The 1972 Formula One season was the 26th season of the FIA's Formula One motor racing. It featured the 23rd World Championship of Drivers, the 15th International Cup for F1 Manufacturers[1] and numerous non-championship Formula One races. The World Championship season commenced on 23 January and ended on 8 October after twelve races.

Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi (pictured in 1974) won the World Drivers' Championship, driving for Lotus-Ford

Emerson Fittipaldi, driving for Lotus, became the youngest World Champion to date at 25 years. This record would stand until Fernando Alonso's title in 2005. Reigning champion Jackie Stewart came second in the championship. The Lotus team had finished fifth in the standings of 1971, but kept developing their innovative Lotus 72 "wedge" design to take a surprise championship victory. The car sported a striking black and gold livery for their sponsor Imperial Tobacco had introduced a new brand of John Player Special cigarettes.

The British Racing Motors (BRM) team took its last victory when Jean-Pierre Beltoise won the rain-affected 1972 Monaco Grand Prix in a BRM P160.

Drivers and constructors edit

Entrant Constructor Chassis Engine Tyre Driver Rounds
  Motor Racing Developments Brabham-Ford BT33
BT34
BT37
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G   Graham Hill All
  Carlos Reutemann 1–2, 5–12
  Wilson Fittipaldi 3–12
  Marlboro BRM
  España Marlboro BRM
  Austria Marlboro BRM
BRM P160B
P153
P180
P160C
BRM P142 3.0 V12 F   Howden Ganley 1–6, 8–12
  Reine Wisell 1, 3–4, 6, 8, 10
  Peter Gethin 1–7, 9–12
  Alex Soler-Roig 1, 3
  Helmut Marko 1–2, 4–6
  Jean-Pierre Beltoise 2–12
  Vern Schuppan 5
  Jackie Oliver 7
  Bill Brack 11
  Brian Redman 12
  Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC Ferrari 312B2 Ferrari 001/1 3.0 F12 F   Jacky Ickx All
  Clay Regazzoni 1–5, 8–12
  Mario Andretti 1–3, 10, 12
  Nanni Galli 6
  Arturo Merzario 7–8
  John Player Team Lotus
  World Wide Racing
Lotus-Ford 72D Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 F   Emerson Fittipaldi All
  David Walker 1–9, 12
  Reine Wisell 11–12
  STP March Racing Team March-Ford 721
721X
721G
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G   Ronnie Peterson All
  Niki Lauda All
  Équipe Matra Sports Matra MS120C
MS120D
Matra MS72 3.0 V12 G   Chris Amon All
  Yardley Team McLaren McLaren-Ford M19A
M19C
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G   Denny Hulme All
  Peter Revson 1–3, 5, 7, 9–12
  Brian Redman 4, 6, 8
  Jody Scheckter 12
  Brooke Bond Oxo - Rob Walker Team Surtees
  Ceramica Pagnossin Team Surtees
  Flame Out Team Surtees
  Team Surtees
Surtees-Ford TS9B
TS14
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 F   Tim Schenken All
  Andrea de Adamich All
  Mike Hailwood 2–10, 12
  John Surtees 10, 12
  Elf Team Tyrrell Elf Tyrrell-Ford 003
002
004
005
006
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G   Jackie Stewart 1–4, 6–12
  François Cevert All
  Patrick Depailler 6, 12
  Team Williams Motul March-Ford
Politoys-Ford
711
721
FX3
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G   Henri Pescarolo All
  Carlos Pace 2–12
  Team Eifelland Caravans Eifelland-Ford 21 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G   Rolf Stommelen 2–9
  Lucky Strike Racing Lotus-Ford 72D Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 F   Dave Charlton 2, 6–8
  Team Gunston Surtees-Ford TS9 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 F   John Love 2
Brabham-Ford BT33   William Ferguson 2
  Clarke-Mordaunt-Guthrie Racing March-Ford 721G Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 F   Mike Beuttler 3–12
  Martini Racing Tecno PA123/3 Tecno Series-P 3.0 F12 F   Nanni Galli 5, 7, 9–10
  Derek Bell 6, 8, 10–12
  Darnval Connew Racing Team Connew-Ford PC1 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 F   François Migault 7, 9
  Gene Mason Racing March-Ford 711 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 F   Skip Barber 11–12
  Champcarr Inc. Surtees-Ford TS9B Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 F   Sam Posey 12

