From Williams to Ferrari: Iconic F1 Cars of 1981

Williams Cosworth FW07C

The 1981 Formula 1 season marked a critical transitional period in the sport’s technological evolution.

 It was a year where traditional powertrains still held strong, yet the turbo era was gaining momentum. Teams like Williams, Brabham, Ligier, McLaren, Tyrrell, and Lotus continued to rely on the proven Ford-Cosworth DFV V8, while manufacturers like Renault and Ferrari pushed forward with turbocharged engines. The season also witnessed the debut of Toleman, introducing a new turbocharged challenger to the grid.

Williams entered the 1981 season with the FW07C, an evolution of their highly successful ground-effect chassis. Powered by the naturally aspirated Ford-Cosworth DFV V8, the car was simple, reliable, and very competitive. Despite growing pressure from turbocharged rivals, Williams’ refined aerodynamics and mechanical grip allowed them to stay at the front, helping Carlos Reutemann and Alan Jones keep the team in title contention.

Brabham Cosworth BT49C

Brabham, under the leadership of Gordon Murray, ran the BT49C with the Cosworth engine throughout 1981. The team became infamous that season for developing a hydropneumatic suspension system to comply with minimum ride height regulations. Though turbo power would come in 1982 with BMW, Brabham in 1981 was still a strong contender with Nelson Piquet.

Renault Turbo RE30

Renault was the first team to embrace turbocharging back in 1977, and by 1981 their RE30 car was a serious threat. The Renault-Gordini EF1 turbocharged V6 produced significantly more power than the DFV engines, especially in qualifying. Driven by Alain Prost and René Arnoux, the RE30 was fast but suffered from reliability issues, a recurring theme in early turbo development.

Ligier Talbot JS17

Despite a prior history with Matra V12s, Ligier returned to the more conventional Ford-Cosworth DFV V8 in 1981 for the JS17. The car featured competitive ground-effect aerodynamics, and Jacques Laffite managed several strong finishes, though Ligier could not match the consistency of the front-runners.

Ferrari Turbo 126 Ck

Ferrari made a major change in 1981, abandoning their flat-12 engines for a 1.5L turbocharged V6, marking the beginning of a new era for the Scuderia. 

Toleman Hart TG181

1981 saw the Formula 1 debut of Toleman, fielding the TG181 with a 1.5L Hart turbocharged inline-4 engine. Designed by Rory Byrne and Pat Symonds, the car suffered from excessive weight and reliability issues. It frequently failed to qualify, but laid the groundwork for future success, including eventual championship wins under different ownership.

Formula 1 season 1981

The 1981 F1 season was a fascinating clash between tradition and innovation. The Cosworth DFV still powered the majority of the field, offering simplicity and reliability. However, the emergence of turbocharged engines, led by Renault, Ferrari, and Toleman, signaled a technological shift that would dominate the decade. Teams began to realize that power alone wasn’t enough—reliability, aerodynamics, and chassis innovation were becoming just as critical in the fight for championships.