Complete calendar with 14 races
The 1980 Formula 1 season marked a watershed moment for Williams Racing, delivering both their first Drivers' and Constructors' Championships behind the dominant ground-effect FW07B and the steely determination of Australian driver Alan Jones. Jones claimed five victories across the 14-race calendar to become only the second Australian World Champion after Jack Brabham, though the title fight remained uncertain until the controversial final rounds.
Williams' success was built on the brilliance of designer Patrick Head's FW07B, an evolution of the previous year's car that had mastered ground-effect aerodynamics so effectively that front wings became almost unnecessary. The car's exceptional downforce generation, combined with superior fuel efficiency compared to its turbocharged rivals, gave Jones and teammate Carlos Reutemann a decisive advantage. Jones dominated the middle portion of the season with victories in France, Britain, and Canada, establishing himself as the man to beat despite fierce competition from multiple quarters.
Nelson Piquet emerged as Jones's primary challenger in the neat Brabham BT49, winning at Long Beach, Zandvoort, and Imola to mount a serious title challenge. The Brazilian's late-season surge was so strong that he arrived at the penultimate round in Canada with a one-point championship lead. The Canadian Grand Prix became one of the season's most controversial moments when Jones and Piquet collided at the first corner, sending Piquet into the wall and triggering a chain reaction. Though rumors persist to this day about whether the contact was deliberate, Jones won the restarted race after Piquet's engine failed while leading, securing the championship with one race remaining.
Renault's turbocharged RE20 provided a glimpse of Formula 1's future, with René Arnoux claiming victories in Brazil and South Africa while Jean-Pierre Jabouille won in Austria. The 1.5-liter turbocharged Renault engines produced significant horsepower advantages, particularly at high-altitude venues like Interlagos and on fast circuits like the Österreichring. However, the turbo cars' greater fuel consumption - requiring 215-liter tanks compared to Williams' 173 liters - compromised their power-to-weight ratio and reliability, preventing them from mounting a sustained championship challenge.
Ligier emerged as the season's dark horse, with Didier Pironi winning in Belgium and Jacques Laffite claiming victory in Germany. Their French cars showed flashes of brilliance but lacked the consistency to challenge Williams across a full season. The French challenge extended beyond Ligier and Renault, creating a golden period for French motorsport with four French drivers winning races and two French manufacturers securing victories.
Ferrari's season was a disappointment following Jody Scheckter's 1979 championship, with the defending champion managing just two points all season. The Scuderia's struggles highlighted the dramatic shift in Formula 1's competitive landscape, as the Italian giants failed to adapt to the ground-effect revolution that Williams had mastered. A young Alain Prost made his Formula 1 debut with McLaren, showing glimpses of the talent that would eventually make him a four-time champion, while Nigel Mansell made his first appearance in the sport.
Jones's championship victory was built on consistency and strength, with five wins and five additional podiums demonstrating his dominance when the FW07B was properly sorted. His 13-point margin over Piquet masked how close the battle had been, particularly in the final races when Brabham found late-season form. The Australian's no-nonsense driving style and fierce competitive spirit perfectly complemented the Williams team's technical excellence, though his relationship with the increasingly fast Reutemann added internal tension.
The 1980 season established Williams as Formula 1's new powerhouse and demonstrated that ground-effect aerodynamics would define the sport's immediate future. However, Renault's turbocharged challenge served notice that the days of naturally aspirated engines were numbered. Jones's championship would prove to be his only title, but it secured his place among Australia's greatest sporting champions and launched Williams on a trajectory that would see them dominate much of the following decade.