1973 Formula One season

The 1973 Formula One season was the 27th season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the 1973 World Championship of Drivers and the 1973 International Cup for F1 Manufacturers, which were contested concurrently over a fifteen-race series[1] that commenced on 28 January and ended on 7 October. There were two new races for the 1973 season – the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos in São Paulo and the Swedish Grand Prix at Anderstorp. The season also included two non-championship races which were open to both Formula One and Formula 5000 cars.

1973 Formula One season
Drivers' Champion: Jackie Stewart
Constructors' Champion: Lotus-Ford
Previous: 1972 Next: 1974

The World Championship of Drivers was won by Jackie Stewart, driving for Elf Team Tyrrell, and the International Cup for F1 Manufacturers by John Player Team Lotus.[1] In the World Championship, Lotus teammates Emerson Fittipaldi and Ronnie Peterson raced each other while Stewart was supported at Tyrrell by François Cevert. Stewart took the Drivers' title at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, but then at the final race of the season, the United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen, Cevert crashed during Saturday practice in the notorious 'Esses' and was killed instantly. Stewart and Tyrrell withdrew from the race, handing the Manufacturers' title to Lotus. At the end of the season Stewart made public his decision to retire, a decision that had been made before the US Grand Prix. By the end of the 1973 season the best car on the track was probably the new McLaren M23, a wedge-shaped car following the same concept as the Lotus 72 but with more conventional suspension and up-to-date aerodynamics. The 1973 season marked the debut of future world champion James Hunt at the Monaco Grand Prix driving a privateer March 731 entered by Hesketh Racing.

The 1973 season saw the intervention of a Safety Car in Formula One for the first time, in the form of a Porsche 914 at the Canadian Grand Prix.[2] However, this safety concept would not be officially introduced until twenty years later, in 1993. As well as Cevert, Briton Roger Williamson was also killed during the season, in a crash at the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort.

Another change to the rules introduced this season was the cars doing a full warm-up lap before the race. Prior to this, tracks included a dummy grid a short distance behind a grid proper, and the cars would simply move from one to the other to begin the race.

It was also this season that the numbering system for teams was formalised. In the second race of the season in Brazil, team-mates were paired - Lotus drivers 1 and 2; Tyrrell's 3 and 4 and so on - though the numbers assigned to each team still changed for a couple of races until the fifth race, the Belgian Grand Prix, at which the order was set for the rest of the season. For 1974, the numbers were assigned based on finishing positions in the 1973 constructor's championship, after which teams did not change numbers unless they won the drivers' championship (or signed the current world champion), or if a team dropped out.

Drivers and constructors

The following teams and drivers contested the 1973 World Championship.

