1981 Formula One season

1981 FIA Formula One World Championship season
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The 1981 Formula One season was the 32nd season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the 1981 FIA Formula One World Championship which was contested over a fifteen race series that commenced on 15 March and ended on 17 October. Formula One cars also contested the 1981 South African Grand Prix, although this was technically a Formula Libre race and was not part of the Formula One World Championship.

The 1981 championship was the inaugural FIA Formula One World Championship, replacing the former World Championship for Drivers. Nelson Piquet won the Drivers' Championship, claiming the first of his three Formula One titles and Williams won the Constructors' Championship.

Drivers and constructors

The following teams and drivers contested the 1981 FIA Formula One World Championship:

The Drivers' Championship was won by Nelson Piquet, who drove for the Brabham team.

Carlos Reutemann, driving for Williams, placed second in the Drivers' Championship by just one point

Reutemann's team mate Alan Jones placed third in the Drivers' Championship

Entrant	Constructor	Chassis	Engine	Tyres	No	Driver	Rounds
Albilad Williams Racing Team TAG Williams Racing Team	Williams-Ford	FW07C	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	M G	1	Alan Jones	All
					2	Carlos Reutemann	All
Tyrrell Racing Team	Tyrrell-Ford	010 011	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	M A	3	Eddie Cheever	All
					4	Kevin Cogan	1
						Ricardo Zunino	2-3
						Michele Alboreto	4-15
Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham-Ford	BT49C BT50	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	M G	5	Nelson Piquet	All
					6	Hector Rebaque	All
Marlboro McLaren International	McLaren-Ford	M29F MP4/1	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	M	7	John Watson	All
					8	Andrea de Cesaris	All
Team ATS	ATS-Ford	D4 D5	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	M A	9	Jan Lammers	1-4
						Slim Borgudd	5-15
					10	Slim Borgudd	4
Team Essex Lotus John Player Team Lotus	Lotus-Ford	81B 87 88 88B	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	M G	11	Elio de Angelis	1-3, 5-15
					12	Nigel Mansell	1-3, 5-15
Ensign Racing	Ensign-Ford	N180B	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	M A	14	Marc Surer	1-6
						Ricardo Londoño	2
						Eliseo Salazar	7-15
Equipe Renault Elf	Renault	RE20B RE30	Renault-Gordini EF1 1.5 V6t	M	15	Alain Prost	All
					16	René Arnoux	All
March Grand Prix Team	March-Ford	811	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	M A	17	Derek Daly	1-3, 7-15
						Eliseo Salazar	4-6
					18	Eliseo Salazar	1-3
						Derek Daly	4-6
Fittipaldi Automotive	Fittipaldi-Ford	F8C	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	M A P	20	Keke Rosberg	1-10, 12-15
					21	Chico Serra	1-10, 12-15
Marlboro Team Alfa Romeo	Alfa Romeo	179B 179C 179D	Alfa Romeo 1260 3.0 V12	M	22	Mario Andretti	All
					23	Bruno Giacomelli	All
Equipe Talbot Gitanes	Ligier-Matra	JS17	Matra MS81 3.0 V12	M	25	Jean-Pierre Jarier	1-2
						Jean-Pierre Jabouille	3-7
						Patrick Tambay	8-15
					26	Jacques Laffite	All
Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC	Ferrari	126CK	Ferrari 021 1.5 V6t	M	27	Gilles Villeneuve	All
					28	Didier Pironi	All
Ragno Arrows Beta Racing Team	Arrows-Ford	A3	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	M P	29	Riccardo Patrese	All
					30	Siegfried Stohr	1-13
						Jacques Villeneuve, Sr.	14-15
Osella Squadra Corse	Osella-Ford	FA1B FA1C	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	M	31	Miguel Ángel Guerra	1-4
						Piercarlo Ghinzani	5
						Beppe Gabbiani	6-15
					32	Beppe Gabbiani	1-5
						Piercarlo Ghinzani	6
						Giorgio Francia	7
						Miguel Ángel Guerra	8
						Jean-Pierre Jarier	9-15
Theodore Racing Team	Theodore-Ford	TY01	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	M A	33	Patrick Tambay	1-7
						Marc Surer	8-15
Candy Toleman Motorsport	Toleman-Hart	TG181	Hart 415T 1.5 L4t	P	35	Brian Henton	4-15
					36	Derek Warwick	4-15

