With one of the most anticipated race weekends on the calendar just days away, the British Grand Prix this year will surely be a thrill after a contentious end to the Austrian Grand Prix last week. McLaren will look to bring the fight to Red Bull once more at their home track this weekend. Before we head there, let’s look back to a surprise McLaren victory at Silverstone in 1981.
The 1981 British Grand Prix, held on the 18th of July at Silverstone, saw Northern Irish driver John Watson pick up Mclaren’s first victory since James Hunt in Japan in 1977. This victory was extremely popular around the paddock. Watson, who was born in Belfast in 1946, began his Formula One career in 1972 driving for Goldie Hexagon racing. His first points for the team came at the 1974 Monaco Grand Prix, but his first win occurred under Team Penske in 1976 at the Austrian Grand Prix, before a move to McLaren in 1979 led to this memorable race in 1981.
After qualifying fifth, Watson dropped to tenth by lap three. Several incidents brought Watson up to P2: tyre failure for Nelson Piquet, Gilles Villeneuve and Alan Jones coming together and engine failure for Alain Prost.
Having set his sights on Rene Arnoux, the win was in his grasp as Arnoux began to have engine issues. With a handful of laps left, Arnoux was clearly struggling and Watson passed the Frenchman with seven laps to go. This win was his second in Formula One, and the British team’s first in four years. The win was also the first time a carbon fibre monocoque Formula One car won a race.
Watson went on to win three more grand prix in his career but Silverstone 1981 was always a special one for the Northern Irishman.
McLaren has had many ups and downs since this famous victory but the Woking team will be hoping to repeat this success this weekend as the grid heads to the home of British motorsport.
Written by Meg.
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