The 1980 Argentine Grand Prix opened the Formula One season and previewed the title fight between Alan Jones and Nelson Piquet.
Key Facts
- Winner
- Alan Jones (Williams FW07)
- Winning margin
- 24 seconds over Nelson Piquet
- Race distance
- 308 km over 53 laps
- Circuit length
- 5.81 km
- Jones' championship wins
- 6th World Championship victory
- Circuit variation
- Buenos Aires #15 (6th time used)
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The 1980 Formula One season opened in January at the Autodromo Municipal Ciudad de Buenos Aires, the 16th running of the Argentine Grand Prix and the sixth held on the #15 circuit layout, continuing Argentina's established place on the Formula One calendar.
Alan Jones driving a Williams FW07 won the race by 24 seconds over Nelson Piquet in a Brabham BT49, with Keke Rosberg finishing third in a Fittipaldi F7. The 53-lap contest covered a total distance of 308 kilometres around the 5.81-kilometre circuit.
The result foreshadowed the 1980 season's championship narrative, as Jones and Piquet would contest the drivers' title throughout the year. All three podium finishers — Jones, Piquet, and Rosberg — would each become Formula One World Champion at some point in their careers.