The temperature rises
Track conditions affect tyres, but to what extent do they affect drivers? In addition to the atmospheric conditions, the chassis itself acts as a heating. Proximity to the engine and the racing suit heat the driver in such a way that, when outside temperatures and humidity become high, they are sitting in a seat at 60°C. Singapore is the classic example, although the Arab locations also present significant challenges. Bahrain, in 2005, is considered the hottest FORMULA 1 race to date, with an officially recorded temperature of 42.6°C. Qatar 2023 turned into an extreme race due to the staggering humidity. Competitors were vomiting at top speeds or nearly fainting and medical visits followed due to dehydration. However, one race has become legendary not only for the heat, but also for its (missing) organisation: Dallas 1984, 40°C between concrete.
No sunny drive
The event, held in the middle of the Texan summer, came in for harsh criticism even before the first kilometre: the course was tight, safety measures were lacking, and there was a general sense of mistrust. It went ahead without homologation as well. During practice, Martin Brundle crashed, breaking his legs, and his impact dislodged a concrete block. Several participants suffered incidents, but only their cars were damaged. The tarmac was the main weak point, combined with the climate. After just one lap, it destroyed the specially prepared qualifying tyres. Furthermore, it broke with time, causing delays. In particular, the warm-up on Sunday morning had to be cancelled because repairs were needed. The unusual 11:00 am start kicked off an elimination race. Driver errors increased as fatigue set in, and with ten laps to go, just under a third of all competitors were still in the running. Keke Rosberg eventually won, ahead of René Arnoux and Elio De Angelis.
Becoming history
Nigel Mansell, who secured his first pole position here, came to a halt just before the finish line due to a mechanical failure. His fighting spirit prompted him to get out and push the car, but he collapsed a few metres further on. Curious was the incident involving the Toleman driven by debutant Ayrton Senna. On lap 47, he hit the wall and retired. Stunned, he reflected on the corner: "I just cannot understand how I did that. I was taking it no differently than I had been before. The wall must have moved." Senna instructed his team to investigate the spot. The wall had moved! Such was the unique precision of the future three-time WORLD CHAMPION. Ultimately, this GRAND PRIX saw no succession. A lack of financial resources and dissatisfaction with the track, which had escaped boycott after continuously deteriorating, meant there was no future for the event. It was cancelled for 1985, and the organisers’ bankruptcy marked the end for Dallas.
