1975 Formula One season

The 1975 Formula One season was the 29th season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the 1975 World Championship of F1 Drivers[1] and the 1975 International Cup for F1 Manufacturers[2] which were contested concurrently from 12 January to 5 October over fourteen races. The season also included three non-championship Formula One races and a nine race South African Formula One Championship.

Niki Lauda was the 1975 champion
Emerson Fittipaldi (McLaren M23 Ford) placed second overall in the 1975 World Championship of F1 Drivers

After a strong finish to the 1974 season, many observers felt the Brabham team were favourites going into the new year. An emotional first win for Carlos Pace in his native São Paulo looked to confirm this, but tyre wear frequently hampered the cars and the initial promise was not maintained.[3] In his second year with Ferrari, Niki Lauda was given the keys to the Ferrari 312T, a car that was technically far superior to any of the competition. He won his first drivers' title with five wins and a huge margin over second place in the championship. Ferrari took home the championship trophy for manufacturers. Lauda often referred to 1975 as "the unbelievable year".

American Mark Donohue died in August, two days after crashing in practice for the Austrian Grand Prix.[4][5][6] And after the season, in late November, an Embassy Hill airplane crashed in England and all six aboard were killed, including team owner Graham Hill and driver Tony Brise.[7][8][9]

Drivers and constructors edit

The following drivers and constructors and contested the 1975 World Championship of F1 Drivers and the 1975 International Cup for F1 Manufacturers.

Entrant Constructor Chassis Engine Tyre No Driver Rounds
  Marlboro Team Texaco McLaren-Ford M23 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G 1   Emerson Fittipaldi All
2   Jochen Mass All
  Elf Team Tyrrell Tyrrell-Ford 007 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G 3   Jody Scheckter All
4   Patrick Depailler All
15   Jean-Pierre Jabouille 9
  Michel Leclère 14
  John Player Team Lotus Lotus-Ford 72E Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G 5   Ronnie Peterson All
6   Jacky Ickx 1–9
  Jim Crawford 10, 13
  John Watson 11
  Brian Henton 12, 14
15 10
  Martini Racing Brabham-Ford BT44B Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G 7   Carlos Reutemann All
8   Carlos Pace All
  Beta Team March
  Lavazza March
March-Ford 741
751
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G 9   Vittorio Brambilla All
10   Lella Lombardi 3–9
  Hans-Joachim Stuck 10–14
29   Lella Lombardi 10–13
  Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC Ferrari 312B3-74
312T
Ferrari 001/11 3.0 F12
Ferrari 015 3.0 F12
G 11   Clay Regazzoni All
12   Niki Lauda All
  Stanley-BRM BRM P201 BRM P200 3.0 V12 G 14   Mike Wilds 1–2
  Bob Evans 3–9, 12–13
  UOP Shadow Racing Shadow-Ford DN3B
DN5
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G 16   Tom Pryce All
17   Jean-Pierre Jarier 1–11, 14
Shadow-Matra DN7 Matra MS73 3.0 V12 12–13
  Matchbox Team Surtees
  National Organs Team Surtees
Surtees-Ford TS16 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G 18   John Watson 1–10, 12
19   Dave Morgan 10
  HB Bewaking Team Ensign Ensign-Ford N174
N175
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G 19   Gijs van Lennep 11
31 8–9
  Roelof Wunderink 4–5, 10, 13–14
  Chris Amon 12
32 13
33   Roelof Wunderink 12
  Frank Williams Racing Cars
  Williams Ambrozium H7 Racing
Williams-Ford FW
FW04
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G 20   Arturo Merzario 1–6
  Damien Magee 7
  Ian Scheckter 8
  François Migault 9
  Ian Ashley 11
  Jo Vonlanthen 12
  Renzo Zorzi 13
  Lella Lombardi 14
21   Ian Scheckter 7
  Jacques Laffite 1–3, 5–6, 8–14
  Tony Brise 4
  Embassy Racing with Graham Hill Lola-Ford T370
T371
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G 22   Graham Hill 1–3
23   Rolf Stommelen 1–3
Hill-Ford GH1 22 4, 12–13
  François Migault 6
  Vern Schuppan 7
  Alan Jones 8–11
23   François Migault 4
  Graham Hill 5
  Tony Brise 6–14
  Hesketh Racing
  Warsteiner Brewery
  Polar Caravans
Hesketh-Ford 308
308B
308C
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G 24   James Hunt All
25   Torsten Palm 5
  Harald Ertl 11
  Brett Lunger 12–14
32   Torsten Palm 7
  Harald Ertl 12
34 13
  Custom Made Harry Stiller Racing Hesketh-Ford 308B Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G 25   Alan Jones 4
26 5–7
  Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing Parnelli-Ford VPJ4 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 F
G
27   Mario Andretti 1–5, 7, 9–14
  First National City Bank Team March-Ford 751 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G 28   Mark Donohue 10–12
Penske-Ford PC1 1–9
  John Watson 14
  Oreste Berta Berta-Ford F1 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G 29   Nestor García-Veiga 1–2
  Copersucar Fittipaldi Fittipaldi-Ford FD01
FD02
FD03
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G 30   Wilson Fittipaldi 1–12, 14
  Arturo Merzario 13
  Lucky Strike Racing McLaren-Ford M23 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G 31   Dave Charlton 3
  Lexington Racing Tyrrell-Ford 007 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G 32   Ian Scheckter 3
  Pinch Plant (Ltd) Lyncar-Ford 006 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G 32   John Nicholson 10
  Team Gunston Lotus-Ford 72E Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G 33   Eddie Keizan 3
34   Guy Tunmer 3
  Citizen Maki F1
  Citizen Maki Engineering
  Citizen Maki F1-Team
Maki-Ford F101C Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 F
G
35   Dave Walker 6-7
  Hiroshi Fushida 8, 10
  Tony Trimmer 11–13

