1981 Italian Grand Prix

The 1981 Italian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Monza on 13 September 1981.
Formula One returned to the Monza circuit after a year's absence; the previous Italian Grand Prix had been held at the Imola circuit.
Coming into Italy, both Nelson Piquet and Carlos Reutemann were tied on points in the Drivers' Championship; Reutemann would eventually leave with the lead. Alain Prost was also becoming a challenger for the world title, having been challenging both leaders in the recent races.
The race would be known for the first time a qualified and finished in a race, with Brian Henton qualifying the car in 23rd place.
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==Background==
After a year away from Formula One in , Monza returned to the Formula One circus in its usual place as the Italian Grand Prix. There was continued change at , the team were trialling Goodyear tyres on Eddie Cheever's car for Italy whilst Michele Alboreto continued to run on Avon rubber.
With three rounds to go the championship fight was looking much more intense. Carlos Reutemann and Nelson Piquet jointly led the championship on 45 points whilst eleven points behind was Jacques Laffite in third. Alan Jones in the second was fourth, three points behind Laffite whilst three points behind Jones with a very slim chance at the title was Alain Prost. Prost and Renault had proven to be the fastest pairing on the grid in the second half of the season, only poor reliability had prevented him from being closer in the championship and adding to his two wins. Nonetheless Renault were once again predicted to be the fastest team on the grid.
After McLaren had refused to allow its driver Andrea de Cesaris to race in Zandvoort due to his consistent performance in destroying the team's cars, there was much speculation leading to the idea that De Cesaris had been sacked. Fortunately for the young Italian, the team had agreed to continue racing with him until the end of the season, although it was more than likely that De Cesaris would be forced to find a new drive for especially considering Niki Lauda was rumoured to be returning to F1 with the team.
===Entry List===
The full entry list for the is outlined below:
No. 	Driver 	Entrant 	Constructor 	Chassis 	Engine 	Model 	Tyre
1 	Alan Jones 	TAG Williams Team 	 	FW07C 	 	DFV 3.0 V8 	
2 	Carlos Reutemann 	TAG Williams Team 	 	FW07C 	 	DFV 3.0 V8 	
3 	Eddie Cheever 	Tyrrell Racing Team 	 	011 	 	DFV 3.0 V8 	
4 	Michele Alboreto 	Tyrrell Racing Team 	 	011 	 	DFV 3.0 V8 	
5 	Nelson Piquet 	Parmalat Racing Team 	 	BT49C 	 	DFV 3.0 V8 	
6 	Héctor Rebaque 	Parmalat Racing Team 	 	BT49C 	 	DFV 3.0 V8 	
7 	John Watson 	Marlboro McLaren International 	 	MP4/1 	 	DFV 3.0 V8 	
8 	Andrea de Cesaris 	Marlboro McLaren International 	 	MP4/1 	 	DFV 3.0 V8 	
9 	Slim Borgudd 	Team ATS 	 	HGS1 	 	DFV 3.0 V8 	
11 	Elio de Angelis 	John Player Team Lotus 	 	87 	 	DFV 3.0 V8 	
12 	Nigel Mansell 	John Player Team Lotus 	 	87 	 	DFV 3.0 V8 	
14 	Eliseo Salazar 	Ensign Racing 	 	N180B 	 	DFV 3.0 V8 	
15 	Alain Prost 	Equipe Renault Elf 	 	RE30 	 	EF1 3.0 V6t 	
16 	René Arnoux 	Equipe Renault Elf 	 	RE30 	 	EF1 3.0 V6t 	
17 	Derek Daly 	March Grand Prix Team 	 	811 	 	DFV 3.0 V8 	
20 	Keke Rosberg 	Fittipaldi Automotive 	 	F8C 	 	DFV 3.0 V8 	
21 	Chico Serra 	Fittipaldi Automotive 	 	F8C 	 	DFV 3.0 V8 	
22 	Mario Andretti 	Marlboro Team Alfa Romeo 	 	179D 	 	1260 3.0 V12 	
23 	Bruno Giacomelli 	Marlboro Team Alfa Romeo 	 	179C 	 	1260 3.0 V12 	
24 	Mauro Baldi 	Marlboro Team Alfa Romeo 	 	179C 	 	1260 3.0 V12 	
25 	Patrick Tambay 	Equipe Talbot Gitanes 	 	JS17 	 	MS81 3.0 V12 	
26 	Jacques Laffite 	Equipe Talbot Gitanes 	 	JS17 	 	MS81 3.0 V12 	
27 	Gilles Villeneuve 	Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC 	 	126CK 	 	021 3.0 V6t 	
28 	Didier Pironi 	Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC 	 	126CK 	 	021 3.0 V6t 	
29 	Riccardo Patrese 	Ragno Arrows Beta Racing Team 	 	A3 	 	DFV 3.0 V8 	
30 	Siegfried Stohr 	Ragno Arrows Beta Racing Team 	 	A3 	 	DFV 3.0 V8 	
31 	Beppe Gabbiani 	Osella Squadra Corse 	 	FA1B 	 	DFV 3.0 V8 	
32 	Jean-Pierre Jarier 	Osella Squadra Corse 	 	FA1C 	 	DFV 3.0 V8 	
33 	Marc Surer 	Theodore Racing Team 	 	TY01 	 	DFV 3.0 V8 	
