F1 season
Season info
Season
32
Races
15
Drivers’ Champion
Nelson Piquet (1st title; 19th different World Champion, 2nd Brazilian champion)
Constructors’ Champion
Williams-Ford Cosworth (2nd title for Williams)
Quick links
Calendar
- First race (Grand Prix)
- Caesars Palace
- San Marino
- First race (circuit)
- Las Vegas (sixth American circuit to host a World Championship race)
- Last race (circuit)
- Jarama
- First Grand Prix since…
- 1979 for Spain
- First race at a circuit since…
- 1978 for Jacarepagua
- 1979 for Dijon-Prenois, Jarama, Monza and Silverstone
- Last Grand Prix until…
- 1986 for Spain
- 1995 for Argentina
- Last race at a circuit until…
- 1983 for Silverstone
- 1995 for Buenos Aires
Race results
# | Grand Prix | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | USA West | Result |
2 | Brazil | Result |
3 | Argentina | Result |
4 | San Marino | Result |
5 | Belgium | Result |
6 | Monaco | Result |
7 | Spain | Result |
8 | France (350th World Championship race) | Result |
9 | Britain | Result |
10 | Germany | Result |
11 | Austria | Result |
12 | Netherlands | Result |
13 | Italy | Result |
14 | Canada (constructors’ title decider) | Result |
15 | Caesars Palace (drivers’ title decider) | Result |
Driver and constructor entries
The following drivers and constructors participated in the 1981 F1 season. Round(s) entered are shown in parentheses.
- Alfa Romeo
- (USA) Mario Andretti (All)
- (ITA) Bruno Giacomelli (All)
- Arrows
- (ITA) Riccardo Patrese (All)
- (ITA) Siegfried Stohr (1-13) (Rookie)
- (CAN) Jacques Villeneuve Sr (14-15) (Rookie)
- ATS
- (NLD) Jan Lammers (1-4)
- (SWE) Slim Borgudd (4-15) (Rookie)
- Brabham
- (BRA) Nelson Piquet (All)
- (MEX) Hector Rebaque (All)
- Ensign
- (CHE) Marc Surer (1-6)
- (CHL) Eliseo Salazar (7-15) (Rookie) (first Chilean driver to enter a World Championship race)
- Ferrari
- (FRA) Didier Pironi (All)
- (CAN) Gilles Villeneuve (All)
- Fittipaldi
- (FIN) Keke Rosberg (1-10, 12-15)
- (BRA) Chico Serra (1-10, 12-15) (Rookie)
- Ligier
- (FRA) Jacques Laffite (All)
- (FRA) Jean-Pierre Jarier (1-2)
- (FRA) Jean-Pierre Jabouille (3-7)
- (FRA) Patrick Tambay (8-15)
- Lotus
- (ITA) Elio de Angelis (1-3, 5-15)
- (GBR) Nigel Mansell (1-3, 5-15)
- March
- (IRL) Derek Daly (All)
- (CHL) Eliseo Salazar (1-6) (Rookie) (first Chilean driver to enter a World Championship race)
- McLaren
- (ITA) Andrea de Cesaris (All)
- (GBR) John Watson (All)
- Osella
- (ITA) Beppe Gabbiani (All) (Rookie)
- (ARG) Miguel Angel Guerra (1-4) (Rookie)
- (ITA) Piercarlo Ghinzani (5-6) (Rookie)
- (ITA) Giorgio Francia (7)
- (FRA) Jean-Pierre Jarier (9-15)
- Renault
- (FRA) Rene Arnoux (All)
- (FRA) Alain Prost (All)
- Theodore
- (FRA) Patrick Tambay (1-7)
- (CHE) Marc Surer (8-15)
- Toleman
- (GBR) Brian Henton (4-15)
- (GBR) Derek Warwick (4-15) (Rookie)
- Tyrrell
- (USA) Eddie Cheever (All)
- (USA) Kevin Cogan (1)
- (ARG) Ricardo Zunino (2-3)
- (ITA) Michele Alboreto (4-15) (Rookie)
- Williams (works team)
- (AUS) Alan Jones (All)
- (ARG) Carlos Reutemann (All)
- Williams (privateer)
- (ESP) Emilio de Villota (7)
- Final season (drivers)
- Kevin Cogan
- Giorgio Francia
- Beppe Gabbiani
- Miguel Angel Guerra
- Jean-Pierre Jabouille
- Hector Rebaque
- Siegfried Stohr
- Ricardo Zunino
- First entry (drivers) since…
- 1977 for Giorgio Francia
- 1978 for Emilio de Villota, Beppe Gabbiani and Brian Henton
- 1979 for Patrick Tambay
- Last entry (drivers) until…
- 1983 for Piercarlo Ghinzani, Alan Jones and Jacques Villeneuve Sr
- Debut season (constructors)
- Toleman
- First entry (constructors) since…
- 1978 for March and Theodore
Maiden wins
Driver | Grand Prix |
---|---|
Alain Prost (Renault) | France |
Maiden podium finishes
Driver | Grand Prix |
---|---|
Alain Prost (Renault) | Argentina |
Nigel Mansell (Lotus) | Belgium |
Bruno Giacomelli (Alfa Romeo) | Caesars Palace |
Maiden pole positions
Driver | Grand Prix |
---|---|
Riccardo Patrese (Arrows) | USA West |
Alain Prost (Renault) | Germany |
Constructor | Grand Prix |
---|---|
Arrows (Riccardo Patrese) | USA West |