Automobile World Championship 1978
World Champion | |
Driver: | Mario Andretti |
Constructor: | Lotus Ford |
Season dates | |
---|---|
Number of races: | 16 |
<1977 season |
The 1978 automobile world championship was the 29th season of the automobile world championship, which is now known as the Formula 1 world championship . Over 16 races between January 15, 1978 and October 8, 1978, the Drivers' World Championship and the International Cup of Formula 1 Constructors were held.
Mario Andretti won the drivers' world championship for the first and only time. Lotus became constructors world champion.
Teams and drivers
Racing calendar
No. | date | Grand Prix | route | Distance (km) |
Pole position | Fastest race lap | winner | Overall leading driver |
Overall leading designer |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 15. January | Argentina | Autódromo Municipal Ciudad de Buenos Aires | 310.336 km | Mario Andretti | Gilles Villeneuve | Mario Andretti | Mario Andretti | Lotus Ford |
2 | January 29th | Brazil | Jacarepaguá | 316,953 km | Ronnie Peterson | Carlos Reutemann | Carlos Reutemann | ||
3 | 4th of March | South Africa | Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit | 320.112 km | Niki Lauda | Mario Andretti | Ronnie Peterson | ||
4th | 2nd of April | USA West | Long Beach Grand Prix Circuit | 261.706 km | Carlos Reutemann | Alan Jones | Carlos Reutemann | Carlos Reutemann | |
5 | May 7th | Monaco | Circuit de Monaco | 248.40 km | Carlos Reutemann | Niki Lauda | Patrick Depailler | Patrick Depailler | |
6th | May 21 | Belgium | Circuit Zolder | 298.340 km | Mario Andretti | Ronnie Peterson | Mario Andretti | Mario Andretti | |
7th | June 4th | Spain | Circuito del Jarama | 255.300 km | Mario Andretti | Mario Andretti | Mario Andretti | ||
8th | 17th of June | Sweden | Anderstorp | 282.170 km | Mario Andretti | Niki Lauda | Niki Lauda | ||
9 | 2nd July | France | Circuit Paul Ricard | 313.740 km | John Watson | Carlos Reutemann | Mario Andretti | ||
10 | 16th of July | Great Britain | Brands Hatch | 319.732 km | Ronnie Peterson | Niki Lauda | Carlos Reutemann | ||
11 | 30th July | Germany | Hockenheimring | 305.505 km | Mario Andretti | Ronnie Peterson | Mario Andretti | ||
12 | 13 August | Austria | Österreichring | 320.868 km | Ronnie Peterson | Ronnie Peterson | Ronnie Peterson | ||
13 | August 27 | Netherlands | Circuit Park Zandvoort | 316.950 km | Mario Andretti | Niki Lauda | Mario Andretti | ||
14th | September 10 | Italy | Autodromo Nazionale Monza | 232,000 km | Mario Andretti | Mario Andretti | Niki Lauda | ||
15th | October 1 | USA East | Watkins Glen International | 320.665 km | Mario Andretti | Jean-Pierre Jarier | Carlos Reutemann | ||
16 | 8th October | Canada | Île Notre-Dame Circuit | 315,000 km | Jean-Pierre Jarier | Alan Jones | Gilles Villeneuve |
Race reports
Argentina Grand Prix
space | driver | team | time |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Mario Andretti | Lotus Ford | 1: 37: 04.47 |
2 | Niki Lauda | Brabham-Alfa Romeo | + 13.21 |
3 | Patrick Depailler | Tyrrell-Ford | + 13.64 |
PP | Mario Andretti | Lotus Ford | 1: 47.75 |
SR | Gilles Villeneuve | Ferrari | 1: 49.76 |
The Argentine Grand Prix at the Autódromo Municipal Ciudad de Buenos Aires took place on January 15, 1978 and covered a distance of 52 laps (310.336 km).
Race director Juan Manuel Fangio mistakenly waved off fifth-placed Ronnie Peterson as the winner. The last (53rd) lap was canceled due to this.
