United States Grand Prix West 1981 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Defending champion Alan Jones opened the 1981 season with a commanding Williams 1-2 finish at Long Beach, leading teammate Carlos Reutemann home on the challenging California street circuit. The Australian's dominant performance suggested Williams would continue their 1980 form, with the team's ground-effect FW07C showing excellent pace through Long Beach's tight corners and bumpy surface. Jones controlled the race from the front, demonstrating the racecraft and consistency that had won him the 1980 championship.

Reutemann's second place established him as a serious championship contender, with the Argentine showing he could match Jones's pace despite the political tensions emerging within the Williams team. Nelson Piquet rounded out the podium for Brabham, serving notice that Gordon Murray's BT49C would be competitive throughout the season despite lacking the Williams' ultimate performance. The season opener hinted at the dramatic championship battle to come, with three drivers capable of winning the title. However, internal Williams team dynamics would prove crucial as the season unfolded, with Reutemann and Jones increasingly at odds over team strategy and support.