Formula 1 historical archive

Thierry Boutsen won the 1989 Australian Grand Prix

Thierry Boutsen won the 1989 Australian Grand Prix for Williams, ahead of Alessandro Nannini and Riccardo Patrese at Adelaide Street Circuit.

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

Race recap

Winner
Thierry Boutsen
Team
Williams
Top listed
Thierry Boutsen, Alessandro Nannini, and Riccardo Patrese
Race date
November 5, 1989
Pole
Ayrton Senna
Fastest lap
Satoru Nakajima
Classified drivers
39
Circuit
Adelaide Street Circuit

The decisive result

Thierry Boutsen finished first for Williams. Alessandro Nannini is listed 2 for Benetton, with Riccardo Patrese 3 for Williams.

Grid to finish

Satoru Nakajima from P23 to P4 (+19), Maurício Gugelmin from P25 to P7 (+18), and Emanuele Pirro from P13 to P5 (+8) 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 9 DNPQ, 7 Collision, 6 Spun off, 4 DNQ, and 4 Finished. Satoru Nakajima holds the fastest-lap entry at 1:38.480 on lap 64. 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
1Thierry BoutsenWilliams2:00:17.4219
2Alessandro NanniniBenetton2:00:46.0796
3Riccardo PatreseWilliams2:00:55.1044
4Satoru NakajimaTeam Lotus2:00:59.7523
5Emanuele PirroBenetton+2 laps2
6Pierluigi MartiniMinardi+3 laps1
7Maurício GugelminMarch+4 laps0
8Stefano ModenaBrabham+6 laps0
DNFEddie CheeverArrowsSpun off0
DNFJJ LehtoOnyxElectrical0
DNFOlivier GrouillardLigierSpun off0
DNFNelson PiquetTeam LotusCollision0
DNFPiercarlo GhinzaniOsellaCollision0
DNFNigel MansellFerrariSpun off0
DNFAyrton SennaMcLarenCollision0
DNFAlex CaffiDallaraSpun off0
DNFIvan CapelliMarchRadiator0
DNFAndrea de CesarisDallaraSpun off0
DNFMartin BrundleBrabhamCollision0
DNFDerek WarwickArrowsSpun off0