GREATEST RACES #25: The ‘best race’ of Gilles Villeneuve’s life – 1981 Spanish Grand Prix
Starting today, exactly 75 years on from the very first race of the inaugural championship, David Tremayne looks back at the 1981 Spanish Grand Prix as legendary driver Gilles Villeneuve showcased his undoubted talent.


To mark F1's 75th anniversary celebrations, F1.com is counting down the sport's 25 greatest races with a new feature every week. While you may not agree with the order, we hope you enjoy the stories of these epic races that have helped make this sport what it is today. You can read the introduction to the series and see the list of races here.
Starting today, exactly 75 years on from the very first race of the inaugural championship, David Tremayne looks back at the 1981 Spanish Grand Prix as legendary driver Gilles Villeneuve showcased his undoubted talent...
Next Up
Related Articles
From boyband to leading man – Button’s fashion evolution
ExclusiveHow Lindblad is racing ‘for my five-year-old self’ in F1
Antonelli opens up on impact of 2025 struggles
UnlockedJACQUES: 5 young drivers we should be paying attention to
Unlocked5 Winners and 5 Losers from the 2026 season so far
Our writers reflect on the 2026 season so far
