1981 San Marino Grand Prix

The 1981 San Marino Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Imola on 3 May 1981.

1981 San Marino Grand Prix
Race 4 of 15 in the 1981 Formula One World Championship
Race details
Date	3 May 1981
Official name	1º Gran Premio di San Marino
Location	Autodromo Dino Ferrari, Imola, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Course	Permanent racing facility
Course length	5.000 km (3.107 mi)
Distance	60 laps, 300.000 km (186.411 mi)
Weather	Rain, cold
Pole position
Driver	Gilles Villeneuve	Ferrari
Time	1:34.523
Fastest lap
Driver	Gilles Villeneuve	Ferrari
Time	1:48.064 on lap 46
Podium
First	Nelson Piquet	Brabham-Ford
Second	Riccardo Patrese	Arrows-Ford
Third	Carlos Reutemann	Williams-Ford
Lap leaders

The race was the first to bear the title "San Marino Grand Prix", although the Imola circuit is in Italy and several non-championship Formula One races and the 1980 Italian Grand Prix had previously been held at the circuit. The Acque-Minerali chicane had been widened from the year before and was faster; the chicane in its original narrow configuration in 1980 was unpopular with drivers because it was very slow.

The Lotus team withdrew their entries because the FIA upheld the ban on the Lotus 88 and team owner Colin Chapman felt the 81s were no longer competitive.[1]

Gilles Villeneuve took the early lead until an ill-fated pit stop for slick tyres, whereafter Didier Pironi held the lead until late in the race and was passed by Nelson Piquet, who eventually won the race. As well as being Michele Alboreto's Grand Prix debut, the race is also notable for the recovery of Gilles Villeneuve to seventh place, after misjudgement of tyre selection for the conditions. While the team did not qualify for the race, it was the first race entered by Toleman, which is now Renault Sport F1.