1987 Formula One season

1987 FIA Formula One
World Championship season
Drivers' Champion: Nelson Piquet
Constructors' Champion: Williams-Honda
Jim Clark Trophy Winner: Jonathan Palmer
Colin Chapman Trophy Winner: Tyrrell-Ford
Previous: 1986 Next: 1988
Nelson Piquet won his third world title, driving for Williams.
Piquet's team mate, Nigel Mansell was second, twelve points behind.
Ayrton Senna in the Lotus finished the season ranked third.

The 1987 Formula One season was the 38th season of Formula One motor racing. It featured the 1987 FIA Formula One World Championship for Drivers and Constructors which commenced on 12 April 1987 and ended on 15 November after sixteen races. This championship also encompassed the Jim Clark Trophy and the Colin Chapman Trophy which were contested respectively by drivers and constructors of Formula One cars powered by naturally aspirated engines.

The 1987 World Championship featured a season long duel between the two Williams drivers: Brazilian two-time champion Nelson Piquet and British driver Nigel Mansell. The pair won nine of the season's sixteen races in their Williams FW11Bs, although they had only one win from the first five races. Their mid-season dominance eliminated all competition however. Mansell took six wins compared to the more consistent Piquet with three. The increasingly antagonistic duel came to a premature end at the Japanese Grand Prix when Mansell crashed heavily in practice incurring a back injury that put him out for the two races left in the season.

The battle for third in the championship was also resolved late in the season, with Brazilian driver Ayrton Senna driving a Lotus 99T finished nine points clear of outgoing world champion Frenchman Alain Prost (McLaren MP4/3).

Williams-Honda dominated the Constructors' Championship, claiming 137 points compared to McLaren-TAG on 76 points. Lotus-Honda claimed third in the points resisting a late season charge from Ferrari led by Austrian driver Gerhard Berger who won the final two races of the year in Japan and Australia.

Two new sub-championships were created for the 1987 season. The Jim Clark Trophy for drivers of cars powered by naturally aspirated engines and its parallel championship for constructors, the Colin Chapman Trophy, helped encourage the teams who did not have access to turbocharged engines, while at the same time acknowledging the forthcoming ban on turbos for the 1989 Formula One season. British driver Jonathan Palmer (Tyrrell DG016) won the championship, wrapping it up early in Japan and finishing 21 points ahead of his French teammate Philippe Streiff. As Tyrrell was the only two-car team in the Colin Chapman trophy, they dominated. Philippe Alliot's results in the Larrousse-entered Lola LC87 were sufficient to earn him third place in the Jim Clark Trophy and Lola second in the Colin Chapman Trophy.

1987 saw new rules introduced in an effort to not only make the returning normally aspirated more competitive, but to reduce costs and also slow the cars down with a resultant increase in safety. As part of a two-year plan to phase turbos out of Formula One, the FIA introduced a mandatory pop-off valve to the turbo powered cars which restricted boost to 4.0 bar, thus limiting engine power (one unnamed team manager was heard to remark at the season opener in Brazil that the pop-off valve was "the only crude piece of engineering on a modern Grand Prix car", while another said that the FIA would not get rid of the valves as it would rob them of getting their stickers on the cars for free). However, advances in engine development, aerodynamics, tyres and suspension meant that, despite the turbo limit, the leading teams such as Williams, McLaren and Ferrari regularly recorded faster times than they had in 1986 when turbo boost was unrestricted. The FIA also banned the super soft (and sticky) qualifying tyres in 1987, which eliminated the unpopular practice of having to find a clear lap on tyres which were good for two flying laps at best.

Drivers and constructors

The following drivers and constructors competed in the 1987 season.

