1981 Formula One World Championship

The 1981 FIA Formula One World Championship was the 35th season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the 1981 Formula One World Championship for Drivers and the 1981 Formula One World Championship for Manufacturers, which were contested over a fifteen-race series that commenced on 15 March and ended on 17 October. The 1981 South African Grand Prix, as a non-championship race due to difficulties from the ongoing FISA–FOCA war, was open to Formula One entrants but was not part of the World Championship.

The 1981 championship was the first to be run under the FIA Formula One World Championship name, replacing both the original World Championship of Drivers and International Cup for Constructors. Under the influence of Brabham team owner Bernie Ecclestone and the FOCA organisation, teams were asked to sign the first Concorde Agreement, which would set Formula One on course to become a profitable business. The agreement required teams to lodge entries for the entire championship rather than individual races, while the FIA would also set the prize money.

Calendar

The championship was contested over the following fifteen races:

{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%;"

! Round

! Grand Prix

! Circuit

! Date

! 1

|nowrap| United States Grand Prix West

| Long Beach Street Circuit, California

| 15 March

! 2

| Brazilian Grand Prix

| Autódromo de Jacarepaguá, Rio de Janeiro

| 29 March

! 3

| Argentine Grand Prix

| Autodromo de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires

| 12 April

! 4

| San Marino Grand Prix

| Autodromo Dino Ferrari, Imola

| 3 May

! 5

| Belgian Grand Prix

| Circuit Zolder, Heusden-Zolder

| 17 May

! 6

| Monaco Grand Prix

| Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo

| 31 May

! 7

| Spanish Grand Prix

| Circuito Permanente del Jarama, Madrid

| 21 June

! 8

| French Grand Prix

| Dijon-Prenois, Prenois

| 5 July

! 9

| British Grand Prix

| Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone

| 18 July

! 10

| German Grand Prix

| Hockenheimring, Hockenheim

| 2 August

! 11

| Austrian Grand Prix

| Österreichring, Spielberg

| 16 August

! 12

| Dutch Grand Prix

| Circuit Park Zandvoort, Zandvoort

| 30 August

! 13

| Italian Grand Prix

| Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza

| 13 September

! 14

| Canadian Grand Prix

| Île Notre-Dame Circuit, Montréal

| 27 September

! 15

| Caesars Palace Grand Prix

|nowrap| Caesars Palace Grand Prix Circuit, Las Vegas

| 17 October

The following races were included on the original calendar but were cancelled:

{|class="wikitable" width=650px style="font-size: 85%;"

! Grand Prix

! Circuit

! Scheduled date

|nowrap| South African Grand Prix

|nowrap| Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit, Midrand

|nowrap| 7 February

|nowrap| United States Grand Prix

|nowrap| Watkins Glen Grand Prix Course, New York

|nowrap| 4 October

Calendar changes

The South African Grand Prix at Kyalami was going to be the season opener on 7 February, but difficulties from the ongoing FISA–FOCA war led to the event being run as a non-championship race. It was contested only by the Ford-Cosworth powered teams, all running cars with aerodynamic devices which were banned for the 1981 championship season.
The race at Long Beach was the official championship opener after the Argentine and Brazilian Grand Prix had been moved back to March/April. The Brazilian race was also moved from the Interlagos to Jacarepaguá due to a long list of safety issues.
The Italian Grand Prix was back at Autodromo Nazionale di Monza after a year's absence. The circuit underwent major upgrades including a new pit building. The Autodromo Dino Ferrari also hosted a race, which would be dubbed the San Marino Grand Prix.
The Spanish Grand Prix returned as a championship round after the 1980 edition had been excluded.
In keeping with the event-sharing arrangement between the two circuits, the French Grand Prix was moved from Paul Ricard Circuit to Dijon-Prenois. Likewise, the British Grand Prix was moved from Brands Hatch to Silverstone.
The United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen was originally scheduled for 4 October, but was cancelled due to the hosts' financial difficulties. It was replaced by the Caesars Palace Grand Prix, held in the Caesars Palace car park.

Regulation changes

Technical regulations

For the first time, the survival cell was treated as an entity and an integral part of an F1 car. It had to extend in front of the driver's feet and wholly reinforced.
The minimum weight of the car was raised from to .

