Italian Grand Prix 1981 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Alain Prost claimed his third victory of 1981 at the Italian Grand Prix, dominating at Monza while the championship battle reached its climax. The Frenchman delivered a commanding performance for Renault at the Temple of Speed, using the turbo's horsepower advantage to control the race from the front. Prost's hat-trick of wins in the season's closing stages demonstrated his emerging class, even as Renault's championship hopes remained undermined by earlier reliability failures.

Alan Jones finished second in his penultimate Formula 1 race, delivering a strong performance that reminded everyone of his championship-winning ability. Carlos Reutemann's third place kept his fading title hopes mathematically alive heading into the final round, though he needed a miracle to overcome Nelson Piquet's points advantage. The Italian Grand Prix was notable for Piquet finishing fifth, a result that meant the championship would be decided at the surreal season finale in Las Vegas. Reutemann remained one point behind Piquet, setting up a dramatic showdown in a casino parking lot to determine the 1981 World Champion.