Team and driver changes edit

 
Jacques Laffite driving for Williams in Watkins Glen
 
John Watson driving for Surtees in the British Grand Prix
 
Graham Hill waving to the crowd after announcing his retirement. Later in the year, he would tragically pass away in an airplane crash.

Mid-season changes edit

Calendar edit

Round Grand Prix Circuit Date
1   Argentine Grand Prix Autódromo Oscar Alfredo Gálvez, Buenos Aires 12 January
2   Brazilian Grand Prix Autodromo de Interlagos, São Paulo 26 January
3   South African Grand Prix Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit, Midrand 1 March
4   Spanish Grand Prix Montjuïc circuit, Barcelona 27 April
5   Monaco Grand Prix Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo 11 May
6   Belgian Grand Prix Circuit Zolder, Heusden-Zolder 25 May
7   Swedish Grand Prix Scandinavian Raceway, Anderstorp 8 June
8   Dutch Grand Prix Circuit Zandvoort, Zandvoort 22 June
9   French Grand Prix Paul Ricard Circuit, Le Castellet 6 July
10   British Grand Prix Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone 19 July
11   German Grand Prix Nürburgring, Nürburg 3 August
12   Austrian Grand Prix Österreichring, Spielberg 17 August
13   Italian Grand Prix Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza 7 September
14   United States Grand Prix Watkins Glen Grand Prix Course, New York 5 October

Calendar changes edit

Regulation changes edit

  • Fire-resistant race suits were made obligatory.[14][15][16]
  • The concept of marshal posts, with service roads leading to and from them, was created and implemented at various circuits. Also, from now on, marshals had to practice rescuing drivers from their cars.[15][16]

Season report edit

Race 1: Argentina edit

The drivers went to Argentina to start the season, and it was Jean-Pierre Jarier in the Shadow who took pole position with the Brabhams of Carlos Pace and Carlos Reutemann second and third on the grid. However, poleman Jarier could not even start the race because his transmission failed on the parade lap. Home hero Reutemann took the lead from teammate Pace, with Niki Lauda's Ferrari third.

Pace passed teammate Reutemann to take the lead but then spun off and dropped to seventh. James Hunt in his Hesketh soon overtook Lauda and then Reutemann, much to the chagrin of the crowd. By then, reigning world champion Emerson Fittipaldi in his McLaren was past Lauda and up to third, and soon took Reutemann for second as well. Fittipaldi closed in on Hunt and took the lead with 18 laps left. Pace recovered to fourth after his spin, but it was to no avail as his engine blew up. Fittipaldi started his title defence with a win, Hunt was a superb second, and Reutemann third in front of his home crowd.