Brazilian Grand Prix
space | driver | team | time |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Carlos Reutemann | Ferrari | 1: 49: 59.86 |
2 | Emerson Fittipaldi | Fittipaldi-Ford | + 49.13 |
3 | Niki Lauda | Brabham-Alfa Romeo | + 57.02 |
PP | Ronnie Peterson | Lotus Ford | 1: 40.45 |
SR | Carlos Reutemann | Ferrari | 1: 43.07 |
The Brazilian Grand Prix in Rio de Janeiro took place on January 29, 1978 and went over a distance of 63 laps (316,953 km).
South Africa Grand Prix
space | driver | team | time |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Ronnie Peterson | Lotus Ford | 1: 42: 15.767 |
2 | Patrick Depailler | Tyrrell-Ford | + 0.466 |
3 | John Watson | Brabham-Alfa Romeo | + 4.442 |
PP | Niki Lauda | Brabham-Alfa Romeo | 1: 14.65 |
SR | Mario Andretti | Lotus Ford | 1: 17.09 |
The South African Grand Prix at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit took place on March 4, 1978 and covered a distance of 78 laps (320.112 km).
US Grand Prix West
space | driver | team | time |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Carlos Reutemann | Ferrari | 1: 52: 01,301 |
2 | Mario Andretti | Lotus Ford | + 11.061 |
3 | Patrick Depailler | Tyrrell-Ford | + 28,951 |
PP | Carlos Reutemann | Ferrari | 1: 20.636 |
SR | Alan Jones | Williams-Ford | 1: 22.215 |
The USA West Grand Prix at the Long Beach Grand Prix Circuit took place on April 2, 1978 and covered a distance of 80.5 laps (261.706 km).
Monaco Grand Prix
space | driver | team | time |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Patrick Depailler | Tyrrell-Ford | 1: 55: 14.66 |
2 | Niki Lauda | Brabham-Alfa Romeo | + 22.45 |
3 | Jody Scheckter | Wolf-Ford | + 32.29 |
PP | Carlos Reutemann | Ferrari | 1: 28.34 |
SR | Niki Lauda | Brabham-Alfa Romeo | 1: 28.65 |
The Monaco Grand Prix at the Circuit de Monaco took place on May 7, 1978 and covered a distance of 75 laps of 3.312 km (248.42 km).
Belgian Grand Prix
space | driver | team | time |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Mario Andretti | Lotus Ford | 1: 39: 52.02 |
2 | Ronnie Peterson | Lotus Ford | + 9.90 |
3 | Carlos Reutemann | Ferrari | + 24.34 |
PP | Mario Andretti | Lotus Ford | 1: 20.90 |
SR | Ronnie Peterson | Lotus Ford | 1: 23.13 |
The Belgian Grand Prix at Circuit Zolder took place on May 21, 1978 and covered a distance of 70 laps of 4.262 km (298.34 km).
Spanish Grand Prix
space | driver | team | time |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Mario Andretti | Lotus Ford | 1: 41: 47.06 |
2 | Ronnie Peterson | Lotus Ford | + 19.56 |
3 | Jacques Laffite | Ligier-Matra | + 37.24 |
PP | Mario Andretti | Lotus Ford | 1: 16.39 |
SR | Mario Andretti | Lotus Ford | 1: 20.06 |
The Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuito del Jarama took place on June 4, 1978 and covered a distance of 75 laps (255.300 km).
Swedish Grand Prix
space | driver | team | time |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Niki Lauda | Brabham-Alfa Romeo | 1: 41: 00,606 |
2 | Riccardo Patrese | Arrows Ford | + 34.019 |
3 | Ronnie Peterson | Lotus Ford | + 34.105 |
PP | Mario Andretti | Lotus Ford | 1: 22.058 |
SR | Niki Lauda | Brabham-Alfa Romeo | 1: 24.836 |
The Swedish Grand Prix in Anderstorp took place on June 17, 1978 and covered a distance of 70 laps (282.17 km).
