1981 Formula One Season

1981 FIA Formula One World Championship

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1980	1982

1981 World Champion, Nelson Piquet

Season Information

Number of races

15

Season opener

1981 United States Grand Prix West

Season finale

1981 Caesars Palace Grand Prix

Tyre suppliers

A G M P

Drivers' World Championship

Champion

Nelson Piquet
50 points

Runner-Up

Carlos Reutemann
49 points

3rd

Alan Jones
46 points

Constructors' World Championship

Champion

Williams-Ford
95 points

Runner-Up

Brabham-Ford
61 points

3rd

Renault
54 points

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		No.	Driver	Rounds

Williams-Ford Cosworth	FW07C	M G	1	Alan Jones	All
Albilad Williams Racing Team TAG Williams Team	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8		2	Carlos Reutemann	All

Tyrrell-Ford Cosworth	010 011	M A	3	Eddie Cheever	All
Tyrrell Racing Team	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8		4	Kevin Cogan	1
			4	Ricardo Zunino	2–3
			4	Michele Alboreto	4–15

Brabham-Ford Cosworth	BT49C	M G	5	Nelson Piquet	All
Parmalat Racing Team	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8		6	Héctor Rebaque	All

McLaren-Ford Cosworth	M29F MP4/1	M	7	John Watson	All
Marlboro McLaren International	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8		8	Andrea de Cesaris	All

ATS-Ford Cosworth	D4 HGS1	M A	9	Jan Lammers	1–4
Team ATS	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8		9 10	Slim Borgudd	4–15

Lotus-Ford Cosworth	81B 87 88 88B	M G	11	Elio de Angelis	1–3, 5–15
Team Essex Lotus John Player Team Lotus	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8		12	Nigel Mansell	1–3, 5–15

Ensign-Ford Cosworth	N180B	M A	14	Marc Surer	1–6
Ensign Racing	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8		14	Ricardo Londoño	2
			14	Eliseo Salazar	7–15

Renault	RE20B RE30	M	15	Alain Prost	All
Equipe Renault Elf	Renault EF1 1.5 V6t		16	René Arnoux	All

March-Ford Cosworth	811	M A	17 18	Derek Daly	All
March Grand Prix Team	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8		17 18	Eliseo Salazar	1–6

Fittipaldi-Ford Cosworth	F8C	M A P	20	Keke Rosberg	All
Fittipaldi Automotive	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8		21	Chico Serra	All

Alfa Romeo	179B 179C 179D	M	22	Mario Andretti	All
Marlboro Team Alfa Romeo	Alfa Romeo 1260 3.0 V12		23	Bruno Giacomelli	All

Ligier-Matra	JS17	M	25	Jean-Pierre Jarier	1–2
Equipe Talbot Gitanes	Matra MS81 3.0 V12		25	Jean-Pierre Jabouille	3–7
			25	Patrick Tambay	8–15
			26	Jacques Laffite	All

Ferrari	126CK	M	27	Gilles Villeneuve	All
Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC	Ferrari 021 1.5 V6t		28	Didier Pironi	All

Arrows-Ford Cosworth	A3	M P	29	Riccardo Patrese	All
Ragno Arrows Beta Racing Team	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8		30	Siegfried Stohr	1–13
			30	Jacques Villeneuve, Sr.	14–15

Osella-Ford Cosworth	FA1B FA1C	M	31	Miguel Ángel Guerra	1–4
Osella Squadra Corse	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8		31 32	Piercarlo Ghinzani	5–6
			31 32	Beppe Gabbiani	All
			32	Giorgio Francia	7
			32	Jean-Pierre Jarier	9–15

Theodore-Ford Cosworth	TY01	M A	33	Patrick Tambay	1–7
Theodore Racing Team	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8		33	Marc Surer	8–15

Toleman-Hart	TG181	P	35	Brian Henton	4–15
Candy Toleman Motorsport	Hart 415T 1.5 L4t		36	Derek Warwick	4–15