Race 2: Brazil edit

The second round was in Brazil, and Jarier took pole position again with Fittipaldi alongside and Reutemann third. Reutemann, just like in Argentina, took the lead at the start from Jarier and Pace was up to third, whereas home driver Fittipaldi dropped to seventh. Jarier retook the lead from Reutemann on lap 5 and then pulled away. Reutemann struggled with handling issues and dropped well down the order then, with Pace up to second, Clay Regazzoni's Ferrari third and Fittipaldi recovering to fourth. Jarier's engine stopped with seven laps left and Pace took the lead. Regazzoni was up to second but dropped behind Fittipaldi and Jochen Mass in the second McLaren as he too suffered handling issues. Pace took a home victory, with countryman Fittipaldi second and Mass third.

Race 3: South Africa edit

A month after the Brazilian race, the field went to South Africa and Pace followed up his win with pole, with Reutemann alongside as Brabham locked out the front row, and home hero Jody Scheckter was third in the Tyrrell. Pace led at the start, with Scheckter second, and Ronnie Peterson in his Lotus jumped up from eighth to take third. However, the Swede did not have the pace of the front runners and dropped back down the order. Scheckter took the lead from Pace on the third lap, to the delight to the fans. Pace kept second until he struggled with tyres and was passed by Reutemann and the second Tyrrell of Patrick Depailler. Scheckter took an emotional home victory, with Reutemann and Depailler completing the podium.

Race 4: Spain edit

Nearly two months after the third round, the European season began in Spain at the very fast Montjuic street circuit in Barcelona. The Grand Prix Drivers Association was not happy with the state of the barriers, which were not bolted properly, and the drivers threatened not to take part. Mechanics from the teams went around the entire circuit to attempt to repair/fasten down the barriers. After work was done on the circuit, the drivers agreed that the circuit was still not safe enough. Reigning world champion and championship leader Emerson Fittipaldi had no intention to race because of the condition of the barriers, and went home on Sunday morning. The organisers of the event then locked the cars and motorhomes inside the circuit confines for breach of contract and threatened to keep them there. This being incompatible with the schedule for the next race at Monaco, the teams decided to cater for the organisers wishes and raced anyway.

The rest of the drivers were there for qualifying, and Ferrari took the front row, with Lauda on pole from Regazzoni, and Hunt third in the Hesketh. There was chaos at the start when Mario Andretti in his Parnelli tapped the car of polesitter Lauda, sending it into the sister car of Regazzoni and knocking both Ferraris out of contention. Hunt gratefully took the lead, and Andretti, whose car was undamaged was second. Hunt led until he crashed after spinning on oil on the track, leaving Andretti leading from John Watson in the Surtees and Rolf Stommelen's Hill. Watson then had to pit with a vibration and the leader Andretti retired after a suspension failure sent him into the guardrail. This promoted Pace to second and Peterson to third, but the Swede retired after colliding with backmarker François Migault while lapping him.

On lap 26, Stommelen's rear wing broke, and the car bounced into the barriers and flew back onto the road, hitting the barrier on the other side but the momentum of the car was enough for it to fly over the barrier where spectators were watching. The car hit some of them, and five spectators were killed, and Stommelen and other spectators were injured. Pace also crashed while trying to avoid the Hill as it bounced back off the road. The race went on for the moment, with Jochen Mass passing Jacky Ickx's Lotus to lead. The organizers stopped the race on lap 30 due to the debris on the track caused by Stommelen's crash. Mass was declared the winner, with Ickx second and Reutemann third. Only half points were awarded as the race was stopped before it had run 75% of its full course.

Race 5: Monaco edit

After the chaotic and tragic Spanish GP, the race on the streets of Monaco was next. Lauda took pole ahead of the Shadow of Tom Pryce, with Pryce's teammate Jarier third. Rain before the race meant that it was started on a damp track. Lauda took off into the lead and Jarier climbed up to second but crashed on the first lap. Peterson was up to second, and Pryce was third. Pryce spun off after 20 laps, giving third to Scheckter. The field soon pitted for dry weather tyres and this shuffled up the order, with Scheckter dropping back after pitting too late. Fittipaldi was up to second behind Lauda, and Pace jumped up to third. That is how it stayed, with Lauda winning, Fittipaldi second and Pace third.

It was the last weekend for Graham Hill in Formula One.

