1987 Australian Grand Prix

This is the complete race as broadcast on LIVE TV.

With Nigel Mansell out of action with injury after the Japanese GP, Williams did a deal with Brabham
to use Riccardo Patrese for the final race of 1987, and Brabham took on youngster Stefano Modena
to be Patrese’s replacement. Japanese GP winner Gerhard Berger was on pole position in his Ferrari,
followed by Alain Prost’s McLaren, Nelson Piquet’s Williams, and the Lotus of Ayrton Senna.

Gerhard Berger drove a fantastic race in the Ferrari, leading flag-to-flag. He was chased initially by
Nelson Piquet and Ayrton Senna, but Gerhard held onto the lead. After the midrace pit stops, Senna
moved to second, and Michele Alboreto, Gerhard Berger’s Ferrari teammate, moved to third. The
final result would be Gerhard Berger, followed by Ayrton Senna, and Michele Alboreto. Senna would
later be disqualified for having illegal brake ducts, but the point was moot as the World Championship
had already been decided. Nelson Piquet would win his 3rd World Championship in the Williams,
followed by his teammate Nigel Mansell, then Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost. The World Constructors
Championship would be easily won by Williams, followed by a distant McLaren, then Lotus and Ferrari.

This would be the last race for Ayrton Senna in a Lotus, the last run for champion Nelson Piquet in a
Williams, the last time we would see Honda engines in the Williams cars, and the final appearance for
TAG engines in the McLaren cars. Commentary by Murray Walker and James Hunt. The post-race
interview (photo above) shows Murray Walker talking to Berger, Senna, and Alboreto.