Formula 1 historical archive

Ayrton Senna won the 1988 Detroit Grand Prix

Ayrton Senna won the 1988 Detroit Grand Prix for McLaren, ahead of Alain Prost and Thierry Boutsen at Detroit Street Circuit.

Browse the full classification, related season, driver, team, circuit, and championship history.

Race recap

Winner
Ayrton Senna
Team
McLaren
Top listed
Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, and Thierry Boutsen
Race date
June 19, 1988
Pole
Ayrton Senna
Fastest lap
Alain Prost
Classified drivers
31
Circuit
Detroit Street Circuit

The decisive result

Ayrton Senna finished first for McLaren. Alain Prost is listed 2 for McLaren, with Thierry Boutsen 3 for Benetton.

Grid to finish

Yannick Dalmas from P24 to P7 (+17), Alex Caffi from P21 to P8 (+13), and Julian Bailey from P22 to P9 (+13) recorded the largest positive grid-to-finish changes in the classification. Ayrton Senna started from the listed P1 grid position.

Status and fastest lap

The classification lists 4 +1 lap, 4 Spun off, 3 DNQ, 3 Engine, and 2 +2 laps. Alain Prost holds the fastest-lap entry at 1:44.836 on lap 4. It records the result without speculating about incidents or strategy.

This summary sticks to the classification and does not speculate about incidents, strategy, weather, or causes. Source: F1DB (CC BY 4.0) · updated Jul 26, 2026.

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Race classification
PosDriverConstructorTime / statusPoints
1Ayrton SennaMcLaren1:54:56.0359
2Alain ProstMcLaren1:55:34.7486
3Thierry BoutsenBenetton+1 lap4
4Andrea de CesarisRial+1 lap3
5Jonathan PalmerTyrrell+1 lap2
6Pierluigi MartiniMinardi+1 lap1
7Yannick DalmasLola+2 laps0
8Alex CaffiDallara+2 laps0
9Julian BaileyTyrrellSpun off0
DNFLuis Pérez-SalaMinardiGearbox0
DNFPhilippe AlliotLolaHalfshaft0
DNFStefano ModenaEuroBrunSpun off0
DNFMichele AlboretoFerrariCollision0
DNFRené ArnouxLigierOverheating0
DNFMaurício GugelminMarchEngine0
DNFRiccardo PatreseWilliamsElectrical0
DNFNelson PiquetTeam LotusSpun off0
DNFOscar LarrauriEuroBrunGearbox0
DNFDerek WarwickArrowsSpun off0
DNFNigel MansellWilliamsEngine0