Race 6: Belgium edit

The next race took place in Belgium, and Lauda was on pole with Pace with him on the front row, and Vittorio Brambilla in the March a surprising third. It was Pace who got the better of Lauda at the start, to lead into the first corner. Pace was leading from Lauda and Brambilla at the end of the first lap, but Brambilla was on the move, and shocked everyone by overtaking both the front-row starters to lead. But this spurred Lauda into action, and after almost immediately passing Pace, he took the lead from Brambilla on the sixth lap. Scheckter was also on the move and was up to second, after passing Brambilla on lap 9. Brambilla held third until he was forced to pit with tyre troubles. Lauda won, becoming the first driver to take two wins this season, with Scheckter second and Reutemann third.

Race 7: Sweden edit

In Sweden, it was Brambilla who took his first career pole, with Depailler second and Jarier third on the grid. The order was unchanged at the start, with Brambilla leading but Reutemann was up to third after three laps. Brambilla continued to lead, whereas second-placed Depailler dropped out of contention with brake problems. Reutemann was up to second, and now took the lead from Brambilla. Brambilla had to pit for new tyres almost immediately. Jarier ran second now, but his engine blew up and this gave the position to Pace until he spun off and retired. Lauda was now second, and towards the end of the race Reutemann began to suffer from oversteer, allowing Lauda to take the lead with 10 laps left. Lauda went on to win, with Reutemann and Regazzoni completing the podium.

Race 8: Netherlands edit

The first race in the second half of the season took place in the Netherlands, and pole went to Lauda as usual, with teammate Regazzoni alongside, and Hunt's Hesketh third. The race started on a damp track and Lauda took the lead, with Scheckter up to second ahead of Regazzoni. The order was unchanged until the drivers had to pit for dry tyres. Hunt and Jarier pitted early, and their gamble paid off as they were first and second, with Lauda, Scheckter and Regazzoni third, fourth and fifth respectively. Lauda passed Jarier for second midway through the race, and started closing on Hunt. Jarier almost immediately retired with a tyre failure, and Scheckter who inherited third had his engine blow up with just 12 laps left. Hunt held off Lauda to take his first career win, with Regazzoni completing the podium.

Race 9: France edit

France was host to the 9th round of the season, and it was Lauda on pole ahead of Scheckter and Hunt. The top three maintained their starting positions into the first corner. In the early laps, Regazzoni was on a charge, and got up to second on the sixth lap but his engine blew up and he had to retire. Scheckter soon faded away, giving Hunt second. That was how it ended, with Lauda winning to take a large championship lead, Hunt finishing second and Mass third.

Race 10: Great Britain edit

The tenth round was held at the Silverstone airfield circuit in Great Britain, and Tom Pryce took a home pole position, with Pace second and championship leader Lauda third. Pace beat Pryce into the first corner, with Regazzoni third ahead of Lauda. After 10 laps, Regazzoni passed Pryce for second, and soon both of them passed Pace. It soon began to rain, and Regazzoni was pulling away until he spun off, hit a barrier and damaged his rear wing. He rejoined two laps down. Pryce now led, but he crashed out as well, two laps later. Scheckter had meanwhile passed both Lauda and Pace, and he was now leading.

Scheckter pitted for wet tyres from the lead, and most drivers followed suit. Hunt (after passing Pace) was the leader from Pace and Emerson Fittipaldi as they had not pitted for dries. Scheckter and Jarier both caught and passed the trio, but the track was drying out, and both had to pit for dries soon after. Hunt began to lose power in his engine, and was passed by Fittipaldi, and then Pace, and even a recovering Scheckter. On lap 56 out of 70, the rain fell again, in a massive shower with the whole field on dries. Nearly all the drivers spun off and crashed, and race was stopped. Only 6 drivers were left (notably Fittipaldi). The race was stopped, and the results were declared on the lap before the storm struck. Fittipaldi was the winner, and Pace and Scheckter, despite crashing out, were given second and third.

The result meant that Fittipaldi closed within 14 points of Lauda with five races left.

