1981 Monaco Grand Prix

The 1981 Monaco Grand Prix was the sixth race of the 1981 Formula One season. Gilles Villeneuve won the race for , taking the team's first win since .
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==Background==
Heading into Monaco, Carlos Reutemann continued to enjoy a comfortable lead in the world championship on 34 points, however Nelson Piquet was slowly creeping closer in the standings, now only 12 points behind the driver. Reigning champion Alan Jones in the other Williams was three points behind Piquet whilst Riccardo Patrese was impressing with his consistency to sit fourth in the standings for . The consistent success of the Williams paring of Reutemann and Jones meant that Williams had an enormous points advantage in the constructors championship, sitting on 58 points in comparison to nearest challenger Brabham's 25.
The Formula One grid had expanded to 31 cars, the overcrowding of the pits had been the cause of tragedy with the death of an mechanic in the previous round at Belgium. As a result the even more tightly packed and congested circuit of Monaco would host a pre-qualifying session ahead of the usual qualifying session in order to downsize the field. Monaco would only host 20 cars in the race as opposed to the usual 24 due to its congested nature. This meant 11 cars would fail to make it onto the grid for the Sunday race.
===Entry list===
The full entry list for the is outlined below:
No.	Driver 	Entrant 	Constructor	Chassis	Engine	Model 	Tyre
1 	Alan Jones 	Albilad-Williams Racing Team 	 	FW07C 	 	DFV 3.0 V8 	
2 	Carlos Reutemann 	Albilad-Williams Racing Team 	 	FW07C 	 	DFV 3.0 V8 	
3 	Eddie Cheever 	Tyrrell Racing Team 	 	010 	 	DFV 3.0 V8 	
4 	Michele Alboreto 	Tyrrell Racing Team 	 	010 	 	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 	Jan Lammers 	Team ATS 	 	HGS1 	 	DFV 3.0 V8 	
10 	Slim Borgudd 	Team ATS 	 	HGS1 	 	DFV 3.0 V8 	
11 	Elio de Angelis 	Team Essex Lotus 	 	87 	 	DFV 3.0 V8 	
12 	Nigel Mansell 	Team Essex Lotus 	 	87 	 	DFV 3.0 V8 	
14 	Marc Surer 	Ensign Racing 	 	N180B 	 	DFV 3.0 V8 	
15 	Alain Prost 	Equipe Renault Elf 	 	RE30 	 	EF1 1.5 V6t 	
16 	René Arnoux 	Equipe Renault Elf 	 	RE30 	 	EF1 1.5 V6t 	
17 	Eliseo Salazar 	March Grand Prix Team 	 	811 	 	DFV 3.0 V8 	
18 	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 	 	179C 	 	1260 3.0 V12	
23 	Bruno Giacomelli 	Marlboro Team Alfa Romeo 	 	179C 	 	1260 3.0 V12	
25 	Jean-Pierre Jabouille	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 1.5 V6t 	
28 	Didier Pironi 	Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC 	 	126CK 	 	021 1.5 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 	Piercarlo Ghinzani 	Osella Squadra Corse 	 	FA1B 	 	DFV 3.0 V8 	
33 	Patrick Tambay 	Theodore Racing Team 	 	TY01 	 	DFV 3.0 V8 	
35 	Brian Henton 	Candy Toleman Motorsport 	 	TG181 	 	415T 1.5 L4t	
36 	Derek Warwick 	Candy Toleman Motorsport 	 	TG181 	 	415T 1.5 L4t	
==Practice Overview==
==Pre-Qualifying==
===Pre-Qualifying Results===
The full pre-qualifying results for the are outlined below:
Pos.	No.	Driver 	Constructor	Time 	Gap
1 	33 	Patrick Tambay 	 	1:30.492 	—
2 	14 	Marc Surer 	 	1:31.249 	+0.757s
3 	32 	Piercarlo Ghinzani	 	1:32.704 	+2.212s
4 	31 	Beppe Gabbiani 	 	1:33.189 	+2.697s
DNPQ	10 	Slim Borgudd 	 	1:33.285 	+2.793s
DNPQ	18 	Derek Daly 	 	1:33.800 	+3.308s
DNPQ	17 	Eliseo Salazar 	 	1:35.249 	+4.757s
DNPQ	35 	Brian Henton 	 	1:37.528 	+7.036s
DNPQ	36 	Derek Warwick 	 	1:41.966 	+11.474s
WD 	9 	Jan Lammers 	 	Withdrawn	Withdrawn
==Qualifying==
The unfortunate cars that would have to endure the pre-qualifying session were the two 's, the two 's and the lone cars of Slim Borgudd's , Patrick Tambay's and Marc Surer's . Tambay and Surer were the two cars to survive pre-qualifying and advance into the main qualifying session.
