The 1988 German Grand Prix, held on July 24 at the Hockenheimring, was a pivotal race in the Formula 1 season. As the ninth round of the championship, it showcased the dominance of the McLaren-Honda team and highlighted Ayrton Senna’s exceptional driving skills under challenging conditions.
Starting Grid
- Ayrton Senna (McLaren-Honda) – 1:44.596
- Alain Prost (McLaren-Honda) – 1:44.873
- Gerhard Berger (Ferrari) – 1:46.115
- Michele Alboreto (Ferrari) – 1:47.154
- Nelson Piquet (Lotus-Honda) – 1:47.702
- Alessandro Nannini (Benetton-Ford) – 1:48.223
- Ivan Capelli (March-Judd) – 1:48.703
- Satoru Nakajima (Lotus-Honda) – 1:49.359
- Thierry Boutsen (Benetton-Ford) – 1:48.837
- MaurÃcio Gugelmin (March-Judd) – 1:49.511
Race Highlights
The weekend was marked by unpredictable weather, with intermittent thunderstorms affecting practice sessions. On race day, the track remained damp, leading most drivers to opt for wet tires, except for Nelson Piquet, who gambled on a rapidly drying circuit by starting on slicks. This decision proved costly; Piquet lost control at the Ostkurve chicane on the first lap, crashing into the barriers and retiring from the race.
At the start, Senna maintained his pole position advantage, while Prost slipped behind Berger and a fast-starting Nannini. Prost showcased his skill by overtaking Nannini on lap 8 and then Berger on lap 12, reclaiming second place. By this time, Senna had established a commanding 12-second lead.
The McLaren duo continued to dominate, with Senna leading comfortably. Prost experienced a minor scare with a spin exiting the Ostkurve but managed to recover without losing his position. Behind them, the Ferraris of Berger and Alboreto held third and fourth places, respectively. Alessandro Nannini, who had been running strongly in fourth, encountered mechanical issues seven laps from the end, necessitating a pit stop that dropped him out of points contention, despite setting the fastest lap of the race with a time of 2:03.032 on lap 40.
Ivan Capelli capitalized on Nannini’s misfortune, securing fifth place despite battling clutch issues for the majority of the race. Thierry Boutsen rounded out the top six, earning the final championship point.
Final Standings
- Ayrton Senna (McLaren-Honda) – 1:32:54.188
- Alain Prost (McLaren-Honda) – +13.609s
- Gerhard Berger (Ferrari) – +52.095s
- Michele Alboreto (Ferrari) – +1:40.912
- Ivan Capelli (March-Judd) – +1:49.606
- Thierry Boutsen (Benetton-Ford) – 43 laps (+1 lap)
Drivers’ Championship Standings Post-Race
- Alain Prost – 60 points
- Ayrton Senna – 57 points
- Gerhard Berger – 25 points
- Michele Alboreto – 16 points
- Nelson Piquet – 15 points
Race Aftermath and Curiosities
Senna’s victory at Hockenheim was his fifth of the season, narrowing the gap to just three points behind his teammate Prost in the championship battle. This race also marked the last podium finish for Ferrari during Enzo Ferrari’s lifetime; the legendary founder passed away three weeks later.
Notably, Bernd Schneider achieved his first Grand Prix finish in his home race, securing 12th place, which stood as the highest finish for the Zakspeed team that season.
The 1988 German Grand Prix exemplified McLaren’s dominance during the season, with their MP4/4 car proving superior in various conditions. Senna’s masterful performance underlined his prowess in wet conditions, further solidifying his reputation as one of the greatest drivers in Formula 1 history.