F1 Racing UK – August 2019

Brabham also improved
braking performance by
phasing out steel brakes for
carbon discs and pads.
The 1981 season proved
to be one ofthe closest-run
championships; not only did
Piquet have reigning champion
Jones tocontend with, but
Carlos Reutemann, Jacques
Laffite and Alain Prost were
fi rmly in the hunt for glory too.
Brabham’s consistency served
Piquet well inthe ear ly part of
the season, managing a third
and two victories in the opening
four races - only an ill-advised
gamble to startfrom pole at the
wet Brazilian Grand Prix on
slicks blotted the copybook.
Reutemann hadthe upper
hand and was threepoints clear
of Piquet afterthe openingfour
races. Then, it looked like it had
all unravelled spectacularly.
Jones shoved Piquet into a fence
at Zolder, before theBrabham
driver’s error in Monaco whenleading saw hi m come torest in
a barrier. Then, at Jarama,Piquet went too deep into Turn 11
and na rrowly avoided abrush withsome catch fencing.
The slide was arrested at Dijon with third, but a burst tyre
at Silverstone sent Piquet into a heavy incident at Becketts
while Reutemann sauntered into a 17-point lead. With six
rounds left, Piquet had to cut outthe incidents and he duly
did so. Victory at Hockenheim got the recovery underway,
and Piquet never strayed from thepoints throughout the rest

SPECIFICATION

ChassisAluminium alloy monocoque, carbon-fibre reinforcement

SuspensionDouble-wishbone pullrod suspension

EngineFord Cosworth DFV 90-degree V8

Engine Capacity2993cc

Power500bhp @ 11,000 rpm

GearboxHewland six-speed manualgearbox

TyresGoodyear/Michelin

Weight:580kg

Notable driversNelson Piquet, HectorRebaque,

Ricardo Zunino, RiccardoPatrese

RACE RECORD*

Starts 67

Wins 7

Poles 6

Fastest laps 4

Other podiums 9

Points 135

* for 49, 49C, 49D

F1 RACING AUGUST 2019 87

“WITH SIX

ROUNDS LEFT,

PIQUET HAD

TO CUT OUT

THE INCIDENTS

AND HE DULY

DID SO.

VICTORY AT

HOCKENHEIM

GOT THE

RECOVERY

UNDERWAY”

of the year as Reutemann faltered spectacularly. By a single

point, Piquet won hisfi rst of three world titles.

A handful of appearances for a D-spec BT49in 1982 gave the

team a solid package to work withas the BMWturbo-powered

BT50 was sorted. But for a car that was conceivedand built

in just afew weeks,the BT49was immediately quick - and

delivered Brabham a drivers’ title for thefi rst time since 1967.