Entrant Constructor Chassis Engine Tyres No Driver Rounds
United Kingdom Marlboro McLaren International McLaren-TAG MP4/3 TAG/Porsche TTE PO1 1.5 V6t G 1 France Alain Prost All
2 Sweden Stefan Johansson All
United Kingdom Data General Team Tyrrell Tyrrell-Ford DG016 Ford Cosworth DFZ 3.5 V8 G 3 United Kingdom Jonathan Palmer All
4 France Philippe Streiff All
United Kingdom Canon Williams Honda Team Williams-Honda FW11B Honda RA167E 1.5 V6t G 5 United Kingdom Nigel Mansell 1–15
Italy Riccardo Patrese 16
6 Brazil Nelson Piquet All
United Kingdom Motor Racing Developments Brabham-BMW BT56 BMW M12/13 1.5 L4t G 7 Italy Riccardo Patrese 1–15
Italy Stefano Modena 16
8 Italy Andrea de Cesaris All
West Germany West Zakspeed Racing Zakspeed 861
871
Zakspeed 1500/4 1.5 L4t G 9 United Kingdom Martin Brundle All
10 West Germany Christian Danner All
United Kingdom Camel Team Lotus Honda Lotus-Honda 99T Honda RA166E 1.5 V6t G 11 Japan Satoru Nakajima All
12 Brazil Ayrton Senna All
France Team El Charro AGS AGS-Ford JH22 Ford Cosworth DFZ 3.5 V8 G 14 France Pascal Fabre 1–14
Brazil Roberto Moreno 15–16
United Kingdom Leyton House March Racing Team March-Ford 87P
871
Ford Cosworth DFZ 3.5 V8 G 16 Italy Ivan Capelli All
United Kingdom USF&G Arrows Megatron Arrows-Megatron A10 Megatron M12/13 1.5 L4t G 17 United Kingdom Derek Warwick All
18 United States Eddie Cheever All
United Kingdom Benetton Formula Ltd Benetton-Ford B187 Ford Cosworth GBA 1.5 V6t G 19 Italy Teo Fabi All
20 Belgium Thierry Boutsen All
Italy Osella Squadra Corse Osella-Alfa Romeo FA1I Alfa Romeo 890T 1.5 V8t G 21 Italy Alex Caffi All
22 Italy Gabriele Tarquini 2
Switzerland Franco Forini 11–13
Italy Minardi Team SpA Minardi-Motori Moderni M187 Motori Moderni Tipo 615-90 1.5 V6t G 23 Spain Adrián Campos All
24 Italy Alessandro Nannini All
France Ligier Loto Ligier-Megatron JS29
JS29B
JS29C
Megatron M12/13 1.5 L4t G 25 France René Arnoux 2–16
26 Italy Piercarlo Ghinzani 2–16
Italy Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC Ferrari F1/87 Ferrari 033D 1.5 V6t G 27 Italy Michele Alboreto All
28 Austria Gerhard Berger All
France Larrousse Calmels Lola-Ford LC87 Ford Cosworth DFZ 3.5 V8 G 29 France Yannick Dalmas 14–16
30 France Philippe Alliot 2–16
Italy Enzo Coloni Racing Car System Coloni-Ford FC187 Ford Cosworth DFZ 3.5 V8 G 32 Italy Nicola Larini 11, 13

