Brazilian Grand Prix 1979 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Jacques Laffite claimed his second consecutive victory at the Brazilian Grand Prix, leading home teammate Patrick Depailler for Ligier's first one-two finish and confirming the French team's early-season dominance. The JS11's ground effect superiority proved even more pronounced at Interlagos, with both Ligier drivers pulling away from their rivals with ease on the challenging São Paulo circuit. Laffite's back-to-back wins opened an early championship lead and established him as the title favorite.

Depailler's strong second place demonstrated Ligier's depth, with both drivers capable of winning races when the opportunity arose. Carlos Reutemann salvaged another third place for Lotus, though the team's struggles with the radical Lotus 80 design were becoming increasingly apparent. Mario Andretti suffered another disappointing retirement, highlighting the unreliability plaguing Colin Chapman's latest creation. The Ligier one-two sent shockwaves through the paddock, with rivals recognizing they faced a significant performance deficit.

Laffite's perfect start to the season, with 18 points from two races, put him in commanding position early in the championship. The Frenchman's smooth, calculated driving style proved perfectly suited to extracting maximum performance from ground effect cars without overdriving them. Ligier's early dominance appeared reminiscent of Lotus's 1978 superiority, though rivals hoped development would close the gap as the season progressed. The Brazilian result established Ligier as the class of the field heading into the South African round.