Dutch Grand Prix 1980 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Nelson Piquet claimed a crucial victory at the Dutch Grand Prix, keeping his championship hopes alive with a commanding performance at Zandvoort. The Brazilian mastered the challenging seaside circuit to lead home Rene Arnoux's Renault and Jacques Laffite's Ligier, demonstrating that Gordon Murray's Brabham BT49 remained capable of beating the dominant Williams on its day. Piquet's second victory of the season came at a critical moment, with Alan Jones absent from the podium for the first time in several races.

Arnoux secured second place for Renault, continuing the French manufacturer's strong form at circuits where their turbo power provided advantages. Laffite's third place for Ligier maintained the French team's impressive podium consistency throughout 1980. The race was significant for the championship battle, as Jones could only manage 11th place after reliability issues, allowing Piquet to close the gap in the standings. However, with only three races remaining, Jones still held a comfortable points advantage. Piquet's victory at the Dutch coastal circuit demonstrated his ability to win on different track types, from street circuits to traditional road courses, establishing him as the most serious threat to Williams' championship dominance.