Formula 1 historical archive

Alan Jones won the 1979 Austrian Grand Prix

Alan Jones won the 1979 Austrian Grand Prix for Williams, ahead of Gilles Villeneuve and Jacques Laffite at Red Bull Ring.

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

Race recap

Winner
Alan Jones
Team
Williams
Top listed
Alan Jones, Gilles Villeneuve, and Jacques Laffite
Race date
August 12, 1979
Pole
René Arnoux
Fastest lap
René Arnoux
Classified drivers
26
Circuit
Red Bull Ring

The decisive result

Alan Jones finished first for Williams. Gilles Villeneuve is listed 2 for Ferrari, with Jacques Laffite 3 for Ligier.

Grid to finish

John Watson from P16 to P9 (+7), Jacques Laffite from P8 to P3 (+5), and Jody Scheckter from P9 to P4 (+5) recorded the largest positive grid-to-finish changes in the classification. René Arnoux started from the listed P1 grid position.

Status and fastest lap

The classification lists 6 Engine, 5 +1 lap, 5 Finished, 2 DNQ, and 2 Suspension. René Arnoux holds the fastest-lap entry at 1:35.770 on lap 40. 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.

Report a correction · Get the iPhone app

Race classification
PosDriverConstructorTime / statusPoints
1Alan JonesWilliams1:27:38.0109
2Gilles VilleneuveFerrari1:28:14.0606
3Jacques LaffiteLigier1:28:24.7804
4Jody ScheckterFerrari1:28:25.2203
5Clay RegazzoniWilliams1:28:26.9302
6René ArnouxRenault+1 lap1
7Didier PironiTyrrell+1 lap0
8Derek DalyTyrrell+1 lap0
9John WatsonMcLaren+1 lap0
10Patrick TambayMcLaren+1 lap0
DNFNiki LaudaBrabhamEngine0
DNFPatrick GaillardEnsignSuspension0
DNFElio de AngelisShadowEngine0
DNFRiccardo PatreseArrowsSuspension0
DNFNelson PiquetBrabhamEngine0
DNFHans-Joachim StuckATS WheelsEngine0
DNFJacky IckxLigierEngine0
DNFCarlos ReutemannTeam LotusHandling0
DNFJean-Pierre JabouilleRenaultGearbox0
DNFEmerson FittipaldiFittipaldiBrakes0