After revolutionizing the world of Formula 1 with the introduction of ground effect, the Lotus technical team, led by designer Martin Ogilvie and chief aerodynamicist Peter Wright, under the direction of Colin Chapman, entered the 1980 season with a very conventional car, lacking the innovative solutions that had become their hallmark in recent years.
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| LOTUS 81, Mario Andretti Montecarlo, Monaco GP 1980 |
The new Lotus 81 was a classic wing car, featuring an aluminum monocoque chassis with double-wishbone suspension, coil-spring dampers, and anti-roll bars. It was powered by the Ford-Cosworth DFV V8 engine, which served as a stressed member, paired with a Hewland FGA 400 five-speed gearbox. The car had a wheelbase of 2789 mm and a weight of 580 kg. It featured long side pods housing rear-mounted radiators and highly pronounced rear venturi tunnels, which generated significant downforce, aided by side skirts equipped with springs to maintain close contact with the track’s surface irregularities.
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| LOTUS 81, Mario Andretti Montecarlo, Monaco GP 1980 |
Despite its high downforce, Chapman’s car was overly sensitive to track bumps, making it difficult for its two lead drivers, former World Champion Mario Andretti and young Italian talent Elio de Angelis, to control. De Angelis secured the team’s best result of the season with a second-place finish in Brazil, in the second race of the championship.
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| LOTUS 81, Mario Andretti Jarama, Spanish GP 1980 |
The Hethel-based team, led by Chapman, had revolutionized Formula 1 with the first ground-effect car, yet just two seasons later, they found themselves with an uncompetitive machine. The Lotus 81’s mediocrity was evident throughout the season, plagued by frequent retirements and mechanical failures. Thanks to De Angelis’ podium, three additional points finishes, and a single point scored by Andretti in the final race of the season, the Lotus 81 accumulated 14 points, securing fifth place in the Constructors' Championship.
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| LOTUS 81, Elio de Angelis Montecarlo, Monaco GP 1980 |
In the Austrian, Dutch, and Italian Grands Prix, a third “B” version of the car was entered for young British driver Nigel Mansell, a promising talent in British motorsport. This version was used to test innovative aerodynamic solutions, some of which would later be incorporated into the upcoming Lotus 88.
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