The first race to bear the San Marino Grand Prix name, held at Imola in 1981 as part of the Formula One World Championship.
Key Facts
- Race date
- 3 May 1981
- Championship round
- 4th race of the 1981 F1 season
- Race winner
- Nelson Piquet
- Lotus withdrawal reason
- FIA ban on Lotus 88 upheld
- Notable debut
- Michele Alboreto's Grand Prix debut
- Toleman's first entry
- Failed to qualify; now Alpine F1 Team
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The FIA upheld a ban on the Lotus 88 twin-chassis car, prompting Lotus owner Colin Chapman to withdraw the team entirely, believing their older Lotus 81s were no longer competitive. Meanwhile, the revised Acque-Minerali chicane at Imola had been widened since 1980, producing faster conditions for the race.
Nelson Piquet won the inaugural San Marino Grand Prix at Imola on 3 May 1981. Gilles Villeneuve led early but lost ground after a poor tyre-selection pit stop, allowing Didier Pironi to lead until Piquet overtook him late in the race. Villeneuve recovered from his setback to finish seventh.
The race established San Marino as a new name on the Formula One calendar despite the circuit being located in Italy. It marked Michele Alboreto's Grand Prix debut and the first race entry by Toleman, a constructor that would eventually evolve into the modern Alpine F1 Team, though they failed to qualify on this occasion.