Team and driver changes edit

 
Jean-Pierre Beltoise, driving for BRM in the 1972 French Grand Prix
 
David Walker in the Lotus 72

Mid-season changes edit

 
Rolf Stommelen in the Eifelland in France
 
Nanni Galli in the Tecno during the Italian GP
  • Günther Hennerici, owner of the caravan manufacturing company Eifelland, married Formula Two driver Hannelore Werner. Together, they set up a racing team that competed in the 1971 German Formula Three Championship, before expanding to F1 in 1972. From the second race of the season on, they entered a redesigned March 721 under the Eifelland name and signed Rolf Stommelen from Surtees. Before the season was over, however, they withdrew from the championship and refocussed their efforts on Formula Three.
  • Tecno was a successful Italian karting and racing team. With sponsorship from Martini, they built their own F1 chassis and entered the 1972 championship from the Belgian Grand Prix on. They signed Nanni Galli, coming from the March team.
  • The Connew Racing Team had the intent to enter and compete in the whole 1972 season, but only managed to start the Austrian Grand Prix, with French driver Francois Migault at the wheel. They converted their self-made chassis to meet Formula 5000 regulations for 1973, but at the end of that year, the car was crashed beyond repair and the team folded.

Calendar edit

Round Grand Prix Circuit Date
1   Argentine Grand Prix Autódromo Oscar Alfredo Gálvez, Buenos Aires 23 January
2   South African Grand Prix Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit, Midrand 4 March
3   Spanish Grand Prix Circuito Permanente Del Jarama, Madrid 1 May
4   Monaco Grand Prix Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo 14 May
5   Belgian Grand Prix Nivelles-Baulers, Nivelles 4 June
6   French Grand Prix Charade Circuit, Clermont-Ferrand 2 July
7   British Grand Prix Brands Hatch, Kent 15 July
8   German Grand Prix Nürburgring, Nürburg 30 July
9   Austrian Grand Prix Österreichring, Spielberg 13 August
10   Italian Grand Prix Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza 10 September
11   Canadian Grand Prix Mosport Park, Bowmanville 24 September[a]
12   United States Grand Prix Watkins Glen International, New York 8 October

Calendar changes edit

Cancelled rounds edit

Regulation changes edit

Technical regulations edit

  • The minimum weight was raised from 530 kg (1,170 lb) to 550 kg (1,210 lb).[4]
  • Like it was from 1961 to 1969, cars running a compressed engine, for example with a turbocharger, could now have a displacement of 1,500 cc (92 cu in). (For the two years in between, it was reduced to 500 cc (31 cu in).) The maximum displacement for naturally aspirated engines remained at 3,000 cc (180 cu in).[4]

Safety measures edit

Safety was becoming a serious talking point in F1. Since 1969, circuits had started installing some safety features. 1972 was the first season in which all the visited tracks were up to the mandatory safety standards. The official Circuit Safety Criteria were published, including, for example, specifications on debris fences.[4][5]

On the cars, some safety measures were made mandatory as well:[4][5]

  • the fuel tanks had to be lined with "safety foam",
  • no magnesium sheet could be less than 3 millimetres (0.12 in) thick,
  • the driver had to have a headrest,
  • minimum dimensions were set for the cockpit,
  • the driver had to be secured by a 6-point harness,
  • a single switch was designed to cut off the electronical components on the car and to set off the fire extinguisher,
  • a 15W red light needed to be installed at the rear of the car.

Sporting regulations edit

The first Drivers' Code of Conduct was published.[4][5]

Championship report edit

Rounds 1 to 4 edit

 
Carlos Reutemann (left) started on pole position in his debut race.

