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A nostalgic look back at Grand Prix results, photos & videos from #OnThisDay in World Championship history (1950-2025). Also featuring driver anniversaries. 🏴
Kevin Cogan (Tyrrell-Ford), Derek Daly (March-Ford), Miguel Ángel Guerra (Osella-Ford), Siegfried Stohr Arrows-Ford) & Eliseo Salazar (March-Ford) all failed to qualify.
US Grand Prix West, (qualifying), Long Beach, 13-14 March 1981.
© Getty Images
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Beppe Gabbiani (Osella-Ford-FA1B) pipped Kevin Cogan (Tyrrell-Ford-010) by 71 thousandths of a second in claiming the 24th & last starting grid spot. The 24 year old Italian would make his Grand Prix debut.
US Grand Prix West, (qualifying), Long Beach, 13-14 March 1981.
© Getty Images
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A remarkable 4th on the grid for the 1980 race, Jan Lammers (ATS-Ford-D4) was unable to match that feat, but did qualify for the race in 21st position.
US Grand Prix West, (qualifying), Long Beach, 13-14 March 1981.
📷 Rainer Schlegelmilch
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1979 British F3 champion Chico Serra (Fittipaldi-Ford-F8C) qualified 18th on his World Championship debut.
US Grand Prix West, (qualifying), Long Beach, 13-14 March 1981.
© Getty Images
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On his return to F1, Can-Am champion Patrick Tambay went surprisingly well in the Theodore-Ford-TY01. The Frenchman qualifying 17th in the Tony Southgate-designed car, with its unusual pylon-mounted front wing.
US Grand Prix West, (qualifying), Long Beach, 13-14 March 1981.
© Grand Prix Photo
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Alain Prost qualified 14th on his Renault debut. Teammate René Arnoux was 20th, almost six tenths slower. The Renaults hampered by turbo lag on this tight, slow-speed street circuit.
US Grand Prix, (qualifying), Long Beach, 13-14 March 1981.
📷 David Phipps
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The Matra V12 returned to F1 for the first time since 1978, Jean-Pierre Jarier, standing in for Jean-Pierre Jabouille, qualified 10th in his Ligier JS17. Team regular Jacques Laffite would start 12th.
US Grand Prix, (qualifying), Long Beach, 13-14 March 1981.
© Getty Images/Grand Prix Photo
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Both Nigel Mansell & Eddie Cheever achieved new qualifying personal bests. Mansell 7th fastest in his Lotus-Ford-81B. Cheever doing particularly well in placing the Tyrrell-Ford-010 8th.
US Grand Prix West, (qualifying), Long Beach, 13-14 March 1981.
© Grand Prix Photo/Getty Images
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Having ended his association with Lotus, Mario Andretti made a promising start to his time at Alfa Romeo. The 1978 World Champion qualifying 6th fastest in the 179C.
US Grand Prix West, (qualifying), Long Beach, 13-14 March 1981.
📷 Rainer Schlegelmilch/Ercole Colombo
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3rd & 5th fastest on the first day of qualifying, Gilles Villeneuve & Didier Pironi both improved their lap times, but slipped to 5th & 11th in the turbocharged Ferrari 126CKs.
US Grand Prix West, (qualifying), Long Beach, 13-14 March 1981.
© Getty Images
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More 1980s F1 memories coming up tomorrow.
Going back in time to 15 March 1981, remembering that year's US Grand Prix West with race results, photos and video clips.
© FOM
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#OnThisDay in 1981.
Riccardo Patrese claims maiden F1 pole in Long Beach shock!
The 26 year old Italian produced a brilliant lap of 1 min:19.399 sec to clinch pole position for the US Grand Prix West. Patrese pipping reigning World Champion Alan Jones by 9 thousandths of a second...
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Remembering Ted Toleman, born on this day in 1938.
Founder of Toleman Motorsport, his team won the 1980 European F2 championship with Brian Henton driving. Entering F1 (1981-1985), Toleman's best F1 result was Ayrton Senna's 2nd place at the rain-soaked 1984 Monaco Grand Prix.
