| 1 | Alan Jones | TAG Williams Racing Team (GB) | Williams | FW07 | C | Ford |
| 1T | Alan Jones | TAG Williams Racing Team (GB) | Williams | FW07 | C | Ford |
| 2 | Carlos Reutemann | TAG Williams Racing Team (GB) | Williams | FW07 | C | Ford |
| 2T | Carlos Reutemann | TAG Williams Racing Team (GB) | Williams | FW07 | C | Ford |
| 3 | Eddie Cheever | Tyrrell RacingTeam (GB) | Tyrrell | 011 | | Ford |
| 3T | Eddie Cheever | Tyrrell RacingTeam (GB) | Tyrrell | 010 | | Ford |
| 4 | Michele Alboreto | Tyrrell RacingTeam (GB) | Tyrrell | 010 | | Ford |
| 4T | | Tyrrell RacingTeam (GB) | Tyrrell | 010 | | Ford |
| 5 | Nelson Piquet | Parmalat Racing Team (GB) | Brabham | BT49 | C | Ford |
| 5T | Nelson Piquet | Parmalat Racing Team (GB) | Brabham | BT50 | | BMW |
| 5TA | Nelson Piquet | Parmalat Racing Team (GB) | Brabham | BT49 | C | Ford |
| 6 | Hector Rebaque | Parmalat Racing Team (GB) | Brabham | BT49 | C | Ford |
| 7 | John Watson | Marlboro McLaren International (GB) | McLaren | MP4/1 | | Ford |
| 7T | | Marlboro McLaren International (GB) | McLaren | MP4/1 | | Ford |
| 8 | Andrea de Cesaris | Marlboro McLaren International (GB) | McLaren | MP4/1 | | Ford |
| 9 | Slim Borgudd | Team ATS (D) | ATS | HGS1 | | Ford |
| 11 | Elio de Angelis | John Player Team Lotus (GB) | Lotus | 87 | | Ford |
| 11T | Elio de Angelis | John Player Team Lotus (GB) | Lotus | 88 | B | Ford |
| 12 | Nigel Mansell | John Player Team Lotus (GB) | Lotus | 87 | | Ford |
| 12T | Nigel Mansell | John Player Team Lotus (GB) | Lotus | 88 | B | Ford |
| 14 | Eliseo Salazar | Ensign Racing Team (GB) | Ensign | N180 | B | Ford |
| 15 | Alain Prost | Equipe Renault Elf (F) | Renault | RE30 | | Renault |
| 15T | Alain Prost | Equipe Renault Elf (F) | Renault | RE30 | | Renault |
| 16 | René Arnoux | Equipe Renault Elf (F) | Renault | RE30 | | Renault |
| 17 | Derek Daly | March Grand Prix (GB) | March | 811 | | Ford |
| 17T | | March Grand Prix (GB) | March | 811 | | Ford |
| 20 | Keke Rosberg | Fittipaldi Automotive (GB) | Fittipaldi | F8 | C | Ford |
| 21 | Chico Serra | Fittipaldi Automotive (GB) | Fittipaldi | F8 | C | Ford |
| 22 | Mario Andretti | Marlboro Team Alfa Romeo (I) | Alfa Romeo | 179D | | Alfa Romeo |
| 22T | Mario Andretti | Marlboro Team Alfa Romeo (I) | Alfa Romeo | 179E | | Alfa Romeo |
| 23 | Bruno Giacomelli | Marlboro Team Alfa Romeo (I) | Alfa Romeo | 179C | | Alfa Romeo |
| 23T | Bruno Giacomelli | Marlboro Team Alfa Romeo (I) | Alfa Romeo | 179D | | Alfa Romeo |
| 25 | Patrick Tambay | Talbot Ligier (F) | Talbot-Ligier | JS17 | | Matra |
| 26 | Jacques Laffite | Talbot Ligier (F) | Talbot-Ligier | JS17 | | Matra |
| 26T | Tambay / Laffite | Talbot Ligier (F) | Talbot-Ligier | JS17 | | Matra |
| 27 | Gilles Villeneuve | Ferrari (I) | Ferrari | 126 | CK | Ferrari |
| 27T | Villeneuve / Pironi | Ferrari (I) | Ferrari | 126 | CK | Ferrari |
| 28 | Didier Pironi | Ferrari (I) | Ferrari | 126 | CK | Ferrari |
| 29 | Riccardo Patrese | Ragno Arrows Beta Racing Team (GB) | Arrows | A3 | | Ford |
| 29T | | Ragno Arrows Beta Racing Team (GB) | Arrows | A3 | | Ford |
| 30 | Siegfried Stohr | Ragno Arrows Beta Racing Team (GB) | Arrows | A3 | | Ford |
| 31 | Beppe Gabbiani | Denim Osella (I) | Osella | FA1B | | Ford |
| 32 | Jean-Pierre Jarier | Denim Osella (I) | Osella | FA1B | | Ford |
| 33 | Marc Surer | Theodore Racing Team (HK) | Theodore | TR3 | | Ford |
| 33T | | Theodore Racing Team (HK) | Theodore | TR3 | | Ford |
| 35 | Brian Henton | Candy Toleman Motorsport (GB) | Toleman | TG181 | | Hart |
| 35T | Brian Henton | Candy Toleman Motorsport (GB) | Toleman | TG181 | | Hart |
| 36 | Derek Warwick | Candy Toleman Motorsport (GB) | Toleman | TG181 | | Hart |