When Formula One returned to Argentina for the first time since 1960, it was local driver Carlos Reutemann who made his debut and immediately scored pole position for Brabham. Reigning champion Jackie Stewart started second in his Tyrrell and Peter Revson lined up in third for his first race with McLaren. At the start, Stewart took the lead off of Reutemann, but the Argentine driver kept on his tail. Behind them, Emerson Fittipaldi overtook Denny Hulme for third place, while Revson had fallen back. Reutemann started struggling on his super-soft Goodyear tyres and, by lap 11, he was down to fourth place. Half-way through the race, he made a pit stop and rejoined a lap down. Stewart dominated the pace and went on to win the race, almost half a minute ahead of Hulme and a full minute ahead of the Ferraris of Jacky Ickx and Clay Regazzoni. Fittipaldi had retired with suspension damage.[6]

Stewart secured pole position for the South African Grand Prix at Kyalami, ahead of Regazzoni and Fittipaldi. Hulme got off the line remarkably well: from his fifth position on the grid, he moved up to shortly take the lead, before Stewart regelated him back to second. Regazzoni fell back into the midfield. Veteran Mike Hailwood, driving for Surtees, started fourth but passed Fittipaldi and, later, the overheating McLaren of Hulme, before actually challenging Stewart for the lead. However, on lap 28, his rear suspension collapsed and he had to retire. Stewart then looked set to win, until he suffered a gearbox failure on lap 45 and Fittipaldi inherited the lead. The Brazilian, however, ran into handling problems and saw Hulme go past. Finally, the New Zealander took the chequered flag, ahead of Fittipaldi and Peter Revson.

In Spain, Emerson Fittipaldi was joined on the grid by his brother Wilson, marking the first time two brothers raced simultaneously. Wilson had replaced Carlos Reutemann after the Swiss driver injured his ankle in a Formula 2 race a week earlier. On the Jarama circuit, the Belgian Jacky Ickx took a dominant pole position, seven tenths ahead of Denny Hulme and Emerson Fittipaldi. Stewart started in fourth. On race day, Hulme had another mighty get-away and took the lead, before, like in South Africa, Stewart passed him. Hulme and Ickx were then both passed by Fittipaldi in a miscommunication with a backmarker. By lap 30, it had started raining slightly and Stewart fell back: Fittipaldi and Ickx both passed him. The Brazilian held on to take the victory, while Stewart spun off the track and retired. Since Ickx had set a new lap record and actually lapped his teammate in third place, Fittipaldi's win showed that the Lotus 72 was now truly ahead in the development race.[7]

This showed again during qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix, where Fittipaldi took pole position ahead of the Ferraris of Ickx and Regazzoni. Jean-Pierre Beltoise and Peter Gethin started a surprising fourth and fifth for BRM. Before the race, it had started raining and the cars took off in a cloud of spray. Fittipaldi got away slowly, so Ickx jumped ahead, but Beltoise surprised everyone, pulling off a dive to the inside of the first corner and coming out on top. The Marlboro-sponsored BRM was now the only one with a clear view ahead. Just after half-distance, Gethin crashed in the new chicane before Tabac corner and Stewart spun off as well. The Scot, however, regained his podium position when Regazzoni crashed off on a patch of oil. Beltoise held on to what would be his only victory and BRM's last. Ickx finished second ahead of Fittipaldi, who overtook Stewart in the end.[8]

In the drivers' championship, Emerson Fittipaldi (Lotus) led with 19 points, ahead of Jacky Ickx (Ferrari and Denny Hulme (McLaren). Reigning champion Jackie Stewart (Tyrrell) was in fourth. In the manufacturers' championship, Lotus, McLaren and Ferrari all shared the top spot with 19 points.

Rounds 5 to 7 edit

Jackie Stewart was a notable absence in the Belgian Grand Prix. His gruelling schedule of racing in F1, Can-Am and touring cars, as well as promotional events for sponsors Elf and Ford, and a side job as sports commentator on United States television on top of that, resulted in a case of gastritis. Under doctor's orders, he rested for three weeks and severely restricted his activities after that. Championship leader Emerson Fittipaldi qualified on pole position in the Lotus, ahead of Clay Regazzoni in the Ferrari and Denny Hulme in the McLaren. Regazzoni's teammate Jacky Ickx, second in the championship, lined up in fourth, with Francois Cevert, the primary Tyrrell driver for this race, in fifth. At the start, Regazzoni took the lead, but saw Fittipaldi come back past on lap 9. Both Ferraris retired: Ickx with a problem to his accelerator linkage and Regazzoni when he hit backmarker Nanni Galli in the Tecno. The order at the finish of a relatively unexciting race was Fittipaldi, Cevert, Hulme.[9]

 
Chris Amon (bottom) started on pole position for the French Grand Prix.

