We show that the birational classification in positive characteristic of smooth Fano threefolds $X$ with Picard number 1 is the same as in characteristic zero. In particular, there are no exotic such Fanos; as a consequence of the classification, $X$ is shown to be liftable without ramification to characteristic zero and to contain a line. The main techniques employed are those of Ekedahl and of Mori and Takeuchi.