Joined Team Lotus in 1980 with a contract as second driver. In his first year with Lotus he stood out in the second race of the championship, the Brazilian Grand Prix, finishing behind René Arnoux and, at 21 years of age, narrowly missed out the record for the youngest winner of all time in a Formula 1 Grand Prix. During the first part of the championship there were no other noteworthy performances, as the car showed traction and chassis problems. Only towards the end of the season Elio managed to score more points, finishing seventh in the drivers’ standings and beating his teammate, Mario Andretti.
|
Race
|
Date
|
Circuit
|
Grid
|
Finish
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
13 Jan
|
Buenos Aires
|
5
|
Retired
|
|
|
27 Jan
|
Interlagos
|
7
|
2
|
|
|
01 Mar
|
Kyalami
|
14
|
Retired
|
|
|
30 Mar
|
Long Beach
|
20
|
Retired
|
|
|
04 May
|
Zolder
|
8
|
10
|
|
|
18 May
|
Montecarlo
|
14
|
9
|
|
|
29 Jun
|
Paul Ricard
|
14
|
Retired
|
|
|
13 Jul
|
Brands Hatch
|
14
|
Retired
|
|
|
10 Aug
|
Hockenheim
|
11
|
16
|
|
|
17 Aug
|
Osterreichring
|
9
|
6
|
|
|
31 Aug
|
Zandvoort
|
11
|
Retired
|
|
|
14 Sep
|
Imola
|
18
|
4
|
|
|
28 Sep
|
Montreal
|
17
|
10
|
|
|
05 Oct
|
Watkins Glen
|
4
|
4
|
Team
Team Essex Lotus
Car • Engine • Tires
Lotus 81/81B no. 12 • Ford Cosworth V8 • Goodyear
Championship
Lotus (Constructors): 5th (14 pts)
Elio de Angelis (Drivers): 7th (13 pts)