The F1 circus moved down to France, where the French Grand Prix was held at the Circuit de Charade, a twisty and undulating 5.1 km (3.2 mi) stretch of public roads. While Stewart was back in his car, but his teammate Cevert was comfortably fastest in practice. He drove a new-spec Tyrrell chassis, until he crashed into the guard rail, injured his hand, and was left with the old-spec spare car. He would not be the last driver to spin or crash out, trying to get to grips with the challenging circuit. Matra had also brought an upgraded chassis and gave Chris Amon everything he needed to snatch pole position. Hulme and Stewart started behind him. As the race got underway, not much changed in terms of position, but Helmut Marko was hit in the eye by a stone flicked up by Jacky Ickx's Ferrari. He stopped by the side of the track and was rushed off to hospital. This would mean the end of his racing career. The rough dirt on the track resulted in more trouble: Amon got a flat left-front tyre and a 50-second pit stop left him in ninth position. But he put up a valiant fight and came home in third, behind winner Jackie Stewart and second-placed Emerson Fittipaldi.[10]

Coming to Brands Hatch for the British Grand Prix, Denny Hulme, third in the championship, was recovering from a high-speed crash in the Can-Am race of the week before. He did drive but qualified down in eleventh. Stewart and Amon, heroes of the last race, both crashed in practice and qualified in their spare cars, fourth and seventeenth, respectively. Jacky Ickx got pole position ahead of Emerson Fittipaldi and Peter Revson. At the start, Jean-Pierre Beltoise jumped up to third but quickly started to hold up the pack, which meant that the front two created a big lead over the first few laps. But with Beltoise's retirement on lap 22 and the leaders having trouble getting past a backmarker, Jackie Stewart gradually closed up and, on lap 25, managed to overtake Fittipaldi. After the Brazilian got back past, the leading pack stayed in their respective order until Ickx's Ferrari started leaking oil and he had to retire on lap 49. Fittipaldi took the win ahead of Stewart and Revson, only the top three finishing on the lead lap. Ronnie Peterson was fourth until his engine and gearbox gave up, he crashed off the road and hit two cars that had retired at the same spot earlier in the race. Chris Amon finished in a surprising fourth position ahead of Denny Hulme.[11]

In the drivers' championship, Emerson Fittipaldi (Lotus) led with 43 points, ahead of Jackie Stewart (Tyrrell) with 27 and Denny Hulme (McLaren) with 21. The manufacturers' championship saw Lotus in the lead with 43 points, ahead of Tyrrell with 33 and McLaren with 27.

Rounds 8 to 10 edit

The German Grand Prix was held at the most demanding circuit on the calendar: the infamous Nürburgring Nordschleife. In practice, Francois Cevert got air at Pflanzgarten corner and was one of four drivers to crash off the track. All escaped unhurt, but left their respective teams with a lot of repair work. The unofficial lap record was beaten by a full ten seconds on Friday and Ferrari's Jacky Ickx went another three seconds faster on Saturday to claim pole position, ahead of championship leaders Jackie Stewart and Emerson Fittipaldi. Ronnie Peterson started in fourth in his March but was second after the start. Clay Regazzoni (Ferrari) got up to third, while Stewart fell back behind Fittipaldi. After two laps of the 22.8 km (14.2 mi) circuit, Ickx was out of sight of his nearest challengers and kept setting new lap records. Fittipaldi got up to second, but Stewart was stuck in fifth place. When Peterson locked up, Regazzoni and Stewart got by, and they even gained another place when Fittipaldi's gearbox blew up and caused an engine fire. On lap 10, Henri Pescarolo suffered an enormous crash at Adenau corner but was unhurt. Ickx's engine was losing a bit of power due to a split exhaust manifold, but he won the race with almost a minute to spare. By leading every lap, he actually achieved a grand chelem. On the second-to-last lap, Stewart saw a chance to finally get past Regazzoni, but their wheels touched and the Scot crashed off. So the Ferraris finished 1-2 ahead of Peterson in the March.[12]

