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The 1981 Formula One Season was the 32nd season of the Drivers' World Championship and the 24th season of the Constructors' Championship. It would take place over 15 races which started on March 15 in United States West and end on October 17 in Caesars Palace.


Teams and Drivers[]

The full list of teams and drivers for the 1981 FIA Formula One World Championship is outlined below:

Constructor Chassis Tyre No. Driver Rounds
Team Engine
Williams-Ford Cosworth FW07C M
G
1 Australia Alan Jones All
United Kingdom Albilad Williams Racing Team
United Kingdom TAG Williams Team
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 2 Argentina Carlos Reutemann All
Tyrrell-Ford Cosworth 010
011
M
A
3 United States Eddie Cheever All
United Kingdom Tyrrell Racing Team Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 4 United States Kevin Cogan 1
4 Argentina Ricardo Zunino 2–3
4 Italy Michele Alboreto 4–15
Brabham-Ford Cosworth BT49C M
G
5 Brazil Nelson Piquet All
United Kingdom Parmalat Racing Team Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 6 Mexico Héctor Rebaque All
McLaren-Ford Cosworth M29F
MP4/1
M 7 United Kingdom John Watson All
United Kingdom Marlboro McLaren International Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 8 Italy Andrea de Cesaris All
ATS-Ford Cosworth D4
HGS1
M
A
9 Netherlands Jan Lammers 1–4
West Germany Team ATS Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 9
10
Sweden Slim Borgudd 4–15
Lotus-Ford Cosworth 81B
87
88
88B
M
G
11 Italy Elio de Angelis 1–3, 5–15
United Kingdom Team Essex Lotus
United Kingdom John Player Team Lotus
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 12 United Kingdom Nigel Mansell 1–3, 5–15
Ensign-Ford Cosworth N180B M
A
14 Switzerland Marc Surer 1–6
United Kingdom Ensign Racing Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 14 Colombia Ricardo Londoño 2
14 Chile Eliseo Salazar 7–15
Renault RE20B
RE30
M 15 France Alain Prost All
France Equipe Renault Elf Renault EF1 1.5 V6t 16 France René Arnoux All
March-Ford Cosworth 811 M
A
17
18
Ireland Derek Daly All
United Kingdom March Grand Prix Team Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 17
18
Chile Eliseo Salazar 1–6
Fittipaldi-Ford Cosworth F8C M
A
P
20 Finland Keke Rosberg All
Brazil Fittipaldi Automotive Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 21 Brazil Chico Serra All
Alfa Romeo 179B
179C
179D
M 22 United States Mario Andretti All
Italy Marlboro Team Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo 1260 3.0 V12 23 Italy Bruno Giacomelli All
Ligier-Matra JS17 M 25 France Jean-Pierre Jarier 1–2
France Equipe Talbot Gitanes Matra MS81 3.0 V12 25 France Jean-Pierre Jabouille 3–7
25 France Patrick Tambay 8–15
26 France Jacques Laffite All
Ferrari 126CK M 27 Canada Gilles Villeneuve All
Italy Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC Ferrari 021 1.5 V6t 28 France Didier Pironi All
Arrows-Ford Cosworth A3 M
P
29 Italy Riccardo Patrese All
United Kingdom Ragno Arrows Beta Racing Team Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 30 Italy Siegfried Stohr 1–13
30 Canada Jacques Villeneuve, Sr. 14–15
Osella-Ford Cosworth FA1B
FA1C
M 31 Argentina Miguel Ángel Guerra 1–4
Italy Osella Squadra Corse Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 31
32
Italy Piercarlo Ghinzani 5–6
31
32
Italy Beppe Gabbiani All
32 Italy Giorgio Francia 7
32 France Jean-Pierre Jarier 9–15
Theodore-Ford Cosworth TY01 M
A
33 France Patrick Tambay 1–7
Hong Kong Theodore Racing Team Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 33 Switzerland Marc Surer 8–15
Toleman-Hart TG181 P 35 United Kingdom Brian Henton 4–15
United Kingdom Candy Toleman Motorsport Hart 415T 1.5 L4t 36 United Kingdom Derek Warwick 4–15
Williams-Ford Cosworth FW07 M 37 Spain Emilio de Villota 7
Spain Equipe Banco Occidental Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8

Calendar[]

World Championship Schedule[]

Outlined below is the full calendar for the 1981 FIA Formula One World Championship:

