1981 Monaco Grand Prix

Championship standings

Reutemann leads the championship after winning in Belgium. The race at Zolder was reduced to 75% distance by rain and called off early.

Previous race

At Zolder, chaos overshadowed the racing. A mechanics’ safety protest delayed the start, and an Arrows mechanic, Dave Luckett, was struck by Stohr’s car on the grid when the race started despite his presence on the track; he survived with a broken leg. When the race restarted, Reutemann took and held the lead, winning ahead of Laffite and Mansell — Mansell’s first career podium. Jones crashed out and was badly burned by gearbox oil; Piquet also crashed. After Piquet’s retirement, a furious Piquet charged to the Williams garage and had a physical altercation with Jones and the team’s personnel.

Entrants

With too many cars entered, a pre-qualifying session eliminates both Tolemans, both Marches, and Borgudd’s ATS. Six more fail to qualify: Rebaque, Rosberg, Serra, Jabouille, and both Osellas. The field is reduced to 26 cars.

The new Lotus 87 makes its race debut, with Mansell taking an impressive third on the grid.

Delay

A fire in the kitchen of the Loews Hotel fills the tunnel with water from the fire service. The race start is pushed back by one hour to 4:30 pm.