Formula 1 historical archive

Clay Regazzoni won the 1979 British Grand Prix

Clay Regazzoni won the 1979 British Grand Prix for Williams, ahead of René Arnoux and Jean-Pierre Jarier at Silverstone Circuit.

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

Race recap

Winner
Clay Regazzoni
Team
Williams
Top listed
Clay Regazzoni, René Arnoux, and Jean-Pierre Jarier
Race date
July 14, 1979
Pole
Alan Jones
Fastest lap
Clay Regazzoni
Classified drivers
26
Circuit
Silverstone Circuit

The decisive result

Clay Regazzoni finished first for Williams. René Arnoux is listed 2 for Renault, with Jean-Pierre Jarier 3 for Tyrrell.

Grid to finish

Héctor Rebaque from P24 to P9 (+15), Jean-Pierre Jarier from P16 to P3 (+13), and Jacky Ickx from P17 to P6 (+11) recorded the largest positive grid-to-finish changes in the classification. Alan Jones started from the listed P1 grid position.

Status and fastest lap

The classification lists 4 +1 lap, 3 +2 laps, 3 +3 laps, 2 DNQ, and 2 Engine. Clay Regazzoni holds the fastest-lap entry at 1:14.400 on lap 39. 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
1Clay RegazzoniWilliams1:26:11.1709
2René ArnouxRenault1:26:35.4506
3Jean-Pierre JarierTyrrell+1 lap4
4John WatsonMcLaren+1 lap3
5Jody ScheckterFerrari+1 lap2
6Jacky IckxLigier+1 lap1
7Patrick TambayMcLarenOut of fuel0
8Carlos ReutemannTeam Lotus+2 laps0
9Héctor RebaqueTeam Lotus+2 laps0
10Didier PironiTyrrell+2 laps0
11Jan LammersShadow+3 laps0
12Elio de AngelisShadow+3 laps0
13Patrick GaillardEnsign+3 laps0
14Gilles VilleneuveFerrariFuel system0
DNFRiccardo PatreseArrowsGearbox0
DNFKeke RosbergWolfFuel system0
DNFJacques LaffiteLigierEngine0
DNFAlan JonesWilliamsWater pump0
DNFJochen MassArrowsGearbox0
DNFEmerson FittipaldiFittipaldiEngine0