The Austrian Grand Prix was held in really hot and sunny conditions. Fittipaldi scored pole position ahead of Regazzoni and Stewart. At the start of the race, they went three-wide into the first corner and it was Stewart who took the lead. Fittipaldi fell back to third but overtook Regazzoni when the Ferrari's engine sputtered. The Brazilian gradually closed up to the leader. On lap 23, the lead changed hands and Denny Hulme was challenging for second. Stewart's Tyrrell looked to have trouble with its rear suspension and the Scot would eventually finish seventh, over a minute down. Fittipaldi and Hulme fought a close battle, the Lotus crossing the line just over a second ahead of the McLaren. Hulme's teammate Peter Revson finished third.[13]

 
Start of the Italian Grand Prix

The European leg of the season concluded with the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. The circuit had been slowed down by two chicanes, so for once this year, earlier lap records would not be challenged. Jacky Ickx delighted the crowd with a pole position for Ferrari, just 0.04 seconds ahead of Chris Amon in the Matra. Stewart started third, Fittipaldi in sixth. However, seconds after the start, Stewart lost all drive from his engine and had to retire. Ickx and Amon had a trouble-free getaway, while dust on the track left the rest of the field blind into the first corner. No accidents happened but Niki Lauda retired, as the dust had clogged up his March's throttle system. Amon fell back to fifth place, promoting Regazzoni to second, and even to first when the Swiss driver passed his teammate for the lead. Francois Cevert retirement on lap 14 left Tyrrell's championships hopes seriously diminished. Regazzoni hit Carlos Pace when the Brazilian was recovering from a spin and both cars were out of the race. A lot of drivers retired, including Amon with overheatingbrakes and, on lap 46, leader Jacky Ickx with a failure of all the electrics. Fittipaldi took the win ahead of Hailwood in the Surtees and Hulme in the McLaren.[14]

With an unsurmountable lead of 30 points over his nearest rival, Emerson Fittipaldi clinched the 1972 Drivers' Championship. At the age of 25, he was the youngest-ever World Champion, a record that would stand until 2005. Denny Hulme (McLaren) had overtaken Jackie Stewart (Tyrrell) in the championship, standing on 31 points compared to 27. Lotus secured the Manufacturers' Championship since McLaren and Tyrrell were now too far back.

Rounds 11 and 12 edit

 
After securing pole position, Peter Revson crashed out of qualifying for the Canadian Grand Prix.

The McLaren drivers were already familiar with the Mosport International Raceway, host of the Canadian Grand Prix, thanks to their experience in Can-Am. They managed to secure a 1-2 on the grid, Peter Revson ahead of Denny Hulme, with a surprising Ronnie Peterson in third. And it was the Swede that actually reached the first corner first, while Hulme fell back when dirt clogged up his throttle. Coming to complete the first lap, Peterson almost crashed out, and after another mistake a few laps later, he lost the lead to Jackie Stewart. Champion Emerson Fittipaldi was challenging Revson for third. Peterson collided with Graham Hill when trying to lap him. He stopped with a bent steering column and was pushed into the pits. When he rejoined, he found Hill and made clear that the Brit knew how he felt. Peterson was later disqualified for the push up the pits. Fittipaldi fell back with damage to the nose of his car, so on the podium stood Stewart, Revson and Hulme.[15]

Coming to the final race of the championship, the United States Grand Prix, Stewart was determined to show that the loss of the title did not mean a loss of form, and it would be one of the most convincing wins of his career, achieving a hat-trick of pole position, fastest lap and victory. Revson and Hulme started second and third for McLaren. At the start, Revson was caught up in a collision with Regazzoni and Reutemann, so Hulme was up to second and Fittipaldi up to third. Future champion Jody Scheckter was running fourth in his debut race and actually went past the freshly crowned Brazilian, but when a sudden shower arrived, he spun off at the first corner. Stewart was now leading 40 seconds ahead of his teammate Francois Cevert, and then the McLaren of Hulme.[16]

Emerson Fittipaldi finished on top of the standings with 61 points, ahead of Jackie Stewart with 45 and Denny Hulme with 39. In the Manufacturers' Championship, Lotus were first with 61 points. Tyrrell were now second (51), having just overtaken McLaren (47).