Season review

Rd. Grand Prix Date Location Pole Position Fastest Lap Winning Driver Constructor Report
1 Brazil Brazilian Grand Prix 12 April Jacarepaguá United Kingdom Nigel Mansell Brazil Nelson Piquet France Alain Prost United Kingdom McLaren-TAG Report
2 San Marino San Marino Grand Prix 3 May Imola Brazil Ayrton Senna Italy Teo Fabi United Kingdom Nigel Mansell United Kingdom Williams-Honda Report
3 Belgium Belgian Grand Prix 17 May Spa-Francorchamps United Kingdom Nigel Mansell France Alain Prost France Alain Prost United Kingdom McLaren-TAG Report
4 Monaco Monaco Grand Prix 31 May Monaco United Kingdom Nigel Mansell Brazil Ayrton Senna Brazil Ayrton Senna United Kingdom Lotus-Honda Report
5 United States Detroit Grand Prix 21 June Detroit United Kingdom Nigel Mansell Brazil Ayrton Senna Brazil Ayrton Senna United Kingdom Lotus-Honda Report
6 France French Grand Prix 5 July Paul Ricard United Kingdom Nigel Mansell Brazil Nelson Piquet United Kingdom Nigel Mansell United Kingdom Williams-Honda Report
7 United Kingdom British Grand Prix 12 July Silverstone Brazil Nelson Piquet United Kingdom Nigel Mansell United Kingdom Nigel Mansell United Kingdom Williams-Honda Report
8 West Germany German Grand Prix 26 July Hockenheimring United Kingdom Nigel Mansell United Kingdom Nigel Mansell Brazil Nelson Piquet United Kingdom Williams-Honda Report
9 Hungary Hungarian Grand Prix 9 August Hungaroring United Kingdom Nigel Mansell Brazil Nelson Piquet Brazil Nelson Piquet United Kingdom Williams-Honda Report
10 Austria Austrian Grand Prix 16 August Österreichring Brazil Nelson Piquet United Kingdom Nigel Mansell United Kingdom Nigel Mansell United Kingdom Williams-Honda Report
11 Italy Italian Grand Prix 6 September Monza Brazil Nelson Piquet Brazil Ayrton Senna Brazil Nelson Piquet United Kingdom Williams-Honda Report
12 Portugal Portuguese Grand Prix 20 September Estoril Austria Gerhard Berger Austria Gerhard Berger France Alain Prost United Kingdom McLaren-TAG Report
13 Spain Spanish Grand Prix 27 September Jerez Brazil Nelson Piquet Austria Gerhard Berger United Kingdom Nigel Mansell United Kingdom Williams-Honda Report
14 Mexico Mexican Grand Prix 18 October Hermanos Rodríguez United Kingdom Nigel Mansell Brazil Nelson Piquet United Kingdom Nigel Mansell United Kingdom Williams-Honda Report
15 Japan Japanese Grand Prix 1 November Suzuka Austria Gerhard Berger France Alain Prost Austria Gerhard Berger Italy Ferrari Report
16 Australia Australian Grand Prix 15 November Adelaide Austria Gerhard Berger Austria Gerhard Berger Austria Gerhard Berger Italy Ferrari Report

1987 Drivers Championship final standings

Points towards the 1987 FIA Formula One World Championship for Drivers were awarded on a 9-6-4-3-2-1 basis to the top six placed drivers at each round. However only the best eleven round results were counted towards each driver's championship total.