35 	Brian Henton 	Candy Toleman Motorsport 	 	TG181 	 	415T 3.0 L4t 	
36 	Derek Warwick 	Candy Toleman Motorsport 	 	TG181 	 	415T 3.0 L4t 	
Source:'Italy 1981: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1981/italie/engages.aspx, (Accessed (14/03/2020)	Source:'Italy 1981: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1981/italie/engages.aspx, (Accessed (14/03/2020)	Source:'Italy 1981: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1981/italie/engages.aspx, (Accessed (14/03/2020)	Source:'Italy 1981: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1981/italie/engages.aspx, (Accessed (14/03/2020)	Source:'Italy 1981: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1981/italie/engages.aspx, (Accessed (14/03/2020)	Source:'Italy 1981: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1981/italie/engages.aspx, (Accessed (14/03/2020)	Source:'Italy 1981: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1981/italie/engages.aspx, (Accessed (14/03/2020)	Source:'Italy 1981: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1981/italie/engages.aspx, (Accessed (14/03/2020)
==Practice Overview==
==Qualifying==
The Renault's were once again quick in practice, however they did not completely lock out the front row of the grid as Carlos Reutemann managed to put his Williams in between pole sitter René Arnoux and recent race winner Alain Prost. Thereafter came the other championship contenders of Laffite, Jones and Piquet. At the back half of the top ten was John Watson and the two s of Didier Pironi and Gilles Villeneuve.
Siegfried Stohr had an enormous accident in qualifying, destroying his in the process, Stohr exited the wreckage badly shaken but otherwise unscathed. Brian Henton managed to qualify in 23rd place, finally giving the newly formed team an opportunity to perform in the race. Henton would be starting his first F1 race since the 1977 United States Grand Prix West.
===Qualifying Results===
The full qualifying results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Time 	Time 	Gap
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Q1 	Q2 	Gap
1 	16 	René Arnoux 	 	1:34.042 	1:34.467 	—
2 	2 	Carlos Reutemann 	 	1:35.153 	1:34.140 	+0.673s
3 	15 	Alain Prost 	 	1:34.492 	1:34.374 	+0.907s
4 	26 	Jacques Laffite 	 	1:36.529T 	1:35.062 	+1.595s
5 	1 	Alan Jones 	 	1:35.983 	1:35.359 	+1.892s
6 	5 	Nelson Piquet 	 	1:35.449T 	1:35.484T 	+1.982s
7 	7 	John Watson 	 	1:35.795 	1:35.557T 	+2.090s
8 	28 	Didier Pironi 	 	1:35.779T 	1:35.596T 	+2.129s
9 	27 	Gilles Villeneuve 	 	1:35.627 	1:55.012 	+2.160s
10 	23 	Bruno Giacomelli 	 	1:38.617 	1:35.946 	+2.479s
11 	11 	Elio de Angelis 	 	1:36.158 	1:36.309 	+2.691s
12 	12 	Nigel Mansell 	 	1:38.100 	1:36.210 	+2.743s
13 	22 	Mario Andretti 	 	1:37.166 	1:36.296 	+2.829s
14 	6 	Héctor Rebaque 	 	1:37.131 	1:36.472 	+3.005s
15 	25 	Patrick Tambay 	 	1:36.515 	1:36.545 	+3.048s
16 	8 	Andrea de Cesaris 	 	— 	1:37.019 	+3.552s
17 	3 	Eddie Cheever 	 	1:38.736 	1:37.160 	+3.693s
18 	32 	Jean-Pierre Jarier 	 	1:38.167 	1:37.264 	+3.797s
19 	17 	Derek Daly 	 	1:38.852 	1:37.309 	+3.842s
20 	29 	Riccardo Patrese 	 	1:37.355 	1:37.552 	+3.888s
21 	9 	Slim Borgudd 	 	1:39.106 	1:37.807 	+4.340s
22 	4 	Michele Alboreto 	 	1:38.411 	1:37.912 	+4.445s
23 	35 	Brian Henton 	 	1:41.369T 	1:38.012 	+4.545s
24 	14 	Eliseo Salazar 	 	1:39.033 	1:38.053 	+4.586s
DNQ 	33 	Marc Surer 	 	1:38.778 	1:38.114 	+4.647s
DNQ 	31 	Beppe Gabbiani 	 	1:40.930 	1:38.474 	+5.007s
DNQ 	36 	Derek Warwick 	 	1:39.936 	1:39.279 	+5.812s
DNQ 	30 	Siegfried Stohr 	 	1:39.713 	1:39.776 	+6.246s
DNQ 	20 	Keke Rosberg 	 	1:42.229 	1:40.345 	+6.878s
DNQ 	21 	Chico Serra 	 	1:41.185 	1:40.437 	+6.970s
WD 	24 	Mauro Baldi 	 	Withdrawn 	Withdrawn 	Withdrawn