Results and standings edit

Grands Prix edit

Round Grand Prix Pole position Fastest lap Winning driver Winning constructor Tyre Report
1   Argentine Grand Prix   Carlos Reutemann   Jackie Stewart   Jackie Stewart   Tyrrell-Ford G Report
2   South African Grand Prix   Jackie Stewart   Mike Hailwood   Denny Hulme   McLaren-Ford G Report
3   Spanish Grand Prix   Jacky Ickx   Jacky Ickx   Emerson Fittipaldi   Lotus-Ford F Report
4   Monaco Grand Prix   Emerson Fittipaldi   Jean-Pierre Beltoise   Jean-Pierre Beltoise   BRM F Report
5   Belgian Grand Prix   Emerson Fittipaldi   Chris Amon   Emerson Fittipaldi   Lotus-Ford F Report
6   French Grand Prix   Chris Amon   Chris Amon   Jackie Stewart   Tyrrell-Ford G Report
7   British Grand Prix   Jacky Ickx   Jackie Stewart   Emerson Fittipaldi   Lotus-Ford F Report
8   German Grand Prix   Jacky Ickx   Jacky Ickx   Jacky Ickx   Ferrari F Report
9   Austrian Grand Prix   Emerson Fittipaldi   Denny Hulme   Emerson Fittipaldi   Lotus-Ford F Report
10   Italian Grand Prix   Jacky Ickx   Jacky Ickx   Emerson Fittipaldi   Lotus-Ford F Report
11   Canadian Grand Prix   Peter Revson   Jackie Stewart   Jackie Stewart   Tyrrell-Ford G Report
12   United States Grand Prix   Jackie Stewart   Jackie Stewart   Jackie Stewart   Tyrrell-Ford G Report

World Drivers' Championship standings edit

Points for the 1972 World Championship of Drivers were awarded on a 9–6–4–3–2–1 basis to the top six finishers in each race. For classification, only the best five results from the first half of the season and the best five results from the second half of the season could be retained.

 
Emerson Fittipaldi (pictured in 2008) won the Drivers' Championship, driving for Lotus
Pos Driver ARG
 