Pos Driver BRA
Brazil
SMR
San Marino
BEL
Belgium
MON
Monaco
DET
United States
FRA
France
GBR
United Kingdom
GER
West Germany
HUN
Hungary
AUT
Austria
ITA
Italy
POR
Portugal
ESP
Spain
MEX
Mexico
JPN
Japan
AUS
Australia
Points[1]
1 Brazil Nelson Piquet 2 DNS Ret 2 2 2 2 1 1 2 1 3 (4) 2 15 Ret 73 (76)
2 United Kingdom Nigel Mansell 6 1 Ret Ret 5 1 1 Ret 14 1 3 Ret 1 1 DNS 61
3 Brazil Ayrton Senna Ret 2 Ret 1 1 4 3 3 2 5 2 7 5 Ret 2 DSQ 57
4 France Alain Prost 1 Ret 1 9 3 3 Ret 7 3 6 15 1 2 Ret 7 Ret 46
5 Austria Gerhard Berger 4 Ret Ret 4 4 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 4 2 Ret Ret 1 1 36
6 Sweden Stefan Johansson 3 4 2 Ret 7 8 Ret 2 Ret 7 6 5 3 Ret 3 Ret 30
7 Italy Michele Alboreto 8 3 Ret 3 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 15 Ret 4 2 17
8 Belgium Thierry Boutsen 5 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 7 Ret 4 4 5 14 16 Ret 5 3 16
9 Italy Teo Fabi Ret Ret Ret 8 Ret 5 6 Ret Ret 3 7 4 Ret 5 Ret Ret 12
10 United States Eddie Cheever Ret Ret 4 Ret 6 Ret Ret Ret 8 Ret Ret 6 8 4 9 Ret 8
11 United Kingdom Jonathan Palmer 10 Ret Ret 5 11 7 8 5 7 14 14 10 Ret 7 8 4 7
12 Japan Satoru Nakajima 7 6 5 10 Ret NC 4 Ret Ret 13 11 8 9 Ret 6 Ret 7
13 Italy Riccardo Patrese Ret 9 Ret Ret 9 Ret Ret Ret 5 Ret Ret Ret 13 3 11 9 6
14 Italy Andrea de Cesaris Ret Ret 3 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 8 4
15 France Philippe Streiff 11 8 9 Ret Ret 6 Ret 4 9 Ret 12 12 7 8 12 Ret 4
16 United Kingdom Derek Warwick Ret 11 Ret Ret Ret Ret 5 Ret 6 Ret Ret 13 10 Ret 10 Ret 3
17 France Philippe Alliot 10 8 Ret Ret Ret Ret 6 Ret 12 Ret Ret 6 6 Ret Ret 3
18 United Kingdom Martin Brundle Ret 5 Ret 7 Ret Ret NC NC Ret DSQ Ret Ret 11 Ret Ret Ret 2
19 Italy Ivan Capelli DNS Ret Ret 6 Ret Ret Ret Ret 10 11 13 9 12 Ret Ret Ret 1
20 France René Arnoux DNS 6 11 10 Ret Ret Ret Ret 10 10 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 1
21 Brazil Roberto Moreno Ret 6 1
France Yannick Dalmas 9 14 5 0*
West Germany Christian Danner 9 7 Ret EX 8 Ret Ret Ret Ret 9 9 Ret Ret Ret Ret 7 0
Italy Piercarlo Ghinzani Ret 7 12 Ret Ret EX Ret 12 8 8 Ret Ret Ret 13 Ret 0
France Pascal Fabre 12 13 10 13 12 9 9 Ret 13 NC DNQ DNQ Ret DNQ 0
Italy Alessandro Nannini Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 11 Ret 16 11 Ret Ret Ret Ret 0
Italy Alex Caffi Ret 12 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret DNQ Ret Ret DNQ 0
Spain Adrián Campos DSQ Ret Ret DNS Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 14 Ret Ret Ret 0
Switzerland Franco Forini Ret Ret DNQ 0
Italy Stefano Modena Ret 0
Italy Gabriele Tarquini Ret 0
Italy Nicola Larini DNQ Ret 0
Pos Driver BRA
Brazil
SMR
San Marino
BEL
Belgium
MON
Monaco
DET
United States
FRA
France
GBR
United Kingdom
GER
West Germany
HUN
Hungary
AUT
Austria
ITA
Italy
POR
Portugal
ESP
Spain
MEX
Mexico
JPN
Japan
AUS
Australia
Points
Key
Colour Result
Gold Winner
Silver 2nd place
Bronze 3rd place
Green Points finish
Blue Non-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple Did not finish (Ret)
Red Did not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
Black Disqualified (DSQ)
White Did not start (DNS)
Race cancelled (C)
Light blue Practiced only (PO)
Friday test driver (TD)
(from 2003 onwards)
Blank Did not practice (DNP)
Excluded (EX)
Did not arrive (DNA)

Drivers did not finish the Grand Prix, but were classified as they completed over 90% of the race distance.

