Ayrton Senna claimed his second Formula One victory at Spa, beginning a record five career wins at the Belgian Grand Prix circuit.
Key Facts
- Race distance
- 301 km over 43 laps
- Circuit length
- 7 km
- Winner's margin
- 28 seconds
- Championship round
- 13th of the 1985 season
- Belgian Grand Prix edition
- 43rd overall, 31st at Spa
- Prost's points lead after race
- 16 points over Alboreto
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The race was originally scheduled for 2 June 1985 but had to be postponed after the freshly resurfaced Spa-Francorchamps circuit sustained damage during that race weekend, forcing organisers to find a later date in the calendar.
On 15 September 1985, Ayrton Senna drove a Lotus 97T to victory over 43 laps of the 7 km Spa-Francorchamps circuit, finishing 28 seconds ahead of Nigel Mansell's Williams FW10, with championship leader Alain Prost third in his McLaren MP4/2B.
The result elevated Senna to third in the drivers' championship standings, while Prost's third-place finish extended his lead over Ferrari's Michele Alboreto to 16 points, strengthening his position in the title fight. Senna's win also marked the first of what would become five victories for him at Spa.