DUTCH GRAND PRIX

HAVING FORCED his way from fourth position on the grid to the front, Alan Jones (Williams) leads the field. He managed to pull out two seconds advantage on the first lap, but ran wide on the second, grounding the skirts of his car and thus requiring a lengthy pit stop to repair the damage. Rene Arnoux was fastest in practice and took his Renault into second place.

Nelson Piquet brandishing his hard won trophy after a tremendous drive in the Brabham. He managed to take the lead from Laffite and Arnoux after Jones had dropped back.

Bruno Giacomelli (Ada Romeo) challenging for second place, but failing to make it through over exuberance, spinning and damaging the skirts of the car in the process.

Derek Daly’s Tyrrell and Alain Prost’s new McLaren having a close tussle in mid-field.

Jacques Laffite (Ligier) led the race in the early stages when Jones was in the pits. Piquet passed him on lap 12, and Arnoux in the closing stages after Laffite had eased up, thinking himself secure.