Power or reliability

In 1985, for the first time in ten years, the United States hosted only one Grand Prix, in the streets of Detroit.

Finland’s Keke Rosberg (Williams FW10-Honda) took the lead from pole-sitter Ayrton Senna (Lotus 87T) on lap eight, avoided tire and brake problems that plagued most of the front-runners, and held off the Ferrari’s 156/85 of Stefan Johansson and Michele Alboreto to win the 1985 Detroit Grand Prix.

Picture above: Second placed Stefan Johansson and winner Keke Rosberg celebrate on the podium.

Perhaps the fastest combination of the year was Keke Rosberg in the Williams, who made great use of the powerful Honda engine to finish third in the standings after wins on the streets of Detroit and Adelaide, but he lacked the reliability to overcome Alain Prost (McLaren) who deservedly captured his first world title (picture below).