Source:'Italy 1981: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1981/italie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed (14/03/2020)'1981 Italian Grand Prix race report', motorsportmagazine.com, (Motor Sport Magazine, 01/10/1981), https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/october-1981/46/the-italian-grand-prix-10, (Accessed (14/03/2020)	Source:'Italy 1981: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1981/italie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed (14/03/2020)'1981 Italian Grand Prix race report', motorsportmagazine.com, (Motor Sport Magazine, 01/10/1981), https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/october-1981/46/the-italian-grand-prix-10, (Accessed (14/03/2020)	Source:'Italy 1981: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1981/italie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed (14/03/2020)'1981 Italian Grand Prix race report', motorsportmagazine.com, (Motor Sport Magazine, 01/10/1981), https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/october-1981/46/the-italian-grand-prix-10, (Accessed (14/03/2020)	Source:'Italy 1981: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1981/italie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed (14/03/2020)'1981 Italian Grand Prix race report', motorsportmagazine.com, (Motor Sport Magazine, 01/10/1981), https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/october-1981/46/the-italian-grand-prix-10, (Accessed (14/03/2020)	Source:'Italy 1981: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1981/italie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed (14/03/2020)'1981 Italian Grand Prix race report', motorsportmagazine.com, (Motor Sport Magazine, 01/10/1981), https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/october-1981/46/the-italian-grand-prix-10, (Accessed (14/03/2020)	Source:'Italy 1981: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1981/italie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed (14/03/2020)'1981 Italian Grand Prix race report', motorsportmagazine.com, (Motor Sport Magazine, 01/10/1981), https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/october-1981/46/the-italian-grand-prix-10, (Accessed (14/03/2020)	Source:'Italy 1981: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1981/italie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed (14/03/2020)'1981 Italian Grand Prix race report', motorsportmagazine.com, (Motor Sport Magazine, 01/10/1981), https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/october-1981/46/the-italian-grand-prix-10, (Accessed (14/03/2020)
*Bold indicates a driver's best/qualifying time.
*T Indicates a driver using a test/spare car to set their best/qualifying time in that session.
===Grid===
** Rebaque and Alboreto would start the race from the pitlane.
==Race==
=== Report ===
At the start Arnoux overtook Reutemann in the run down to turn one as Prost led away. Reutemann retook second place from Arnoux heading into turn three. Didier Pironi made an excellent start from eighth on the grid, moving into fourth by the first corner much to the delight of the Tifosi. By the end of the lap, Pironi had moved his Ferrari past Arnoux and Reutemann to take second. 
Reutemann began to drop back, dropping behind Arnoux and Jacques Laffite. On lap five, Arnoux took second position from Pironi whilst the second Ferrari of Gilles Villeneuve retired with engine failure. Pironi began to drop back to Laffite and the two Williams cars of Reutemann and Jones.
On lap 11, Eddie Cheever spun off the circuit to retire whilst Laffite also pulled out of the race with a slow puncture. A lap later, Arnoux spun off the circuit whilst trying to avoid Cheever's stricken Tyrrell, bringing an end to his race. At this time a light rain had hit the circuit adding a further challenge for the drivers.
Patrick Tambay had stormed through the field, following Jones and Piquet after overtaking Pironi who continued to drop back. Reutemann was underperforming having fallen behind Pironi and John Watson's McLaren, now coming under pressure from Bruno Giacomelli's Alfa Romeo.
On lap 19, Watson went wide into the second lesmo where he got caught on a kerb and spun 90 degrees and smashed into the opposing barrier. Watson's McLaren disintegrated, his car was ripped in two. The rear half of his car burst into flame as Watson's gearbox and wheels skitted across the circuit. Michele Alboreto got caught in the debris, causing enough damage to end his race. Carlos Reutemann who was following Watson was forced to take avoiding driving wide off the circuit and in doing so lost a place to Giacomelli, but nonetheless emerging unscathed. Watson remarkably emerged from the wreck unhurt, managing to walk back to the pits.