Williams-Ford Cosworth	FW07	M	37	Emilio de Villota	7
Equipe Banco Occidental	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8		37	Emilio de Villota	7

Calendar[]

World Championship Schedule[]

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

Round	Grand Prix	Date

		15 March
Official Title	VII Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach
Circuit	Long Beach Street Circuit
Location	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

		29 March
Official Title	10° Grande Prêmio do Brasil
Circuit	Jacarepaguá
Location	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

		12 April
Official Title	XVII Gran Premio de la República Argentina
Circuit	Autódromo Juan y Oscar Gálvez
Location	Buenos Aires, Argentina
Lap distance	5.959 km (3.703 mi)
Race distance	315.827 km (196.246 mi)
Date	12 April	Laps	53

		3 May
Official Title	1° Gran Premio di San Marino
Circuit	Imola
Location	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

		17 May
Official Title	XXXIX Grand Prix of Belgium
Circuit	Circuit Zolder
Location	Heusden-Zolder, Belgium
Lap distance	4.262 km (2.648 mi)
Race distance	230.148 km (143.007 mi)
Date	17 May	Laps	54

		31 May
Official Title	39^e Grand Prix Monaco
Circuit	Circuit de Monaco
Location	Monte Carlo, Monaco
Lap distance	3.312 km (2.058 mi)
Race distance	251.712 km (156.407 mi)
Date	31 May	Laps	76

		21 June
Official Title	XXVII Gran Premio Talbot de España
Circuit	Circuito del Jarama
Location	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

		5 July
Official Title	67^e Grand Prix de France
Circuit	Dijon-Prenois
Location	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

		18 July
Official Title	XXXIV Marlboro British Grand Prix
Circuit	Silverstone Circuit
Location	Northamptonshire, England, UK
Lap distance	4.718 km (2.932 mi)
Race distance	320.824 km (199.351 mi)
Date	18 July	Laps	68

		2 August
Official Title	XLIII Großer Preis von Deutschland
Circuit	Hockenheimring
Location	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

		16 August
Official Title	XIX Großer Preis von Österreich
Circuit	Österreichring
Location	Spielberg, Styria, Austria
Lap distance	5.941 km (3.692 mi)
Race distance	344.578 km (214.111 mi)
Date	16 August	Laps	58

		30 August
Official Title	XXVIII Grand Prix
Circuit	Circuit Zandvoort
Location	Zandvoort, Netherlands
Lap distance	4.226 km (2.626 mi)
Race distance	304.272 km (189.066 mi)
Date	30 August	Laps	72

		13 September
Official Title	52° Gran Premio d'Italia
Circuit	Autodromo Nazionale Monza
Location	Monza, Italy
Lap distance	5.800 km (3.604 mi)
Race distance	301.6 km (187.406 mi)
Date	13 September	Laps	52

		27 September
Official Title	XX Grand Prix Labatt du Canada
Circuit	Circuit Île de Notre-Dame
Location	Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Lap distance	4.409 km (2.740 mi)
Race distance	277.767 km (172.596 mi)
Date	27 September	Laps	63

		17 October
Official Title	I Caesars Palace Grand Prix
Circuit	Caesars Palace Circuit
Location	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	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	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

1981 FIA Formula One International Cup for Constructors[]

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

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V T E	Formula One Seasons
1950 • 1951 • 1952 • 1953 • 1954 • 1955 • 1956 • 1957 • 1958 • 1959 • 1960 • 1961 • 1962 • 1963 • 1964 • 1965 • 1966 • 1967 • 1968 • 1969 • 1970 • 1971 • 1972 • 1973 • 1974 • 1975 • 1976 • 1977 • 1978 • 1979 • 1980 • 1981 • 1982 • 1983 • 1984 • 1985 • 1986 • 1987 • 1988 • 1989 • 1990 • 1991 • 1992 • 1993 • 1994 • 1995 • 1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999 • 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011 • 2012 • 2013 • 2014 • 2015 • 2016 • 2017 • 2018 • 2019 • 2020 • 2021 • 2022 • 2023 • 2024 • 2025

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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