F1 Championship leaders
Drivers’ Championship
| # | Grand Prix | Leader | Lead |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | USA West | (AUS) Alan Jones | 3 |
| 2 | Brazil |
| 0 |
| 3 | Argentina | (ARG) Carlos Reutemann | 3 |
| 4 | San Marino | (ARG) Carlos Reutemann | 3 |
| 5 | Belgium | (ARG) Carlos Reutemann | 12 |
| 6 | Monaco | (ARG) Carlos Reutemann | 10 |
| 7 | Spain | (ARG) Carlos Reutemann | 13 |
| 8 | France | (ARG) Carlos Reutemann | 11 |
| 9 | Britain | (ARG) Carlos Reutemann | 17 |
| 10 | Germany | (ARG) Carlos Reutemann | 8 |
| 11 | Austria | (ARG) Carlos Reutemann | 6 |
| 12 | Netherlands | (BRA) Nelson Piquet | 0 |
| 13 | Italy | (ARG) Carlos Reutemann | 3 |
| 14 | Canada | (ARG) Carlos Reutemann | 1 |
| 15 | Caesars Palace | (BRA) Nelson Piquet | 1 |
- First time as championship leader
- No driver led the championship for the first time in 1981
- Last time as championship leader
- Alan Jones
- Carlos Reutemann
- First time as championship leader since…
- 1978 for Carlos Reutemann
- Last time as championship leader until…
- 1983 for Nelson Piquet
- First time as championship leader by a…
- Argentine driver since 1981
- Last time as championship leader by a…
- Brazilian driver until 1983
- Australian driver until 2010
Constructors’ Championship
| # | Grand Prix | Leader | Lead |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | USA West | Williams-Ford Cosworth | 11 |
| 2 | Brazil | Williams-Ford Cosworth | 26 |
| 3 | Argentina | Williams-Ford Cosworth | 26 |
| 4 | San Marino | Williams-Ford Cosworth | 18 |
| 5 | Belgium | Williams-Ford Cosworth | 27 |
| 6 | Monaco | Williams-Ford Cosworth | 33 |
| 7 | Spain | Williams-Ford Cosworth | 35 |
| 8 | France | Williams-Ford Cosworth | 32 |
| 9 | Britain | Williams-Ford Cosworth | 36 |
| 10 | Germany | Williams-Ford Cosworth | 24 |
| 11 | Austria | Williams-Ford Cosworth | 25 |
| 12 | Netherlands | Williams-Ford Cosworth | 20 |
| 13 | Italy | Williams-Ford Cosworth | 29 |
| 14 | Canada | Williams-Ford Cosworth | 27 |
| 15 | Caesars Palace | Williams-Ford Cosworth | 34 |
Notes
- The 1981 season was the seventh season, and the first since 1978, in which the Constructors’ Championship was led from start to finish by the same constructor.
- Williams was the fifth constructor to achieve this feat.
- First time as championship leader
- No constructor led the championship for the first time in 1981
- Last time as championship leader
- No constructor led the championship for the last time in 1981
- Last time as championship leader until…
- 1986 for Williams