Failing to qualify were the two cars of Keke Rosberg and Chico Serra, Jean-Pierre Jabouille's , the two 's and surprisingly Héctor Rebaque's Brabham.
In contrast to Rebaque, teammate Nelson Piquet took the pole position. Gilles Villeneuve put in a strong performance for to take second whilst behind him came Nigel Mansell, Carlos Reutemann and Riccardo Patrese.
===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 	5 	Nelson Piquet 	 	1:25.710T	1:28.667 	—
2 	27 	Gilles Villeneuve 	 	1:26.891 	1:25.788 	+0.078s
3 	12 	Nigel Mansell 	 	1:27.174 	1:25.815 	+0.105s
4 	2 	Carlos Reutemann 	 	1:27.643 	1:26.010 	+0.300s
5 	29 	Riccardo Patrese 	 	1:27.447 	1:26.040 	+0.330s
6 	11 	Elio de Angelis 	 	1:28.381T	1:26.259 	+0.549s
7 	1 	Alan Jones 	 	1:26.938 	1:26.538 	+0.828s
8 	26 	Jacques Laffite 	 	1:27.468 	1:26.704 	+0.994s
9 	15 	Alain Prost 	 	1:27.623 	1:26.953 	+1.243s
10 	7 	John Watson 	 	1:28.137 	1:27.058 	+1.348s
11 	8 	Andrea de Cesaris 	 	1:28.966 	1:27.122 	+1.412s
12 	22 	Mario Andretti 	 	1:27.512 	1:28.162 	+1.802s
13 	16 	René Arnoux 	 	1:28.613T	1:27.513T	+1.803s
14 	30 	Siegfried Stohr 	 	1:29.789 	1:27.564 	+1.854s
15 	3 	Eddie Cheever 	 	1:29.282 	1:27.594 	+1.884s
16 	33 	Patrick Tambay 	 	1:28.897 	1:27.939 	+2.229s
17 	28 	Didier Pironi 	 	1:29.150 	1:28.266 	+2.556s
18 	23 	Bruno Giacomelli 	 	1:28.335 	1:28.323 	+2.613s
19 	14 	Marc Surer 	 	1:29.611 	1:28.339 	+2.629s
20 	4 	Michele Alboreto 	 	1:30.699 	1:28.358 	+2.648s
DNQ 	20 	Keke Rosberg 	 	1:29.924 	1:28.436 	+2.726s
DNQ 	25 	Jean-Pierre Jabouille	 	1:29.752 	1:28.841 	+3.131s
DNQ 	6 	Héctor Rebaque 	 	1:29.188 	1:29.256T	+3.478s
DNQ 	21 	Chico Serra 	 	1:32.109 	1:29.434 	+3.724s
DNQ 	32 	Piercarlo Ghinzani 	 	— 	1:29.649 	+3.939s
DNQ 	31 	Beppe Gabbiani 	 	1:30.983 	1:29.795 	+4.085s
DNPQ	10 	Slim Borgudd 	 	1:33.285 	1:33.285 	1:33.285
DNPQ	18 	Derek Daly 	 	1:33.800 	1:33.800 	1:33.800
DNPQ	17 	Eliseo Salazar 	 	1:35.249 	1:35.249 	1:35.249
DNPQ	35 	Brian Henton 	 	1:37.528 	1:37.528 	1:37.528
DNPQ	36 	Derek Warwick 	 	1:41.966 	1:41.966 	1:41.966
WD 	9 	Jan Lammers 	 	Withdrawn	Withdrawn	Withdrawn
===Grid===
==Race==
===Report===
Nelson Piquet maintained his lead at the start with Gilles Villeneuve, Nigel Mansell, Carlos Reutemann and Alan Jones in hot pursuit. Andrea de Cesaris and Mario Andretti collided at St Devote forcing both drivers out of the race. Piquet and Villeneuve began to pull away from the pack whilst Mansell's had began to hold up Reutemann behind him.
Mansell and Reutemann duelled for a number of laps, however Reutemann's was unable to find a way past the young Brit. Mansell's strong drive was brought to an end on lap 16 when he suffered suspenson failure. A number of retirements followed, Riccardo Patrese went out on lap 29 from sixth with gearbox troubles. Elio de Angelis inherited his position but then three laps later retired with engine troubles. The same lap René Arnoux crashed his into the barriers. Carlos Reutemann who had been released from the slower Mansell had managed to catch up to the two leaders of Piquet and Villeneuve only to retire on lap 34 with gearbox troubles.