Sporting and event regulations

Tyre barriers were installed at certain tracks for the first time. resulting in a three-week long gap between the Canadian Grand Prix and the new Caesars Palace Grand Prix, at a circuit located in a car park outside of the Caesars Palace hotel and casino complex in Las Vegas, Nevada. During this time frame, Niki Lauda announced his decision to return to F1 with McLaren in 1982. Many in the F1 paddock were confused and unhappy to be racing around the car park of a Las Vegas casino.

World Championship leader Carlos Reutemann qualified on pole ahead of his teammate Alan Jones. The Australian had no intent to do anything to help the Argentine to the title because of their clash over team orders at the start of the year. He was retiring from F1 after the race and had nothing to lose whilst prioritizing a victory. Third on the grid was Gilles Villeneuve in the Ferrari, with Reutemann's title rival Nelson Piquet fourth, Alain Prost fifth in his Renault and John Watson sixth in the McLaren.

In dry, conditions, Jones took the lead at the start with Reutemann dropping behind Villeneuve, Prost and Giacomelli before the first corner, while Piquet was eighth. With Villeneuve holding up those behind, Jones drove to an unchallenged victory. Prost overtook Villeneuve on lap three but his Renault was not as fast as Jones' Williams. On the next lap Laffite overtook Watson and the order then stabilized with Piquet running behind Reutemann, both men out of the points. On lap 17 Piquet passed the subdued Reutemann and he was followed by Andretti. Piquet chased after Watson and took sixth place on lap 22. This was briefly fifth when Villeneuve stopped with a fuel injection problem. But Nelson was then overtaken by Andretti. A few moments later Giacomelli's promising run in fourth place ended when he went off and rejoined back in ninth position with Piquet was back in fifth but when Reutemann overtook Watson for sixth the pair were back on equal points (although Piquet would win the title on victories if the order stayed as is). Andretti retired with a broken rear suspension as Piquet moved to fourth and Reutemann to fifth. Soon afterwards Prost pitted for tyres and dropped to sixth but at the same time Mansell went ahead of Reutemann and as Prost recovered the Argentine lost another place. Prost's recovery would take him to second place, while Reutemann's unimpressive afternoon continued as he drifted behind the recovering Giacomelli. Piquet got up to third when Laffite went in for tyres but he was then overtaken by Mansell and Giacomelli, the Italian moving up to third in the closing laps. Jones would win the first Caesars Palace Grand Prix, ahead of Prost, Giacomelli, Mansell, Piquet and Laffite.

With Reutemann out of the points, Piquet's fifth place was enough to win his first of 3 World Championship titles.

Results and standings

Grands Prix

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 85%;"

! Round

! Grand Prix

! Pole position

! Fastest lap

! Winning driver

! Winning constructor

! 1

|nowrap| United States Grand Prix West

| Riccardo Patrese

| Alan Jones

| Williams-Ford

| Report

! 2

| Brazilian Grand Prix

| Nelson Piquet

| Marc Surer

| Carlos Reutemann

| Williams-Ford

| Report

! 3

| Argentine Grand Prix

| Nelson Piquet

| Brabham-Ford

| Report

! 4

| San Marino Grand Prix

|nowrap| Gilles Villeneuve

| Nelson Piquet

|nowrap| Brabham-Ford

| Report

! 5

| Belgian Grand Prix

|nowrap| Carlos Reutemann

| Williams-Ford

| Report

! 6

| Monaco Grand Prix

| Nelson Piquet

| Alan Jones

| Gilles Villeneuve

| Ferrari

| Report

! 7

| Spanish Grand Prix

| Jacques Laffite

| Alan Jones

| Gilles Villeneuve

| Ferrari

| Report

! 8

| French Grand Prix

| René Arnoux

| Alain Prost

| Renault

| Report

! 9

| British Grand Prix

| René Arnoux

| John Watson

| McLaren-Ford

| Report

! 10

| German Grand Prix

| Alain Prost

| Alan Jones

| Nelson Piquet

| Brabham-Ford

| Report

! 11

| Austrian Grand Prix

| René Arnoux

| Jacques Laffite

|nowrap| Talbot Ligier-Matra

| Report

! 12

| Dutch Grand Prix

| Alain Prost

| Alan Jones

| Alain Prost

| Renault

| Report

! 13

| Italian Grand Prix

| René Arnoux

| Carlos Reutemann

| Alain Prost

| Renault

| Report

! 14

| Canadian Grand Prix

| Nelson Piquet

| John Watson

| Jacques Laffite

| Talbot Ligier-Matra

| Report

! 15

| Caesars Palace Grand Prix

| Carlos Reutemann

| Didier Pironi

| Alan Jones

| Williams-Ford

| Report

Scoring system

Points were awarded to the top six classified finishers. For the Drivers' Championship, the best eleven results were counted, while, for the Constructors' Championship, all rounds were counted.

