When engineer Carlo Chiti designed the Alfa Romeo 179 in 1979, he probably never imagined it would remain in competition for so many years. The 179 proved to be an unusually long-lived car for its time, and even in 1981, the 1980 chassis was revised by Chiti and Robert Choulet to comply with new technical regulations. These included the ban on movable side skirts and the introduction of a deformable structure in front of the pedals.
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| ALFA ROMEO 179C, Mario Andretti Monza, Italian GP 1981 |
The most significant change in the new Alfa Romeo 179C was its rear suspension design, which was completely reworked to generate more downforce by improving airflow under the car. To compensate for the loss of ground effect caused by the ban on sliding skirts, a full-width front wing was introduced, although in some cases, traditional nose-mounted winglets were still used.
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| ALFA ROMEO 179C, Bruno Giacomelli Montecarlo, Monaco GP1981 |
The car retained the same dimensions as the previous version, with a wheelbase of 2,743 mm and a weight of 595 kg. However, during the season, the 179C was further upgraded. At the German Grand Prix, the team introduced the 179D, primarily used by Mario Andretti. This version featured a wider front track and modified suspension geometry to improve airflow to the side pods, further enhancing downforce.
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| ALFA ROMEO 179C, Bruno Giacomelli Montecarlo, Monaco GP 1981 |
Additionally, the chassis was reinforced with carbon fiber sheets in high-stress areas, and a fully carbon-fiber monocoque was developed and tested in the 179F version, intended for use in 1982. The biggest news for Alfa Romeo in 1981 was the signing of Mario Andretti, the 1978 World Champion, who joined Bruno Giacomelli in the team. Although the car’s reliability and performance had improved compared to the previous year, the 179 was frequently involved in accidents and often finished just behind the top teams without achieving major results.
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| ALFA ROMEO 179C, Mario Andretti Imola, San Marino GP 1981 |
The only exception was Giacomelli's third-place finish in the final race of the season at Las Vegas. This podium marked Alfa Romeo's return to the top three thirty years after its last podium at the 1951 Spanish Grand Prix in Pedralbes, achieved by Nino Farina. Despite finishing the season with just 10 points, Alfa Romeo had finally found a path to greater competitiveness for future seasons.
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