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Best Formula One Season Openers: 1984 Rio de Janeiro
Written by: speed_channel_staff
SPEEDtv.com   
03/21/2007 - 07:00 PM
Charlotte, NC
 
Alain Prost (shown here in his '83 Renault livery). » More Photos


1. Alain Prost (Mclaren), 2. Keke Rosberg (Williams), 3. Elio de Angelis (Lotus)

Having been dismissed by Renault at the 1983 season, basically for failing to win the world title, Prost was rehired by Mclaren at exactly the right time. After years in the doldrums, Ron Dennis had bought into the team a couple of years previously, and with the design skills of John Barnard, a TAG-sponsored Porsche turbo engine and the Prost/Niki Lauda driving combination, they would win 12 of the 16 races in 1984.

This, however, probably shouldn't have been one of them. In fact, it should have been the race that proved Renault could win without Prost. His replacement as team leader was Englishman Derek Warwick, for whom this was a big break after three years with the uncompetitive Toleman outfit.

Early on, pole man Michele Alboreto led for Ferrari, until usurped by Lauda on lap 12, who despite starting sixth, picked off his
rivals one by one in a manner that summed up a season in which the Austrian won the title without ever qualifying on the front row.

Lauda continued to lead until lap 39, when an electrical failure brought about his retirement. At the same time, Prost was suffering an extremely long pitstop thanks to a problem with his left-rear wheel, and this let Warwick through into the lead. Having never previously scored a podium, it looked like he would win on his Renault debut, until a suspension failure put him out with just 12 laps remaining. The recovering Prost would go on to take victory, and Renault would have to wait more than 19 years until Fernando Alonso took their next win as a constructor.

One other event of note was the debut of reigning British F3 champion Ayrton Senna, who had replaced Warwick at Toleman. Although mechanical failure put him out of this one within 9 laps, he would figure in another great season-opener in years to come…