1985 European Grand Prix
| 1985 European Grand Prix | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 14 of 16 in the 1985 Formula One World Championship | |||
| Race details | |||
| Date | 6 October 1985 | ||
| Official name | Shell Oils Grand Prix of Europe | ||
| Location | Brands Hatch, Kent, United Kingdom | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 4.206 km (2.61 miles) | ||
| Distance | 75 laps, 315.5 km (195.8 miles) | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Lotus-Renault | ||
| Time | 1:07.169 | ||
| Fastest lap | |||
| Driver | Jacques Laffite | Ligier-Renault | |
| Time | 1:11.526 on lap 55 | ||
| Podium | |||
| First | Williams-Honda | ||
| Second | Lotus-Renault | ||
| Third | Williams-Honda | ||
|
Lap leaders | |||
The 1985 European Grand Prix (formally the Shell Oils Grand Prix of Europe) was a Formula One motor race held at Brands Hatch on 6 October 1985. It was the fourteenth race of the 1985 Formula One World Championship.
The 75-lap race was won by Nigel Mansell, driving a Williams-Honda. It was Mansell's first Formula One victory in his 72nd race start. Ayrton Senna finished second in a Lotus-Renault, having started from pole position, while Mansell's teammate Keke Rosberg finished third. Alain Prost finished fourth in his McLaren-TAG which, combined with Michele Alboreto's retirement with a turbo failure, secured the Frenchman his first Drivers' Championship. As of 2025, Prost remains the only French driver to win the championship. Mansell was the first and only win to his home race until Michael Schumacher in 1995.