San Marino Grand Prix 1985 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Elio de Angelis delivered a masterful victory at Imola, capitalizing on Lotus's strong form to secure his final Formula 1 win at the scenic Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari. The Italian driver controlled the race from the front, holding off Thierry Boutsen's charging Arrows to give Lotus consecutive victories following Senna's breakthrough at Estoril. De Angelis's smooth driving style proved ideally suited to managing tire degradation around Imola's demanding corners, while the Renault-powered 97T showed impressive reliability and pace.

The race saw championship leader Prost suffer a rare retirement, allowing Alboreto to close the gap in the title fight as Ferrari showed competitive pace on home soil. Boutsen's second place marked Arrows' best result of the season and demonstrated the team's progress with their BMW turbo engine. Patrick Tambay completed the podium for Renault in what would prove to be the manufacturer's final season as a constructor. The victory highlighted Lotus's resurgence and showcased de Angelis's often-underrated talent, proving that Senna wasn't the only quick driver in the black-and-gold cars.