Jim Clark Trophy (for drivers of cars equipped with naturally aspirated engines)

Pos Driver BRA
Brazil
SMR
San Marino
BEL
Belgium
MON
Monaco
DET
United States
FRA
France
GBR
United Kingdom
GER
West Germany
HUN
Hungary
AUT
Austria
ITA
Italy
POR
Portugal
ESP
Spain
MEX
Mexico
JPN
Japan
AUS
Australia
Points
1 United Kingdom Jonathan Palmer 1 Ret Ret 1 1 2 1 2 1 3 3 2 Ret 2 1 1 95
2 France Philippe Streiff 2 1 2 Ret Ret 1 Ret 1 2 Ret 1 3 2 3 2 Ret 74
3 France Philippe Alliot 2 1 Ret Ret Ret Ret 3 Ret 2 Ret Ret 1 1 Ret Ret 43
4 Italy Ivan Capelli DNS Ret Ret 2 Ret Ret Ret Ret 3 1 2 1 3 Ret Ret Ret 38
5 France Pascal Fabre 3 3 3 3 2 3 2 Ret 4 NC DNQ DNQ Ret DNQ 35
6 Brazil Roberto Moreno Ret 3 4
France Yannick Dalmas 4 3 2 0*
Italy Nicola Larini DNQ Ret 0
Pos Driver BRA
Brazil
SMR
San Marino
BEL
Belgium
MON
Monaco
DET
United States
FRA
France
GBR
United Kingdom
GER
West Germany
HUN
Hungary
AUT
Austria
ITA
Italy
POR
Portugal
ESP
Spain
MEX
Mexico
JPN
Japan
AUS
Australia
Points

* Ineligible for points.

1987 Constructors Championship final standings

Points towards the 1987 FIA Formula One World Championship for Constructors were awarded on a 9-6-4-3-2-1 basis for the top six placed cars at each round. All results were counted (not just best eleven rounds).

Pos Constructor Car
no.
BRA
Brazil
SMR
San Marino
BEL
Belgium
MON
Monaco
DET
United States
FRA
France
GBR
United Kingdom
GER
West Germany
HUN
Hungary
AUT
Austria
ITA
Italy
POR
Portugal
ESP
Spain
MEX
Mexico
JPN
Japan
AUS
Australia
Pts
1 United Kingdom Williams-Honda 5 6 1 Ret Ret 5 1 1 Ret 14 1 3 Ret 1 1 DNS 9 137
6 2 DNS Ret 2 2 2 2 1 1 2 1 3 4 2 15 Ret
2 United Kingdom McLaren-TAG 1 1 Ret 1 9 3 3 Ret 7 3 6 14 1 2 Ret 7 Ret 76
2 3 4 2 Ret 7 8 Ret 2 Ret 7 6 5 3 Ret 3 Ret
3 United Kingdom Lotus-Honda 11 7 6 5 10 Ret NC 4 Ret Ret 13 11 8 9 Ret 6 Ret 64
12 Ret 2 Ret 1 1 4 3 3 2 5 2 7 5 Ret 2 DSQ
4 Italy Ferrari 27 8 3 Ret 3 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 15 Ret 4 2 53
28 4 Ret Ret 4 4 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 4 2 Ret Ret 1 1
5 United Kingdom Benetton-Ford 19 Ret Ret Ret 8 Ret 5 6 Ret Ret 3 7 4 Ret 5 Ret Ret 28
20 5 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 7 Ret 4 4 5 14 16 Ret 5 3
6 United Kingdom Tyrrell-Ford 3 10 Ret Ret 5 11 7 8 5 7 14 14 10 Ret 7 8 4 11
4 11 8 9 Ret Ret 6 Ret 4 9 Ret 12 12 7 8 12 Ret
7 United Kingdom Arrows-Megatron 17 Ret 11 Ret Ret Ret Ret 5 Ret 6 Ret Ret 13 10 Ret 10 Ret 11
18 Ret Ret 4 Ret 6 Ret Ret Ret 8 Ret Ret 6 8 4 9 Ret
8 United Kingdom Brabham-BMW 7 Ret 9 Ret Ret 9 Ret Ret Ret 5 Ret Ret Ret 13 3 11 Ret 10
8 Ret Ret 3 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 8
9 United Kingdom Lola-Ford 29 9 14 5 3
30 10 8 Ret Ret Ret Ret 6 Ret 12 Ret Ret 6 6 Ret Ret
10 West Germany Zakspeed 9 Ret 5 Ret 7 Ret Ret NC NC Ret DSQ Ret Ret 11 Ret Ret Ret 2
10 9 7 Ret EX 8 Ret Ret Ret Ret 9 9 DNS Ret Ret Ret 7
11 France Ligier-Megatron 25 DNS 6 11 10 Ret Ret Ret Ret 10 10 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 1
26 Ret 7 12 Ret Ret EX Ret 12 8 8 Ret Ret Ret 13 Ret
12 France AGS-Ford 14 12 13 10 13 12 9 9 Ret 13 NC DNQ DNQ Ret DNQ Ret 6 1
13 United Kingdom March-Ford 16 DNS Ret Ret 6 Ret Ret Ret Ret 10 11 13 9 12 Ret Ret Ret 1
Italy Minardi-Motori Moderni 23 DSQ Ret Ret DNS Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 14 Ret Ret Ret 0
24 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 11 Ret 16 11 Ret Ret Ret Ret
Italy Osella-Alfa Romeo 21 Ret 12 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret DNQ Ret Ret DNQ 0
22 Ret Ret Ret DNQ
Italy Coloni-Ford 32 DNQ Ret 0
Pos Constructor Car
no.
BRA
Brazil
SMR
San Marino
BEL
Belgium
MON
Monaco
DET
United States
FRA
France
GBR
United Kingdom
GER
West Germany
HUN
Hungary
AUT
Austria
ITA
Italy
POR
Portugal
ESP
Spain
MEX
Mexico
JPN
Japan
AUS
Australia
Pts
Key
Colour Result
Gold Winner
Silver 2nd place
Bronze 3rd place
Green Points finish
Blue Non-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple Did not finish (Ret)
Red Did not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
Black Disqualified (DSQ)
White Did not start (DNS)
Race cancelled (C)
Light blue Practiced only (PO)
Friday test driver (TD)
(from 2003 onwards)
Blank Did not practice (DNP)
Excluded (EX)
Did not arrive (DNA)

