1981 Alternate Formula One season

1981 Formula One season
Turbo Era
Season
Races	17
Start date	1 March 1981
Start Event	Argentine Grand Prix
End date	4 October 1981
End Event	Template:USA Caesars Palace Grand Prix
Awards
Driver's Champion	Template:SUI Clay Regazzoni
Driver's Champion Entrant	Template:GBR Marlboro McLaren International
Constructor's Champion	Template:GBR Marlboro McLaren International
Seasons
Previous season	Next season
1980	1982

The 1981 Formula One season was the 32nd season of Formula One. Alan Jones and Williams entered the season as reigning World Champions for a second successive year, but for the first time since 1976 Jones would not be racing for Williams, instead switching to Lotus.

However, the McLaren-Renault combination proved to be the package to beat for much of the season, truly ushering in the era of turbocharged engines in Formula One. Despite Keke Rosberg - Jones' replacement at Williams - taking the championship battle to the penultimate race at the Canadian Grand Prix, Clay Regazzoni would clinch the driver's title with a round to spare, becoming the first driver to win a title for McLaren in over five years.

The season saw many entertaining races and despite the large pace advantage of the McLaren duo of Clay Regazzoni and Jean-Pierre Jarier in the first part of the season has been judged favourably by motorsports journalists. Somewhat ironically, the title deciding 16th round of the season is regarded as one of the worst Formula One title deciders in history, coming in 3rd place during an online fan voting contest held in late 2004.

Teams and drivers

Team	Constructor	Chassis	Engine	Tyres	#	Driver	Rounds
Template:GBR Team Lotus [?]	Lotus-Ford	Lotus 81	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	Template:Goodyear	1	Template:AUS Alan Jones	1-13, 15-
						Template:GBR Jonathan Palmer	14
					2	Template:GBR Nigel Mansell	1-
Template:GBR Penthouse BMW Team Tyrrell [?]	Tyrrell-BMW	Tyrrell 012T	BMW M12/13 1.5 L4t	Template:Goodyear	3	Template:GBR Robert Kagan	1-
					4	Template:GBR Harvey Jones	1-
Template:GBR Saudia Williams Racing Team [?]	Williams-Ford	Williams FW08B	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	Template:Goodyear	5	Gilles Villeneuve	1-
					6	Keke Rosberg	1-
Template:GBR Parmalat Racing Team [?]	Brabham-Ford	Brabham BT48	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	Template:Michelin	7	Nelson Piquet	1-12
					8	Riccardo Patrese	1-12
	Brabham-TAG		TAG-Porsche TTE PO1 1.5 V6t		7	Nelson Piquet	13-
					8	Javier Scarpetta	13
						Riccardo Patrese	14-
Template:GBR March Engineering [?]	March-Ford	March 811	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	Template:Michelin	9	Template:FRA Guillaume Gauthier	1-
					10	Derek Daly	1-
Template:GBR Marlboro McLaren International [?]	McLaren-Renault	McLaren MP4	Renault-Gordini EF1 1.5 V6t	Template:Michelin	11	Template:SUI Clay Regazzoni	1-
					12	Template:FRA Jean-Pierre Jarier	1-
Template:FRA Équipe Renault Elf [?]	Renault	Renault RE30	Renault-Gordini EF1 1.5 V6t	Template:Pirelli	13	Template:FRA Jacques Godard	15-
					14	Template:FRA Didier Pironi	1-6
						Template:FRA Luciano Sighinolfi	7
						Template:FRA René Arnoux	8-11
						Template:FRA Jean-Pierre Jabouille	12-14
					15	Template:FRA Alain Prost	1-
ATS Kauhsen Racing Team [?]	ATS-Ford	ATS D3	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	Template:Pirelli	16	Template:SUI Marc Surer	1-
					17	Rikky Leiviskä	1-
Template:GBR Ragno Arrows North Star Beta Racing Team [?]	Arrows-Ford	Arrows A4	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	Template:Goodyear	18	Template:FRA Patrick Depailler	1-4, 6-9
						Template:FRA Gabriel Château	10
						Template:USA Eddie Cheever	11
						Mike Thackwell	12-
					19	Template:FRA Jérémy-Étienne Voeckler	1-
Template:GBR Skoal Bandit Toleman Motorsport [?]	Toleman-Bandit	Toleman TG181	Bandit TGE/1 1.5 F12t	Template:Goodyear	21	Valentino Nicchi	1-
					22	Eliseo Salazar	1-14
						Template:FRA Gabriel Château	15-
Marlboro Team Alfa Romeo [?]	Alfa Romeo	Alfa Romeo 181	Alfa Romeo 115-12 3.0 F12	Template:Pirelli	23	Andrea de Cesaris	1-
					24	Michele Alboreto	1-
Template:FRA Ligier Talbot Gitanes [?]	Ligier-Matra	Ligier JS13	Matra MS80 3.0 V12	Template:Michelin	25	Template:FRA Patrick Tambay	1-
					26	Template:FRA Gabriel Château	1-4
						Emilio de Villota	5-9
						Template:FRA Richard Dallest	10
						Template:FRA Jean-Louis Schlesser	11-12
						Template:FRA Jean-Pierre Jaussaud	13
						Template:BEL Thierry Boutsen	14, 17
						Template:FRA Alain Ferté	15-16
Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC [?]	Ferrari	Ferrari 126CK	Ferrari 021 1.5 V6t	Template:Michelin	27	Elio de Angelis	1-
					28	Template:GBR John Watson	1-
Template:GBR B&S Fabrications [?]	Spartec-Hart	Spartec G71C	Hart 415T 1.5 L4t	Template:Michelin	29	Template:GBR Rupert Keegan	1, 3-4
						Ricardo Zunino	2
						Template:FRA Patrick Depailler	5
						Template:GBR Derek Warwick	6-
					30	Template:GBR Stephen South	1-
Osella Squadra Corse [?]	Osella-Ford	Osella FA1B	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	Template:Pirelli	31	Bruno Giacomelli	1-
					32	Template:FRA Patrick Gaillard	1-
Equipo Banco Occidental [?]	Williams-Ford	Williams FW06	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	Template:Pirelli	33	Emilio de Villota	1
					34	Desiré Wilson	1
	de Villota-Ford	de Villota María			33	Emilio de Villota	2-5
					34	Desiré Wilson	2
						Ricardo Londoño-Bridge	3
						Roberto Guerrero	4
						Luciano Sighinolfi	5

