Germany, Alain Prost won from pole position.

Austria: Lauda's Home Win

Niki Lauda won his home Grand Prix in Austria, becoming the only Austrian to do so. He had to overcome a problem with his car's gearbox to win.

Netherlands: McLaren Secures Team Title

At the Dutch Grand Prix, McLaren had a 1-2 finish with Prost winning and Lauda second. This win secured the Constructors' Championship for McLaren.

Italy: Lauda's Last Win of the Season

The Italian Grand Prix saw Niki Lauda win again, even though he had a sore back. This was his last win of the season.

Europe: Prost Keeps Hopes Alive

The European Grand Prix was held at the new Nürburgring circuit in Germany. Alain Prost won, keeping his hopes for the Drivers' Championship alive.

Portugal: The Closest Finish Ever!

The final race in Portugal decided the championship. Alain Prost won the race, but Niki Lauda finished second. This meant Lauda won the Drivers' Championship by an incredible half a point over Prost! It was the closest championship finish in Formula One history.

Final Standings

Here are the top drivers and teams at the end of the 1984 season:

World Drivers' Championship

• 1. Niki Lauda (McLaren-TAG): 72 points
• 2. Alain Prost (McLaren-TAG): 71.5 points
• 3. Elio de Angelis (Lotus-Renault): 34 points
• 4. Michele Alboreto (Ferrari): 30.5 points
• 5. Nelson Piquet (Brabham-BMW): 29 points

World Constructors' Championship

McLaren won the 1984 Formula 1 World Championship for Manufacturers after winning 12 of the 16 races.

Ferrari finished second in the 1984 Formula 1 World Championship for Manufacturers.

Lotus finished third in the 1984 Formula 1 World Championship for Manufacturers.

Tyrrell was disqualified from the championship.

• 1. McLaren-TAG: 143.5 points
• 2. Ferrari: 57.5 points
• 3. Lotus-Renault: 47 points
• 4. Brabham-BMW: 38 points
• 5. Renault: 34 points

• Note: Half points were given at the Monaco Grand Prix because the race was stopped early.*
• Note: The Tyrrell team was disqualified from the championship due to a technical rule break.*

Images for kids

• 

  Ayrton Senna (pictured in 1988) made his debut this season, driving for Toleman Group Motorsport.

• 

  Thierry Boutsen driving for Arrows at the 1984 Dallas Grand Prix.

See also

In Spanish: Temporada 1984 de Fórmula 1 para niños