Portuguese Grand Prix 1989 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Gerhard Berger claimed Ferrari's second victory of the season at Estoril's Portuguese Grand Prix, controlling the race from pole position while both McLaren drivers struggled. The Austrian's triumph delighted the Scuderia after Alain Prost's Monza victory, demonstrating that Ferrari's semi-automatic gearbox and chassis development had created a genuinely competitive car. Prost salvaged crucial second place to maintain his championship advantage over Ayrton Senna, who retired with electrical problems. Stefan Johansson secured a surprise podium for Onyx, delivering the small British team their best-ever result.

The Portuguese Grand Prix highlighted Ferrari's improving competitiveness, as Berger's victory demonstrated the Scuderia could win when McLaren's reliability faltered. His performance was particularly impressive as he held off Prost's challenge throughout, showcasing both speed and race management. For Prost, second place maintained his championship lead despite missing victory, demonstrating tactical intelligence in securing points when winning wasn't possible. Senna's retirement was costly in championship terms, effectively ending his realistic title chances with two races remaining. The result confirmed that Prost would enter the Japanese Grand Prix finale as the overwhelming favorite for the championship.