Calendar

Championship Grands Prix

	Race	Track	Date	Pole position	Fastest lap	Winning driver	Constructor	Entrant	Report
1	Argentine Grand Prix	Autódromo Juan y Oscar Gálvez	1 March	Template:SUI Clay Regazzoni	Gilles Villeneuve	Template:FRA Jean-Pierre Jarier	Template:GBR McLaren-Renault	Template:GBR Marlboro McLaren International	Report
2	Asseng South African Grand Prix	Kyalami	29 March	Template:SUI Clay Regazzoni	Template:SUI Clay Regazzoni	Template:FRA Alain Prost	Template:FRA Renault	Template:FRA Équipe Renault Elf	Report
3	Brazilian Grand Prix	Autódromo Internacional de Curitiba	12 April	Template:SUI Clay Regazzoni	Keke Rosberg	Template:SUI Clay Regazzoni	Template:GBR McLaren-Renault	Template:GBR Marlboro McLaren International	Report
4	Template:USA Toyota United States Grand Prix West	Long Beach	26 April	Template:FRA Jean-Pierre Jarier	Gilles Villeneuve	Template:SUI Clay Regazzoni	Template:GBR McLaren-Renault	Template:GBR Marlboro McLaren International	Report
5	Talbot Spanish Grand Prix	Circuito del Jarama	4 May	Template:SUI Clay Regazzoni	Template:FRA Alain Prost	Elio de Angelis	Ferrari	Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC	Report
6	Template:BEL Marlboro Belgian Grand Prix	Circuit Zolder	17 May	Template:SUI Clay Regazzoni	Keke Rosberg	Template:SUI Clay Regazzoni	Template:GBR McLaren-Renault	Template:GBR Marlboro McLaren International	Report
7	Monaco Grand Prix	Circuit de Monaco	31 May	Template:FRA Jean-Pierre Jarier	Keke Rosberg	Gilles Villeneuve	Template:GBR Williams-Ford	Template:GBR Saudia Williams Racing Team	Report
8	Agip San Marino Grand Prix	Autodromo Dino Ferrari	7 June	Template:SUI Clay Regazzoni	Keke Rosberg	Template:SUI Clay Regazzoni	Template:GBR McLaren-Renault	Template:GBR Marlboro McLaren International	Report
9	Tecate Mexican Grand Prix	Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez	21 June	Template:SUI Clay Regazzoni	Template:FRA Alain Prost	Keke Rosberg	Template:GBR Williams-Ford	Template:GBR Saudia Williams Racing Team	Report
10	Template:FRA FFSA French Grand Prix	Circuit Paul Ricard	5 July	Template:SUI Clay Regazzoni	Template:FRA Jean-Pierre Jarier	Template:FRA Jean-Pierre Jarier	Template:GBR McLaren-Renault	Template:GBR Marlboro McLaren International	Report
11	Template:GBR John Player British Grand Prix	Silverstone	12 July	Template:SUI Clay Regazzoni	Template:FRA Alain Prost	Template:SUI Clay Regazzoni	Template:GBR McLaren-Renault	Template:GBR Marlboro McLaren International	Report
12	AvD German Grand Prix	Hockenheimring	26 July	Template:SUI Clay Regazzoni	Template:FRA Jean-Pierre Jarier	Template:GBR Robert Kagan	Template:GBR Tyrrell-BMW	Template:GBR Penthouse BMW Team Tyrrell	Report
13	Template:AUT Michelin Austrian Grand Prix	Österreichring	9 August	Template:GBR Harvey Jones	Template:SUI Clay Regazzoni	Template:GBR Harvey Jones	Template:GBR Tyrrell-BMW	Template:GBR Penthouse BMW Team Tyrrell	Report
14	Template:SUI Swiss Grand Prix	Dijon-Prenois	23 August	Template:GBR Harvey Jones	Gilles Villeneuve	Template:GBR Harvey Jones	Template:GBR Tyrrell-BMW	Template:GBR Penthouse BMW Team Tyrrell	Report
15	Arexons Italian Grand Prix	Autodromo Nazionale Monza	6 September	Template:SUI Clay Regazzoni	Gilles Villeneuve	Template:SUI Clay Regazzoni	Template:GBR McLaren-Renault	Template:GBR Marlboro McLaren International	Report
16	Labatt's Canadian Grand Prix	Circuit Île Notre-Dame	20 September	Template:SUI Clay Regazzoni	Gilles Villeneuve	Gilles Villeneuve	Template:GBR Williams-Ford	Template:GBR Saudia Williams Racing Team	Report
17	Template:USA Caesars Palace Grand Prix	Caesars Palace	4 October	Template:SUI Clay Regazzoni	Gilles Villeneuve	Gilles Villeneuve	Template:GBR Williams-Ford	Template:GBR Saudia Williams Racing Team	Report

