Round 8 · 1981
French Grand Prix
Dijon-Prenois, France · Sun 5 Jul · 00:00 UTC
Race
| Pos | Driver | Team | Grid | Time / Status | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alain Prost | Renault | 3 | 1:35:48.130 | 9 |
| 2 | John Watson | McLaren | 2 | +2.290 | 6 |
| 3 | Nelson Piquet | Brabham | 4 | +24.220 | 4 |
| 4 | René Arnoux | Renault | 1 | +42.300 | 3 |
| 5 | Didier Pironi | Ferrari | 14 | +1 Lap | 2 |
| 6 | Elio de Angelis | Lotus-Borgward | 8 | +1 Lap | 1 |
| 7 | Nigel Mansell | Lotus-Borgward | 13 | +1 Lap | |
| 8 | Mario Andretti | Alfa Romeo | 10 | +1 Lap | |
| 9 | Hector Rebaque | Brabham | 15 | +2 Laps | |
| 10 | Carlos Reutemann | Williams | 7 | +2 Laps | |
| 11 | Andrea de Cesaris | McLaren | 5 | +2 Laps | |
| 12 | Marc Surer | Theodore | 21 | +2 Laps | |
| 13 | Eddie Cheever | Tyrrell | 19 | +3 Laps | |
| 14 | Riccardo Patrese | Arrows | 18 | +3 Laps | |
| 15 | Bruno Giacomelli | Alfa Romeo | 12 | +3 Laps | |
| 16 | Michele Alboreto | Tyrrell | 23 | +3 Laps | |
| 17 | Alan Jones | Williams | 9 | Collision | |
| — | Jacques Laffite | Ligier | 6 | Suspension | |
| — | Derek Daly | March | 20 | Engine | |
| — | Gilles Villeneuve | Ferrari | 11 | Electrical | |
| — | Patrick Tambay | Ligier | 16 | Wheel bearing | |
| — | Keke Rosberg | Fittipaldi | 17 | Suspension | |
| — | Eliseo Salazar | Ensign | 22 | Suspension | |
| — | Chico Serra | Fittipaldi | 24 | Withdrew |