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F1 returns for Patrick Tambay & Beppe Gabbiani. Can-Am champion Tambay, last seen in F1 during 1979, had joined Theodore Racing. F2 racer Gabbiani, with a couple of Surtees outings in late '78, had joined Osella.
US Grand Prix West, (first qualifying session), Long Beach, 13 March 1981.
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Elio de Angelis briefly drove the twin-chassis Lotus 88 before a fuel pump drive failed. Back in the regular Type 81B, the Italian set the 8th quickest time of the session (1 min:22.380 sec).
US Grand Prix West, (first qualifying session), Long Beach, 13 March 1981.
© Getty Images
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Mario Andretti & Alain Prost had their first outings for Alfa Romeo & McLaren respectively. Andretti 7th quickest in the 179C. Prost was 13th in his RE20B.
US Grand Prix West, (first qualifying session), Long Beach, 13 March 1981.
© Getty Images
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Ferrari were back on the pace. Gilles Villeneuve & Didier Pironi were 3rd (1 min:21.723 sec) & 5th quickest (1 min:21.828 sec) in the turbocharged 126CKs.
US Grand Prix West, (first qualifying session), Long Beach, 13 March 1981.
© Motorsport Images
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At Ligier, Jean-Pierre Jarier stood in for Jean-Pierre Jabouille, who was still recovering from leg injuries sustained at the 1980 Canadian Grand Prix. Jarier finished an impressive 2nd fastest (1 min:21.722 sec).
US Grand Prix West, (first qualifying session), Long Beach, 13 March 1981.
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Andrea de Cesaris (Alfa Romeo 183T) was excluded after failing to stop for a weight check during the Saturday qualifying session. The Italian had set a lap time good enough for 16th on the grid.
Brazilian Grand Prix, (qualifying), Jacarepaguá, 11-12 March 1983.
© Getty Images
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With a couple of outings for Osella back in 1981, Piercarlo Ghinzani (Osella-Ford-FA1D) failed to qualify on his return to F1. The Italian 27th fastest.
Brazilian Grand Prix, (qualifying), Jacarepaguá, 11-12 March 1983.
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Quickest of the rookies, Johnny Cecotto (Theodore-Ford-N183) qualified 19th. Fellow debutants Danny Sullivan (Tyrrell-Ford-011) & Corrado Fabi (Osella-Ford-FA1D) qualified 21st & 24th.
Brazilian Grand Prix, (qualifying), Jacarepaguá, 11-12 March 1983.
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A lowly 21st during the first session, Elio de Angelis (Lotus-Renault-93T) lapped 3.6 sec quicker, moving up to 13th on the grid.
Brazilian Grand Prix, (qualifying), Jacarepaguá, 11-12 March 1983.
© Revs Digital Library
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Having raced for Ensign during 1982, Roberto Guerrero kept his seat when Ensign merged with Theodore at the end of '82. The Colombian qualified a fine 14th. Bruno Giacomelli qualifying 15th on his Toleman debut.
Brazilian Grand Prix, (qualifying), Jacarepaguá, 11-12 March 1983.
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Nelson Piquet (Brabham-BMW-BT52) qualified 4th fastest for his home race. Fellow countrymen Raul Boesel (Ligier-Ford-JS21) & Chico Serra (Arrows-Ford-A6) qualified 17th & 23rd respectively.
Brazilian Grand Prix l, (qualifying), Jacarepaguá, 11-12 March 1983.
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Happy Birthday to Eddie Cheever, born #OnThisDay 10th January 1958.
Cheever competed in Formula 1 from 1978 to 1989, driving for nine teams and across 132 Grand Prix races—more than any other American driver.
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#HappyBirthday Eddie Cheever, 68, who - #AnorakFact - started more #F1 GPs (132) than any other US driver & had one of the most distinctive helmets of all time. Pic: his ’84 Alfa 184T was hunky but unreliable.
Coming to Bluesky on 1 January next year, a new account covering F1 in the 1980s. #OnThisDay qualifying & race results from every F1 race of the decade.
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