French Grand Prix
Grand Prix de France 1981
Podium
WATMcLaren
2
PRORenault
1
PIQBrabham
3
Key facts
WinnerPRO1:35:48.130 from P3
PoleARN1:05.950
Fastest lapPRO1:09.140 on lap 64
Finishers17 / 24classified
Race result
| Pos | Driver | Team | Grid | +/- | Laps | Time / gap | Pts | Fastest lap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PROAlain Prost | Renault | 3 | ▲2 | 80 | 1:35:48.130 | 9 | 1:09.140 |
| 2 | WATJohn Watson | McLaren | 2 | – | 80 | +2.290s | 6 | – |
| 3 | PIQNelson Piquet | Brabham | 4 | ▲1 | 80 | +24.220s | 4 | – |
| 4 | ARNRené Arnoux | Renault | 1 | ▼3 | 80 | +42.300s | 3 | – |
| 5 | PIRDidier Pironi | Ferrari | 14 | ▲9 | 79 | +1 lap | 2 | – |
| 6 | DEAElio De Angelis | Lotus | 8 | ▲2 | 79 | +1 lap | 1 | – |
| 7 | MANNigel Mansell | Lotus | 13 | ▲6 | 79 | +1 lap | – | |
| 8 | ANDMario Andretti | Alfa Romeo | 10 | ▲2 | 79 | +1 lap | – | |
| 9 | REBHéctor Rebaque | Brabham | 15 | ▲6 | 78 | +2 laps | – | |
| 10 | REUCarlos Reutemann | Williams | 7 | ▼3 | 78 | +2 laps | – | |
| 11 | DECAndrea De Cesaris | McLaren | 5 | ▼6 | 78 | +2 laps | – | |
| 12 | SURMarc Surer | Theodore | 21 | ▲9 | 78 | +2 laps | – | |
| 13 | CHEEddie Cheever | Tyrrell | 19 | ▲6 | 77 | +3 laps | – | |
| 14 | PATRiccardo Patrese | Arrows | 18 | ▲4 | 77 | +3 laps | – | |
| 15 | GIABruno Giacomelli | Alfa Romeo | 12 | ▼3 | 77 | +3 laps | – | |
| 16 | ALBMichele Alboreto | Tyrrell | 23 | ▲7 | 77 | +3 laps | – | |
| 17 | JONAlan Jones | Williams | 9 | ▼8 | 76 | +4 laps | – | |
| DNF | LAFJacques Laffite | Ligier | 6 | 57 | Suspension | – | ||
| DNF | DALDerek Daly | March | 20 | 55 | Engine | – | ||
| DNF | VILGilles Villeneuve | Ferrari | 11 | 41 | Electrical | – | ||
| DNF | TAMPatrick Tambay | Ligier | 16 | 30 | Wheel bearing | – | ||
| DNF | ROSKeke Rosberg | Fittipaldi | 17 | 11 | Suspension | – | ||
| DNF | SALEliseo Salazar | Ensign | 22 | 6 | Suspension | – | ||
| DNS | SERChico Serra | Fittipaldi | – | 0 | Did not start | – |
Qualifying
| Pos | Driver | Team | Time | Gap to pole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ARNRené Arnoux | Renault | 1:05.950 | |
| 2 | WATJohn Watson | McLaren | 1:06.360 | +0.410s |
| 3 | PROAlain Prost | Renault | 1:06.360 | +0.410s |
| 4 | PIQNelson Piquet | Brabham | 1:06.910 | +0.960s |
| 5 | DECAndrea De Cesaris | McLaren | 1:07.030 | +1.080s |
| 6 | LAFJacques Laffite | Ligier | 1:07.090 | +1.140s |
| 7 | REUCarlos Reutemann | Williams | 1:07.420 | +1.470s |
| 8 | DEAElio De Angelis | Lotus | 1:07.520 | +1.570s |
| 9 | JONAlan Jones | Williams | 1:07.530 | +1.580s |
| 10 | ANDMario Andretti | Alfa Romeo | 1:07.560 | +1.610s |
| 11 | VILGilles Villeneuve | Ferrari | 1:07.600 | +1.650s |
| 12 | GIABruno Giacomelli | Alfa Romeo | 1:07.630 | +1.680s |
| 13 | MANNigel Mansell | Lotus | 1:07.720 | +1.770s |
| 14 | PIRDidier Pironi | Ferrari | 1:08.090 | +2.140s |
| 15 | REBHéctor Rebaque | Brabham | 1:08.210 | +2.260s |
| 16 | TAMPatrick Tambay | Ligier | 1:08.470 | +2.520s |
| 17 | ROSKeke Rosberg | Fittipaldi | 1:09.350 | +3.400s |
| 18 | PATRiccardo Patrese | Arrows | 1:09.370 | +3.420s |
| 19 | CHEEddie Cheever | Tyrrell | 1:09.880 | +3.930s |
| 20 | DALDerek Daly | March | 1:09.940 | +3.990s |
| 21 | SURMarc Surer | Theodore | 1:10.210 | +4.260s |
| 22 | SALEliseo Salazar | Ensign | 1:10.500 | +4.550s |
| 23 | ALBMichele Alboreto | Tyrrell | 1:10.640 | +4.690s |
| 24 | SERChico Serra | Fittipaldi | 1:10.860 | +4.910s |
| 25 | STOSiegfried Stohr | Arrows | 1:11.240 | +5.290s |
| 26 | HENBrian Henton | Toleman | 1:11.280 | +5.330s |
| 27 | BORSlim Borgudd | ATS | 1:12.200 | +6.250s |
| 28 | GABBeppe Gabbiani | Osella | 1:12.240 | +6.290s |
| 29 | WARDerek Warwick | Toleman | 1:13.650 | +7.700s |
Dijon-Prenois
Previous winners here
| 1979 | Jean-Pierre Jabouille | Renault |
| 1977 | Mario Andretti | Lotus |
| 1974 | Ronnie Peterson | Lotus |
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