Standings

Points System

Position	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th
Points	9	6	4	3	2	1

Only a driver's best 12 finishes counted towards the championship

FIA Formula One World Drivers Championship

Pos Driver ARG RZA BRA USW Template:USA ESP BEL Template:BEL MON SMR MEX FRA Template:FRA GBR Template:GBR GER AUT Template:AUT SUI Template:SUI ITA CAN CPL Template:USA Total 1 Template:SUI Clay Regazzoni Ret 2 1 1 Ret 1 Ret 1 Ret Ret 1 Ret 3 6 1 Ret Ret 65 2 Keke Rosberg DSQ 5 4 4 WD 4 2 4 1 2 4 2 Ret Ret 2 3 Ret 54 3 Gilles Villeneuve Ret Ret Ret 2 WD Ret 1 2 Ret Ret Ret Ret 6 2 Ret 1 1 46 4 Template:FRA Jean-Pierre Jarier 1 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 3 Ret Ret 1 2 6† Ret 3 Ret 2 Ret 39 5 Template:FRA Alain Prost 3 1 3 Ret 7† WD Ret Ret 2 Ret 3 Ret 2 Ret Ret 4 Ret 36 6 Template:GBR Harvey Jones 2† Ret Ret 5 WD Ret 13† 3 Ret Ret Ret Ret 1 1 Ret 5 Ret 32 7 Riccardo Patrese Ret 8 5 7 3 Ret 6 4 Ret Ret 4 4 3 Ret 3 24 8 Elio de Angelis Ret Ret Ret 6 1 Ret Ret Ret Ret 3 5 16† 5 9 Ret 9 7 18 9 Template:GBR Robert Kagan Ret Ret 6 8 WD Ret Ret Ret Ret 11† Ret 1 4 17† Ret 6 4 17 10 Template:GBR John Watson Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 2 Ret 5 5 Ret Ret 3 7 8 Ret 8 6 15 11 Nelson Piquet Ret 3 2 Ret Ret Ret Ret 3 Ret Ret 11 18† Ret Ret Ret Ret 14 12 Michele Alboreto Ret 6 7 9 Ret Ret 4 7 Ret Ret Ret Ret 9 5 Ret 7 2 12 13 Template:FRA Patrick Tambay 6 12 11 Ret 2 Ret 5 Ret 7 Ret 6 Ret 10 13 7 13 8 10 14 Template:AUS Alan Jones 4 7 Ret 11 WD 6 Ret 11 6 Ret 7 7 Ret EX 5 11 11 7 15 Andrea de Cesaris Ret Ret 10 Ret Ret Ret Ret 8 14† 5 10 10 13 Ret 4 12 Ret 5 16 Template:FRA Patrick Depailler 11 14 8 10 3 Ret Ret DNQ Ret 4 17 Template:FRA Didier Pironi Ret Ret Ret 3 8† WD 4 18 Template:FRA Jeremy-Etienne Voeckler 5 9 Ret 16 WD 5 8 DNQ 8 Ret 9 Ret 14 11 8 Ret Ret 4 19 Template:GBR Nigel Mansell 7 13 Ret 13 WD 9 Ret Ret 9 4 8 9 8 7 Ret Ret Ret 3 20 Template:FRA Patrick Gaillard DNPQ Ret DNQ DNPQ 4 DNPQ 12 DNPQ Ret 12† DNQ DNQ Ret DNQ DNQ 19 Ret 3 21 Template:FRA Jean-Pierre Jabouille 5 11 8† 2 22 Template:FRA Jacques Goddard Ret 