At the Swedish Grand Prix, Brabham used the so-called vacuum cleaner ( Brabham BT46B ). In the rear of the Brabham a fan was attached, which was officially used for engine cooling. In fact, the fan created a vacuum under the car and thus increased the contact pressure of the Brabham. A week later, the fan system was banned because the negative pressure allegedly threw up stones and these flew into the face of the next person.
French Grand Prix
space | driver | team | time |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Mario Andretti | Lotus Ford | 1: 38: 51.92 |
2 | Ronnie Peterson | Lotus Ford | + 2.93 |
3 | James Hunt | McLaren-Ford | + 19.80 |
PP | John Watson | Brabham-Alfa Romeo | 1: 44.41 |
SR | Carlos Reutemann | Ferrari | 1: 48.56 |
The French Grand Prix at the Circuit Paul Ricard took place on July 2, 1978 and covered a distance of 54 laps (313.740 km).
Great Britain Grand Prix
space | driver | team | time |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Carlos Reutemann | Ferrari | 1: 42: 12.39 |
2 | Niki Lauda | Brabham-Alfa Romeo | + 1.23 |
3 | John Watson | Brabham-Alfa Romeo | + 37.25 |
PP | Ronnie Peterson | Lotus Ford | 1: 16.80 |
SR | Niki Lauda | Brabham-Alfa Romeo | 1: 18.60 |
The British Grand Prix at the Brands Hatch Circuit took place on July 16, 1978 and covered a distance of 76 laps (319.732 km).
Grand Prix of Germany
space | driver | team | time |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Mario Andretti | Lotus Ford | 1: 28: 00.90 |
2 | Jody Scheckter | Wolf-Ford | + 15.35 |
3 | Jacques Laffite | Ligier-Matra | + 28.01 |
PP | Mario Andretti | Lotus Ford | 1: 51.90 |
SR | Ronnie Peterson | Lotus Ford | 1: 55.62 |
The German Grand Prix at the Hockenheimring took place on July 30, 1978 and covered a distance of 45 laps of 6.789 km (305.505 km).
Grand Prix of Austria
space | driver | team | time |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Ronnie Peterson | Lotus Ford | 1: 41: 21.57 |
2 | Patrick Depailler | Tyrrell-Ford | + 47.44 |
3 | Gilles Villeneuve | Ferrari | +1: 39.76 |
PP | Ronnie Peterson | Lotus Ford | 1: 37.71 |
SR | Ronnie Peterson | Lotus Ford | 1: 43.12 |
The Austrian Grand Prix at the Österreichring took place on August 13, 1978 and covered a distance of 54 laps (320.868 km).
Grand Prix of the Netherlands
space | driver | team | time |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Mario Andretti | Lotus Ford | 1: 41: 04.23 |
2 | Ronnie Peterson | Lotus Ford | + 0.32 |
3 | Niki Lauda | Brabham-Alfa Romeo | + 12.21 |
PP | Mario Andretti | Lotus Ford | 1: 16.36 |
SR | Niki Lauda | Brabham-Alfa Romeo | 1: 19.57 |
The Dutch Grand Prix at Circuit Park Zandvoort took place on August 27, 1978 and covered a distance of 75 laps (316.95 km).
Italian Grand Prix
space | driver | team | time |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Niki Lauda | Brabham-Alfa Romeo | 1: 07: 04.54 |
2 | John Watson | Brabham-Alfa Romeo | + 1.48 |
3 | Carlos Reutemann | Ferrari | + 20.47 |
PP | Mario Andretti | Lotus Ford | 1: 37.52 |
SR | Mario Andretti | Lotus Ford | 1: 38.23 |
The Italian Grand Prix in Monza took place on September 10, 1978 and covered a distance of 40 laps (232 km).
The race was canceled because of a serious pile-up after the start, in which Ronnie Peterson was also involved. A day later, Peterson died from his injuries.
