The 1981 FIA Formula One World Championship began on 15 March and concluded on 17 October, over 15 race weekends.
Season
Although the season included the South African Grand Prix, that event was run as a non-championship race due to the ongoing political conflict within the sport known as the FISA–FOCA war. While the race was open to Formula One entrants, its results did not count toward the official World Championship standings.
The 1981 season represented an important turning point in the governance and structure of Formula One. It was the first championship officially run under the name “FIA Formula One World Championship,” replacing the previous titles of World Championship of Drivers and the International Cup for Constructors. During this period, Bernie Ecclestone, then owner of the Brabham team and a leading figure within the Formula One Constructors’ Association (FOCA), played a major role in reshaping the sport’s commercial framework.
Teams were encouraged to sign the first Concorde Agreement, a landmark contract that established many of the commercial and regulatory foundations that still underpin Formula One today. Under the terms of this agreement, teams were committed to entering the entire championship season rather than individual races, while the FIA assumed responsibility for distributing prize money. The agreement also ensured that a consistent set of regulations would apply across all events.
Another key change followed shortly afterwards: from 1982 onward, teams were required to own the intellectual property rights to the chassis they entered in competition. This rule helped clarify the relationship between the concepts of entrant, constructor, and team, gradually merging these roles into the modern understanding of a Formula One team as both designer and entrant of its own cars.
On the track, the Drivers’ Championship was won by Nelson Piquet, who secured the first of his three Formula One world titles driving for Brabham. In the Constructors’ Championship, Williams continued their strong form by claiming the title for the second consecutive season, confirming their position as one of the leading teams of the early 1980s.
1981 Formula 1 Race Calendar
The following races were included on the original calendar but were cancelled:
| Grand Prix | Circuit | Date |
|---|---|---|
| South African Grand Prix | Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit, Midrand | 7 February |
| United States Grand Prix | Watkins Glen Grand Prix Course, New York | 4 October |
The South African Grand Prix at Kyalami was originally scheduled to open the season on 7 February. However, tensions arising from the ongoing FISA–FOCA war resulted in the race being held as a non-championship event. Only teams using Ford-Cosworth engines took part, all running cars fitted with aerodynamic devices that had been banned for the 1981 championship season.
The race at Long Beach Street Circuit, therefore, became the official championship opener after the Argentine and Brazilian Grands Prix were postponed to March and April. The Brazilian event was also relocated from the Interlagos Circuit to the Jacarepaguá Circuit because of numerous safety concerns at the São Paulo venue.
The Italian Grand Prix returned to Autodromo Nazionale Monza after a one-year absence, with the circuit undergoing significant upgrades, including the construction of a new pit building. Meanwhile, Autodromo Dino Ferrari also hosted a race that season, which was titled the San Marino Grand Prix.
The Spanish Grand Prix reappeared on the championship calendar after the 1980 edition had been excluded. In accordance with the alternating arrangement between venues, the French Grand Prix moved from Circuit Paul Ricard to Circuit de Dijon-Prenois, while the British Grand Prix switched from Brands Hatch to Silverstone Circuit.
The United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen International was initially scheduled for 4 October but was cancelled due to financial difficulties faced by the organisers. It was replaced by the Caesars Palace Grand Prix, which was staged on a temporary circuit set up in the car park of Caesars Palace.
1981 Formula 1 Race Results
Grands Prix
1981 Formula 1 Standings
Driver standings
| Pos | Driver | Nationality | Car | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nelson Piquet | BRA | Brabham Ford | 50 |
| 2 | Carlos Reutemann | ARG | Williams Ford | 49 |
| 3 | Alan Jones | AUS | Williams Ford | 46 |
| 4 | Jacques Laffite | FRA | Ligier Matra | 44 |
| 5 | Alain Prost | FRA | Renault | 43 |
| 6 | John Watson | GBR | McLaren Ford | 27 |
| 7 | Gilles Villeneuve | CAN | Ferrari | 25 |
| 8 | Elio de Angelis | ITA | Lotus Ford | 14 |
| 9 | Rene Arnoux | FRA | Renault | 11 |
| 9 | Hector Rebaque | MEX | Brabham Ford | 11 |
| 11 | Riccardo Patrese | ITA | Arrows Ford | 10 |
| 11 | Eddie Cheever | USA | Tyrrell Ford | 10 |
| 13 | Didier Pironi | FRA | Ferrari | 9 |
| 14 | Nigel Mansell | GBR | Lotus Ford | 8 |
| 15 | Bruno Giacomelli | ITA | Alfa Romeo | 7 |
| 16 | Marc Surer | SUI | Theodore Ford | 4 |
| 17 | Mario Andretti | USA | Alfa Romeo | 3 |
| 18 | Patrick Tambay | FRA | Ligier Matra | 1 |
| 18 | Andrea de Cesaris | ITA | McLaren Ford | 1 |
| 18 | Slim Borgudd | SWE | ATS Ford | 1 |
| 18 | Eliseo Salazar | CHI | Ensign Ford | 1 |
Team standings
| Pos | Team | PTS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Williams Ford | 95 |
| 2 | Brabham Ford | 61 |
| 3 | Renault | 54 |
| 4 | Ligier Matra | 44 |
| 5 | Ferrari | 34 |
| 6 | McLaren Ford | 28 |
| 7 | Lotus Ford | 22 |
| 8 | Arrows Ford | 10 |
| 9 | Alfa Romeo | 10 |
| 10 | Tyrrell Ford | 10 |
| 11 | Ensign Ford | 5 |
| 12 | Theodore Ford | 1 |
| 13 | ATS Ford | 1 |
