French Grand Prix 1981 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Alain Prost claimed his first Formula 1 victory at the French Grand Prix, delivering Renault a home triumph at Dijon-Prenois. The young Frenchman drove a masterful race to hold off John Watson's McLaren and championship leader Nelson Piquet's Brabham, announcing himself as a future World Champion. Prost's maiden win was built on smooth, calculated driving that maximized Renault's turbocharged power while managing fuel consumption and tire wear - hallmarks of the style that would eventually bring him four championships.

Watson's second place for McLaren demonstrated the Northern Irishman's consistency despite having inferior machinery, while Piquet's third place kept his championship hopes alive. The French Grand Prix marked a breakthrough moment for Prost, who had shown flashes of brilliance but struggled with Renault's notorious unreliability throughout his career to this point. The victory established Prost as Renault's lead driver and France's great championship hope, though the team's continued struggles with reliability would prevent them from capitalizing on their speed advantage. For the championship battle, the race demonstrated that even races won by other drivers could be managed by the leading contenders to maintain their positions.