Round Grand Prix Date
1 Long Beach United States Grand Prix West 15 March
Long Beach 1978
Official Title VII Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach
Circuit Long Beach Street Circuit
Location United States Long Beach, California, USA
Lap distance 3.251 km (2.020 mi)
Race distance 260.08 km (161.606 mi)
Date 15 March Laps 80
2 Brazil Brazilian Grand Prix 29 March
Autódromo Internacional Nelson Piquet
Official Title 10° Grande Prêmio do Brasil
Circuit Jacarepaguá
Location Brazil Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Lap distance 5.031 km (3.126 mi)
Race distance 311.922 km (193.819 mi)
Date 29 March Laps 62
3 Argentina Argentine Grand Prix 12 April
Autódromo Oscar y Juan Gálvez Circuito N° 15
Official Title XVII Gran Premio de la República Argentina
Circuit Autódromo Juan y Oscar Gálvez
Location Argentina Buenos Aires, Argentina
Lap distance 5.959 km (3.703 mi)
Race distance 315.827 km (196.246 mi)
Date 12 April Laps 53
4 San Marino San Marino Grand Prix 3 May
Imola1980
Official Title 1° Gran Premio di San Marino
Circuit Imola
Location Italy Imola, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Lap distance 5.040 km (3.132 mi)
Race distance 302.4 km (187.903 mi)
Date 3 May Laps 60
5 Belgium Belgian Grand Prix 17 May
Circuit Zolder-1975-1985
Official Title XXXIX Grand Prix of Belgium
Circuit Circuit Zolder
Location Belgium Heusden-Zolder, Belgium
Lap distance 4.262 km (2.648 mi)
Race distance 230.148 km (143.007 mi)
Date 17 May Laps 54
6 Monaco Monaco Grand Prix 31 May
Circuit de Monaco 1976
Official Title 39e Grand Prix Monaco
Circuit Circuit de Monaco
Location Monaco Monte Carlo, Monaco
Lap distance 3.312 km (2.058 mi)
Race distance 251.712 km (156.407 mi)
Date 31 May Laps 76
7 Spain Spanish Grand Prix 21 June
Circuito Permanente del Jarama 1980
Official Title XXVII Gran Premio Talbot de España
Circuit Circuito del Jarama
Location Spain San Sebastián de los Reyes, Spain
Lap distance 3.314 km (2.059 mi)
Race distance 265.12 km (164.738 mi)
Date 21 June Laps 80
8 France French Grand Prix 5 July
Dijon-Prenois1977
Official Title 67e Grand Prix de France
Circuit Dijon-Prenois
Location France Prenois, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France
Lap distance 3.886 km (2.415 mi)
Race distance 310.88 km (193.172 mi)
Date 5 July Laps 80
9 United Kingdom British Grand Prix 18 July
Silverstone1975
Official Title XXXIV Marlboro British Grand Prix
Circuit Silverstone Circuit
Location United Kingdom Northamptonshire, England, UK
Lap distance 4.718 km (2.932 mi)
Race distance 320.824 km (199.351 mi)
Date 18 July Laps 68
10 West Germany German Grand Prix 2 August
Circuit Hockenheimring-1970
Official Title XLIII Großer Preis von Deutschland
Circuit Hockenheimring
Location West Germany Hockenheim, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Lap distance 6.790 km (4.219 mi)
Race distance 305.55 km (189.860 mi)
Date 2 August Laps 45
11 Austria Austrian Grand Prix 16 August
Österreichring 1977-1987
Official Title XIX Großer Preis von Österreich
Circuit Österreichring
Location Austria Spielberg, Styria, Austria
Lap distance 5.941 km (3.692 mi)
Race distance 344.578 km (214.111 mi)
Date 16 August Laps 58
12 Netherlands Dutch Grand Prix 30 August
Circuit Park Zandvoort-1980
Official Title XXVIII Grand Prix
Circuit Circuit Zandvoort
Location Netherlands Zandvoort, Netherlands
Lap distance 4.226 km (2.626 mi)
Race distance 304.272 km (189.066 mi)
Date 30 August Laps 72
13 Italy Italian Grand Prix 13 September
Monza 1976
Official Title 52° Gran Premio d'Italia
Circuit Autodromo Nazionale Monza
Location Italy Monza, Italy
Lap distance 5.800 km (3.604 mi)
Race distance 301.6 km (187.406 mi)
Date 13 September Laps 52
14 Canada Canadian Grand Prix 27 September
Gilles Villeneuve Circuit Montreal (78-86)
Official Title XX Grand Prix Labatt du Canada
Circuit Circuit Île de Notre-Dame
Location Canada Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Lap distance 4.409 km (2.740 mi)
Race distance 277.767 km (172.596 mi)
Date 27 September Laps 63
15 Las Vegas Caesars Palace Grand Prix 17 October
Circuit Caesars Palace
Official Title I Caesars Palace Grand Prix
Circuit Caesars Palace Circuit
Location United States Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Lap distance 3.637 km (2.260 mi)
Race distance 272.775 km (169.495 mi)
Date 17 October Laps 75

