It’s always cool to look back at what Formula 1 was like back in the day, these onboard clips give a great snapshot of the sport in the 1980s.
Following the steps forward in technology through the 1970s, F1 really moved into a new level of power, aero and speed.
It was a bonkers, mad time for F1 and threw up some wonderful, dramatic battles between awesome drivers like Niki Lauda, Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Ayrton Senna.
The 80s was a special era for F1 and is looked back on fondly by many. Speed, performance and excitement levels were the highest they had ever been at the time.
Sit back, relax and enjoy some of the best onboard videos from the iconic decade for F1.
F1 in South Africa
Here’s Clay Regazzoni lapping the Kyalami circuit in South Africa at the start of the new decade, during the 1980 season. He was driving for the Ensign team at the time.
Same track, different year
Now, how about some hot laps of the Kyalami track from a few years later? Here’s Alain Prost lapping in his Renault RE40 from 1983.
Senna at Monaco
Before finding the front with McLaren late in the 80s, Ayrton Senna raced for Lotus. Here he is lapping Monaco in 1987.
Suzuka comparison
How cool is this? A comparison between Senna’s pole lap for the 1989 Japanese GP at Suzuka and Prost’s. Of course, the race on Sunday has become famous for their clash at the final chicane
Manic Monza
This onboard from Monza in 1983 on Eddie Cheever’s Renault shows just how stupidly fast the Italian circuit was back in those days.
Home advantage?
Here’s Nigel Mansell lapping the Brands Hatch GP circuit in 1984, driving his Lotus 95T.
Race onboards
This appears to be a whole load of onboard clips put together from the 1986 Australian GP at Adelaide, which was the last race of the season.
Outlap
Even though this isn’t a hot lap, it’s still great to hear the engine sounds of Phillipe Streiff’s Tyrrell 015 from 1985 at the Hungaroring.
Getting some practice in
Satoru Nakajima raced alongside Senna at Lotus in 1987. Here is the Japanese driver trying out the old Österreichring in Austria during practice.
Senna on the attack
Once you get the video intro out the way, you’re treated to Senna storming around Jerez with his McLaren Honda from 1989 in this F1 clip. Glorious.