Race 11: West Germany edit

The drivers had to go to West Germany, in the legendary Nordschleife track, for round 11- and this proved to be the most crucial round in the championship (the German Grand Prix often was). Lauda was on pole, lapping the 14.2 mi (22.8 km) circuit in under 7 minutes- becoming the first driver to accomplish this feat. Pace was on the front row, and the two Tyrrell drivers Scheckter and Depailler third and fourth respectively. At the start, Lauda led from Pace, with Depailler getting third from his teammate Scheckter, who made a dreadful start and dropped to 20th. Depailler was past Pace early on, but by midway through the race, both drivers were out of contention, Pace retiring with a puncture, and Depailler having to pit after a suspension failure. Lauda continued to lead with Regazzoni up to second, until the latter's engine failed. Lauda then suffered a puncture and a damaged spoiler and had to pit, leaving Reutemann to lead from Hunt and Pryce. Hunt was next to retire, with a wheel hub failure on the straight behind the pits, and Pryce took second, but only briefly as he had to back off towards the end with fuel-feed troubles. At the front, Reutemann took his first win of the season, with Jacques Laffite's Williams second, and Lauda recovering to third.

Race 12: Austria edit

The Austrian GP on 17 August had a very large attendance, as Lauda had a chance of getting close to the championship at his home race. Lauda did not disappoint them, as he took pole position, with Hunt second and Fittipaldi third. His chief rival, Reutemann, was only 11th. On a morning practice lap, Mark Donohue's March slid off the track after a tyre failure and hit two marshals.[17] Donohue died two days later, and one of the marshals also died.[4][5][6]

It began to rain just before the race started, but it did not deter Lauda, who led from Hunt and Depailler. Depailler soon dropped back, and it was Vittorio Brambilla who was up to third. Lauda also began to struggle as the rain became heavier, and Hunt took the lead and Brambilla second on lap 15. Brambilla went to take the lead from Hunt four laps later when they were lapping a backmarker, whereas Pryce passed Lauda for third. Conditions became so bad that the organizers showed the chequered flag early, with Brambilla the winner (he spun off on the slowing down lap and crashed, and drove around to the pits waving to the fans with a badly damaged car), Hunt second and Pryce completing the podium. Only half points were given, as the race was stopped early, just like in Spain.

Race 13: Italy edit

The penultimate round was in Italy, and after the cancellation of the Canadian GP, Lauda needed only half a point to be the 1975 world champion. The Ferrari fans were very happy as their team locked out the front row, with Lauda on pole from Regazzoni, and Fittipaldi third. Regazzoni took the lead at the start, with Lauda and Mass following. Soon Reutemann was up to third, but he needed to win to keep any faint hopes alive. However, he was passed by Fittipaldi, and towards the end, Lauda backed off and let Fittipaldi through. It was Regazzoni who won the race, with Fittipaldi second, and Lauda's third was enough to seal the championship.

Race 14: United States edit

The final round took place in the US, and it was no surprise that at the spectacular Watkins Glen track in upstate New York (which had a new chicane at the Esses introduced), new World Champion Lauda took pole again, with Fittipaldi alongside and Reutemann third. Lauda led into the first corner from Fittipaldi, and it was Jarier in third. Lauda and Fittipaldi drove away from the rest of the field, whereas Jarier retired with a wheel failure one-third into the race. This left Hunt in third, but Mass had other ideas and took the place midway through the race. Lauda went on to win, his fifth of the season, as he signed off in style, with Fittipaldi close behind in second, and Mass also on the podium.

Results and standings edit

Grands Prix edit

Round Grand Prix Pole position Fastest lap Winning driver Winning constructor Report
1   Argentine Grand Prix   Jean-Pierre Jarier[a]   James Hunt   Emerson Fittipaldi   McLaren-Ford Report
2   Brazilian Grand Prix   Jean-Pierre Jarier   Jean-Pierre Jarier   Carlos Pace   Brabham-Ford Report
3   South African Grand Prix   Carlos Pace   Carlos Pace   Jody Scheckter   Tyrrell-Ford Report
4   Spanish Grand Prix   Niki Lauda   Mario Andretti   Jochen Mass   McLaren-Ford Report
5   Monaco Grand Prix   Niki Lauda   Patrick Depailler   Niki Lauda   Ferrari Report
6   Belgian Grand Prix   Niki Lauda   Clay Regazzoni   Niki Lauda   Ferrari Report
7   Swedish Grand Prix   Vittorio Brambilla   Niki Lauda   Niki Lauda   Ferrari Report
8   Dutch Grand Prix   Niki Lauda   Niki Lauda   James Hunt   Hesketh-Ford Report
9   French Grand Prix   Niki Lauda   Jochen Mass   Niki Lauda   Ferrari Report
10   British Grand Prix   Tom Pryce   Clay Regazzoni   Emerson Fittipaldi   McLaren-Ford Report
11   German Grand Prix   Niki Lauda   Clay Regazzoni   Carlos Reutemann   Brabham-Ford Report
12   Austrian Grand Prix   Niki Lauda   Vittorio Brambilla   Vittorio Brambilla   March-Ford Report
13   Italian Grand Prix   Niki Lauda   Clay Regazzoni   Clay Regazzoni   Ferrari Report
14   United States Grand Prix   Niki Lauda   Emerson Fittipaldi   Niki Lauda   Ferrari Report