Jackie Stewart (right) won his third and final Drivers' Championship, driving for Tyrrell.
John Player Team Lotus won their second consecutive Manufacturers' Cup with the Lotus 72.
Entrant Constructor Chassis Engine Tyre Driver Rounds
John Player Team Lotus Lotus-Ford 72D
72E
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G Emerson Fittipaldi All
Ronnie Peterson All
Elf Team Tyrrell Tyrrell-Ford 005
006
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G Jackie Stewart All
François Cevert All
Chris Amon 14–15
Motor Racing Developments
Ceramica Pagnossin MRD
Hexagon of Highgate
Brabham-Ford BT37
BT42
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G Carlos Reutemann All
Wilson Fittipaldi All
Andrea de Adamich 4–6, 8–9
Rolf Stommelen 11–14
John Watson 9, 15
Yardley Team McLaren McLaren-Ford M19A
M19C
M23
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G Denny Hulme All
Peter Revson 1–7, 9–15
Jody Scheckter 3, 8–9, 14–15
Jacky Ickx 11
Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC Ferrari 312B2
312B3
Ferrari 001/1 3.0 F12
Ferrari 001/11 3.0 F12
G Jacky Ickx 1–9, 13
Arturo Merzario 1–3, 6, 8, 12–15
Clarke-Mordaunt-Guthrie Racing
Team Pierre Robert
March-Ford 721G
731
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 F
G
Mike Beuttler 1–7, 9–15
Reine Wisell 7–8
STP March Racing Team
March Racing Team
March-Ford 721G
731
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G Jean-Pierre Jarier 1–3, 5–8, 12, 14–15
Henri Pescarolo 4
Roger Williamson 9–10
Team Surtees
Brooke Bond Oxo Team Surtees
Ceramica Pagnossin Team Surtees
Surtees-Ford TS9A
TS9B
TS14A
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 F Mike Hailwood All
Carlos Pace All
Luiz Bueno 2
Andrea de Adamich 3
Jochen Mass 9, 11, 15
Marlboro BRM BRM P160C
P160D
BRM P142 3.0 V12 F Jean-Pierre Beltoise All
Clay Regazzoni 1–13, 15
Niki Lauda All
Peter Gethin 14
Frank Williams Racing Cars Iso-Marlboro-Ford FX3B
IR
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 F Nanni Galli 1–2, 4–6
Howden Ganley All
Jackie Pretorius 3
Tom Belsø 7
Henri Pescarolo 8, 11
Graham McRae 9
Gijs van Lennep 10, 12–13
Tim Schenken 14
Jacky Ickx 15
UOP Shadow Racing Team Shadow-Ford DN1 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G Jackie Oliver 3–15
George Follmer 3–15
Brian Redman 15
Scribante Lucky Strike Racing Lotus-Ford 72D Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 F Dave Charlton 3
Blignaut Lucky Strike Racing Tyrrell-Ford 004 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G Eddie Keizan 3
Embassy Racing Shadow-Ford DN1 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G Graham Hill 4–15
Martini Racing Team Tecno PA123/6 Tecno Series-P 3.0 F12 F Chris Amon 5–6, 9–10, 12
LEC Refrigeration Racing March-Ford 731 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G David Purley 6, 9–11, 13
Hesketh Racing March-Ford 731 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G James Hunt 6, 8–10, 12–15
Team Ensign Ensign-Ford N173 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 F Rikky von Opel 8–10, 12–15

Grands Prix

The following races counted towards both the 1973 World Championship of Drivers and the 1973 International Cup for F1 Manufacturers.

Rnd Race Circuit Date Pole position Fastest lap Winning driver Constructor Tyre Report
1 Argentine Grand Prix Buenos Aires 28 January Clay Regazzoni Emerson Fittipaldi Emerson Fittipaldi Lotus-Ford G Report
2 Brazilian Grand Prix Interlagos 11 February Ronnie Peterson Emerson Fittipaldi
Denny Hulme
Emerson Fittipaldi Lotus-Ford G Report
3 South African Grand Prix Kyalami 3 March Denny Hulme Emerson Fittipaldi Jackie Stewart Tyrrell-Ford G Report
4 Spanish Grand Prix Montjuïc 29 April Ronnie Peterson Ronnie Peterson Emerson Fittipaldi Lotus-Ford G Report
5 Belgian Grand Prix Zolder 20 May Ronnie Peterson François Cevert Jackie Stewart Tyrrell-Ford G Report
6 Monaco Grand Prix Monaco 3 June Jackie Stewart Emerson Fittipaldi Jackie Stewart Tyrrell-Ford G Report
7 Swedish Grand Prix Anderstorp 17 June Ronnie Peterson Denny Hulme Denny Hulme McLaren-Ford G Report
8 French Grand Prix Paul Ricard 1 July Jackie Stewart Denny Hulme Ronnie Peterson Lotus-Ford G Report
9 British Grand Prix Silverstone 14 July Ronnie Peterson James Hunt Peter Revson McLaren-Ford G Report
10 Dutch Grand Prix Zandvoort 29 July Ronnie Peterson Ronnie Peterson Jackie Stewart Tyrrell-Ford G Report
11 German Grand Prix Nürburgring 5 August Jackie Stewart Carlos Pace Jackie Stewart Tyrrell-Ford G Report
12 Austrian Grand Prix Österreichring 19 August Emerson Fittipaldi Carlos Pace Ronnie Peterson Lotus-Ford G Report
13 Italian Grand Prix Monza 9 September Ronnie Peterson Jackie Stewart Ronnie Peterson Lotus-Ford G Report
14 Canadian Grand Prix Mosport Park 23 September Ronnie Peterson Emerson Fittipaldi Peter Revson McLaren-Ford G Report
15 United States Grand Prix Watkins Glen 7 October Ronnie Peterson James Hunt Ronnie Peterson Lotus-Ford G Report

Calendar changes

  • The Belgian Grand Prix also carried the title of European Grand Prix for 1973.[3]
  • After being absent from the Championship in 1972 due to extensive safety upgrades to the Zandvoort circuit including new asphalt, new barriers and a new race control tower, the Dutch Grand Prix returned to the Championship calendar for 1973.

