Maniacally-boosted 1.5-liter turbo engines and limited grip made this qualifying session during the last F1 race in 1985 a stunning test of bravery for a young Ayrton Senna.
It was 1980s Formula 1 at its finest.
The scene is the brand-new F1 course on the streets of Adelaide, Australia. Brutal, tire-destroying turbo engines were mated to cars that produced insufficient downforce, the lack of grip, and tortuous horsepower made for one of the most thrilling qualifying duels of the decade.
1985 was the final year where F1’s 1.5-liter turbo engines were left to the unhinged machinations of BMW, Honda, Ferrari, Porsche, Renault, and smaller specialist engine suppliers … More
Turn up the sound and relive the memories, of the never to be repeated excess, the unrivaled show!, that was Turbo F1 1980’s style!!!!
Forget the inept commentator ! (the manufactures never discussed openly the ‘real power’ till the end of 1986 after the restrictions were placed on boost pressure). The 1985 BMW Braham’s had well over 1400+bhp, amazing footage of RAW POWER! Maybe not the fastest in lap times…… but, amazing straight line speed!
This video is in particular is good cause you can see the immense stress the turbo is under as at the end of the session it has almost cried enough with a fair bit of blue smoke bellowing from the back of Piquets car………… then again 67+ lbs of qualifying’ boost pressure on a ‘truck turbo’ from the 1980’s will have that effect.