The race was restarted and shortened from 52 to 40 laps. The first-placed Mario Andretti and the second-placed Gilles Villeneuve were penalized with one minute for jump starts.
US Grand Prix East
space | driver | team | time |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Carlos Reutemann | Ferrari | 1: 40: 48.800 |
2 | Alan Jones | Williams-Ford | + 19.739 |
3 | Jody Scheckter | Wolf-Ford | + 45.701 |
PP | Mario Andretti | Lotus Ford | 1: 38.114 |
SR | Jean-Pierre Jarier | Lotus Ford | 1: 39.557 |
The US East Grand Prix at Watkins Glen International took place on October 1, 1978 and covered a distance of 59 laps (320.665 km).
Canadian Grand Prix
space | driver | team | time |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Gilles Villeneuve | Ferrari | 1: 57: 49.196 |
2 | Jody Scheckter | Wolf-Ford | + 13.375 |
3 | Carlos Reutemann | Ferrari | + 19.408 |
PP | Jean-Pierre Jarier | Lotus Ford | 1: 38.015 |
SR | Alan Jones | Williams-Ford | 1: 38.072 |
The Canadian Grand Prix at the Île Notre-Dame Circuit in Montreal took place on October 8, 1978 and covered a distance of 70 laps (315.0 km).
World championship ratings
Distribution of points | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
space | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4th | 5 | 6th | ||||
Points | 9 | 6th | 4th | 3 | 2 | 1 |
The best seven results of the first eight and the best seven of the remaining eight races were taken into account for the evaluation. The best placed car of the respective designer was taken into account in the constructors' evaluation (the total points in brackets).
Driver ranking
Item | driver | constructor | Points | ||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | M. Andretti | Lotus Ford | 1 | 4th | 7th | 2 | 11 | 1 | 1 | DNF | 1 | DNF | 1 | DNF | 1 | 6th | DNF | 10 | 64 |
2 | R. Peterson | Lotus Ford | 5 | DNF | 1 | 4th | DNF | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | DNF | DNF | 1 | 2 | DNF | † | † | 51 |
3 | C. Reutemann | Ferrari | 7th | 1 | DNF | 1 | 8th | 3 | DNF | 10 | 18th | 1 | DNF | DSQ | 7th | 3 | 1 | 3 | 48 |
4th | N. Lauda | Brabham-Alfa Romeo | 2 | 3 | DNF | DNF | 2 | DNF | DNF | 1 | DNF | 2 | DNF | DNF | 3 | 1 | DNF | DNF | 44 |
5 | P. Depailler | Tyrrell-Ford | 3 | DNF | 2 | 3 | 1 | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF | 4th | DNF | 2 | DNF | 11 | DNF | 5 | 34 |
6th | J. Watson | Brabham-Alfa Romeo | DNF | 8th | 3 | DNF | 4th | DNF | 5 | DNF | 4th | 3 | 7th | 7th | 4th | 2 | DNF | DNF | 25th |
7th | J. Scheckter | Wolf-Ford | 10 | DNF | DNF | DNF | 3 | DNF | 4th | DNF | 6th | DNF | 2 | DNF | 12 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 24 |
8th | J. Laffite | Ligier-Matra | 16 | 9 | 5 | 5 | DNF | 5 | 3 | 7th | 7th | 10 | 3 | 5 | 8th | 4th | 11 | DNF | 19th |
9 | G. Villeneuve | Ferrari | 8th | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF | 4th | 10 | 9 | 12 | DNF | 8th | 3 | 6th | 7th | DNF | 1 | 17th |
10 | E. Fittipaldi | Fittipaldi-Ford | 9 | 2 | DNF | 8th | 9 | DNF | DNF | 6th | DNF | DNF | 4th | 4th | 5 | 8th | 5 | DNF | 17th |
11 | A. Jones | Williams-Ford | DNF | 11 | 4th | 7th | DNF | 10 | 8th | DNF | 5 | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF | 13 | 2 | 9 | 11 |