Patrick Tambay who was doing well for Ligier in third retired similarly to teammate Laffite with a puncture. This put Bruno Giacomelli into third place, a rare strong performance for the Alfa Romeo in 1981. However the success was not to last as he was forced into the pits with a jammed gearbox to retire.
Alain Prost continued to dominate the race out front for Renault whilst Alan Jones was an unchallenged second. Nelson Piquet and Carlos Reutemann diced for third place, it did not seem likely that Reutemann could get past Piquet, however Piquet's Brabham suffered an engine failure on the final lap, crucially in the world championship allowing Reutemann to take third. Elio de Angelis took fourth position whilst Didier Pironi was fifth for Ferrari. Nelson Piquet was consoled with at least gaining a single point in sixth. Andrea de Cesaris would have finished sixth in his McLaren albeit a puncture on the final lap rendering him out of the points.
===Results===
The full results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Laps 	Time/Retired 	Grid 	Points
1 	15 	Alain Prost 	 	52 	1:26:33.897 	3 	9
2 	1 	Alan Jones 	 	52 	+22.175s 	5 	6
3 	2 	Carlos Reutemann 	 	52 	+50.587s 	2 	4
4 	11 	Elio de Angelis 	 	52 	+1:32.902 	11 	3
5 	28T 	Didier Pironi 	 	52 	+1:34.522 	8 	2
6* 	5 	Nelson Piquet 	 	51 	Engine 	6 	1
7* 	8 	Andrea de Cesaris 	 	51 	Accident 	16 	
8 	23 	Bruno Giacomelli 	 	50 	+2 laps 	10 	
9 	32 	Jean-Pierre Jarier 	 	50 	+2 laps 	18 	
10 	35 	Brian Henton 	 	49 	+3 laps 	23 	
Ret 	22 	Mario Andretti 	 	41 	Transmission 	13 	
Ret 	17 	Derek Daly 	 	37 	Gearbox 	19 	
Ret 	25 	Patrick Tambay 	 	22 	Puncture 	15 	
Ret 	12 	Nigel Mansell 	 	21 	Handling 	12 	
Ret 	7 	John Watson 	 	19 	Accident 	7 	
Ret 	29 	Riccardo Patrese 	 	19 	Gearbox 	20 	
Ret 	4 	Michele Alboreto 	 	16 	Accident 	PL 	
Ret 	14 	Eliseo Salazar 	 	13 	Tyre 	24 	
Ret 	16 	René Arnoux 	 	12 	Accident 	1 	
Ret 	3 	Eddie Cheever 	 	11 	Spin 	17 	
Ret 	26 	Jacques Laffite 	 	11 	Puncture 	4 	
Ret 	9T 	Slim Borgudd 	 	10 	Spin 	21 	
Ret 	27 	Gilles Villeneuve 	 	6 	Turbo 	9 	
Ret 	6 	Héctor Rebaque 	 	0 	Ignition 	PL 	
DNQ 	33 	Marc Surer 	 	 	 	 	
DNQ 	31 	Beppe Gabbiani 	 	 	 	 	
DNQ 	36 	Derek Warwick 	 	 	 	 	
DNQ 	30 	Siegfried Stohr 	 	 	 	 	
DNQ 	20 	Keke Rosberg 	 	 	 	 	
DNQ 	21 	Chico Serra 	 	 	 	 	
WD 	24 	Mauro Baldi 	 	 	 	 	
Source:'Italy 1981: Results', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1981/italie/classement.aspx, (Accessed (14/03/2020)	Source:'Italy 1981: Results', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1981/italie/classement.aspx, (Accessed (14/03/2020)	Source:'Italy 1981: Results', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1981/italie/classement.aspx, (Accessed (14/03/2020)	Source:'Italy 1981: Results', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1981/italie/classement.aspx, (Accessed (14/03/2020)	Source:'Italy 1981: Results', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1981/italie/classement.aspx, (Accessed (14/03/2020)	Source:'Italy 1981: Results', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1981/italie/classement.aspx, (Accessed (14/03/2020)	Source:'Italy 1981: Results', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1981/italie/classement.aspx, (Accessed (14/03/2020)	Source:'Italy 1981: Results', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1981/italie/classement.aspx, (Accessed (14/03/2020)
*T Indicates a driver using a test/spare car.
** Piquet and de Cesaris were still classified despite retiring as they had completed 90% of the race distance.
==Milestones==
==Standings after race==
==References==
Images and Videos:
*
References:
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:Italian Grand Prix
Category:1981 Grands Prix
Category:Formula One races in Italy