Formula 1 historical archive

René Arnoux won the 1980 Brazilian Grand Prix

René Arnoux won the 1980 Brazilian Grand Prix for Renault, ahead of Elio de Angelis and Alan Jones at Autódromo José Carlos Pace.

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

Race recap

Winner
René Arnoux
Team
Renault
Top listed
René Arnoux, Elio de Angelis, and Alan Jones
Race date
January 27, 1980
Pole
Jean-Pierre Jabouille
Fastest lap
René Arnoux
Classified drivers
28
Circuit
Autódromo José Carlos Pace

The decisive result

René Arnoux finished first for Renault. Elio de Angelis is listed 2 for Team Lotus, with Alan Jones 3 for Williams.

Grid to finish

Marc Surer from P20 to P7 (+13), John Watson from P23 to P11 (+12), and Ricardo Zunino from P18 to P8 (+10) recorded the largest positive grid-to-finish changes in the classification. Jean-Pierre Jabouille started from the listed P1 grid position.

Status and fastest lap

The classification lists 8 +1 lap, 5 Finished, 4 DNQ, 2 +2 laps, and 2 Electrical. René Arnoux holds the fastest-lap entry at 2:27.310 on lap 22. 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
1René ArnouxRenault1:40:01.3309
2Elio de AngelisTeam Lotus1:40:23.1906
3Alan JonesWilliams1:41:07.4404
4Didier PironiLigier1:41:41.4603
5Alain ProstMcLaren1:42:26.7402
6Riccardo PatreseArrows+1 lap1
7Marc SurerATS Wheels+1 lap0
8Ricardo ZuninoBrabham+1 lap0
9Keke RosbergFittipaldi+1 lap0
10Jochen MassArrows+1 lap0
11John WatsonMcLaren+1 lap0
12Jean-Pierre JarierTyrrell+1 lap0
13Bruno GiacomelliAlfa Romeo+1 lap0
14Derek DalyTyrrell+2 laps0
15Emerson FittipaldiFittipaldi+2 laps0
16Gilles VilleneuveFerrariThrottle0
DNFPatrick DepaillerAlfa RomeoElectrical0
DNFJean-Pierre JabouilleRenaultTurbo0
DNFNelson PiquetBrabhamSuspension0
DNFClay RegazzoniEnsignEngine0