1988 Hungarian Grand Prix

Infobox Grand Prix race report
Type = F1
Country = Hungary
Grand Prix = Hungarian
Official name = Pop 84 Hungarian Grand Prix
Date = August 7
Year = 1988
Race_No = 10
Season_No = 16
Location = Hungaroring, Budapest, Hungary
Course = Permanent racing facility
Course_mi = 2.494
Course_km = 4.014
Distance_laps = 76
Distance_mi = 189.558
Distance_km = 305.064
Weather = Sunny and hot
Pole_Driver = Ayrton Senna
Pole_Team = McLaren-Honda
Pole_Time = 1:27.635
Pole_Country = Brazil
Fast_Driver = Alain Prost
Fast_Team = McLaren-Honda
Fast_Time = 1:30.639
Fast_L

Fast_Country = France
First_Driver = Ayrton Senna
First_Team = McLaren-Honda
First_Country = Brazil
Second_Driver = Alain Prost
Second_Team = McLaren-Honda
Second_Country = France
Third_Driver = Thierry Boutsen
Third_Team = Benetton-Ford
Third_Country = BelgiumThe 1988 Hungarian Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on August 7, 1988 at the Hungaroring, Budapest. It was the tenth race of the 1988 Formula One season.

Race summary

Ayrton Senna claimed his 24th pole position after, giving him the 3rd highest pole position record after Jim Clark and Juan Manuel Fangio. The tight nature of the circuit suited well cars with normally aspirated engines: Nigel Mansell in the Williams qualified just 0.1 of a second behind Senna, and just ahead of Thierry Boutsen one Benetton and Ivan Capelli on March. Prost was hampered by traffic to start a poor 7th, while the Ferraris were in 9th and 15th, suffering from no grip and poor handling.

Mansell made a good start and almost took the lead but Senna held onto his position, and thanks to the superior power of his engine he pulled away slightly down the main straight. Riccardo Patrese and Prost made excellent starts, climbing from 6th to 3rd and 9th to 7th respectively, while Capelli overrevved and lost places. On lap 12, Mansell lost downforce and spun down to 4th place, leaving Senna to fend off the attacks of the other Williams, that of Patrese. The Italian later dropped back with engine problems, while similar problems were afflicting Alessandro Nannini's Benetton.

On lap 32, Prost had climbed to 3rd place behind Senna and Thierry Boutsen. On lap 37, Mansell pitted to replace tyres, which were ragged and causing vibrations to the car. Prost passed Boutsen on lap 47 and set out chasing down Senna. Two laps later, while Senna prepared to lap Yannick Dalmas' Larrousse and Gabriele Tarquini's Coloni, Prost passed all three of them in a breathtaking manoeuver. However he ran wide, and Senna was able to retain the lead. Prost set the fastest lap of the race but was forced to drop back with vibrations caused by a loose wheel bearing. On lap 58 Mansell retired with similar problems. Boutsen closed on Prost, but the Frenchman pressed on and pushed Senna. Just half a second covered the two McLarens as they passed the line. Boutsen the third spot on the podium, unable to challenge further due to a broken exhaust which hindered him. Gerhard Berger, Mauricio Gugelmin and Riccardo Patrese completed the points scorers.

Classification

References

* "Unless otherwise indicated, all race results are taken from cite web |title=The Official Formula 1 website |url=http://www.formula1.com/results/season/1988/272/ |accessdate=2007-07-12

F1 race report
Name_of_race = Hungarian Grand Prix
Year_of_race = 1988
Previous_race_in_season = 1988 German Grand Prix
Next_race_in_season = 1988 Belgian Grand Prix
Previous_year's_race = 1987 Hungarian Grand Prix
Next_year's_race = 1989 Hungarian Grand Prix