F1 Championship leaders
Drivers’ Championship
| # | Grand Prix | Leader | Lead |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brazil | (FRA) Alain Prost | 3 |
| 2 | San Marino | (FRA) Alain Prost | 6 |
| 3 | Monaco | (FRA) Alain Prost | 10 |
| 4 | Mexico | (FRA) Alain Prost | 15 |
| 5 | Canada | (FRA) Alain Prost | 15 |
| 6 | Detroit | (FRA) Alain Prost | 12 |
| 7 | France | (FRA) Alain Prost | 15 |
| 8 | Britain | (FRA) Alain Prost | 6 |
| 9 | Germany | (FRA) Alain Prost | 3 |
| 10 | Hungary | (BRA) Ayrton Senna | 0 |
| 11 | Belgium | (BRA) Ayrton Senna | 3 |
| 12 | Italy | (BRA) Ayrton Senna | 3 |
| 13 | Portugal | (FRA) Alain Prost | 5 |
| 14 | Spain | (FRA) Alain Prost | 5 |
| 15 | Japan | (BRA) Ayrton Senna | 3 |
| 16 | Australia | (BRA) Ayrton Senna | 3 |
- First time as championship leader
- No driver led the championship for the first time in 1988
- Last time as championship leader
- No driver led the championship for the last time in 1988
Constructors’ Championship
| # | Grand Prix | Leader | Lead |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brazil | McLaren-Honda | 1 |
| 2 | San Marino | McLaren-Honda | 14 |
| 3 | Monaco | McLaren-Honda | 13 |
| 4 | Mexico | McLaren-Honda | 21 |
| 5 | Canada | McLaren-Honda | 36 |
| 6 | Detroit | McLaren-Honda | 51 |
| 7 | France | McLaren-Honda | 59 |
| 8 | Britain | McLaren-Honda | 68 |
| 9 | Germany | McLaren-Honda | 76 |
| 10 | Hungary | McLaren-Honda | 88 |
| 11 | Belgium | McLaren-Honda | 103 |
| 12 | Italy | McLaren-Honda | 88 |
| 13 | Portugal | McLaren-Honda | 96 |
| 14 | Spain | McLaren-Honda | 107 |
| 15 | Japan | McLaren-Honda | 119 |
| 16 | Australia | McLaren-Honda | 134 |
Notes
- The 1988 season was the ninth season, and the first since 1984, in which the Constructors’ Championship was led from start to finish by the same constructor.
- 1988 was the second time McLaren led a championship from start to finish, equaling the record of Cooper and Lotus.
- First time as championship leader
- No constructor led the championship for the first time in 1988
- Last time as championship leader
- No constructor led the championship for the last time in 1988