Austrian Grand Prix 1981 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Jacques Laffite claimed his first victory of 1981 at the Austrian Grand Prix, delivering Ligier a well-deserved win after a season of consistent podium finishes. The Frenchman drove brilliantly at the Österreichring's high-speed layout to hold off Rene Arnoux's turbocharged Renault and championship leader Nelson Piquet's Brabham. Laffite's victory rewarded Ligier's remarkable consistency throughout 1981, with the French team scoring points in virtually every race despite lacking the ultimate pace to challenge regularly for wins.

Arnoux's second place for Renault highlighted the French manufacturer's speed advantage on power circuits, though reliability issues continued to prevent them from mounting a championship challenge. Piquet's third place was crucial for his title hopes, with the Brazilian taking over the championship lead from Carlos Reutemann who endured a disastrous race. The Austrian Grand Prix proved a turning point in the championship battle, with Piquet's consistent points-scoring contrasting sharply with Reutemann's increasingly erratic form. With three races remaining, Piquet held a slender advantage over Reutemann, while defending champion Jones remained mathematically in contention despite announcing he would retire at season's end.