Formula 1 historical archive

Jacques Laffite won the 1981 Canadian Grand Prix

Jacques Laffite won the 1981 Canadian Grand Prix for Ligier, ahead of John Watson and Gilles Villeneuve at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

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

Race recap

Winner
Jacques Laffite
Team
Ligier
Top listed
Jacques Laffite, John Watson, and Gilles Villeneuve
Race date
September 27, 1981
Pole
Nelson Piquet
Fastest lap
John Watson
Classified drivers
30
Circuit
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve

The decisive result

Jacques Laffite finished first for Ligier. John Watson is listed 2 for McLaren, with Gilles Villeneuve 3 for Ferrari.

Grid to finish

Derek Daly from P20 to P8 (+12), Bruno Giacomelli from P15 to P4 (+11), and Michele Alboreto from P22 to P11 (+11) recorded the largest positive grid-to-finish changes in the classification. Nelson Piquet started from the listed P1 grid position.

Status and fastest lap

The classification lists 6 DNQ, 6 Spun off, 4 +1 lap, 4 Collision, and 3 Finished. John Watson holds the fastest-lap entry at 1:49.475 on lap 43. 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 LaffiteLigier2:01:25.2059
2John WatsonMcLaren2:01:31.4386
3Gilles VilleneuveFerrari2:03:15.4804
4Bruno GiacomelliAlfa Romeo+1 lap3
5Nelson PiquetBrabham+1 lap2
6Elio de AngelisTeam Lotus+1 lap1
7Mario AndrettiAlfa Romeo+1 lap0
8Derek DalyMarch+2 laps0
9Marc SurerTheodore+2 laps0
10Carlos ReutemannWilliams+3 laps0
11Michele AlboretoTyrrell+4 laps0
12Eddie CheeverTyrrellEngine0
DNFAndrea de CesarisMcLarenSpun off0
DNFAlain ProstRenaultCollision0
DNFNigel MansellTeam LotusCollision0
DNFSlim BorguddATS WheelsSpun off0
DNFHéctor RebaqueBrabhamSpun off0
DNFJean-Pierre JarierOsellaCollision0
DNFAlan JonesWilliamsHandling0
DNFDidier PironiFerrariIgnition0