1985 French Grand Prix
The 1985 French Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Paul Ricard on 7 July 1985. It was the seventh race of the 1985 Formula One World Championship. It was the 63rd French Grand Prix and the ninth to be held at Paul Ricard. The race was held over 53 laps of the 5.81-kilometre (3.61 mi) circuit for a total race distance of 307.93 kilometres (191.34 mi).
| 1985 French Grand Prix | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 7 of 16 in the 1985 Formula One World Championship | |||
| Race details | |||
| Date | 7 July 1985 | ||
| Official name | 71e Grand Prix de France | ||
| Location |
Circuit Paul Ricard Le Castellet, Var, France | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 5.810 km (3.610 miles) | ||
| Distance | 53 laps, 307.928 km (191.338 miles) | ||
| Weather | Dry, hot | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Williams-Honda | ||
| Time | 1:32.462 | ||
| Fastest lap | |||
| Driver | Keke Rosberg | Williams-Honda | |
| Time | 1:39.914 on lap 46 | ||
| Podium | |||
| First | Brabham-BMW | ||
| Second | Williams-Honda | ||
| Third | McLaren-TAG | ||
|
Lap leaders | |||
The race was won by Brazilian driver Nelson Piquet, driving a Brabham-BMW, his only victory of the season. It was the 35th and final Formula One victory for the Brabham team, as well as the first F1 victory for Italian tyre manufacturer Pirelli since 1957. Finn Keke Rosberg finished second in a Williams-Honda, having started from pole position, with local driver Alain Prost third in a McLaren-TAG. Prost moved to within five points of Drivers' Championship leader, Italian Michele Alboreto, who retired on lap 6 with a turbo failure in his Ferrari.
This was to be the last French Grand Prix held on the full Paul Ricard circuit until 2018. A shorter, 3.813-kilometre (2.369 mi) circuit would be used from 1986 until 1990, following Elio de Angelis's fatal accident during a test session in May 1986.