1981 French Grand Prix
The 1981 French Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Dijon-Prenois near Dijon, France on 5 July 1981. It was the eighth race of the 1981 [FIA Formula One World Championship].
The 80-lap race was won by Alain Prost, driving a Renault. On home soil, Prost scored the first of an eventual 51 Grand Prix victories, in a race that was stopped after 58 laps due to heavy rain and then restarted, with aggregate times determining the final positions. John [Watson (racing driver)|John Watson] finished second in his McLaren-Ford, while Nelson Piquet, who had been leading in his Brabham-Ford when the race was stopped, finished third.
Prior to the race, Jean-Pierre Jabouille decided to retire from Formula One, having not fully recovered from the leg injuries he had sustained in 1980 Canadian [Grand Prix|Canada the previous year]. His place at Ligier was taken for the rest of the season by Patrick Tambay, who moved from Theodore.
Championship standings after the race
;Drivers' Championship standings;Constructors' Championship standings