Party for the Austrians

The 1984 Austrian Formula One Grand Prix was held on the Österreichring on 19 August 1984. It was the 400th Grand Prix held as part of the World Championship since it began in 1950. The 51-lap race was won by then two-time World Champion and local favourite Niki Lauda, his first victory on home soil, driving a McLaren-TAG.

The win, Lauda’s fourth of the season, gave him the lead of the Drivers’ Championship by 4.5 points from his French teammate Alain Prost, who spun out on oil shortly after half distance. The two drivers (picture-above), dominant, are going to battle for the championship till the very last race of the season.

Another Austrian driver Gerhard Berger, who would go on to win 10 Grand Prix before retiring at the end of the 1997 season, made his F1 debut that day, finishing 12th in his ATS-BMW. The third Austrian in the race, Jo Gartner, retired after only 6 laps with engine troubles in his Osella-Alfa Romeo (picture-below).