Belgian Grand Prix 1980 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Didier Pironi delivered Ligier their first victory of 1980 at the Belgian Grand Prix, holding off a strong Williams challenge from Alan Jones and Carlos Reutemann. The Frenchman drove brilliantly at Zolder to convert Ligier's early-season promise into a well-deserved victory, demonstrating the team's genuine competitiveness in the ground-effect era. Pironi's win confirmed that Ligier's strong start to the season was no fluke, with their JS11/15 proving particularly effective at faster European circuits.

Williams secured a valuable 2-3 finish with Jones and Reutemann, allowing the team to extend their constructors' championship lead despite missing out on victory. The result highlighted the strength of Williams' driver pairing, with both Jones and the newly-arrived Reutemann showing championship-winning pace. The race was significant as it marked two years since the tragic death of Swedish driver Ronnie Peterson at the same circuit in 1978, a somber reminder of the sport's dangers. Pironi's victory maintained the competitive uncertainty of the 1980 season, with four different winners in the first five rounds suggesting no single team had established dominance.