12 | R. Patrese | Arrows Ford | 10 | DNF | 6th | 6th | DNF | DNF | 2 | 8th | DNF | 9 | DNF | DNF | DNF | 4th | 11 | ||
13 | J. Hunt | McLaren-Ford | 4th | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF | 6th | 8th | 3 | DNF | DSQ | DNF | 10 | DNF | 7th | DNF | 8th |
14th | P. Tambay | McLaren-Ford | 6th | DNF | DNF | 12 | 7th | DNF | 4th | 9 | 6th | DNF | DNF | 9 | 5 | 6th | 8th | 8th | |
15th | D. Pironi | Tyrrell-Ford | 14th | 6th | 6th | DNF | 5 | 6th | 12 | DNF | 10 | DNF | 5 | DNF | DNF | DNF | 10 | 7th | 7th |
16 | C. Regazzoni | Shadow Ford | 15th | 5 | DNQ | 10 | DNQ | DNF | 15th | 5 | DNF | DNF | DNQ | NC | DNQ | NC | 14th | DNQ | 4th |
17th | J.-P. Jabouille | Renault | DNF | DNF | 10 | NC | 13 | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF | 4th | 12 | 3 | ||
18th | H.-J. Piece | Shadow Ford | 17th | DNF | DNQ | DNS | DNF | DNF | DNF | 11 | 11 | 5 | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF | 2 |
19th | V. Brambilla | Surtees-Ford | 18th | DNQ | 12 | DNF | DNQ | 13 | 7th | DNF | 17th | 9 | DNF | 6th | DSQ | DNF | 1 | ||
20th | D. Daly | Hesketh-Ford | DNPQ | DNPQ | DNQ | 0 | |||||||||||||
Ensign-Ford | DNQ | DNF | DSQ | DNF | 10 | 8th | 6th | 1 | |||||||||||
21st | H. Rebaque | Lotus Ford | DNQ | DNF | 10 | DNPQ | DNPQ | DNPQ | DNF | 12 | DNQ | DNF | 6th | DNF | 11 | DNQ | DNF | DNQ | 1 |
- | B. Lunger | McLaren-Ford | 13 | DNF | 11 | DNQ | DNPQ | 7th | DNQ | DNQ | DNF | 8th | DNPQ | 8th | DNF | DNF | 0 | ||
Ensign-Ford | 13 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
- | B. Giacomelli | McLaren-Ford | 8th | DNF | 7th | DNF | 14th | 0 | |||||||||||
- | J. Mass | ATS Ford | 11 | 7th | DNF | DNF | DNQ | 11 | 9 | 13 | 13 | NC | DNF | DNQ | DNQ | 0 | |||
- | J.-P. Jarier | ATS Ford | 12 | DNS | 8th | 11 | DNQ | DNQ | 0 | ||||||||||
Lotus Ford | 15th | DNF | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
- | R. Arnoux | Martini Ford | DNQ | DNPQ | 9 | 14th | DNPQ | 9 | DNF | 0 | |||||||||
Surtees-Ford | 9 | DNF | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
- | R. Stommelen | Arrows Ford | 9 | 9 | DNF | DNF | 14th | 14th | 15th | DNQ | DSQ | DNPQ | DNPQ | DNPQ | 16 | DNPQ | 0 | ||
- | N. Piquet | Ensign-Ford | DNF | 0 | |||||||||||||||
McLaren-Ford | DNF | DNF | 9 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
Brabham-Alfa Romeo | 11 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
- | K. Rosberg | Theodore Ford | DNF | DNPQ | DNPQ | DNQ | DNPQ | 10 | NC | DNF | DNPQ | 0 | |||||||
ATS Ford | 15th | 16 | DNF | DNF | NC | 0 | |||||||||||||
- | R. Keegan | Surtees-Ford | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNS | DNF | DNQ | 11 | DNQ | DNF | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNS | 0 | |||
- | H. Ertl | Ensign-Ford | 11 | DNF | DNPQ | DNPQ | 0 | ||||||||||||
- | J. Ickx | Ensign-Ford | DNF | 12 | DNF | DNQ | 0 | ||||||||||||
- | B. Rahal | Wolf-Ford | 12 | DNF | 0 | ||||||||||||||
- | A. Merzario | Merzario-Ford | DNF | DNQ | DNF | DNF | DNPQ | DNPQ | DNQ | NC | DNQ | DNF | DNQ | DNQ | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNQ | 0 |
