French Grand Prix 1980 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Alan Jones reasserted his championship credentials with a dominant victory at the French Grand Prix, leading Ligier's Didier Pironi and Jacques Laffite to the podium. The Australian's commanding performance at Paul Ricard demonstrated the Williams FW07B's superiority on fast, flowing circuits where ground-effect aerodynamics provided decisive advantages. Jones controlled the race from the front, managing his pace and fuel consumption to deliver a textbook victory that extended his championship lead.

Ligier secured a strong 2-3 finish with Pironi and Laffite, confirming the French team as consistent podium contenders even if outright victories remained elusive against Williams' superior package. The race unfolded at Paul Ricard's demanding high-speed layout, where aerodynamic efficiency and engine reliability were tested to the limit under the intense Provençal heat. Jones's victory was particularly impressive given that Renault's turbocharged cars had shown strong pace in practice, only to suffer reliability issues that prevented them from challenging for the win. The result strengthened Williams' grip on both championships as the season reached its halfway point.