This meant Alan Jones was left as the sole remaining Williams, where he began to put pressure on Villeneuve whose Ferrari was beginning to suffer from handling and performance issues. After three laps Villeneuve conceded the position and Jones began to chase after his old rival Nelson Piquet.
Lower down the field, Alain Prost retired from fifth with engine troubles on lap 45 and five later Bruno Giacomelli and Michele Alboreto collided putting themselves out of the race. As this occurred Jones had caught up to Piquet and had began to apply the pressure.
On lap 53, as Piquet attempted to lap a backmarker he spun off the circuit and hit the barriers, bringing his race to a premature end. Jones therefore enjoyed a comfortable 30 second lead over the crippled Villeneuve in second place, the win was there for the taking. However disaster struck for Jones when his engine began to misfire.
With nine laps to go, Jones came into the pits on lap 67. The mechanics noticing air bubbles in Jones's fuel could not fix the problem and sent Jones back on his way. Jones exited the pits still in the lead although was now only six seconds ahead of Villeneuve behind him. Both Jones and Villeneuve battled mechanical troubles, however this did not deter Villeneuve from closing on Jones. The race was heading for an excellent climax as Jones and Villeneuve duelled for the lead. With four laps to go Villeneuve made his move and the Ferrari driver took the lead of the race. A euphoric Villeneuve then began to pull away from the now dejected Jones at a rapid pace. Villeneuve took the flag, a full 30 seconds ahead of Jones. A minute and a half behind Villeneuve was Jacques Laffite's . Didier Pironi secured more points for Ferrari with fourth whilst Eddie Cheever was fith and Marc Surer sixth. The smaller teams of and getting some much needed points in the race.
===Results===
Pos.	No.	Driver 	Constructor	Laps	Time/Retired 	Grid	Points
1 	27 	Gilles Villeneuve 	 	76 	1:54.23.38 	2 	9
2 	1 	Alan Jones 	 	76 	+39.91s 	7 	6
3 	26 	Jacques Laffite 	 	76 	+1:29.24 	8 	4
4 	28 	Didier Pironi 	 	76 	+1 lap 	17 	3
5 	3 	Eddie Cheever 	 	74 	+2 laps 	15 	2
6 	14 	Marc Surer 	 	64 	+2 laps 	19 	1
7 	33 	Patrick Tambay 	 	72 	+4 laps 	16 	
Ret 	5 	Nelson Piquet 	 	53 	Accident 	1 	
Ret 	7 	John Watson 	 	53 	Engine 	10 	
Ret 	4 	Michele Alboreto 	 	50 	Accident 	20 	
Ret 	23 	Bruno Giacomelli 	 	50 	Accident 	18 	
Ret 	15 	Alain Prost 	 	45 	Engine 	9 	
Ret 	2 	Carlos Reutemann 	 	34 	Gearbox 	4 	
Ret 	6 	René Arnoux 	 	32 	Accident 	13 	
Ret 	11 	Elio de Angelis 	 	32 	Engine 	6 	
Ret 	29 	Riccardo Patrese 	 	29 	Gearbox 	5 	
Ret 	12 	Nigel Mansell 	 	16 	Rear suspension 	3 	
Ret 	30 	Siegfried Stohr 	 	15 	Electrical misfire	14 	
Ret 	8 	Andrea de Cesaris 	 	0 	Accident 	11 	
Ret 	22 	Mario Andretti 	 	0 	Accident 	12 	
DNQ 	20 	Keke Rosberg 	 	 	 	 	
DNQ 	25 	Jean-Pierre Jabouille	 	 	 	 	
DNQ 	6 	Héctor Rebaque 	 	 	 	 	
DNQ 	21 	Chico Serra 	 	 	 	 	
DNQ 	32 	Piercarlo Ghinzani 	 	 	 	 	
DNQ 	31 	Beppe Gabbiani 	 	 	 	 	
DNPQ	10 	Slim Borgudd 	 	 	 	 	
DNPQ	18 	Derek Daly 	 	 	 	 	
DNPQ	16 	Eliseo Salazar 	 	 	 	 	
DNPQ	35 	Brian Henton 	 	 	 	 	
DNPQ	36 	Derek Warwick 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
==Milestones==
==Standings after race==
==Notes==
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:Monaco Grand Prix
Category:1981 Grands Prix