Season review

Rnd	Race	Date	Location	Pole Position	Fastest Lap	Race Winner	Constructor	Report
1	United States Grand Prix West	March 15	Long Beach	Riccardo Patrese	Alan Jones	Alan Jones	Williams-Ford	Report
2	Brazilian Grand Prix	March 29	Jacarepaguá	Nelson Piquet	Marc Surer	Carlos Reutemann	Williams-Ford	Report
3	Argentine Grand Prix	April 12	Buenos Aires	Nelson Piquet	Nelson Piquet	Nelson Piquet	Brabham-Ford	Report
4	San Marino Grand Prix	May 3	Imola	Gilles Villeneuve	Gilles Villeneuve	Nelson Piquet	Brabham-Ford	Report
5	Belgian Grand Prix	May 17	Zolder	Carlos Reutemann	Carlos Reutemann	Carlos Reutemann	Williams-Ford	Report
6	Monaco Grand Prix	May 31	Monaco	Nelson Piquet	Alan Jones	Gilles Villeneuve	Ferrari	Report
7	Spanish Grand Prix	June 21	Jarama	Jacques Laffite	Alan Jones	Gilles Villeneuve	Ferrari	Report
8	French Grand Prix	July 5	Dijon-Prenois	René Arnoux	Alain Prost	Alain Prost	Renault	Report
9	British Grand Prix	July 18	Silverstone	René Arnoux	René Arnoux	John Watson	McLaren-Ford	Report
10	German Grand Prix	August 2	Hockenheimring	Alain Prost	Alan Jones	Nelson Piquet	Brabham-Ford	Report
11	Austrian Grand Prix	August 16	Österreichring	René Arnoux	Jacques Laffite	Jacques Laffite	Ligier-Matra	Report
12	Dutch Grand Prix	August 30	Zandvoort	Alain Prost	Alan Jones	Alain Prost	Renault	Report
13	Italian Grand Prix	September 13	Monza	René Arnoux	Carlos Reutemann	Alain Prost	Renault	Report
14	Canadian Grand Prix	September 27	Île Notre-Dame	Nelson Piquet	John Watson	Jacques Laffite	Ligier-Matra	Report
15	Caesars Palace Grand Prix	October 17	Caesars Palace	Carlos Reutemann	Didier Pironi	Alan Jones	Williams-Ford	Report

-The final race was originally supposed to be held at Watkins Glen, but this track was dropped from the calendar in May due to the circuit's financial difficulties. And the South African Grand Prix at Kyalami on February 7 was originally on the calendar, but difficulties from the ongoing FOCA-FISA war led to the event being run as a non-championship race; and it was contested only by the Ford-Cosworth powered teams all running cars that had aerodynamic devices which were banned for the 1981 championship season.

