- Winner
- John Watson
- Team
- McLaren
- Top listed
- John Watson, Carlos Reutemann, and Jacques Laffite
- Race date
- July 18, 1981
- Pole
- René Arnoux
- Fastest lap
- René Arnoux
- Classified drivers
- 30
- Circuit
- Silverstone Circuit
The decisive result
John Watson finished first for McLaren. Carlos Reutemann is listed 2 for Williams, with Jacques Laffite 3 for Ligier.
Grid to finish
Eddie Cheever from P23 to P4 (+19), Slim Borgudd from P21 to P6 (+15), and Marc Surer from P24 to P11 (+13) 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 DNQ, 4 +1 lap, 3 Spun off, 2 Clutch, and 2 Distributor. René Arnoux holds the fastest-lap entry at 1:15.067 on lap 50. 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.