The 1981 British Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Silverstone on 18 July 1981.

It was the ninth race of the 1981 Formula One World Championship.

John Watson won his first race for five years, and McLaren's first since James Hunt's victory at the 1977 Japanese Grand Prix.

The race also marked the first victory for a carbon fibre composite monocoque F1 car, the McLaren MP4/1.