Chapman eventually had to admit the 80 was not the wondercar he had planned, and after a reasonable third place for Andretti in the 1979 Spanish Grand Prix, Andretti qualified the car fifth for the Belgian Grand Prix but raced the Lotus 79 due to problems with the Lotus 80. The problems with the Lotus 80 became obvious in the Monaco Grand Prix and the French Grand Prix with Andretti retiring from both races. The Lotus 79 was modified and pressed back into service.