HistoryData
general1988

1988 Spanish Grand Prix — Formula One motor race held in 1988

October 2, 1988

Alain Prost won the 14th race of the 1988 Formula One season, narrowing Ayrton Senna's Drivers' Championship lead.

Quick Facts

Year
1988
Category
general

Key Facts

Race duration (laps)
72 laps
Winner
Alain Prost (McLaren-Honda)
Starting position of winner
2nd on grid
Pole position
Ayrton Senna (McLaren-Honda)
Season race number
14th of 1988 championship

By the Numbers

72laps
Race duration (laps)
2
Starting position of winner
14
Season race number

Location

Map of Jerez de la Frontera, SpainMap of Jerez de la Frontera, SpainJerez de la Frontera, Spain

Cause → Event → Consequence

Cause

The 1988 Formula One World Championship was deep into its season, with McLaren-Honda dominating and teammates Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna locked in a close title battle. Senna had taken pole position at Jerez, while Prost lined up alongside him on the front row, setting up a direct contest between the two rivals.

Event

On 2 October 1988, at the Circuito Permanente de Jerez, Prost converted his second-place grid start into a race victory over 72 laps. Nigel Mansell finished second in a Williams-Judd and Alessandro Nannini took third for Benetton-Ford, while Senna, despite starting from pole, could only manage fourth.

Consequence

Prost's victory allowed him to close the gap on championship leader Senna, keeping the Drivers' Championship contest alive heading toward the final races of the season. The result highlighted the internal McLaren rivalry and demonstrated that Senna's pole dominance did not always translate into race wins.

Timeline Context

Timeline around 19881988198519861987198919901991Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics — Track and field athletics events during the 1988 Summer OlympicsBasketball at the 1988 Summer Olympics — international basketball tournament1988 AFC Asian Cup — international football competition1988 African Cup of Nations — football tournamentFencing at the 1988 Summer Olympics1988 Summer Olympics medal table — distribution of medals at the 1988 Summer Olympics1988 Summer Olympics — Games of the XXIV Olympiad, in Seoul, South Korea1988 Formula One World Championship — sports season1988-spanish-grand-prix-formula-one-motor-race-held-in-198-1988