Lotus 81

Lotus 81
Lotus 81B

Lotus 81 during the 2017 FIA Masters Historic Formula One Championship at the Circuit of the Americas
Category	Formula One
Constructor	Lotus
Designers	Colin Chapman (Technical Director) Martin Ogilvie (Chief Designer) Peter Wright (Head of Aerodynamics)
Predecessor	80
Successor	86 / 87 / 88
Technical specifications
Chassis	Aluminium monocoque
Suspension (front)	Double wishbones, coil springs over dampers, anti-roll bar
Suspension (rear)	Double wishbones, coil springs over dampers, anti-roll bar
Length	4,623 mm (182.0 in)
Width	2,134 mm (84.0 in)
Height	965 mm (38.0 in)
Axle track	Front: 1,700 mm (67 in) Rear: 1,638 mm (64.5 in)
Wheelbase	2,789 mm (109.8 in)
Engine	Ford Cosworth DFV, 2,993 cc (182.6 cu in), 90° V8, NA, mid-engine, longitudinally mounted
Transmission	Hewland FGA 400 5-speed manual
Weight	580 kg (1,280 lb)
Fuel	Essex
Tyres	Goodyear (1980) Michelin (1981)
Competition history
Notable entrants	Team Essex Lotus
Notable drivers	11. Mario Andretti 12. Elio de Angelis 12./11. Nigel Mansell
Debut	1980 Argentine Grand Prix
Last event	1981 Belgian Grand Prix
Races Wins Podiums Poles F/Laps 18 0 2 0 0
Constructors' Championships	0
Drivers' Championships	0
Unless otherwise stated, all data refer to Formula One World Championship Grands Prix only.

The Lotus 81 was a Formula One racing car built by Colin Chapman's Lotus team for the 1980 Formula One season. ^[1] Unlike many of forebears the 81 was not a terribly innovative or competitive car, coming as it did at a time when Chapman's interest in his racing activities was waning.^{[ citation needed ]}

Instead it was a very standard ground effect design with sliding skirts and the ubiquitous Cosworth DFV 3.0 litre V8 powerplant. The car was said to generate a great deal of downforce but have excessive pitch sensitivity problems, ultimately leading Chapman to develop the innovative twin-chassis Lotus 88.

Mario Andretti and Elio de Angelis used the 81 in all 14 rounds of the 1980 Formula One world championship, and the car also gave Nigel Mansell his Formula One debut, with the British driver lining up in a total of three races that season. The best result for the car was Elio de Angelis's 2nd place in Brazil.

Chapman had intended to use the Lotus 88 for the 1981 season, ^[2] but a massive furore over the legality of the new car meant that the 81 was kept on as a stop gap for the first four races Lotus competed in, as they boycotted the 1981 San Marino Grand Prix, ^[3] with Mansell taking 3rd place in the Belgian Grand Prix and de Angelis claiming three points finishes. The car was replaced by the Lotus 87.

The Lotus 81 at Barber.

Lotus 81 engine and transmission

Complete Formula One results

(key)

Year	Entrant	Chassis	Engine	Tyres	Drivers	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	Points	WCC
1980	Team Essex Lotus	81	Ford Cosworth DFV	G		ARG	BRA	RSA	USW	BEL	MON	FRA	GBR	GER	AUT	NED	ITA	CAN	USA		14	5th
					Mario Andretti	Ret	Ret	12	Ret	Ret	7	Ret	Ret	7	Ret	8	Ret	Ret	6
					Elio de Angelis	Ret	2	Ret	Ret	10	9	Ret	Ret	16	6	Ret	4	10	4
		81B			Nigel Mansell										Ret	Ret	DNQ
1981	Team Essex Lotus	81B	Ford Cosworth DFV	M		USW	BRA	ARG	SMR	BEL	MON	ESP	FRA	GBR	GER	AUT	NED	ITA	CAN	CPL	22*	7th
					Nigel Mansell	Ret	11	Ret		3
					Elio de Angelis	Ret	5	6		5

* Of those, 9 points were scored with the 81 model.

References

1. "Lotus 81". GP Replicas. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
2. Newton, Andrew (2 January 2020). "This infamous one-of-two Lotus 88 is one of racing's great "what-ifs"". Hagerty Media. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
3. "Formula 1 technical inspectors cracked down hard on San... - UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved 20 October 2025.