1980 Belgian Grand Prix

Previous race

Long Beach produced the cleanest weekend of the season so far, and it belonged entirely to Piquet. He took pole by a full second, led all 80 laps, and won by 49 seconds — his first career victory. Patrese finished second for Arrows, with Emerson Fittipaldi third in what would prove his final Formula One podium. Arnoux’s race ended with a rear tyre blowout on lap 63. Jones was eliminated by contact with Giacomelli’s Alfa Romeo when the Italian reversed onto the racing line under a blue flag.

Championship

Piquet and Arnoux are level at the top of the championship.

Between-race developments

Clay Regazzoni is paralysed from the waist down after losing his brakes on the Long Beach straight and crashing at speed into Ricardo Zunino’s parked Brabham and then a concrete wall. Tiff Needell replaces him at Ensign Racing for this race.

Background

The European season begins at Zolder. A five-week gap has opened since Long Beach after the Mexican Grand Prix — which had been scheduled for mid-April — was cancelled before the season began.