| 1981 Brazilian Grand Prix | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 2 of 15 in the 1981 Formula One World Championship | |||
 | |||
| Race details | |||
| Date | March 29, 1981 | ||
| Official name | X Grande Prêmio do Brasil | ||
| Location |
Jacarepaguá Circuit Jacarepaguá, Rio de Janeiro | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 5.031 km (3.126 miles) | ||
| Distance | 62 laps, 311.922 km (193.819 miles) | ||
| Scheduled distance | 63 laps, 316.953 km (196.945 miles) | ||
| Weather | Overcast, Fresh, Rain | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Brabham-Ford | ||
| Time | 1:35.079 | ||
| Fastest lap | |||
| Driver |
 Marc Surer | Ensign-Ford | |
| Time | 1:54.302 on lap 26 | ||
| Podium | |||
| First | Williams-Ford | ||
| Second | Williams-Ford | ||
| Third | Arrows-Ford | ||
|
Lap leaders | |||
The 1981 Brazilian Grand Prix was the second race of the 1981 Formula One World Championship and was held on 29 March 1981 at Jacarepaguá in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Formula One moved to the Jacarepaguá circuit in Rio de Janeiro from the Interlagos circuit in São Paulo, after safety concerns with the long Interlagos circuit and the growing slums of São Paulo being at odds with the glamorous image of Formula One.
The Argentine driver Carlos Reutemann won the race in contentious circumstances; he ignored his pit signals to give up the lead to his teammate and team leader Alan Jones. Jones, who finished second, did not show up on the podium afterwards.