In qualifying, just like the previous year, it was an all-French front row; René Arnoux planted his turbocharged Renault on pole, alongside his teammate Alain Prost.
Na cualificación, do mesmo xeito que o ano anterior, a primeira fila foi de franceses, René Arnoux plantou o seu Renault turbo na pole, xunto ao seu compañeiro de equipo Alain Prost.