RSA
 
ESP
 
MON
 
BEL
 
FRA
 
GBR
 
GER
 
AUT
 
ITA
 
CAN
 
USA
 
Points
1   Emerson Fittipaldi Ret 2 1 3 1 2 1 Ret 1 1 11 Ret 61
2   Jackie Stewart 1 Ret Ret 4 1 2 11 7 Ret 1 1 45
3   Denny Hulme 2 1 Ret 15 3 7 5 Ret 2 3 3 3 39
4   Jacky Ickx 3 8 2 2 Ret 11 Ret 1 Ret Ret 12 5 27
5   Peter Revson Ret 3 5 7 3 3 4 2 18 23
6   François Cevert Ret 9 Ret NC 2 4 Ret 10 9 Ret Ret 2 15
7   Clay Regazzoni 4 12 3 Ret Ret 2 Ret Ret 5 8 15
8   Mike Hailwood Ret Ret Ret 4 6 Ret Ret 4 2 17 13
9   Ronnie Peterson 6 5 Ret 11 9 5 7 3 12 9 DSQ 4 12
10   Chris Amon DNS 15 Ret 6 6 3 4 15 5 Ret 6 15 12
11   Jean-Pierre Beltoise Ret Ret 1 Ret 15 11 9 8 8 Ret Ret 9
12   Mario Andretti Ret 4 Ret 7 6 4
13   Howden Ganley 9 NC Ret Ret 8 DNS 4 6 11 10 Ret 4
14   Brian Redman 5 9 5 Ret 4
15   Graham Hill Ret 6 10 12 Ret 10 Ret 6 Ret 5 8 11 4
16   Carlos Reutemann 7 Ret 13 12 8 Ret Ret Ret 4 Ret 3
17   Andrea de Adamich Ret NC 4 7 Ret 14 Ret 13 14 Ret Ret Ret 3
18   Carlos Pace 17 6 17 5 Ret Ret NC NC Ret 9 Ret 3
19   Tim Schenken 5 Ret 8 Ret Ret 17 Ret 14 11 Ret 7 Ret 2
20   Arturo Merzario 6 12 1
21   Peter Gethin Ret NC Ret Ret Ret DNS Ret 13 6 Ret Ret 1
  Wilson Fittipaldi 7 9 Ret 8 12 7 Ret Ret Ret Ret 0
  Niki Lauda 11 7 Ret 16 12 Ret 9 Ret 10 13 DSQ NC 0
  Patrick Depailler NC 7 0
  Helmut Marko 10 14 8 10 Ret 0
  Mike Beuttler DNQ 13 Ret 19 13 8 Ret 10 NC 13 0
  Henri Pescarolo 8 11 11 Ret NC DNS Ret Ret DNS DNQ 13 14 0
  David Walker DSQ 10 9 14 14 18 Ret Ret Ret Ret 0
  Jody Scheckter 9 0
  Rolf Stommelen 13 Ret 10 11 16 10 Ret 15 0
  Reine Wisell Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 12 Ret 10 0
  Sam Posey 12 0
  Nanni Galli Ret 13 Ret NC Ret 0
  Skip Barber NC 16 0
  John Love 16 0
  Dave Charlton Ret DNQ Ret Ret 0
  Derek Bell DNS Ret DNQ DNS Ret 0
  Alex Soler-Roig Ret Ret 0
  Jackie Oliver Ret 0
  François Migault DNS Ret 0
  John Surtees Ret DNS 0
  Bill Brack Ret 0
  William Ferguson DNS 0
  Vern Schuppan DNS 0
Pos Driver ARG
 
RSA
 
ESP
 
MON
 
BEL
 
FRA
 
GBR
 
GER
 
AUT
 
ITA
 
CAN
 
USA
 
Points
Key
Colour Result
Gold Winner
Silver Second place
Bronze Third place
Green Other points position
Blue Other classified position
Not classified, finished (NC)
Purple Not classified, retired (Ret)
Red Did not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
Black Disqualified (DSQ)
White Did not start (DNS)
Race cancelled (C)
Blank Did not practice (DNP)
Excluded (EX)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Withdrawn (WD)
Did not enter (cell empty)
Text formatting Meaning
Bold Pole position
Italics Fastest lap


International Cup for F1 Manufacturers standings edit

 
Lotus-Ford won the International Cup for F1 Manufacturers

Points for the 1972 International Cup for F1 Manufacturers were awarded on a 9–6–4–3–2–1 basis to the top six finishers in each race. Only the best placed car from each manufacturer was eligible to score points. For classification, only the best five results from the first half of the season and the best five results from the second half of the season could be retained.

Pos. Manufacturer ARG
 
RSA
 
ESP
 
MON
 
BEL
 
FRA
 
GBR
 
GER
 
AUT
 
ITA
 
CAN
 
USA
 
Pts.[17]
1   Lotus-Ford Ret 2 1 3 1 2 1 Ret 1 1 11 10 61
2   Tyrrell-Ford 1 9 Ret 4 2 1 2 10 7 Ret 1 1 51
3   McLaren-Ford 2 1 5 5 3 7 3 (5) 2 3 2 3 47 (49)
4   Ferrari 3 4 2 2 Ret 11 6 1 Ret 7 5 5 33
5   Surtees-Ford 5 16 4 7 4 6 Ret 13 4 2 7 12 18
6   March-Ford 6 5 6 11 5 5 7 3 10 9 9 4 15
7   BRM 9 14 Ret 1 8 15 11 4 6 6 10 Ret 14
8   Matra DNS 15 Ret 6 6 3 4 15 5 Ret 6 15 12
9   Brabham-Ford 7 6 7 9 13 8 8 6 Ret 5 4 11 7
  Eifelland-Ford 13 Ret 10 11 16 10 Ret 15 0
  Tecno Ret DNS Ret Ret NC Ret DNS Ret 0
  Politoys-Ford Ret 0
  Connew-Ford DNS Ret 0
Pos. Manufacturer ARG
 
