Nelson Piquet clinched his second Formula One world championship by two points over Alain Prost at this season-closing race in South Africa.
Key Facts
- Race winner
- Riccardo Patrese (Brabham)
- Number of laps
- 77 laps
- Season round
- 15th and final race of 1983 season
- Championship margin
- Piquet over Prost by 2 points
- Patrese's next win
- Not until 1990 San Marino Grand Prix
- Williams debut
- First race with new Honda turbo engine
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The 1983 Formula One season reached its final round at Kyalami with the drivers' championship still unresolved. Nelson Piquet and Alain Prost were separated by a slim points margin, meaning the outcome of the race would decide who became world champion.
On 15 October 1983, Riccardo Patrese won the 77-lap South African Grand Prix driving for Brabham, finishing ahead of Andrea de Cesaris and Nelson Piquet. Williams also debuted its new Honda turbo engine at this race. Piquet's third-place finish yielded enough points to overtake Prost in the standings.
Nelson Piquet was crowned Formula One world champion for the second time, beating Alain Prost by just two points. It was the first title decider held in South Africa in 21 years. For Patrese, it would be his last victory for nearly seven years until the 1990 San Marino Grand Prix.