Formula 1 historical archive

Jacques Laffite won the 1981 Austrian Grand Prix

Jacques Laffite won the 1981 Austrian Grand Prix for Ligier, ahead of René Arnoux and Nelson Piquet at Red Bull Ring.

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

Race recap

Winner
Jacques Laffite
Team
Ligier
Top listed
Jacques Laffite, René Arnoux, and Nelson Piquet
Race date
August 16, 1981
Pole
René Arnoux
Fastest lap
Jacques Laffite
Classified drivers
28
Circuit
Red Bull Ring

The decisive result

Jacques Laffite finished first for Ligier. René Arnoux is listed 2 for Renault, with Nelson Piquet 3 for Brabham.

Grid to finish

Andrea de Cesaris from P18 to P8 (+10), Derek Daly from P19 to P11 (+8), and John Watson from P12 to P6 (+6) 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 Finished, 4 DNQ, 4 Engine, 3 +1 lap, and 1 +2 laps. Jacques Laffite holds the fastest-lap entry at 1:37.620 on lap 47. 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 LaffiteLigier1:27:36.4709
2René ArnouxRenault1:27:41.6406
3Nelson PiquetBrabham1:27:43.8104
4Alan JonesWilliams1:27:48.5103
5Carlos ReutemannWilliams1:28:08.3202
6John WatsonMcLaren1:29:07.6101
7Elio de AngelisTeam Lotus+1 lap0
8Andrea de CesarisMcLaren+1 lap0
9Didier PironiFerrari+1 lap0
10Jean-Pierre JarierOsella+2 laps0
11Derek DalyMarch+6 laps0
DNFMario AndrettiAlfa RomeoEngine0
DNFSlim BorguddATS WheelsBrakes0
DNFRiccardo PatreseArrowsEngine0
DNFEliseo SalazarEnsignOil pressure0
DNFMichele AlboretoTyrrellGearbox0
DNFBruno GiacomelliAlfa RomeoFire0
DNFHéctor RebaqueBrabhamClutch0
DNFSiegfried StohrArrowsOverheating0
DNFAlain ProstRenaultSuspension0