The Alfa Romeo 184T was a Formula One car used by the Alfa Romeo team in the 1984 and 1985 seasons, powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged V8 of around 680 hp. It scored all of its 11 points in 1984, and its updated 1985 version, the 184TB, was the last Alfa Romeo car to race in Formula One until the manufacturer returned with the C38 in 2019.
Alfa Romeo 184T at a glance
| Class | Formula One (1984 and 1985 seasons) |
|---|---|
| Team | Alfa Romeo (Benetton livery) |
| Designer | Mario Tollentino (his first F1 design) |
| Engine | Alfa Romeo 890T, 1.5 L turbocharged V8 |
| Power | about 680 hp at 10,700 rpm |
| Fuel limit (1984 rule) | 220 litres per race |
| Points | 11, all in 1984 |
| Best result | 3rd place, 1984 Italian Grand Prix (Riccardo Patrese) |
| Successor | 185T; the 184T was updated to the 184TB for 1985 |
This page is based on English Wikipedia only, so the figures could not be cross-checked against a second source.
History of the Alfa Romeo 184T
1984: the 184T
The 184T was the first Formula One design of Mario Tollentino and used the 890T engine that Alfa Romeo had introduced in 1983. In 1983 the engine was comparable in power to the best turbo engines of the time, such as the four-cylinder BMW and the V6 units of Renault and Ferrari, which let lead driver Andrea de Cesaris mix it with the faster cars. By 1984 the 890T had fallen behind its rivals on power and fuel economy, and the new rule limiting cars to 220 litres of fuel per race hurt the team badly.
The car’s best result was third place at the 1984 Italian Grand Prix, where Riccardo Patrese finished on the podium at the expense of his teammate Eddie Cheever, who was running third but ran out of fuel. Most retirements of the 184T were caused by the unreliability of the engine, which had to be pushed harder to keep up, or by running out of fuel.
1985: the 184TB
For 1985 the 184T was replaced by the 185T, but the new car proved uncompetitive, so the 184T was brought back, updated to the 1985 regulations and called the 184TB. It was the last Alfa Romeo car raced in Formula One until the C38 in 2019.
Design and features
- Engine: the 1.5-litre turbocharged V8 Alfa Romeo 890T, producing around 680 hp (507 kW) at 10,700 rpm.
- Weak points: high fuel consumption under the 220-litre limit and engine reliability.
- Livery: the colours of the main sponsor, the Italian fashion brand Benetton.
Alfa Romeo 184T versions
- 184T (1984): the original car, all 11 points of the model were scored in this season.
- 184TB (1985): the 184T updated to the 1985 regulations after the 185T proved uncompetitive.
- 185T (1985): the planned successor.
More Alfa Romeo racing cars are in our Alfa Romeo collection, for example the Alfa Romeo 179 and the Alfa Romeo 183T.
Alfa Romeo 184T questions and answers
What engine did the Alfa Romeo 184T have?
A 1.5-litre turbocharged V8, the Alfa Romeo 890T, with around 680 hp at 10,700 rpm.
How many points did the 184T score?
Eleven, all in 1984.
What was its best result?
Third place at the 1984 Italian Grand Prix, driven by Riccardo Patrese.
What was the 184TB?
The 184T updated to the 1985 regulations after the new 185T proved uncompetitive; it was the last Alfa Romeo F1 car before the return in 2019.
Who sponsored the 184T?
The Italian fashion brand Benetton, whose colours the car carried.
Sources
- Alfa Romeo 184T, English Wikipedia: design, racing history
