1982 Monaco Grand Prix

Previous race

John Watson won at Zolder after Ferrari withdrew from the race following the death of Gilles Villeneuve in qualifying. Villeneuve was killed when his Ferrari collided with Jochen Mass’s March at speed during the final qualifying session, launched into the air, and disintegrated. He died that evening from a fractured neck at a hospital in Liège. Watson’s teammate Niki Lauda was classified third on the road but later disqualified for an underweight car.

Between-race developments

The paddock arrives in Monaco where Villeneuve lived, and where he won last year’s race. Ferrari choose not to replace him for now and enter only one car, for Didier Pironi. The sense of his absence is described as overwhelming in the principality.

Championship standings

Prost leads the championship ahead of Watson, with Pironi third. Prost has scored no points since Brazil in March.