HistoryData
general1985

1985 San Marino Grand Prix — Formula One motor race held in 1985

May 5, 1985

Elio de Angelis secured his second and final Formula One victory, becoming the only Italian driver to win the San Marino Grand Prix.

Quick Facts

Year
1985
Category
general

Key Facts

Race laps
60
Winner
Elio de Angelis (Lotus-Renault)
Championship round
3rd race of 1985 season
Runner-up
Thierry Boutsen (Arrows-BMW)
Third place
Patrick Tambay (Renault)
Prost disqualification reason
Car found underweight after race

Location

Map of Imola, ItalyMap of Imola, ItalyImola, Italy

Cause → Event → Consequence

Cause

Alain Prost crossed the finish line first for McLaren, but post-race scrutineering found his car to be underweight, violating technical regulations. This triggered his disqualification and reshuffled the final results.

Event

The 1985 San Marino Grand Prix was run over 60 laps at Imola on 5 May 1985. Prost's disqualification elevated Elio de Angelis, who had finished second on the road, to the race victory driving a Lotus-Renault.

Consequence

De Angelis claimed what proved to be his second and final Formula One win. He also became the first Italian driver to win the San Marino Grand Prix, a distinction that remained unique as of 2026. Boutsen and Tambay were classified second and third.

Timeline Context

Timeline around 19851985198219831984198619871988World Chess Championship 1985 — competition for the world title in chess1985 FIFA World Youth Championship — Sports season1985 IAAF World Indoor Games — 1985 edition of the IAAF World Indoor Games1985–86 UEFA Cup — 15th season of Europe's secondary club football tournament organised by UEFANakba — expulsion and flight of 750,000 Palestinians during the 1948 Palestine war1985 Formula One World Championship — sports season1985 CONCACAF Championship — 1985 edition of the CONCACAF Championship association football competitionEuroBasket 1985 — edition of the basketball tournament of 19851985-san-marino-grand-prix-formula-one-motor-race-held-in-1985