Early unreliability of the turbo engine put paid to Villeneuve's 1981 championship hopes but he did score back to back victories in Monaco and Spain, as well as several podium places.
A falta de fiabilidade do motor turbo deu ao traste cas esperanzas de Villeneuve no campionato de 1981, pero logrou dúas vitorias consecutivas en Mónaco e España, así como varios podios.