1981 Drivers Championship final standings

Pos Driver USW BRA ARG SMR BEL MON ESP FRA GBR GER AUT NED ITA CAN CPL Points 1 Nelson Piquet 3 12 1 1 Ret Ret Ret 3 Ret 1 3 2 6 5 5 50 2 Carlos Reutemann 2 1 2 3 1 Ret 4 10 2 Ret 5 Ret 3 10 8 49 3 Alan Jones 1 2 4 12 Ret 2 7 17 Ret 11 4 3 2 Ret 1 46 4 Jacques Laffite Ret 6 Ret Ret 2 3 2 Ret 3 3 1 Ret Ret 1 6 44 5 Alain Prost Ret Ret 3 Ret Ret Ret Ret 1 Ret 2 Ret 1 1 Ret 2 43 6 John Watson Ret 8 Ret 10 7 Ret 3 2 1 6 6 Ret Ret 2 7 27 7 Gilles Villeneuve Ret Ret Ret 7 4 1 1 Ret Ret 10 Ret Ret Ret 3 DSQ 25 8 Elio de Angelis Ret 5 6 WD 5 Ret 5 6 DSQ 7 7 5 4 6 Ret 14 9 René Arnoux 8 Ret 5 8 DNQ Ret 9 4 9 13 2 Ret Ret Ret Ret 11 10 Hector Rebaque Ret Ret Ret 4 Ret DNQ Ret 9 5 4 Ret 4 Ret Ret Ret 11 11 Riccardo Patrese Ret 3 7 2 Ret Ret Ret 14 10 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 11 10 12 Eddie Cheever 5 NC Ret Ret 6 5 NC 13 4 5 DNQ Ret Ret 12 Ret 10 13 Didier Pironi Ret Ret Ret 5 8 4 15 5 Ret Ret 9 Ret 5 Ret 9 9 14 Nigel Mansell Ret 11 Ret WD 3 Ret 6 7 DNQ Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 4 8 15 Bruno Giacomelli Ret NC 10 Ret 9 Ret 10 15 Ret 15 Ret Ret 8 4 3 7 16 Marc Surer Ret 4 Ret 9 11 6 12 11 14 Ret 8 DNQ 9 Ret 4 17 Mario Andretti 4 Ret 8 Ret 10 Ret 8 8 Ret 9 Ret Ret Ret 7 Ret 3 18 Andrea de Cesaris Ret Ret 11 6 Ret Ret Ret 11 Ret Ret 8 DNS 7 Ret 12 1 19 Patrick Tambay 6 10 Ret 11 DNQ 7 13 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 1 20 Slim Borgudd 13 DNQ DNPQ DNQ DNQ 6 Ret Ret 10 Ret Ret DNQ 1 21 Eliseo Salazar DNQ DNQ DNQ Ret DNQ DNPQ 14 Ret DNQ NC Ret 6 Ret Ret NC 1 — Jean-Pierre Jarier Ret 7 8 8 10 Ret 9 Ret Ret 0 — Siegfried Stohr DNQ Ret 9 DNQ Ret Ret Ret DNQ Ret 12 Ret 7 DNQ 0 — Derek Daly DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNPQ 16 Ret 7 Ret 11 Ret Ret 8 DNQ 0 — Chico Serra 7 Ret Ret DNQ Ret DNQ 11 DNS DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ 0 — Keke Rosberg Ret 9 Ret Ret Ret DNQ 12 Ret Ret DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ 10 0 — Michele Alboreto Ret 12 Ret DNQ 16 Ret DNQ Ret 9 Ret 11 13 0 — Brian Henton DNQ DNQ DNPQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ 10 DNQ DNQ 0 — Jan Lammers Ret DNQ 12 DNQ 0 — Ricardo Zunino 13 13 0 — Piercarlo Ghinzani 13 DNQ 0 — Jean-Pierre Jabouille DNQ NC Ret DNQ Ret 0 — Beppe Gabbiani Ret DNQ DNQ Ret Ret DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ 0 — Derek Warwick DNQ DNQ DNPQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ Ret 0 — Miguel Angel Guerra DNQ DNQ DNQ Ret 0 — Jacques Villeneuve, Sr. DNQ DNQ 0 — Kevin Cogan DNQ 0 — Giorgio Francia DNQ 0 — Ricardo Londoño DNP 0 Pos Driver USW BRA ARG SMR BEL MON ESP FRA GBR GER AUT NED ITA CAN CPL Points

Key Colour Result Gold Winner Silver 2nd place Bronze 3rd place Green Points finish Blue Non-points finish Non-classified finish (NC) Purple Did not finish (Ret) Red Did not qualify (DNQ) Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ) Black Disqualified (DSQ) White Did not start (DNS) Race cancelled (C) Light blue Practiced only (PO) Friday test driver (TD) (from 2003 onwards) Blank Did not practice (DNP) Excluded (EX) Did not arrive (DNA)

Championship points were awarded on a 9-6-4-3-2-1 basis to the top six finishers in each race.

