Gilles, Didier and 126CK

Gilles Villeneuve and Didier Pironi (picture-above), the Scuderia Ferrari drivers, and still good friends at the time, walk to their cars on the grid of the 1981 Belgian Grand Prix, while Colin Chapman (white jacket) looks on, and Bernie Ecclestone (in black) is next to Nelson Piquet’s Brabham.

The 1981 Belgian Grand Prix was held at Zolder and Carlos Reutemann put his Williams FW07C on pole in front of Nelson Piquet (Brabham BT49C) while Didier Pironi was for once the fastest of the Ferraris in third. In the race, nobody could hold off Carlos Reutemann, who took his second victory of the season and the 12th and ultimate win of his career.

It was a difficult 1981 for the Ferrari drivers. Gilles Villeneuve was heroic at the wheel of the heavy 126CK, won in Monaco and in Spain and finished 7th in the championship. Didier Pironi, for his first year in red, could not match his team mates’ performance, did not score one podium and finished 13th in the standings.

Picture below: Gilles Villeneuve (Ferrari 126CK) leads Nelson Piquet (Brabham BT49C) and team mate Didier Pironi during the US Grand Prix West held at Long Beach.