Results and standings

World Championship of Drivers – final standings

Points were awarded on a 9–6–4–3–2–1 basis to the first six finishers in each race.[4] For classification, only the seven best results from the first eight races and the six best results from the last seven races were retained.[5] Drivers who scored an equal number of points were awarded equal championship classifications, regardless of the relative number of wins, second places, etc. scored by each driver. The FIA did not award a championship classification to those drivers who did not score points in the championship.[1]

Pos. Driver ARG
BRA
RSA
ESP
BEL
MON
SWE
FRA
GBR
NED
GER
AUT
ITA
CAN
USA
Points
1 Jackie Stewart 3 2 1 Ret 1 1 5 4 10 1 1 2 4 5 DNS 71
2 Emerson Fittipaldi 1 1 3 1 3 2 12 Ret Ret Ret 6 Ret 2 2 6 55
3 Ronnie Peterson Ret Ret 11 Ret Ret 3 2 1 2 11 Ret 1 1 Ret 1 52
4 François Cevert 2 10 NC 2 2 4 3 2 5 2 2 Ret 5 Ret DNS† 47
5 Peter Revson 8 Ret 2 4 Ret 5 7 1 4 9 Ret 3 1 5 38
6 Denny Hulme 5 3 5 6 7 6 1 8 3 Ret 12 8 15 13 4 26
7 Carlos Reutemann Ret 11 7 Ret Ret Ret 4 3 6 Ret Ret 4 6 8 3 16
8 James Hunt 9 6 4 3 Ret DNS 7 2 14
9 Jacky Ickx 4 5 Ret 12 Ret Ret 6 5 8 3 8 7 12
10 Jean-Pierre Beltoise Ret Ret Ret 5 Ret Ret Ret 11 Ret 5 Ret 5 13 4 9 9
11 Carlos Pace Ret Ret Ret Ret 8 Ret 10 13 Ret 7 4 3 Ret 18 Ret 7
12 Arturo Merzario 9 4 4 Ret 7 7 Ret 15 16 6
13 George Follmer 6 3 Ret DNS 14 Ret Ret 10 Ret Ret 10 17 14 5
14 Jackie Oliver Ret Ret Ret 10 Ret Ret Ret Ret 8 Ret 11 3 15 4
15 Andrea de Adamich 8 Ret 4 7 Ret Ret 3
=[1] Wilson Fittipaldi 6 Ret Ret 10 Ret 11 Ret 16 Ret Ret 5 Ret Ret 11 NC 3
17 Niki Lauda Ret 8 Ret Ret 5 Ret 13 9 12 Ret Ret DNS Ret Ret Ret 2
=[1] Clay Regazzoni 7 6 Ret 9 10 Ret 9 12 7 8 Ret 6 Ret 8 2
19 Chris Amon 6 Ret Ret Ret DNS 10 DNS 1
=[1] Gijs van Lennep 6 9 Ret 1
=[1] Howden Ganley NC 7 10 Ret Ret Ret 11 14 9 9 DNS NC NC 6 12 1
Mike Hailwood Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 8 Ret Ret Ret Ret 14 10 7 9 Ret 0
Mike Beuttler 10 Ret NC 7 11 Ret 8 11 Ret 16 Ret Ret Ret 10 0
Jochen Mass Ret 7 Ret 0
Henri Pescarolo 8 Ret 10 0
Graham Hill Ret 9 Ret Ret 10 Ret NC 13 Ret 14 16 13 0
Nanni Galli Ret 9 11 Ret Ret 0
David Purley Ret DNS Ret 15 9 0
Jody Scheckter 9 Ret Ret Ret Ret 0
Rolf Stommelen 11 Ret 12 12 0
Jean-Pierre Jarier Ret Ret NC Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret NC 11 0
Luiz Bueno 12 0
Rikky von Opel 15 13 DNS Ret Ret NC Ret 0
Tim Schenken 14 0
Eddie Keizan NC 0
Roger Williamson Ret Ret 0
John Watson Ret Ret 0
Reine Wisell DNS Ret 0
Dave Charlton Ret 0
Jackie Pretorius Ret 0
Graham McRae Ret 0
Peter Gethin Ret 0
Brian Redman DSQ 0
Tom Belsø DNS 0
Pos Driver ARG
BRA
RSA
ESP
BEL
MON
SWE
FRA
GBR
NED
GER
AUT
ITA
CAN
USA
Points
Key
ColourResult
GoldWinner
Silver2nd place
Bronze3rd place
GreenOther points position
Blue Other classified position
Not classified, finished (NC)
PurpleNot classified, retired (Ret)
Red Did not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
BlackDisqualified (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


† Cevert suffered a fatal accident in qualifying for the United States Grand Prix.