1981 Constructors Championship final standings

Williams FW07C. Williams won the 1981 Constructors Championship

Brabham BT49C. Brabham placed second in the Constructors Championship

Renault RE30. Renault placed third in the Constrcutors Championship

Pos	Constructor	Car no.	USW	BRA	ARG	SMR	BEL	MON	ESP	FRA	GBR	GER	AUT	NED	ITA	CAN	CPL	Pts
1	Williams-Ford	1	1	2	4	12	Ret	2	7	17	Ret	11	4	3	2	Ret	1	95
		2	2	1	2	3	1	Ret	4	10	2	Ret	5	Ret	3	10	8
2	Brabham-Ford	5	3	12	1	1	Ret	Ret	Ret	3	Ret	1	3	2	6	5	5	61
		6	Ret	Ret	Ret	4	Ret	DNQ	Ret	9	5	4	Ret	4	Ret	Ret	Ret
3	Renault	15	Ret	Ret	3	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	1	Ret	2	Ret	1	1	Ret	2	54
		16	8	Ret	5	8	DNQ	Ret	9	4	9	13	2	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret
4	Ligier-Matra	25	Ret	7	DNQ	NC	Ret	DNQ	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	44
		26	Ret	6	Ret	Ret	2	3	2	Ret	3	3	1	Ret	Ret	1	6
5	Ferrari	27	Ret	Ret	Ret	7	4	1	1	Ret	Ret	10	Ret	Ret	Ret	3	DSQ	34
		28	Ret	Ret	Ret	5	8	4	15	5	Ret	Ret	9	Ret	5	Ret	9
6	McLaren-Ford	7	Ret	8	Ret	10	7	Ret	3	2	1	6	6	Ret	Ret	2	7	28
		8	Ret	Ret	11	6	Ret	Ret	Ret	11	Ret	Ret	8	DNS	7	Ret	12
7	Lotus-Ford	11	Ret	5	6	WD	5	Ret	5	6	DSQ	7	7	5	4	6	Ret	22
		12	Ret	11	Ret	WD	3	Ret	6	7	DNQ	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	4
8	Arrows-Ford	29	Ret	3	7	2	Ret	Ret	Ret	14	10	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	11	10
		30	DNQ	Ret	9	DNQ	Ret	Ret	Ret	DNQ	Ret	12	Ret	7	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ
9	Alfa Romeo	22	4	Ret	8	Ret	10	Ret	8	8	Ret	9	Ret	Ret	Ret	7	Ret	10
		23	Ret	NC	10	Ret	9	Ret	10	15	Ret	15	Ret	Ret	8	4	3
10	Tyrrell-Ford	3	5	NC	Ret	Ret	6	5	NC	13	4	5	DNQ	Ret	Ret	12	Ret	10
		4	DNQ	13	13	Ret	12	Ret	DNQ	16	Ret	DNQ	Ret	9	Ret	11	13
11	Ensign-Ford	14	Ret	4	Ret	9	11	6	14	Ret	DNQ	NC	Ret	6	Ret	Ret	NC	5
12	Theodore-Ford	33	6	10	Ret	11	DNQ	7	13	12	11	14	Ret	8	DNQ	9	Ret	1
13	ATS-Ford	9	Ret	DNQ	12	DNQ	DNQ	DNPQ	DNQ	DNQ	6	Ret	Ret	10	Ret	Ret	DNQ	1
		10				13
—	March-Ford	17	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	Ret	DNQ	DNPQ	16	Ret	7	Ret	11	Ret	Ret	8	DNQ	0
		18	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNPQ
—	Fittipaldi-Ford	20	Ret	9	Ret	Ret	Ret	DNQ	12	Ret	Ret	DNQ		DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	10	0
		21	7	Ret	Ret	DNQ	Ret	DNQ	11	DNS	DNQ	DNQ		DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ
—	Osella-Ford	31	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	Ret	13	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	0
		32	Ret	DNQ	DNQ	Ret	Ret	DNQ	DNQ	WD	8	8	10	Ret	9	Ret	Ret
—	Toleman-Hart	35				DNQ	DNQ	DNPQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	10	DNQ	DNQ	0
		36				DNQ	DNQ	DNPQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	Ret
Pos	Constructor	Car no.	USW	BRA	ARG	SMR	BEL	MON	ESP	FRA	GBR	GER	AUT	NED	ITA	CAN	CPL	Pts

Championship points were awarded on a 9-6-4-3-2-1 basis to the top six finishers in each race.

Non-Championship race results

A non-Championship Formula One race was also held in 1981, which did not count towards the World Championship. It was technically a Formula Libre race, since the cars did not conform to the current Formula One regulations. Although not a part of the Championship, the 1981 South African Grand Prix attracted high-calibre drivers and cars and was won by Carlos Reutemann in a Williams.

Race Name	Circuit	Date	Winning driver	Constructor	Report
South African Grand Prix	Kyalami	February 7	Carlos Reutemann	Williams-Cosworth	Report

External links

• 1981 F1 review