No driver classified in more than eleven points-scoring positions, so no drop-rounds applied for this season. Points were awarded in the following system:

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%; text-align:center"

!Position

!style="background-color:#ffffbf"| 1st 

!style="background-color:#dfdfdf"| 2nd 

!style="background-color:#ffdf9f"| 3rd 

!style="background-color:#dfffdf"| 4th 

!style="background-color:#dfffdf"| 5th 

!style="background-color:#dfffdf"| 6th 

!Race

| style="background-color:#ffffbf"|9

| style="background-color:#dfdfdf"|6

| style="background-color:#ffdf9f"|4

| style="background-color:#dfffdf"|3

| style="background-color:#dfffdf"|2

| style="background-color:#dfffdf"|1

|- class="sortbottom"

! colspan="7" |Source:

World Drivers' Championship standings

|- valign="top"

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%; text-align:center;"

|- valign="top"

!valign="middle"| Pos

!valign="middle"| Driver

! USW

! BRA

! ARG

! SMR

! BEL

! MON

! ESP

! FRA

! GBR

! GER

! AUT

! NED

! ITA

! CAN

! CPL

!valign="middle"| Points

! 1

|align="left"| Nelson Piquet

|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3

|style="background:#cfcfff;"|

|style="background:#ffffbf;"|

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| 1

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#efcfff;"|

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| 1

|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 2

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 6

|style="background:#dfffdf;"|

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 5

! 50

! 2

|align="left"| Carlos Reutemann

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 2

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| 1

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 2

|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3

|style="background:#ffffbf;"|

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 4

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 10

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 2

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 5

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffdf9f;"|

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 10

|style="background:#cfcfff;"|

! 49

! 3

|align="left"| Alan Jones

|style="background:#ffffbf;"|

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 2

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 4

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 12

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"|

|style="background:#cfcfff;"|

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 17

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"|

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 4

|style="background:#ffdf9f;"|

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 2

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| 1

! 46

! 4

|align="left"| Jacques Laffite

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 6

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 2

|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"|

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3

|style="background:#ffffbf;"|

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| 1

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 6

! 44

! 5

|align="left"| Alain Prost

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffffbf;"|

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"|

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffffbf;"|

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| 1

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 2

! 43

! 6

|align="left"| John Watson

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 8

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 10

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 7

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 2

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| 1

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 6

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"|

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 7

! 27

! 7

|align="left"| Gilles Villeneuve

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"|

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 4

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| 1

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 10

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3

|style="background:#000000; color:white"| DSQ

! 25

! 8

|align="left"| Elio de Angelis

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 5

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 6

| WD

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 5

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 5

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 6

|style="background:#000000; color:white"| DSQ

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 7

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 5

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 4

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 6

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

! 14

! 9

|align="left"| René Arnoux

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 8

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 5

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 8

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 9

|style="background:#dfffdf;"|

|style="background:#cfcfff;"|

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 13

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"|

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#efcfff;"|

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

! 11

! 10

|align="left"| Héctor Rebaque

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 4

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 9

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 5

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 4

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 4

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

! 11

|align="left"| Riccardo Patrese

|style="background:#efcfff;"|

|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 7

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 2

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 14

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 10

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 11

! 10

! 12

|align="left"| Eddie Cheever

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 5

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| NC

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 6

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 5

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| NC

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 13

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 4

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 5

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 12

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

! 10

! 13

|align="left"| Didier Pironi

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 5

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 8

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 4