International Cup for F1 Manufacturers – final standings

Points were awarded on a 9–6–4–3–2–1 basis to the first six finishers in each race.[4] Points were only awarded for the position filled by the best placed car from each manufacturer.[6] For classification, only the seven best results from the first eight races and the six best results from the last seven races were retained, Points in the table outside of the parentheses are the points which contributed to the Championship, points within parentheses show the total points scored.[5]

Pos. Manufacturer ARG
BRA
RSA
ESP
BEL
MON
SWE
FRA
GBR
NED
GER
AUT
ITA
CAN
USA
Pts.
1 Lotus-Ford [7] 1 1 3 1 (3) 2 2 1 2 11 6 1 1 2 1 92 (96)
2 Tyrrell-Ford 2 2 1 2 1 1 (3) 2 5 1 1 2 4 5 DNS 82 (86)
3 McLaren-Ford 5 3 2 4 7 5 1 8 1 4 3 8 3 1 4 58
4 Brabham-Ford 6 11 7 10 4 7 4 3 6 Ret 5 4 6 8 3 22
5 March-Ford 10 Ret NC 7 11 9 8 6 4 3 15 Ret 9 7 2 14
6 Ferrari 4 4 4 12 Ret Ret 6 5 8 WD WD 7 8 15 16 12
7 BRM 7 6 Ret 5 5 Ret 9 9 7 5 Ret 5 13 4 8 12
8 Shadow-Ford WD 6 3 9 10 14 10 Ret 10 8 Ret 10 3 13 9
9 Surtees-Ford Ret 12 8 Ret 8 8 10 13 Ret 7 4 3 7 9 Ret 7
10 Iso-Marlboro-Ford NC 7 10 11 Ret Ret 11 14 9 6 10 9 NC 6 7 2
11 Tecno 6 Ret WD WD Ret Ret WD DNS WD 1
Ensign-Ford WD WD WD 15 13 DNS WD Ret Ret NC Ret 0
Pos. Manufacturer ARG
BRA
RSA
ESP
BEL
MON
SWE
FRA
GBR
NED
GER
AUT
ITA
CAN
USA
Pts.
Source:[8]

Ensign, which did not score points during the championship, was not given a classification in the official FIA results.[1]

Non-championship races

The 1973 Formula One season included two non-championship races which were open to both Formula One and Formula 5000 cars.[9][10]

Race Name Circuit Date Winning driver Constructor Report
VIII Race of Champions Brands Hatch 18 March Peter Gethin Chevron-Chevrolet Report
XXV BRDC International Trophy Silverstone 8 April Jackie Stewart Tyrrell-Ford Report

References

  1. Results of the 1973 FIA International Championships, 1974 FIA Yearbook, Grey Section, pages 104–105
  2. Kathri, Tarun (2012-02-07). "First ever Safety Car in Formula 1 : Rewind to 1973". aaFormula1.com. Archived from the original on 2015-04-07. Retrieved 2015-04-03.
  3. Peter Higham, The Guinness Guide to International Motor Racing, page 71
  4. Peter Higham, The Guinness Guide to International Motor Racing, page 6
  5. Automobile Year, 1973/74, page 236
  6. Peter Higham, The Guinness Guide to International Motor Racing, page 74
  7. Official FIA results, as published in the 1974 FIA Yearbook, Grey Section, page 105, awarded the 1973 International Cup for F1 Manufacturers to "John Player Special"
  8. "1973 – World Championship Result". StatsF1. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  9. The B24, Powered by Chevrolet, Lost Marques: Chevron, www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au Retrieved on 3 May 2012
  10. It Never Rains, but it Snows: The 1973 BRDC International Trophy, themotorsportarchive.com Retrieved on 3 May 2012
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