1981 Caesars Palace Grand Prix: The Original Las Vegas GP

The year was 1981. Ronald Reagan was president, the world witnessed the inaugural flight of the space shuttle Columbia, and the United States was grappling with soaring inflation rates. Amidst these national and global events, the city of Las Vegas, already renowned for its glitz and glamour, was gearing up to host an unprecedented event in its colourful history – its very first Formula One race. Instead of cars zooming down the Las Vegas Strip, which we witnessed in 2023, the spectacle of F1 cars was confined to a specially designed 2.2-mile, 14-turn track, ingeniously laid out in the expansive parking lot of the Caesars Palace resort. In this race review, we will revisit the memorable events of that race, the Drivers’ Championship and a hiatus for Australian F1 fans.

Pole position
Driver	Carlos Reutemann	Williams
Time	1:17.821
Fastest lap
Driver	Didier Pironi	Ferrari
Time	1:20.156 on lap 49
Podium
First	Alan Jones	Williams
Second	Alain Prost	Renault
Third	Bruno Giacomelli	Alfa Romeo

Weekend Schedule

Date	Session	Local Time
14 October 1981	Familiarisation testing	Start time unconfirmed
15 October 1981	Practice 1	Morning; start unconfirmed
15 October 1981	Qualifying 1	Start time unconfirmed
16 October 1981	Practice 2	Morning; start unconfirmed
16 October 1981	Qualifying 2	Start time unconfirmed
17 October 1981	Warm-up	Morning; start unconfirmed
17 October 1981	Race	Start time unconfirmed

1981 Drivers’ Championship on the line

The 1981 Caesars Palace Grand Prix, held on 17 October in the bustling city of Las Vegas, Nevada, was the 15th and final race of the 1981 season. The race unfolded over 75 laps, with Australian Alan Jones claiming the win for Williams. Frenchman Alain Prost, driving for Renault, claimed second, while Italian driver Bruno Giacomelli secured third, driving for Alfa Romeo.

Below the podium positions, Brazilian driver Nelson Piquet finished fifth in his Brabham-Ford, which was enough to clinch the 1981 Drivers’ Championship, just a mere point ahead of Jones’s Argentine teammate Carlos Reutemann. Reutemann, who had started on pole, crossed the finish line in eighth.

The 1981 Caesars Palace Grand Prix also marked a notable moment in Australian motorsport history. Alan Jones’s win in Las Vegas would stand as the last win by an Australian in Formula 1 until Mark Webber‘s triumph at the 2009 German Grand Prix, highlighting a long interlude before Australia’s next success in F1.

As the 1981 Caesars Palace Grand Prix approached, the World Championship hung in the balance with three drivers vying for the title. Argentine Carlos Reutemann, driving for Williams-Ford, led the standings with 49 points and two race victories. Hot on his heels was Brazilian Nelson Piquet in the Brabham-Ford, with 48 points and three wins under his belt. French driver Jacques Laffite remained an outside contender with 43 points, with two wins, including his most recent victory in Canada.

Laffite’s path to the championship was slim. He needed a win in Las Vegas, with Reutemann finishing no better than fourth and Piquet not placing third or higher. Alternatively, a second-place finish would be enough for Laffite, provided neither Reutemann nor Piquet managed to break into the top six. In a scenario where Laffite won, Piquet came third, and Reutemann fourth, all three would end the season tied at 52 points. In this tie-break situation, Laffite’s edge would come from his tally of second-place finishes (two compared to Piquet’s one), crowning him the champion. Similarly, if Laffite finished second with neither Reutemann nor Piquet scoring, he and Reutemann would be tied at 49 points. Here, Laffite’s advantage would lie in his greater number of third-place finishes (three against Reutemann’s two).

For Laffite, any result short of first or second place meant the championship would slip away.

Reutemann’s route to the championship was simple. Finish ahead of Piquet.

Meanwhile, Piquet needed to secure a place in the top five and outperform Reutemann to clinch the title. These various possibilities set the stage for a suspense-filled finale in the 1981 season.

Race entries

The new Caesars Palace circuit replaced Watkins Glen as the season finale. Carlos Reutemann, Nelson Piquet and Jacques Laffite remained in title contention. Jacques Gilles Villeneuve continued with Arrows, and Derek Warwick would earn his first Grand Prix start for Toleman. Alan Jones approached what he then intended to be his final race.