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 15

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 5

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 9

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 5

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"|

! 9

! 14

|align="left"| Nigel Mansell

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 11

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| WD

|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 6

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 7

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 4

! 8

! 15

|align="left"| Bruno Giacomelli

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| NC

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 10

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 9

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 10

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 15

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 15

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 8

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 4

|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3

! 7

! 16

|align="left"| Marc Surer

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#dfffdf;"|

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 9

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 11

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 6

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 12

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 11

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 14

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 8

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 9

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

! 4

! 17

|align="left"| Mario Andretti

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 4

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 8

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 10

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 8

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 9

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 7

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

! 3

! 18

|align="left"| Andrea de Cesaris

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 11

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 6

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 11

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 8

|style="background:#ffffff;"| DNS

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 7

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 12

! 1

! 19

|align="left"| Patrick Tambay

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 6

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 10

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 11

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 7

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 13

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

! 1

! 20

|align="left"| Slim Borgudd

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 13

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNPQ

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 6

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 10

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

! 1

! 21

|align="left"| Eliseo Salazar

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNPQ

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 14

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| NC

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 6

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| NC

! 1

! —

|align="left"| Jean-Pierre Jarier

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 7

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 8

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 10

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 9

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

! 0

! —

|align="left"| Siegfried Stohr

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 9

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 12

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 7

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

! 0

! —

|align="left"| Derek Daly

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNPQ

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 16

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 7

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 11

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 8

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

! 0

! —

|align="left"| Chico Serra

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 7

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 11

|style="background:#ffffff;"| DNS

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

! 0

! —

|align="left"| Keke Rosberg

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 9

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 12

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 10

! 0

! —

|align="left"| Michele Alboreto

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 12

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 16

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 9

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 11

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 13

! 0

! —

|align="left"| Brian Henton

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNPQ

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 10

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

! 0

! —

|align="left"| Jan Lammers

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 12

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

! 0

! —

|align="left"| Ricardo Zunino

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 13

! 0

! —

|align="left"| Piercarlo Ghinzani

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 13

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

! 0

! —

|align="left"| Jean-Pierre Jabouille

|WD

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| NC

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

! 0

! —

|align="left"| Beppe Gabbiani

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

! 0

! —

|align="left"| Derek Warwick

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNPQ

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

! 0

! —

|align="left"| Miguel Ángel Guerra

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

! 0

! —

|align="left"|

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

! 0

! —

|align="left"| Kevin Cogan

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

! 0

! —

|align="left"| Giorgio Francia

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

! 0

! —

|align="left"| Ricardo Londoño

| DNP

! 0

! —

|align="left"| Emilio de Villota

| EX

! 0

|- valign="top"

!valign="middle"| Pos

!valign="middle"| Driver

! USW

! BRA

! ARG

! SMR

! BEL

! MON

! ESP

! FRA

! GBR

! GER

! AUT

! NED

! ITA

! CAN

! CPL

!valign="middle"| Points

!colspan=18|Source:

World Constructors' Championship standings

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%; text-align:center;"

|- valign="top"

!valign="middle"|Pos

!valign="middle"|Constructor

!valign="middle"| Car no.

