On This Day: 1985 - Senna wins first race

On This Day in 1985, Ayrton Senna won the first race of his illustrious career at the Portuguese Grand Prix.

Senna started the 1985 F1 season, his second in the sport, with Lotus-Renault after spending his first season with Toleman. Despite not winning a race in his first season, Senna managed 3 podiums and a 9th place finish in the drivers' championship.

Senna's first win eventually came, in the second race of the 1985 season, in wet conditions in Portugal. Senna dominated the weekend from start to finish, starting the race in pole position.

Senna dominated the race in his Lotus-Renault finishing the race over a minute ahead of second place and lapping every driver other than Michele Alboreto in the Ferrari who finished second.

Manfred Winkelhock in a RAM-Hart finished the race 17 laps behind Senna, showing how much the Brazilian dominated the race - setting the fastest time of the race, completing his first career grand slam.

The Brazilian managed a further race win during the 1985 season, in Belgium as well as six more pole positions.

The win and pole position in Portugal was the first of 41 race wins and first of 61 pole positions for Senna.