Wednesday familiarisation testing

The circuit opened on Wednesday for untimed testing before Thursday and Friday’s official sessions. Its unfamiliar anticlockwise layout and repeated left-hand corners placed unusual strain on the drivers’ necks. Williams quickly looked competitive, but learning the new venue was a demanding physical task.

Thursday Free Practice

Thursday brought an engine failure for de Andrea de Cesaris and brake trouble for Hector Rebaque. Rene Arnoux suffered a turbo oil leak and fire, while John Watson’s sinus problem limited his participation. The unfamiliar circuit demanded mileage, but several teams lost valuable opportunities to refine their cars.

Thursday Qualifying

Carlos Reutemann set the fastest lap on the cooler Thursday, establishing an advantage that nobody could overturn. Alan Jones was quickest on Friday and secured second, completing a Williams front row. Gilles Villeneuve qualified third and Nelson Piquet fourth.

Friday Free Practice

Carlos Reutemann collided with Nelson Piquet during Friday’s untimed running, sending the Williams into the air and prompting checks for chassis and suspension damage. Nelson Piquet also struggled with neck and back pain. The title contenders therefore entered final qualifying with concerns extending well beyond lap time.

Friday Qualifying

Alain Prost and John Watson completed the first three rows. Jacques Laffite could manage only twelfth despite trying Patrick Tambay’s car, while Derek Warwick qualified for his first Grand Prix. Brian Henton, Slim Borgudd, Derek Daly and Jacques Gilles Villeneuve were among those left out.

Combined Qualifying Classification

Each driver’s faster time from the two qualifying sessions determined the overall order.

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Thursday Time	Friday Time	Best Time	Laps
1	2	Carlos Reutemann	Williams	1:17.821	1:18.343	1:17.821	—
2	1	Alan Jones	Williams	1:18.236	1:17.995	—	—
3	27	Gilles Villeneuve	Ferrari	1:18.457	1:18.060	—	—
4	5	Nelson Piquet	Brabham	1:18.954	1:18.161	—	—
5	15	Alain Prost	Renault	1:18.433	1:18.760	—	—
6	7	John Watson	McLaren	1:19.975	1:18.617	—	—
7	25	Patrick Tambay	Ligier	1:19.874	1:18.681	—	—
8	23	Bruno Giacomelli	Alfa Romeo	1:20.570	1:18.792	—	—
9	12	Nigel Mansell	Lotus	1:19.044	1:19.623	—	—
10	22	Mario Andretti	Alfa Romeo	1:19.594	1:19.068	—	—
11	29	Riccardo Patrese	Arrows	1:20.132	1:19.152	—	—
12	26	Jacques Laffite	Ligier	1:19.878	1:19.167	—	—
13	16	René Arnoux	Renault	1:19.966	1:19.197	—	—
14	8	Andrea de Cesaris	McLaren	1:19.338	1:19.217	—	—
15	11	Elio de Angelis	Lotus	1:20.337	1:19.562	—	—
16	6	Héctor Rebaque	Brabham	1:20.555	1:19.571	—	—
17	4	Michele Alboreto	Tyrrell	1:21.964	1:19.774	—	—
18	28	Didier Pironi	Ferrari	1:19.899	1:21.347	—	—
19	3	Eddie Cheever	Tyrrell	1:21.116	1:20.475	—	—
20	20	Keke Rosberg	Fittipaldi	1:21.299	1:20.729	—	—
21	32	Jean-Pierre Jarier	Osella	22:19.563	1:20.781	—	—
22	36	Derek Warwick	Toleman	1:22.491	1:21.294	—	—
23	33	Marc Surer	Theodore	1:21.889	1:21.430	—	—
24	14	Eliseo Salazar	Ensign	1:22.616	1:21.629	—	—
DNQ	9	Slim Borgudd	ATS	1:21.665	1:21.731	—	—
DNQ	21	Chico Serra	Fittipaldi	1:22.612	1:21.672	—	—
DNQ	17	Derek Daly	March	1:21.846	1:21.824	—	—
DNQ	30	Jacques Villeneuve	Arrows	1:22.977	1:22.822	—	—
DNQ	35	Brian Henton	Toleman	1:23.857	1:22.960	—	—
DNQ	31	Beppe Gabbiani	Osella	1:26.634	no time	—	—

Saturday warm-up

Saturday’s intense heat made driver endurance a central part of the final preparations. Nelson Piquet had already needed treatment during the weekend, while Carlos Reutemann’s car had been difficult to balance after Friday’s collision. Williams appeared quick enough to control the race, but the championship would depend on sustaining that performance for 75 laps.

