Formula 1 historical archive

Jacques Laffite won the 1979 Argentine Grand Prix

Jacques Laffite won the 1979 Argentine Grand Prix for Ligier, ahead of Carlos Reutemann and John Watson at Autódromo Juan y Oscar Gálvez.

Browse the full classification, related season, driver, team, circuit, and championship history.

Race recap

Winner
Jacques Laffite
Team
Ligier
Top listed
Jacques Laffite, Carlos Reutemann, and John Watson
Race date
January 21, 1979
Pole
Jacques Laffite
Fastest lap
Jacques Laffite
Classified drivers
26
Circuit
Autódromo Juan y Oscar Gálvez

The decisive result

Jacques Laffite finished first for Ligier. Carlos Reutemann is listed 2 for Team Lotus, with John Watson 3 for McLaren.

Grid to finish

Derek Daly from P24 to P11 (+13), Elio de Angelis from P16 to P7 (+9), and Clay Regazzoni from P17 to P10 (+7) recorded the largest positive grid-to-finish changes in the classification. Jacques Laffite started from the listed P1 grid position.

Status and fastest lap

The classification lists 5 Collision, 4 +2 laps, 4 Engine, 4 Finished, and 3 +1 lap. Jacques Laffite holds the fastest-lap entry at 1:46.910 on lap 42. It records the result without speculating about incidents or strategy.

This summary sticks to the classification and does not speculate about incidents, strategy, weather, or causes. Source: F1DB (CC BY 4.0) · updated Jul 26, 2026.

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Race classification
PosDriverConstructorTime / statusPoints
1Jacques LaffiteLigier1:36:03.2109
2Carlos ReutemannTeam Lotus1:36:18.1506
3John WatsonMcLaren1:37:32.0204
4Patrick DepaillerLigier1:37:44.9303
5Mario AndrettiTeam Lotus+1 lap2
6Emerson FittipaldiFittipaldi+1 lap1
7Elio de AngelisShadow+1 lap0
8Jochen MassArrows+2 laps0
9Alan JonesWilliams+2 laps0
10Clay RegazzoniWilliams+2 laps0
11Derek DalyEnsign+2 laps0
12Gilles VilleneuveFerrariEngine0
DNFHéctor RebaqueTeam LotusSuspension0
DNFJan LammersShadowTransmission0
DNFJames HuntWolfElectrical0
DNFJean-Pierre JarierTyrrellEngine0
DNFJean-Pierre JabouilleRenaultEngine0
DNFNiki LaudaBrabhamFuel system0
DNFRené ArnouxRenaultEngine0
DNFJody ScheckterFerrariCollision0