When your rivals out-develop you and you fail to react quickly enough, disaster strikes. That’s the story of Scuderia Ferrari in the 1980 Formula 1 season—a season remembered as the Prancing Horse’s darkest hour.
Ferrari, a name synonymous with success, hit rock bottom in 1980. The Scuderia scored just 8 points all season, finishing 10th in the Constructors’ Championship. For a team that had regularly graced the top step of the podium, this was uncharted.
Why did the 312T5 fail?
The Ferrari 312T series was nothing short of iconic. Over its run, it secured 4 Constructors’ Championships, 3 Drivers’ Championships, and a staggering 27 race wins. The car is still the most successful design in Formula 1 history.
Photo: Ferrari
The Ferrari 312T in 1975
But by 1980, that magic had faded. The final iteration, the 312T5, was a shadow of its former self. Ferrari introduced the car at the start of the season, but it quickly became clear that it wasn’t up to the task. So what were the main attributes?
1. Lack of aero
Photo: Bonhams Auctions
The 312T5’s flat-12 Boxer engine, which had been a strength in previous years, now became a glaring weakness. Its wide and bulky design made it impossible to adapt the car to the ground-effect aerodynamics that dominated F1 at the time. Rival teams like Williams and Brabham were perfecting their ground-effect technology, leaving Ferrari struggling to keep up.
2. Reliability issues
If being slow wasn’t bad enough, the 312T5 was also notoriously unreliable. Throughout the season, Ferrari suffered countless technical failures, leaving their drivers stranded far too often.
3. Development stagnation
While competitors like Williams and Ligier pushed the envelope with mid-season updates, Ferrari's development of the 312T5 essentially stalled. The car grew less competitive as the year wore on.
Photo: Ferrari
For the first time since 1973, Ferrari failed to win a single race. They ended the season with just 8 points, an almost unbelievable statistic for a team of their caliber. To make matters worse, Jody Scheckter failed to qualify for the Canadian Grand Prix, a first for a Ferrari driver since the 1960s.
The drivers: Scheckter and Villeneuve
Photo: Ferrari
Jody Scheckter and Gilles Villeneuve before the start of the 1980 Formula 1 season
Ferrari’s 1980 driver lineup featured two big names: reigning World Champion Jody Scheckter and the fiery Canadian talent Gilles Villeneuve. Unfortunately, even these two couldn’t salvage the season.
After securing the Drivers’ Championship in 1979, Jody Scheckter’s title defense couldn’t have gone worse. He managed just two points all season, with his best result being a P5 finish at the US Grand Prix West. Frustrated and disillusioned, Scheckter retired from Formula 1 at the end of the year, leaving Ferrari after a short but dramatic stint.
Photo: Ferrari
Gilles Villeneuve at the 1980 US West Grand Prix
Gilles Villeneuve, known for his daring driving style, also endured a tough season. His best finishes, P5 in Monaco and Canada, came in races riddled with retirements and crashes, where sheer attrition worked in his favor. Villeneuve retired from 6 of the 14 races that season, a majority of them due to mechanical failures.
Domination by Williams
While Ferrari struggled, Williams emerged as the team to beat in 1980. The combination of the Williams-Ford FW07 chassis, ground-effect aerodynamics, and Alan Jones’ skill behind the wheel proved unstoppable.
Photo: Williams
The Williams FW07 of Alon Jones in 1980
Williams won 6 races that season, with Jones taking 5 of them to secure his maiden Drivers’ Championship. Carlos Reutemann also provided solid support, ensuring Williams clinched the Constructors’ Championship by a comfortable margin. With 120 points, they finished a whopping 112 points ahead of Ferrari.
Return of the Scuderia
If there’s one thing Ferrari has always been known for, it’s resilience. While the 1980 season was a nightmare, the Scuderia bounced back in the following years. In 1981, they finished 5th in the Constructors’ Championship. By 1982 and 1983, Ferrari was back on top, claiming back-to-back Constructors’ titles with the turbocharged 126C series.
Photo: Ferrari
Gilles Villeneuve in the Ferrari 126 CK
What’s your take on Ferrari’s 1980 struggles? Could they have turned it around mid-season, or was it a lost cause from the start? Let us know in the comments!
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