RSA
 
ESP
 
MON
 
BEL
 
FRA
 
GBR
 
GER
 
AUT
 
ITA
 
CAN
 
USA
 
Pts.
  • Bold results counted to championship totals.

Non-championship races edit

Other Formula One races were also held in 1972, which did not count towards the World Championship.

Race name Circuit Date Winning driver Constructor Report
  VII Race of Champions Brands Hatch 19 March   Emerson Fittipaldi   Lotus-Cosworth Report
  I Brazilian Grand Prix Interlagos 30 March   Carlos Reutemann   Brabham-Cosworth Report
  XXIV BRDC International Trophy Silverstone 23 April   Emerson Fittipaldi   Lotus-Cosworth Report
  XIX International Gold Cup Oulton Park 29 May   Denny Hulme   McLaren-Cosworth Report
  I Italian Republic Grand Prix Vallelunga 18 June   Emerson Fittipaldi   Lotus-Cosworth Report
  II World Championship Victory Race Brands Hatch 22 October   Jean-Pierre Beltoise   BRM Report

Notes edit

  1. ^ The Canadian Grand Prix was supposed to be held at Circuit Mont-Tremblant was due to host the race in rotation with Mosport Park but the Mont-Tremblant circuit had safety concerns regarding the bitter winters seriously affecting the track surface and a dispute with the local racing authorities there in 1972. Mosport would host the race in 1972 on its intended date.

References edit

  1. ^ FIA Yearbook, 1974, pages 119 & 121
  2. ^ David Hayhoe, Formula 1: The Knowledge records and trivia since 1950 – 2nd Edition, 2021, page 35.
  3. ^ "Grand Prix Cancelled". Autosport. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  4. ^ a b c d e Steven de Grootte (1 January 2009). "F1 rules and stats 1970-1979". F1Technical.net. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "Safety Improvements in F1 since 1963". AtlasF1. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  6. ^ Andrew Marriott (February 1972). "1972 Argentine Grand Prix race report". MotorsportMagazine. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  7. ^ Denis Jenkinson (June 1972). "1972 Spanish Grand Prix race report". MotorsportMagazine. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  8. ^ Denis Jenkinson (June 1972). "1972 Monaco Grand Prix race report". MotorsportMagazine. Archived from the original on 3 February 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  9. ^ Denis Jenkinson (July 1972). "1972 Belgian Grand Prix race report". MotorsportMagazine. Archived from the original on 6 July 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  10. ^ Denis Jenkinson (2 July 1972). "1972 French Grand Prix race report". MotorsportMagazine. Archived from the original on 22 May 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  11. ^ Denis Jenkinson (15 July 1972). "1972 British Grand Prix race report - Uninspiring". MotorsportMagazine. Archived from the original on 6 June 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  12. ^ admin (30 July 1972). "1972 German Grand Prix race report". MotorsportMagazine. Archived from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  13. ^ Denis Jenkinson (13 August 1972). "1972 Austrian Grand Prix race report". MotorsportMagazine. Archived from the original on 3 June 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  14. ^ Denis Jenkinson (10 September 1972). "1972 Italian Grand Prix race report". MotorsportMagazine. Archived from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  15. ^ Andrew Marriott (24 September 1972). "1972 Canadian Grand Prix race report". MotorsportMagazine. Archived from the original on 6 July 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  16. ^ Motor Sport (8 October 1972). "1972 United States Grand Prix race report". MotorsportMagazine. Archived from the original on 28 November 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  17. ^ Only the best 5 results from the first 6 rounds and the best 5 results from the last 6 rounds counted towards the championship. Numbers without parentheses are championship points; numbers in parentheses are total points scored.

External links edit