F1 Championship leaders
Drivers’ Championship
| # | Grand Prix | Leader | Lead |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Argentina | (AUS) Alan Jones | 3 |
| 2 | Brazil | (AUS) Alan Jones | 4 |
| 3 | South Africa | (FRA) Rene Arnoux | 5 |
| 4 | USA West | (FRA) Rene Arnoux | 0 |
| 5 | Belgium | (FRA) Rene Arnoux | 2 |
| 6 | Monaco | (BRA) Nelson Piquet | 1 |
| 7 | France | (AUS) Alan Jones | 3 |
| 8 | Britain | (AUS) Alan Jones | 6 |
| 9 | Germany | (AUS) Alan Jones | 7 |
| 10 | Austria | (AUS) Alan Jones | 11 |
| 11 | Netherlands | (AUS) Alan Jones | 2 |
| 12 | Italy | (BRA) Nelson Piquet | 1 |
| 13 | Canada | (AUS) Alan Jones | 8 |
| 14 | USA | (AUS) Alan Jones | 13 |
- First time as championship leader
- Rene Arnoux
- Alan Jones
- Nelson Piquet
- Last time as championship leader
- Rene Arnoux
- First time as championship leader by a…
- Australian driver since 1970
- Brazilian driver since 1975
- Last time as championship leader by a…
- French driver until 1982
Constructors’ Championship
| # | Grand Prix | Leader | Lead |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Argentina | Williams-Ford Cosworth | 3 |
| 2 | Brazil | Williams-Ford Cosworth | 4 |
| 3 | South Africa | Renault | 3 |
| 4 | USA West | Renault | 0 |
| 5 | Belgium | Williams-Ford Cosworth | 2 |
| 6 | Monaco | Williams-Ford Cosworth | 5 |
| 7 | France | Williams-Ford Cosworth | 5 |
| 8 | Britain | Williams-Ford Cosworth | 18 |
| 9 | Germany | Williams-Ford Cosworth | 19 |
| 10 | Austria | Williams-Ford Cosworth | 26 |
| 11 | Netherlands | Williams-Ford Cosworth | 25 |
| 12 | Italy | Williams-Ford Cosworth | 34 |
| 13 | Canada | Williams-Ford Cosworth | 45 |
| 14 | USA | Williams-Ford Cosworth | 54 |
- First time as championship leader
- Renault
- Williams
- Last time as championship leader
- No constructor led the championship for the last time in 1980