Piquet's victory at the 1981 German Grand Prix closed the gap to championship leader Reutemann to eight points, shaping the title race.
Key Facts
- Race laps
- 45 laps
- Winner
- Nelson Piquet (Brabham-Ford)
- Pole position
- Alain Prost (Renault)
- Championship round
- 10th of 1981 season
- Gap to championship leader
- 8 points after race points
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Entering the tenth round of the 1981 Formula One World Championship, Nelson Piquet trailed points leader Carlos Reutemann and needed strong results to remain a title contender. Alain Prost, starting from pole, represented the primary threat on the day.
On 2 August 1981 at Hockenheimring, Piquet drove his Brabham-Ford to victory over 45 laps, with Prost finishing second and Jacques Laffite third in a Ligier-Matra. It was Piquet's third win of the season, while championship leader Reutemann retired with engine failure.
Reutemann's retirement combined with Piquet's win reduced the Argentine's championship lead to just eight points, significantly tightening the Drivers' Championship battle and setting the stage for a close contest in the remaining races of the season.