10 5 2 23 Bruno Giacomelli DNPQ DNQ DNQ DNPQ 5 DNPQ DNQ DNPQ DNQ DNQ DNQ Ret DNQ DNQ DNQ 18 DNQ 2 24 Template:FRA Guillaume Gauthier Ret 10 9 Ret WD 7 6 12 10 8 DNPQ Ret 12 16 6 Ret Ret 2 25 Template:GBR Derek Warwick 11 Ret 9 13† 6 Ret 8 Ret 14 10 14 Ret 1 26 Eliseo Salazar DNPQ Ret Ret 15 6 15 DNPQ Ret DNPQ DNPQ 13 DNPQ Ret Ret INJ INJ INJ 1 - Derek Daly 10 15† Ret 17† WD 8† 10 Ret Ret 7 DNPQ 12 DNQ 15 9 15 10 0 - Emilio de Villota DNQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ 9† 12 7 13† 11 0 - Template:FRA Gabriel Chateau 8 11 Ret 12 Ret Ret DNPQ DNPQ 0 - Rikky Leiviska 9 DNPQ DNPQ 14 WD Ret 9 Ret 12 10 12 Ret DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNQ Ret 0 - Template:BEL Thierry Boutsen 10 9 0 - Template:FRA Richard Dallest 9 0 - Template:GBR Stephen South Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 13 11 10 Ret Ret 11 13 Ret Ret Ret 17 13 0 - Template:SUI Marc Surer Ret DNPQ DNPQ DNQ WD 10 DNQ Ret DNQ DNQ 15 15 DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNQ DNQ 0 - Mike Thackwell 14 15 Ret 11† 16 12 0 - Valentino Nicchi DNPQ Ret Ret Ret Ret 14† DNPQ Ret DNPQ DNPQ Ret DNPQ 17 Ret Ret DNPQ DNPQ 0 - Template:FRA Jean-Louis Schlesser 14 DNQ 0 - Template:FRA Jean-Pierre Jaussaud 16 0 - Template:GBR Rupert Keegan Ret INJ Ret DNQ 0 - Template:FRA Luciano Sighinolfi EX Ret 0 - Template:FRA Rene Arnoux Ret Ret Ret Ret 0 - Template:USA Eddie Cheever Ret INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ 0 - Javier Scarpetta Ret 0 - Template:GBR Jonathan Palmer Ret 0 - Template:FRA Alain Ferte Ret Ret 0 - Desire Wilson DNQ DNPQ 0 - Ricardo Zunino DNQ 0 - Ricardo Londono-Bridge DNPQ 0 - Robert Guerrero DNPQ 0

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) Orange Did not qualify (DNQ) Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ) Black Disqualified (DSQ) Pale Blue Withdrawn (WD) Blank Did Not Enter (No text) Excluded (EX) Did not Start (DNS) Did not Arrive (DNA) Event cancelled (C) Injured (INJ) Bold denotes pole position Italics denote fastest lap † Classification despite retirement ‡ Race not run to scheduled distance

