Formula 1 historical archive

Carlos Reutemann won the 1981 Belgian Grand Prix

Carlos Reutemann won the 1981 Belgian Grand Prix for Williams, ahead of Jacques Laffite and Nigel Mansell at Circuit Zolder.

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

Race recap

Winner
Carlos Reutemann
Team
Williams
Top listed
Carlos Reutemann, Jacques Laffite, and Nigel Mansell
Race date
May 17, 1981
Pole
Carlos Reutemann
Fastest lap
Carlos Reutemann
Classified drivers
31
Circuit
Circuit Zolder

The decisive result

Carlos Reutemann finished first for Williams. Jacques Laffite is listed 2 for Ligier, with Nigel Mansell 3 for Team Lotus.

Grid to finish

Piercarlo Ghinzani from P24 to P13 (+11), Elio de Angelis from P14 to P5 (+9), and Bruno Giacomelli from P17 to P9 (+8) recorded the largest positive grid-to-finish changes in the classification. Carlos Reutemann started from the listed P1 grid position.

Status and fastest lap

The classification lists 9 Finished, 7 DNQ, 3 Accident, 2 +2 laps, and 2 Collision. Carlos Reutemann holds the fastest-lap entry at 1:23.300 on lap 37. 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
1Carlos ReutemannWilliams1:16:31.6109
2Jacques LaffiteLigier1:17:07.6706
3Nigel MansellTeam Lotus1:17:15.3004
4Gilles VilleneuveFerrari1:17:19.2503
5Elio de AngelisTeam Lotus1:17:20.8102
6Eddie CheeverTyrrell1:17:24.1201
7John WatsonMcLaren1:17:33.2700
8Didier PironiFerrari1:18:03.6500
9Bruno GiacomelliAlfa Romeo1:18:07.1900
10Mario AndrettiAlfa Romeo+1 lap0
11Marc SurerEnsign+2 laps0
12Michele AlboretoTyrrell+2 laps0
13Piercarlo GhinzaniOsella+4 laps0
DNFHéctor RebaqueBrabhamAccident0
DNFJean-Pierre JabouilleLigierTransmission0
DNFChico SerraFittipaldiEngine0
DNFBeppe GabbianiOsellaEngine0
DNFAlan JonesWilliamsAccident0
DNFAndrea de CesarisMcLarenGearbox0
DNFNelson PiquetBrabhamAccident0