Non-Championship Schedule[]

Date Event Circuit Report
7th February South Africa XXVII Nashua Grand Prix Kyalami Report

Report[]

Non-Championship: 1981 South African Grand Prix[]

Round 1: 1981 United States Grand Prix West[]

Round 2: 1981 Brazilian Grand Prix[]

Round 3: 1981 Argentine Grand Prix[]

Round 4: 1981 San Marino Grand Prix[]

Round 5: 1981 Belgian Grand Prix[]

Round 6: 1981 Monaco Grand Prix[]

Round 7: 1981 Spanish Grand Prix[]

Round 8: 1981 French Grand Prix[]

Round 9: 1981 British Grand Prix[]

Round 10: 1981 German Grand Prix[]

Round 11: 1981 Austrian Grand Prix[]

Round 12: 1981 Dutch Grand Prix[]

Round 13: 1981 Italian Grand Prix[]

Round 14: 1981 Canadian Grand Prix[]

Round 15: 1981 Caesars Palace Grand Prix[]

Results and Standings[]

Results[]

1981 FIA Formula One World Championship for Drivers[]

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

1981 FIA Formula One International Cup for Constructors[]

Pos Constructor Car
no.
USW
United States
BRA
Brazil
ARG
Argentina
SMR
San Marino
BEL
Belgium
MON
Monaco
ESP
Spain
FRA
France
GBR
United Kingdom
GER
West Germany
AUT
Austria
NED
Netherlands
ITA
Italy
CAN
Canada
CPL
United States
Pts
1 United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom 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 France 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 France 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 Italy 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 United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom 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 Italy 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 United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom Ensign-Ford 14 Ret 4 Ret 9 11 6 14 Ret DNQ NC Ret 6 Ret Ret NC 5
12 Hong Kong Theodore-Ford 33 6 10 Ret 11 DNQ 7 13 12 11 14 Ret 8 DNQ 9 Ret 1
13 West Germany ATS-Ford 9 Ret DNQ 12 DNQ DNQ DNPQ DNQ DNQ 6 Ret Ret 10 Ret Ret DNQ 1
10 13
United Kingdom 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
Brazil 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
Italy 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
United Kingdom 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
United States
BRA
Brazil
ARG
Argentina
SMR
San Marino
BEL
Belgium
MON
Monaco
ESP
Spain
FRA
France
GBR
United Kingdom
GER
West Germany
AUT
Austria
NED
Netherlands
ITA
Italy
CAN
Canada
CPL
United States
Pts


v·d·e Nominate this page for Featured Article
V T E Formula One Seasons
195019511952195319541955195619571958195919601961196219631964196519661967196819691970197119721973197419751976197719781979198019811982198319841985198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
V T E 1981 Formula One Season
Teams Alfa Romeo • Arrows • ATS • Brabham • Ensign • Ferrari • Fittipaldi • Ligier • Lotus • March • McLaren • Osella • Renault • Theodore • Toleman • Tyrrell • Williams
Engines Alfa Romeo • Ferrari • Ford Cosworth • Hart • Matra • Renault
Drivers Alboreto • Andretti • de Angelis • Arnoux • Borgudd • de Cesaris • Cheever • Cogan • Daly • Francia • Gabbiani • Giacomelli • Ghinzani • Guerra • Henton • Jabouille • Jarier • Jones • Laffite • Lammers • Londoño • Mansell • Patrese • Piquet • Pironi • Prost • Rebaque • Reutemann • Rosberg • Salazar • Serra • Stohr • Surer • Tambay • G. Villeneuve • J. Villeneuve, Sr. • Warwick • Watson • Zunino
Cars Alfa Romeo 179B • Alfa Romeo 179C • Alfa Romeo 179D • Arrows A3 • ATS D4 • ATS HGS1 • Brabham BT49C • Ensign N180B • Ferrari 126CK • Fittipaldi F8C • Ligier JS17 • Lotus 81B • Lotus 87 • Lotus 88 • Lotus 88B • March 811 • McLaren M29F • McLaren MP4/1 • Osella FA1B • Osella FA1C • Renault RE20B • Renault RE30 • Theodore TY01 • Toleman TG181 • Tyrrell 010 • Tyrrell 011 • Williams FW07C
Tyres Avon • Goodyear • Michelin • Pirelli
Races United States West • Brazil • Argentina • San Marino • Belgium • Monaco • Spain • France • Britain • Germany • Austria • Netherlands • Italy • Canada • Caesars Palace
Non-championship Races South Africa
See also 1980 Formula One Season • 1982 Formula One Season • Category
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