South African Grand Prix
Kyalami
Grand Prix starting grid
Race starts
Grid positions from race-result records; not a separately verified pre-race grid.
| POS | DRIVER | TEAM |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Patrick Tambay | Ferrari |
| 2 | Nelson Piquet | Brabham |
| 3 | Riccardo Patrese | Brabham |
| 4 | René Arnoux | Ferrari |
| 5 | Alain Prost | Renault |
| 6 | Keke Rosberg | Williams |
| 7 | Nigel Mansell | Team Lotus |
| 8 | Manfred Winkelhock | ATS |
| 9 | Andrea de Cesaris | Alfa Romeo |
| 10 | Jacques Laffite | Williams |
| 11 | Elio de Angelis | Team Lotus |
| 12 | Niki Lauda | McLaren |
| 13 | Derek Warwick | Toleman |
| 14 | Eddie Cheever | Renault |
| 15 | John Watson | McLaren |
| 16 | Bruno Giacomelli | Toleman |
| 17 | Mauro Baldi | Alfa Romeo |
| 18 | Michele Alboreto | Tyrrell |
| 19 | Danny Sullivan | Tyrrell |
| 20 | Thierry Boutsen | Arrows |
| 21 | Jean-Pierre Jarier | Ligier |
| 22 | Marc Surer | Arrows |
| 23 | Raul Boesel | Ligier |
| 24 | Kenny Acheson | RAM |
| 25 | Corrado Fabi | Osella |
| 26 | Piercarlo Ghinzani | Osella |