! USW

! BRA

! ARG

! SMR

! BEL

! MON

! ESP

! FRA

! GBR

! GER

! AUT

! NED

! ITA

! CAN

! CPL

!valign="middle"|Pts

!rowspan=3| 1

|rowspan=3 align="left"| Williams-Ford

|align="center"| 1

|style="background:#ffffbf;"|

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 2

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 4

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 12

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"|

|style="background:#cfcfff;"|

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 17

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"|

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 4

|style="background:#ffdf9f;"|

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 2

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| 1

!rowspan=3| 95

|align="center"| 2

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 2

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| 1

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 2

|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3

|style="background:#ffffbf;"|

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 4

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 10

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 2

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 5

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffdf9f;"|

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 10

|style="background:#cfcfff;"|

|align="center"| 37

| EX

!rowspan=2| 2

|rowspan=2 align="left"| Brabham-Ford

|align="center"| 5

|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3

|style="background:#cfcfff;"|

|style="background:#ffffbf;"|

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| 1

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#efcfff;"|

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| 1

|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 2

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 6

|style="background:#dfffdf;"|

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 5

!rowspan=2| 61

|align="center"| 6

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 4

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 9

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 5

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 4

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 4

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

!rowspan=2| 3

|rowspan=2 align="left"| Renault

|align="center"| 15

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffffbf;"|

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"|

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffffbf;"|

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| 1

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 2

!rowspan=2| 54

|align="center"| 16

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 8

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 5

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 8

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 9

|style="background:#dfffdf;"|

|style="background:#cfcfff;"|

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 13

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"|

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#efcfff;"|

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

!rowspan=2| 4

|rowspan=2 align="left" nowrap| Talbot Ligier-Matra

|align="center"| 25

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 7

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| NC

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

!rowspan=2| 44

|align="center"| 26

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 6

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 2

|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"|

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3

|style="background:#ffffbf;"|

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| 1

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 6

!rowspan=2| 5

|rowspan=2 align="left"| Ferrari

|align="center"| 27

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"|

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 4

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| 1

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 10

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3

|style="background:#000000; color:white"| DSQ

!rowspan=2| 34

|align="center"| 28

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 5

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 8

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 4

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 15

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 5

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 9

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 5

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"|

!rowspan=2| 6

|rowspan=2 align="left"| McLaren-Ford

|align="center"| 7

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 8

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 10

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 7

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 2

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| 1

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 6

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"|

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 7

!rowspan=2| 28

|align="center"| 8

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 11

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 6

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 11

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 8

|style="background:#ffffff;"| DNS

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 7

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 12

!rowspan=2| 7

|rowspan=2 align="left"| Lotus-Ford

|align="center"| 11

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 5

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 6

| WD

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 5

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 5

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 6

|style="background:#000000; color:white"| DSQ

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 7

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 5

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 4

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 6

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

!rowspan=2| 22

|align="center"| 12

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 11

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| WD

|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 6

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 7

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 4

!rowspan=2| 8

|rowspan=2 align="left"| Arrows-Ford

|align="center"| 29

|style="background:#efcfff;"|

|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 7

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 2

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 14

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 10

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 11

!rowspan=2| 10

|align="center"| 30

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 9

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 12

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 7

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

!rowspan=2| 9

|rowspan=2 align="left"| Alfa Romeo

|align="center"| 22

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 4

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 8

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 10

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 8

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 9

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 7

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

!rowspan=2| 10

|align="center"| 23

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| NC

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 10

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 9

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 10

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 15

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 15

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 8

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 4

|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3

!rowspan=2| 10

|rowspan=2 align="left"| Tyrrell-Ford

|align="center"| 3

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 5

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| NC

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 6

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 5

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| NC

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 13

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 4

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 5

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 12

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

!rowspan=2| 10

|align="center"| 4

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 13

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 12

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 16

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 9

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 11

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 13

! 11

|align="left"| Ensign-Ford

|align="center"| 14

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#dfffdf;"|

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 9

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 11

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 6

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 14

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| NC

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 6

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| NC

! 5

! 12

|align="left"| Theodore-Ford

|align="center"| 33

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 6

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 10

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 11

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 7

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 13

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 12

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 11

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 14

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 8

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 9

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

! 1

!rowspan=2| 13

|rowspan=2 align="left"| ATS-Ford

|align="center"| 9

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 12

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 6

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 10

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

!rowspan=2| 1

|align="center"| 10

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 13

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNPQ

!rowspan=2| —

|rowspan=2 align="left"| March-Ford

|align="center"| 17

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNPQ

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 16

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 7

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 11

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 8

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

!rowspan=2| 0

|align="center"| 18

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNPQ

!rowspan=2| —

|rowspan=2 align="left"| Fittipaldi-Ford

|align="center"| 20

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 9

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 12

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 10

!rowspan=2| 0

|align="center"| 21

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 7

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 11

|style="background:#ffffff;"| DNS

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

!rowspan=2| —

|rowspan=2 align="left"| Osella-Ford

|align="center"| 31

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 13

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

!rowspan=2| 0

|align="center"| 32

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

| WD

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 8

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 10

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 9

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

!rowspan=2| —

|rowspan=2 align="left"| Toleman-Hart

|align="center"| 35

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNPQ

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 10

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

!rowspan=2| 0

|align="center"| 36

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNPQ

|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|- valign="top"

!valign="middle"|Pos

!valign="middle"|Constructor

!valign="middle"| Car no.

! USW

! BRA

! ARG

! SMR

! BEL

! MON

! ESP

! FRA

! GBR

! GER

! AUT

! NED

! ITA

! CAN

! CPL

!valign="middle"|Pts

!colspan=19|Source:

Non-championship race

A single non-championship Formula One race was also held in 1981. It was technically a Formula Libre race, since the cars did not conform to the current Formula One regulations. Although not a part of the World Championship, the 1981 South African Grand Prix attracted high-calibre drivers and cars and was won by Carlos Reutemann in a Williams.

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"

! Race name

! Circuit

! Date

! Winning driver

! Constructor

! Report

|nowrap| South African Grand Prix

| Kyalami

|nowrap| 7 February

|nowrap| Carlos Reutemann

|nowrap| Williams-Ford

| Report

Notes

References

External links

1981 F1 review