1989 Brazilian Grand Prix
| 1989 Brazilian Grand Prix | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 1 of 16 in the 1989 Formula One World Championship | |||
| Race details | |||
| Date | 26 March 1989 | ||
| Official name | XVIII Grande Prêmio do Brasil | ||
| Location |
Autódromo Internacional Nelson Piquet Jacarepaguá, Rio de Janeiro | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 5.031 km (3.126 miles) | ||
| Distance | 61 laps, 306.891 km (190.693 miles) | ||
| Weather | Very hot, dry, sunny | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | McLaren-Honda | ||
| Time | 1:25.302 | ||
| Fastest lap | |||
| Driver | Riccardo Patrese | Williams-Renault | |
| Time | 1:32.507 on lap 47 | ||
| Podium | |||
| First | Ferrari | ||
| Second | McLaren-Honda | ||
| Third | March-Judd | ||
|
Lap leaders | |||
The 1989 Brazilian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Jacarepaguá, Rio de Janeiro on 26 March 1989. It was the first race of the 1989 Formula One World Championship.
The 61-lap race was won by Englishman Nigel Mansell, driving for Scuderia Ferrari, with Frenchman Alain Prost second for McLaren-Honda and local driver Maurício Gugelmin third in a March-Judd. It was the first time that a car with a semi-automatic gearbox won the race. Mansell claimed that he had booked an early flight home as he did not expect the new Ferrari 640 (which had severe reliability problems in testing and practice sessions before the race) to complete the distance, and during the podium ceremony he cut his hand whilst lifting the trophy.