1980 Argentine Grand Prix
The Grand Prix of Argentina in 1980 was on January 13 held at the Autódromo Municipal Ciudad de Buenos Aires, and was the first race of the Formula 1 season 1980.
- 3.1 qualifying
- 3.2 race
- 4.1 Drivers' Championship
- 4.2 Constructors' Championship
Reports
Background
Already in the second half of the season in 1979 had indicated that the team would include the Williams FW07 the favorites for the new season. The reigning world champion team Ferrari was then by Mauro Ferrari 312T5 Forghieri develop, which should already be available starting in mid-January in Argentina are available. This vehicle was intended to offset the aerodynamic weaknesses of the previous model 312T4 possible. However, Ferrari was still faced with the problem that could not realize a perfect Wing Car due to the large twelve-cylinder engine with 180 ° angle. This was one of the reasons why it worked on the design of a more compact engine with turbocharging. Another reason for this was that it was realized in the previous year based on the notable successes of the Renault team, the Turbo technology would win in Formula 1 increasingly important.
The disgruntled at Team Lotus Carlos Reutemann moved to Williams and took on the side of Alan Jones the place of Clay Regazzoni. This changed to Ensign Racing, where a newly developed race car was available due to financial support of the new main sponsor Unipart.
Patrick Depailler moved to Alfa Romeo, where he was second works driver Bruno Giacomelli next. His place at Ligier took his compatriot Didier Pironi, who in turn was replaced by Derek Daly at Tyrrell.
The new car of the Lotus team called Lotus 81 was painted in the colors of the new main sponsor Essex. Mario Andretti's new teammate, after Reute 's departure of the Italians Elio de Angelis. This, however, first had to buy out of his remaining Shadow Treaty. The financially troubled team constructed then the DN11 and committed the two debutants Stefan Johansson and Dave Kennedy.
The McLaren team, which had 1979 lives a year of crisis, held on to John Watson, but replacing the second factory driver Patrick Tambay by the promising newcomer Alain Prost.
Walter Wolf pulled his team back from the competition, selling the remaining stocks of Emerson Fittipaldi, who also also the driver Keke Rosberg took over this built in his own team. Supported by the new main sponsor Skol is Fittipaldi decided to contest the entire season with two cars.
Ferrari, Renault, Brabham and Arrows retained in each case the driver pairing, with which they had finished the season in 1979.
The teams Merzario and Rebaque no longer competed. Instead, there was Osella with a new team that signed up with the American Eddie Cheever as the only driver for the season.
In the originally coined very British Formula 1 John Watson was the beginning of the season 1980, the only British driver.
Training
Alan Jones opened the season with a pole position next to Jacques Laffite and Didier Pironi before and Nelson Piquet. The two Lotus drivers Elio de Angelis and Mario Andretti were the third row.
The four drivers who did not qualify for one of the 24 starting places were Eddie Cheever and Jan Lammers and Shadow both pilots.
Race
Jones went before Piquet, Laffite, Reutemann and Pironi lead. The two compatriots de Angelis and Patrese collided and fell thus far back. Pironi and Jabouille eliminated due to technical problems early.
Due to a plastic bag that had been caught in one of his radiator overheated Jones ' motor, which made a pit stop required. The Australians had to leave in the 18th round by the leadership of Laffite and came behind Piquet and Villeneuve in fourth place back on the track. Until the 30th round, he fought his way back to the top.
After Laffite and Villeneuve had been eliminated due to technical defects, Jones won ahead of Piquet and Rosberg. For the latter two, this was the first podium finish of their Formula 1 career. Daly was fourth, followed by Giacomelli and debutant Prost.
The first points of the year were distributed to the maximum possible number of six different teams.
Message list
Classifications
Qualifying
Race
WM stands after the race
The first six of the race were 9, 6, 4, 3, 2 and 1 point (s).