The signing of the Concorde Agreement in spring of 1981 had finally settled the smouldering dispute between FISA and FOCA. On the technical side the engineers tried hard to find a way of compensating the ban of the ground effect skirts. Formula 1 seemed to be in a state of upheaval in 1981 as it needed Goodyear, Michelin, Avon and Pirelli to supply all teams with tires while the variety of engines reached from the classic Cosworth V8 via Matra’s and Alfa Romeo’s naturally aspirated V12 engines to the latest turbo charged units used by Renault and Ferrari.
With a considerable lack of money but unshakable Italian enthusiasm Enzo Osella had stepped into Formula 1 in 1980 and from the very beginning he depended on pay drivers who kept the team running. But it was impossible to develop Giorgio Stirano’s FA1 design with drivers such as Guerra, Gabbiani, Ghinzani or Francia in 1981. When Jean-Pierre Jarier was dismissed at Ligier he was a real stroke of luck for Osella. The experienced Frenchman contributed a lot to chassis tuning and got the car working for the first time. The British Grand Prix saw Jarier in the Osella cockpit for the first time and while team mate Gabbiani was hopelessly last he qualified 20th for the race. When Jarier finished 8th both at Silverstone and the following Hockenheim race it was close to a sensation for the Italian underdogs releasing new forces.