What happened in the 1981 Caesars Palace Grand Prix?

Opening laps

As the race started, Alan Jones surged, seizing the lead from pole-sitter Carlos Reutemann, who quickly lost ground, overtaken by Gilles Villeneuve, Alain Prost, and Bruno Giacomelli. He dropped to fifth by the end of the first lap, and by the end of the second, Jones had already built up a commanding five-second lead.

Mid-pack, Patrick Tambay experienced a nervy moment. He lost control of his Ligier and collided with a tyre wall, which was fortunately in front of a concrete barrier. The impact was severe enough to rip off the front of his car, but luckily, Tambay emerged with only minor injuries.

Prost overtook Villeneuve on the third lap, though he couldn’t close the gap to challenge Jones for the lead. Villeneuve, engaged in his own battle, held off Giacomelli, which allowed Mario Andretti to catch up to Nelson Piquet, who was in a tense battle to try to pass Reutemann.

Mid-race battles

On lap 17, the tension peaked as Piquet closely tailed Reutemann, finally overtaking him on the inside when Reutemann braked too early. Piquet later commented on this move, suggesting Reutemann might have hoped for a collision to sway the outcome of the championship in his favour. Andretti followed suit, passing Reutemann on the next lap. Piquet’s race improved as he overtook John Watson on lap 22, positioning himself to score crucial points.

Amidst these battles, Ferrari was looking to call in Villeneuve and retire him on lap 23. It had been announced he was being disqualified for lining up on the grid improperly. He pulled out of the race on that lap anyway due to an engine fire. A few laps later, on lap 30, Andretti, a crowd favourite, withdrew from fourth due to a broken suspension.

Final laps

With just 15 laps remaining and a substantial 40-second lead over Prost, Jones began to pace himself towards the finish. After recovering from an earlier spin, Giacomelli held third place, and Nigel Mansell overtook Piquet for fourth.

Piquet, visibly struggling with physical exhaustion, managed to maintain fifth, enough to secure the two points he needed for the championship. His condition was a major concern as the race neared its end, especially as Reutemann, hindered by gearbox issues and lacking fourth gear, fell to eighth after being overtaken by Watson and Laffite.

In a dramatic final lap, Laffite snatched the last point from Watson at the very last corner, while Giacomelli narrowly missed second place to Prost due to his failing tyres.

After crossing the finish line, Piquet took fifteen minutes to recover from heat exhaustion but secured the vital fifth-place finish, earning him the two points he needed to become the 1981 Drivers’ World Champion.

Nelson Piquet’s first F1 Drivers’ World Championship

Nelson Piquet’s first Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship was the first in his illustrious racing career. He would go on to win again in 1983 and 1987. Competing for the Brabham team at the time, he had displayed remarkable consistency throughout the season to clinch his first title.

Piquet won three races in Argentina, San Marino, and Germany that season. However, his journey to the championship was far from straightforward. The season saw a fierce rivalry, particularly with Carlos Reutemann driving for Williams, who emerged as Piquet’s leading contender for the title.

Heading into the season’s final race in Vegas, Piquet was just one point behind Reutemann in the standings. The championship was poised on a knife-edge, with the Las Vegas race set to be the decider. Despite physical exhaustion from the heat and the challenging conditions of the track, he managed to secure fifth, a result, when combined with Reutemann’s issues ensured that Piquet beat his closest rival to the championship bringing national pride in Brazil and cementing his legacy in F1 history.

The audacity of the 1981 Caesars Palace Grand Prix

The Las Vegas Review-Journal, through the words of reporter Mike Henle in 1981, captured the essence of this momentous race. Henle noted the sheer audacity and entrepreneurial spirit of the local hoteliers who managed to bring the race to Southern Nevada, a region previously unkown for motorsport.

The race garnered significant international attention. It was broadcast in 31 countries, including the United States, and attracted an astonishing 83 million viewers. The event not only put Las Vegas on the map for motorsports but also reinforced the city’s reputation as a place where the impossible becomes possible.

