South African Grand Prix 1984 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Niki Lauda secured his first victory since returning from retirement, delivering a perfectly judged performance at Kyalami's high-altitude circuit. The Austrian's tactical awareness and smooth driving style proved ideal for managing the MP4/2's turbo power in the thin air, while teammate Alain Prost followed him home for McLaren's first one-two finish of the season. Derek Warwick gave Renault encouragement with third place, though the French manufacturer's championship hopes were already fading.

The South African Grand Prix demonstrated that while Prost might have the outright speed advantage, Lauda's experience and racecraft remained formidable weapons in the championship battle. His victory at 35 years old showcased the qualities that would define his title challenge: consistency, tactical intelligence, and an ability to extract maximum points when opportunities arose. The McLaren one-two finish established a pattern that would recur throughout the season, with the two teammates trading victories while dominating their rivals.