| «1981-04» | San Marino Grand Prix - I Gran Premio di San Marino |
| 1981-05-03 | Imola - Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari - 60 laps × 5.04 km : 302.4 km |
| Pos | Qualy | Car | Driver | Constructor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 27 | Gilles Villeneuve | Ferrari |
| 2 | 2 | 2 | Carlos Reutemann | Williams • Ford Cosworth |
| 3 | 3 | 16 | René Arnoux | Renault |
| 4 | 4 | 15 | Alain Prost | Renault |
| 5 | 5 | 5 | Nelson Piquet | Brabham • Ford Cosworth |
| 6 | 6 | 28 | Didier Pironi | Ferrari |
| 7 | 7 | 7 | John Watson | McLaren • Ford Cosworth |
| 8 | 8 | 1 | Alan Jones | Williams • Ford Cosworth |
| 9 | 9 | 29 | Riccardo Patrese | Arrows • Ford Cosworth |
| 10 | 10 | 26 | Jacques Laffite | Ligier • Matra |
| 11 | 11 | 23 | Bruno Giacomelli | Alfa Romeo |
| 12 | 12 | 22 | Mario Andretti | Alfa Romeo |
| 13 | 13 | 6 | Hector Rebaque | Brabham • Ford Cosworth |
| 14 | 14 | 8 | Andrea de Cesaris | McLaren • Ford Cosworth |
| 15 | 15 | 20 | Keke Rosberg | Fittipaldi • Ford Cosworth |
| 16 | 16 | 33 | Patrick Tambay | Theodore • Ford Cosworth |
| 17 | 17 | 4 | Michele Alboreto | Tyrrell • Ford Cosworth |
| 18 | 18 | 25 | Jean-Pierre Jabouille | Ligier • Matra |
| 19 | 19 | 3 | Eddie Cheever | Tyrrell • Ford Cosworth |
| 20 | 20 | 32 | Beppe Gabbiani | Osella • Ford Cosworth |
| 21 | 21 | 14 | Marc Surer | Ensign • Ford Cosworth |
| 22 | 22 | 31 | Miguel Angel Guerra | Osella • Ford Cosworth |
| 23 | 23 | 17 | Eliseo Salazar | March • Ford Cosworth |
| 24 | 24 | 10 | Slim Borgudd | ATS • Ford Cosworth |