Reflecting on the event, Henle summed up the race in his report: “The Caesars Palace Grand Prix is proof that nothing is impossible in Las Vegas,” he wrote. “Don’t ever count out an event in a town which has built its reputation around taking chances.”

1981 Caesars Palace Grand Prix Race Results

The 1981 Caesars Palace Grand Prix was held on 17 October 1981.

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time / Retired	Pts.
1	1	Alan Jones	Williams	75	1:44:09.077	9
2	15	Alain Prost	Renault	75	+ 20.048	6
3	23	Bruno Giacomelli	Alfa Romeo	75	+ 20.428	4
4	12	Nigel Mansell	Lotus	75	+ 47.473	3
5	5	Nelson Piquet	Brabham	75	+ 1:16.438	2
6	26	Jacques Laffite	Ligier	75	+ 1:18.175	1
7	7	John Watson	McLaren	75	+ 1:18.497	0
8	2	Carlos Reutemann	Williams	74	+ 1 Lap	0
9	28	Didier Pironi	Ferrari	73	+ 2 Laps	0
10	20	Keke Rosberg	Fittipaldi	73	+ 2 Laps	0
11	29	Riccardo Patrese	Arrows	71	+ 4 Laps	0
12	8	Andrea de Cesaris	McLaren	69	+ 6 Laps	0
13	4	Michele Alboreto	Tyrrell	67	Engine	0
NC	14	Eliseo Salazar	Ensign	61	+ 14 Laps	0
Ret	36	Derek Warwick	Toleman	43	Gearbox	0
Ret	22	Mario Andretti	Alfa Romeo	29	Suspension	0
DSQ	27	Gilles Villeneuve	Ferrari	22	Improper Grid Formation	0
Ret	6	Héctor Rebaque	Brabham	20	Throttle	0
Ret	33	Marc Surer	Theodore	19	Suspension	0
Ret	3	Eddie Cheever	Tyrrell	10	Engine	0
Ret	16	René Arnoux	Renault	10	Electrical	0
Ret	25	Patrick Tambay	Ligier	2	Accident	0
Ret	11	Elio de Angelis	Lotus	2	Water Leak	0
Ret	32	Jean-Pierre Jarier	Osella	0	Transmission	0
DNQ	9	Slim Borgudd	ATS			0
DNQ	21	Chico Serra	Fittipaldi			0
DNQ	17	Derek Daly	March			0
DNQ	30	Jacques Villeneuve	Arrows			0
DNQ	35	Brian Henton	Toleman			0
DNQ	31	Beppe Gabbiani	Osella			0

1981 Caesars Palace Grand Prix Fastest Laps

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Lap	Time
1	28	Didier Pironi	Ferrari	49	1:20.156

Only drivers with a recorded lap time appear. No fastest-lap bonus point was awarded.

1981 Post-Race F1 Championship Standings

Championship standings after the 1981 Caesars Palace Grand Prix.

1981 Post-Race F1 Drivers’ Championship Standings

1981 Post-Race F1 Constructors’ Championship Standings

1981 Formula 1 Race Calendar

Round	Grand Prix	Circuit	Date
1	1981 United States West Grand Prix	Long Beach Street Circuit, Long Beach, California	15 March
2	1981 Brazilian Grand Prix	Jacarepaguá, Rio de Janeiro	29 March
3	1981 Argentine Grand Prix	Autódromo Oscar Alfredo Gálvez, Buenos Aires	12 April
4	1981 San Marino Grand Prix	Autodromo Dino Ferrari, Imola	3 May
5	1981 Belgian Grand Prix	Circuit Zolder, Heusden-Zolder	17 May
6	1981 Monaco Grand Prix	Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo	31 May
7	1981 Spanish Grand Prix	Circuito del Jarama, San Sebastián de los Reyes	21 June
8	1981 French Grand Prix	Dijon-Prenois, Dijon	5 July
9	1981 British Grand Prix	Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone	18 July
10	1981 German Grand Prix	Hockenheimring, Hockenheim	2 August
11	1981 Austrian Grand Prix	Österreichring, Spielberg	16 August
12	1981 Dutch Grand Prix	Circuit Zandvoort, Zandvoort	30 August
13	1981 Italian Grand Prix	Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza	13 September
14	1981 Canadian Grand Prix	Circuit Île Notre-Dame, Montréal	27 September
15	1981 Caesars Palace Grand Prix	Caesars Palace Grand Prix Circuit, Las Vegas, Nevada	17 October