World Drivers' Championship standings edit

Points were awarded on a 9–6–4–3–2–1 basis to the first six finishers at each Grand Prix. Only the six best results from the first seven races and the six best results from the last seven races counted towards the World Championship.

Pos Driver ARG
 
BRA
 
RSA
 
ESP
 
MON
 
BEL
 
SWE
 
NED
 
FRA
 
GBR
 
GER
 
AUT
 
ITA
 
USA
 
Pts
1   Niki Lauda 6 5 5 Ret 1 1 1 2 1 8 3 6 3 1 64.5
2   Emerson Fittipaldi 1 2 NC DNS 2 7 8 Ret 4 1 Ret 9 2 2 45
3   Carlos Reutemann 3 8 2 3 9 3 2 4 14 Ret 1 14 4 Ret 37
4   James Hunt 2 6 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 1 2 4 Ret 2 5 4 33
5   Clay Regazzoni 4 4 16 NC Ret 5 3 3 Ret 13 Ret 7 1 Ret 25
6   Carlos Pace Ret 1 4 Ret 3 8 Ret 5 Ret 2 Ret Ret Ret Ret 24
7   Jody Scheckter 11 Ret 1 Ret 7 2 7 16 9 3 Ret 8 8 6 20
8   Jochen Mass 14 3 6 1 6 Ret Ret Ret 3 7 Ret 4 Ret 3 20
9   Patrick Depailler 5 Ret 3 Ret 5 4 12 9 6 9 9 11 7 Ret 12
10   Tom Pryce 12 Ret 9 Ret Ret 6 Ret 6 Ret Ret 4 3 6 NC 8
11   Vittorio Brambilla 9 Ret Ret 5 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 6 Ret 1 Ret 7 6.5
12   Jacques Laffite Ret 11 NC DNQ Ret Ret 11 Ret 2 Ret Ret DNS 6
13   Ronnie Peterson Ret 15 10 Ret 4 Ret 9 15 10 Ret Ret 5 Ret 5 6
14   Mario Andretti Ret 7 17 Ret Ret 4 5 12 10 Ret Ret Ret 5
15   Mark Donohue 7 Ret 8 Ret Ret 11 5 8 Ret 5 Ret DNS 4
16   Jacky Ickx 8 9 12 2 8 Ret 15 Ret Ret 3
17   Alan Jones Ret Ret Ret 11 13 16 10 5 2
18   Jean-Pierre Jarier DNS Ret Ret 4 Ret Ret Ret Ret 8 14 Ret Ret Ret Ret 1.5
19   Tony Brise 7 Ret 6 7 7 15 Ret 15 Ret Ret 1
20   Gijs van Lennep 10 15 6 1
21   Lella Lombardi Ret 6 DNQ Ret Ret 14 18 Ret 7 17 Ret DNS 0.5
  Rolf Stommelen 13 14 7 Ret 16 Ret 0
  John Watson DSQ 10 Ret 8 Ret 10 16 Ret 13 11 Ret 10 9 0
  Harald Ertl 8 Ret 9 0
  Hans-Joachim Stuck Ret Ret Ret Ret 8 0
  Bob Evans 15 Ret DNQ 9 13 Ret 17 Ret Ret 0
  Wilson Fittipaldi Ret 13 DNQ Ret DNQ 12 17 11 Ret 19 Ret DNS 10 0
  Graham Hill 10 12 DNQ DNQ 0
  Brett Lunger 13 10 Ret 0
  Torsten Palm DNQ 10 0
  Arturo Merzario NC Ret Ret Ret DNQ Ret 11 0
  Guy Tunmer 11 0
  Chris Amon 12 12 0
  Ian Scheckter Ret Ret 12 0
  Jean-Pierre Jabouille 12 0
  Jim Crawford Ret 13 0
  Eddie Keizan 13 0
  Dave Charlton 14 0
  Damien Magee 14 0
  Renzo Zorzi 14 0
  Brian Henton 16 DNS NC 0
  John Nicholson 17 0
  Dave Morgan 18 0
  Roelof Wunderink Ret DNQ DNQ NC DNQ Ret 0
  François Migault NC Ret DNS 0
  Mike Wilds Ret Ret 0
  Vern Schuppan Ret 0
  Ian Ashley DNS 0
  Jo Vonlanthen Ret 0
  Michel Leclère Ret 0
  Hiroshi Fushida DNS DNQ 0
  Tony Trimmer DNQ DNQ DNQ 0
  Nestor García-Veiga WD WD
  Dave Walker WD WD
Pos Driver ARG
 
