The 1984 Austrian Grand Prix was the 400th World Championship Formula One race, with Niki Lauda winning on home soil to extend his drivers' title lead.
Key Facts
- Race number in 1984 season
- 12th race
- Overall World Championship Grand Prix
- 400th
- Race laps
- 51 laps
- Winner
- Niki Lauda (McLaren-TAG)
- Championship lead after race
- Lauda by 4.5 points over Prost
- Lauda wins in 1984 season
- 4
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The 1984 Formula One season saw intense competition between McLaren teammates Niki Lauda and Alain Prost. Heading into the Austrian round at Österreichring, Prost held a narrow advantage in the Drivers' Championship, making the home race critical for Lauda's title ambitions.
On 19 August 1984, the 51-lap Austrian Grand Prix was run at Österreichring. Nelson Piquet started from pole in his Brabham-BMW but finished second. Lauda, driving for McLaren-TAG, took victory ahead of Piquet and Ferrari's Michele Alboreto. Teammate Prost, a contender for the win, spun out shortly after the halfway point.
Lauda's victory, his fourth of the 1984 season, moved him into the lead of the Drivers' Championship by 4.5 points over Prost. The result tightened the intra-team McLaren title battle that would continue until the final race of the season, which Lauda ultimately won by half a point.