- | L. Leoni | Ensign-Ford | DNF | DNS | DNQ | DNQ | 0 | ||||||||||||
- | D. Ongais | Ensign-Ford | DNF | DNF | 0 | ||||||||||||||
Shadow Ford | DNPQ | DNPQ | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
- | M. Bleekemolen | ATS Ford | DNQ | DNQ | DNF | DNPQ | 0 | ||||||||||||
- | E. Cheever | Theodore Ford | DNQ | DNQ | 0 | ||||||||||||||
Hesketh-Ford | DNF | 0 |
Legend | ||
---|---|---|
colour | abbreviation | meaning |
gold | - | victory |
silver | - | 2nd place |
bronze | - | 3rd place |
green | - | Placement in the points |
blue | - | Classified outside the point ranks |
violet | DNF | Race not finished (did not finish) |
NC | not classified | |
red | DNQ | did not qualify |
DNPQ | failed in pre-qualification (did not pre-qualify) | |
black | DSQ | disqualified |
White | DNS | not at the start (did not start) |
WD | withdrawn | |
Light Blue | PO | only participated in the training (practiced only) |
TD | Friday test driver | |
without | DNP | did not participate in the training (did not practice) |
INJ | injured or sick | |
EX | excluded | |
DNA | did not arrive | |
C. | Race canceled | |
no participation in the World Cup | ||
other | P / bold | Pole position |
SR / italic | Fastest race lap | |
* | not at the finish, but counted due to the distance covered |
|
() | Streak results | |
underlined | Leader in the overall standings |
Constructors' championship
Only the points of the best-placed car per race counted for the constructors' championship (the total number of points in brackets).
1 | Lotus - Ford | 86 (116) |
---|---|---|
2 | Ferrari | 58 (65) |
3 | Brabham - Alfa Romeo | 53 (69) |
4th | Tyrrell - Ford | 38 (41) |
5 | Wolf - Ford | 24 |
6th | Ligier - Matra | 19th |
7th | Fittipaldi - Ford | 17th |
8th | McLaren - Ford | 15 (16) |
9 | Williams - Ford | 11 |
10 | Arrows - Ford | 11 |
11 | Shadow - Ford | 6th |
12 | Renault | 3 |
13 | Surtees - Ford | 1 |
14th | Ensign - Ford | 1 |
News in brief Formula 1
- Patrick Depailler wins his first Grand Prix in Monaco with a Tyrrell - Ford .
- The 34-year-old Swede Ronnie Peterson is the victim of an accident at his 123rd Grand Prix, which was triggered by a poor start maneuver and the fact that the Monza slope narrowed a few hundred meters after the start from 30 m to 12 m wide. Most of the vehicles are still rolling when the start light turns green, Villeneuve, Andretti and Lauda get off well, behind which a traffic jam immediately forms. Patrese, Hunt and Peterson run out of space at the funnel-shaped driveway to the first chicane, there is contact and a chain reaction. Behind it, eight other vehicles collide with each other. The explosion of Peterson's Lotus when it hit the guardrails creates a ball of fire over the scene of the accident. In less than a minute, Peterson is freed from the burning wreckage with burns and broken legs by the driver colleagues. Ronnie Peterson dies the next morning in the hospital of a fat embolism, a consequence of the broken bones. In the race, which took place despite the accident, Mario Andretti became world champion.
- Gilles Villeneuve takes his first win at the home Grand Prix in Canada in a Ferrari.