BRA
 
RSA
 
ESP
 
MON
 
BEL
 
SWE
 
NED
 
FRA
 
GBR
 
GER
 
AUT
 
ITA
 
USA
 
Pts
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


  • Half points were awarded because the races were stopped before 75% of the scheduled distance was completed.

International Cup for F1 Manufacturers standings edit

 
Ferrari won the 1975 International Cup for F1 Manufacturers with the 312B3 and the 312T (pictured)

Points were awarded on a 9-6-4-3-2-1 basis to the first six finishers at each Grand Prix, but only one car per constructor could score points at each Grand Prix. Only the six best results from the first seven races and the six best results from the last seven races counted towards the International Cup for F1 Manufacturers.

Pos Constructor ARG
 
BRA
 
RSA
 
ESP
 
MON
 
BEL
 
SWE
 
NED
 
FRA
 
GBR
 
GER
 
AUT
 
ITA
 
USA
 
Pts[18]
1   Ferrari 4 4 5 NC 1 1 1 2 1 8 3 6 1 1 72.5
2   Brabham-Ford 3 1 2 (3) 3 3 2 4 14 2 1 14 4 Ret 54 (56)
3   McLaren-Ford 1 2 6 1 2 7 8 Ret 3 1 Ret 4 2 2 53
4   Hesketh-Ford 2 6 Ret Ret Ret Ret 10 1 2 4 8 2 5 4 33
5   Tyrrell-Ford 5 Ret 1 Ret 5 2 7 9 6 3 9 8 7 6 25
6   Shadow-Ford 12 Ret 9 4 Ret 6 Ret 6 8 14 4 3 6 NC 9.5
7   Lotus-Ford 8 9 10 2 4 Ret 9 15 10 16 Ret 5 13 5 9
8   March-Ford 9 Ret Ret 5 Ret Ret Ret 14 18 5 7 1 Ret 7 7.5
9   Williams-Ford NC 11 NC 7 DNQ Ret 14 12 11 Ret 2 Ret 14 DNS 6
10   Parnelli-Ford Ret 7 17 Ret Ret 4 5 12 10 Ret Ret Ret 5
11   Hill-Ford NC DNQ Ret 6 7 7 10 5 15 Ret Ret 3
12   Penske-Ford 7 Ret 8 Ret Ret 11 5 8 Ret 9 2
13   Ensign-Ford DNQ WD WD 10 15 DNQ 6 12 12 Ret 1
  Lola-Ford 10 12 7 DNQ 0
  Surtees-Ford DSQ 10 Ret 8 Ret 10 16 Ret 13 11 10 0
  BRM Ret Ret 15 Ret DNQ 9 13 Ret 17 WD WD Ret Ret 0
  Fittipaldi-Ford Ret 13 DNQ Ret DNQ 12 17 11 Ret 19 Ret DNS 11 10 0
  Lyncar-Ford 17 0
  Shadow-Matra Ret Ret 0
  Maki-Ford WD WD DNS DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ 0
  Berta-Ford WD WD
Pos Constructor ARG
 
BRA
 
RSA
 
ESP
 
MON
 
BEL
 
SWE
 
NED
 
FRA
 
GBR
 
GER
 
AUT
 
ITA
 
USA
 
Pts
  • Bold results counted to championship.
  • Half points awarded because the races were stopped before 75% of the scheduled distance was completed.

