British Grand Prix 1981 - Race Schedule and Countdown

John Watson delivered a stunning victory at the British Grand Prix, coming from 17th on the grid to win at Silverstone in one of Formula 1's great comeback drives. The Northern Irishman carved through the field with brilliant overtaking and strategic nous, demonstrating that racecraft and determination could overcome qualifying deficits. Watson's triumph for McLaren was built on aggressive but calculated driving, with the MP4/1 showing excellent race pace despite struggling in qualifying trim.

Carlos Reutemann finished second to maintain his championship lead, driving a solid race that extended his points advantage over rivals Piquet and Jones. Jacques Laffite claimed another podium for Ligier with third place, continuing his remarkably consistent 1981 season. Watson's victory from 17th on the grid remains one of the lowest starting positions to result in a win, highlighting his exceptional talent and McLaren's strong race setup. The British Grand Prix demonstrated that 1981's championship battle remained wide open, with five different winners in nine races reflecting the competitive uncertainty of the season.