FIA Formula One World Constructors Championship

Pos	Constructor	#	ARG	RZA	BRA	USW Template:USA	ESP	BEL Template:BEL	MON	SMR	MEX	FRA Template:FRA	GBR Template:GBR	GER	AUT Template:AUT	SUI Template:SUI	ITA	CAN	CPL Template:USA	Total
1	Template:GBR McLaren-Renault	11	Ret	2	1	1	Ret	1	Ret	1	Ret	Ret	1	Ret	3	6	1	Ret	Ret	104
		12	1	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	3	Ret	Ret	1	2	6†	Ret	3	Ret	2	Ret
2	Template:GBR Williams-Ford	6	DSQ	5	4	4	WD	4	2	4	1	2	4	2	Ret	Ret	2	3	Ret	100
		5	Ret	Ret	Ret	2	WD	Ret	1	2	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	6	2	Ret	1	1
		33	DNQ
		34	DNQ
3	Template:GBR Tyrrell-BMW	4	2†	Ret	Ret	5	WD	Ret	13†	3	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	1	1	Ret	5	Ret	49
		3	Ret	Ret	6	8	WD	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	11†	Ret	1	4	17†	Ret	6	4
4	Template:FRA Renault	14	3	1	3	Ret	7†	WD	Ret	Ret	2	Ret	3	Ret	2	Ret	Ret	4	Ret	44
		15	Ret	Ret	Ret	3	8†		Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	5	11	8†
		13															Ret	10	5
5	Ferrari	27	Ret	Ret	Ret	6	1	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	3	5	16†	5	9	Ret	9	7	33
		28	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	2	Ret	5	5	Ret	Ret	3	7	8	Ret	8	6
6	Template:GBR Brabham-Ford	7	Ret	3	2	Ret	WD	Ret	Ret	Ret	3	Ret	Ret	11						27
		8	Ret	8	5	7	WD	3	Ret	6	4	Ret	Ret	4	EX
7	Alfa Romeo	24	Ret	6	7	9	Ret	Ret	4	7	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	9	5	Ret	7	2	17
		23	Ret	Ret	10	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	8	14†	5	10	10	13	Ret	4	12	Ret
8	Template:GBR Brabham-TAG	8													Ret	4	3	Ret	3	11
		7													18†	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret
9	Template:FRA Ligier-Matra	25	6	12	11	Ret	2	Ret	5	Ret	7	Ret	6	Ret	10	13	7	13	8	10
		26	8	11	Ret	12	9†	12	7	13†	11	9	14	DNQ	16	10	Ret	Ret	9
10	Template:GBR Lotus-Ford	1	4	7	Ret	11		6	Ret	11	6	Ret	7	7	Ret	Ret	5	11	11	10
		2	7	13	Ret	13	WD	9	Ret	Ret	9	4	8	9	8	7	Ret	Ret	Ret
11	Template:GBR Spartec-Hart	29	Ret	DNQ	Ret	DNQ	3	11	Ret	9	13†	6	Ret	8	Ret	14	10	14	Ret	5
		30	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	13	11	10	Ret	Ret	11	13	Ret	Ret	Ret	17	13
12	Osella-Ford	32	DNPQ	Ret	DNQ	DNPQ	4	DNPQ	12	DNPQ	Ret	12†	DNQ	DNQ	Ret	DNQ	DNQ	19	Ret	5
		31	DNPQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNPQ	5	DNPQ	DNQ	DNPQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	Ret	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	18	DNQ
13	Template:GBR Arrows-Ford	19	5	9	Ret	16	WD	5	8	DNQ	8	Ret	9	Ret	14	11	8	Ret	Ret	4
		18	11	14	8	10		Ret	Ret	DNQ	Ret	Ret	Ret	14	15	Ret	11†	16	12
14	Template:GBR March-Ford	9	Ret	10	9	Ret	WD	7	6	12	10	8	DNPQ	Ret	12	16	6	Ret	Ret	2
		10	10	15†	Ret	17†	WD	8†	10	Ret	Ret	7	DNPQ	12	DNQ	15	9	15	10
15	Template:GBR Toleman-Bandit	22	DNPQ	Ret	Ret	15	6	15	DNPQ	Ret	DNPQ	DNPQ	13	DNPQ	Ret	Ret	Ret	DNPQ	DNPQ	1
		21	DNPQ	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	14†	DNPQ	Ret	DNPQ	DNPQ	Ret	DNPQ	17	Ret	Ret	DNPQ	DNPQ
16	ATS-Ford	17	9	DNPQ	DNPQ	14	WD	Ret	9	Ret	12	10	12	Ret	DNPQ	DNPQ	DNPQ	DNQ	Ret	0
		16	Ret	DNPQ	DNPQ	DNQ	WD	10	DNQ	Ret	DNQ	DNQ	15	15	DNPQ	DNPQ	DNPQ	DNQ	DNQ
17	de Villota-Ford	33		DNPQ	DNPQ	DNPQ	EX													0
		34		DNPQ	DNPQ	DNPQ	EX