Non-championship races edit

Other Formula One races were also held in 1975, which did not count towards the World Championship.

Race name Circuit Date Winning driver Constructor Report
  X Race of Champions Brands Hatch 16 March   Tom Pryce   Shadow-Cosworth Report
  XXVII BRDC International Trophy Silverstone 13 April   Niki Lauda   Ferrari Report
  XV Swiss Grand Prix Dijon-Prenois 24 August   Clay Regazzoni   Ferrari Report

South African Formula One Championship edit

Race name Circuit Date Winning driver Constructor Report
  Cape South Easter Trophy Killarney 8 February   Dave Charlton   McLaren-Cosworth Report
  Goldfields 100 Goldfields 22 March   Ian Scheckter   Tyrrell-Cosworth Report
  Natal Mercury 100 Roy Hesketh 29 March   Ian Scheckter   Tyrrell-Cosworth Report
  Brandkop Winter Trophy Brandkop 3 May   Ian Scheckter   Tyrrell-Cosworth Report
  South African Republic Trophy Kyalami 31 May   Ian Scheckter   Tyrrell-Cosworth Report
  False Bay 100 Killarney 5 July   Guy Tunmer   Lotus-Cosworth Report
  Rand Winter Trophy Kyalami 26 July   Ian Scheckter   Tyrrell-Cosworth Report
  Natal Spring Trophy Roy Hesketh 1 September   Dave Charlton   McLaren-Cosworth Report
  Rand Spring Trophy Kyalami 4 October   Ian Scheckter   Tyrrell-Cosworth Report

Notes edit

  1. ^ Jean-Pierre Jarier set the fastest time in qualifying, but did not start the race. Pole position was left vacant on the grid. Carlos Pace, in the second slot, was the first driver on the grid. Jarier is still considered to have held pole position.

References edit

  1. ^ 1976 FIA Yearbook, Grey section, page 90
  2. ^ 1976 FIA Yearbook, Grey section, page 91
  3. ^ Gill, Barrie (1976) "The World Championship 1975" John Player Motorsport yearbook 1976 p. 103 Queen Anne Press Ltd. ISBN 0-362-00254-1
  4. ^ a b c "Donohue dies after operation". Beaver County Times. (Pennsylvania, U.S.). UPI. 20 August 1975. p. D-4.
  5. ^ a b c "Donohue dies of injuries". Milwaukee Sentinel. (Wisconsin, U.S.). Associated Press. 20 August 1975. p. 1, part 2.
  6. ^ a b c "Donohue dies after surgery". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon, U.S.). Associated Press. 20 August 1975. p. 1C.
  7. ^ "Plane crash kills driver Graham Hill". Pittsburgh Press. (Pennsylvania, U.S.). UPI. 30 November 1975. p. D-1.
  8. ^ "Racing mourns death of Graham Hill". Milwaukee Sentinel. (Wisconsin, U.S.). UPI. 1 December 1975. p. 5, part 2.
  9. ^ "After cheating death 20 years, Hill killed in air crash". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. (Florida, U.S.). Associated Press. 1 December 1975. p. 1C.
  10. ^ "Lola's Formula One heritage". Motor Sport magazine. December 1996. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  11. ^ "Hill GH1 Cosworth". Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  12. ^ Ewald, Klaus (2006). "Hill Ford GH2". research-racing.de. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
  13. ^ "Cancelled Grands Prix of Canada - 1975 and 1987". canadianracer.com. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  14. ^ Anna Duxbury (4 July 2022). "History of safety devices in Formula 1: The halo, barriers & more". Autosport.com. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  15. ^ a b Steven de Grootte (1 January 2009). "F1 rules and stats 1970-1979". F1Technical.net. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  16. ^ a b "Safety Improvements in F1 since 1963". AtlasF1. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  17. ^ "Donahue seriously injured". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. (Florida, U.S.). Associated Press. 18 August 1975. p. 4B.
  18. ^ Only the best six results from the first seven races and the best six results from the last seven races counted towards the championship. Numbers without parentheses are championship points; numbers in parentheses are total points scored.