1981 Formula One World Championship

The 1981 Formula One season was the 32nd of the championship. The champion was Nelson Piquet in a close battle.

Season review

Round Race Date Location Winning driver Constructor Report
1   United States Grand Prix West March 15 Long Beach   Alan Jones Williams-Ford Report
2   Brazilian Grand Prix March 29 Jacarepaguá   Carlos Reutemann Williams-Ford Report
3   Argentine Grand Prix April 12 Oscar Gálvez   Nelson Piquet Brabham-Ford Report
4   San Marino Grand Prix May 3 Imola   Nelson Piquet Brabham-Ford Report
5   Belgian Grand Prix May 17 Zolder   Carlos Reutemann Williams-Ford Report
6   Monaco Grand Prix May 31 Monaco   Gilles Villeneuve Ferrari Report
7   Spanish Grand Prix June 21 Jarama   Gilles Villeneuve Ferrari Report
8   French Grand Prix July 5 Dijon-Prenois   Alain Prost Renault Report
9   British Grand Prix July 18 Silverstone   John Watson McLaren-Ford Report
10   German Grand Prix August 2 Hockenheimring   Nelson Piquet Brabham-Ford Report
11   Austrian Grand Prix August 16 Österreichring   Jacques Laffite Ligier-Matra Report
12   Dutch Grand Prix August 30 Zandvoort   Alain Prost Renault Report
13   Italian Grand Prix September 13 Monza   Alain Prost Renault Report
14   Canadian Grand Prix September 27 Circuit Gilles Villeneuve   Jacques Laffite Ligier-Matra Report
15   Caesars Palace Grand Prix October 17 Las Vegas   Alan Jones Williams-Ford Report

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 DNQ DNQ DNQ 6 Ret Ret 10 Ret Ret DNQ 1
21   Eliseo Salazar DNQ DNQ DNQ Ret DNQ DNQ 14 Ret DNQ NC Ret 6 Ret Ret NC 1
22   Jean-Pierre Jarier Ret 7 8 8 10 Ret 9 Ret Ret 0
23   Siegfried Stohr DNQ Ret 9 DNQ Ret Ret Ret DNQ Ret 12 Ret 7 DNQ 0
24   Derek Daly DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ 16 Ret 7 Ret 11 Ret Ret 8 DNQ 0
25   Chico Serra 7 Ret Ret DNQ Ret DNQ 11 DNS DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ 0
26   Keke Rosberg Ret 9 Ret Ret Ret DNQ 12 Ret Ret DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ 10 0
27   Michele Alboreto Ret 12 Ret DNQ 16 Ret DNQ Ret 9 Ret 11 13 0
28   Brian Henton DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ 10 DNQ DNQ 0
29   Jan Lammers Ret DNQ 12 Ret 0
30   Piercarlo Ghinzani 13 DNQ 0
31   Ricardo Zunino 13 13 0
  Beppe Gabbiani Ret DNQ DNQ Ret Ret DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ 0
  Jean-Pierre Jabouille DNQ NC Ret DNQ Ret 0
  Derek Warwick DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ Ret 0
  Miguel Angel Guerra DNQ DNQ DNQ Ret 0
  Jacques Villeneuve (elder) DNQ DNQ 0
  Kevin Cogan DNQ 0
  Ricardo Londono DNQ 0
  Giorgio Francia DNQ 0
Pos Driver USW
 
BRA
 
ARG
 
SMR
 
BEL
 
MON
 
ESP
 
FRA
 
GBR
 
GER
 
AUT
 
NED
 
ITA
 
CAN
 
CPL
 
Points