Dalmas' Lola was ineligible for constructors points, as the team had entered only one car for the championship.

Colin Chapman Trophy (for constructors of cars equipped with naturally aspirated engines)

Pos Constructor Car
no.
BRA
Brazil
SMR
San Marino
BEL
Belgium
MON
Monaco
DET
United States
FRA
France
GBR
United Kingdom
GER
West Germany
HUN
Hungary
AUT
Austria
ITA
Italy
POR
Portugal
ESP
Spain
MEX
Mexico
JPN
Japan
AUS
Australia
Pts
1 United Kingdom Tyrrell-Ford 3 1 Ret Ret 1 1 2 1 2 1 3 3 2 Ret 2 1 1 169
4 2 1 2 Ret Ret 1 Ret 1 2 Ret 1 3 2 3 2 Ret
2 United Kingdom Lola-Ford 29 4 3 2 43
30 2 1 Ret Ret Ret Ret 3 Ret 2 Ret Ret 1 1 Ret Ret
3 France AGS-Ford 14 3 3 3 3 2 3 2 Ret 4 NC DNQ DNQ Ret DNQ Ret 3 41
4 United Kingdom March-Ford 16 DNS Ret Ret 2 Ret Ret Ret Ret 3 1 2 1 3 Ret Ret Ret 38
Italy Coloni-Ford 32 DNQ Ret 0
Pos Constructor Car
no.
BRA
Brazil
SMR
San Marino
BEL
Belgium
MON
Monaco
DET
United States
FRA
France
GBR
United Kingdom
GER
West Germany
HUN
Hungary
AUT
Austria
ITA
Italy
POR
Portugal
ESP
Spain
MEX
Mexico
JPN
Japan
AUS
Australia
Pts

Notes

  1. Only the best 11 results counted towards the Drivers' Championship. Numbers without parentheses are Championship points; numbers in parentheses are total points scored.

External links