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.

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	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

Calendar[]

Round	Grand Prix	Circuit	Date
1	Argentine Grand Prix	Autódromo Oscar Alfredo Gálvez, Buenos Aires	28 January
2	Brazilian Grand Prix	Autodromo de Interlagos, São Paulo	11 February
3	South African Grand Prix	Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit, Midrand	3 March
4	Spanish Grand Prix	Montjuïc circuit, Barcelona	29 April
5	Belgian Grand Prix	Circuit Zolder, Heusden-Zolder	20 May
6	Monaco Grand Prix	Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo	3 June
7	Swedish Grand Prix	Scandinavian Raceway, Anderstorp	17 June
8	French Grand Prix	Paul Ricard Circuit, Le Castellet	1 July
9	British Grand Prix	Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone	14 July
10	Dutch Grand Prix	Circuit Zandvoort, Zandvoort	29 July
11	German Grand Prix	Nürburgring, Nürburg	5 August
12	Austrian Grand Prix	Österreichring, Spielberg	19 August
13	Italian Grand Prix	Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza	9 September
14	Canadian Grand Prix	Mosport Park, Bowmanville	23 September
15	United States Grand Prix	Watkins Glen International, New York	7 October

Calendar changes[]

The Spanish Grand Prix was moved from Jarama near Madrid to the Montjuïc street circuit in Barcelona, in keeping with the event-sharing arrangement between the two circuits.

The Brazilian Grand Prix hosted its first World Championship Grand Prix in 1973. The race was held at Autodromo de Interlagos on 11 February.

The Belgian Grand Prix and Monaco Grand Prix swapped places on the calendar so that the Monaco round follows the Belgian Grand Prix.

The Belgian Grand Prix was moved from Nivelles-Baulers to Circuit Zolder, in keeping with the event-sharing arrangement between the two circuits. It also carried the title of European Grand Prix for 1973.^[3]

The Swedish Grand Prix hosted its first World Championship Grand Prix in 1973. The race was held at Scandinavian Raceway on 17 June.

The French Grand Prix was moved from Charade Circuit to Paul Ricard Circuit.

The British Grand Prix was moved from Brands Hatch to Silverstone, in keeping with the event-sharing arrangement between the two circuits.

The Dutch Grand Prix returned to the calendar in 1973, it was cancelled in 1972 due to because of safety upgrades that were not completed at the Zandvoort Circuit in time for the 1972 race. The upgrade were ready including new asphalt, new barriers, a change in the circuit's layout and a new race control tower for the race on 29 July.

Results and standings[]

Grands Prix[]

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

Round	Grand Prix	Pole position	Fastest lap	Winning driver	Winning constructor	Tyre	Report
1	Argentine Grand Prix	Clay Regazzoni	Emerson Fittipaldi	Emerson Fittipaldi	Lotus-Ford	G	Report
2	Brazilian Grand Prix	Ronnie Peterson	Emerson Fittipaldi Denny Hulme	Emerson Fittipaldi	Lotus-Ford	G	Report
3	South African Grand Prix	Denny Hulme	Emerson Fittipaldi	Jackie Stewart	Tyrrell-Ford	G	Report
4	Spanish Grand Prix	Ronnie Peterson	Ronnie Peterson	Emerson Fittipaldi	Lotus-Ford	G	Report
5	Belgian Grand Prix	Ronnie Peterson	François Cevert	Jackie Stewart	Tyrrell-Ford	G	Report
6	Monaco Grand Prix	Jackie Stewart	Emerson Fittipaldi	Jackie Stewart	Tyrrell-Ford	G	Report
7	Swedish Grand Prix	Ronnie Peterson	Denny Hulme	Denny Hulme	McLaren-Ford	G	Report
8	French Grand Prix	Jackie Stewart	Denny Hulme	Ronnie Peterson	Lotus-Ford	G	Report
9	British Grand Prix	Ronnie Peterson	James Hunt	Peter Revson	McLaren-Ford	G	Report
10	Dutch Grand Prix	Ronnie Peterson	Ronnie Peterson	Jackie Stewart	Tyrrell-Ford	G	Report
11	German Grand Prix	Jackie Stewart	Carlos Pace	Jackie Stewart	Tyrrell-Ford	G	Report
12	Austrian Grand Prix	Emerson Fittipaldi	Carlos Pace	Ronnie Peterson	Lotus-Ford	G	Report
13	Italian Grand Prix	Ronnie Peterson	Jackie Stewart	Ronnie Peterson	Lotus-Ford	G	Report
14	Canadian Grand Prix	Ronnie Peterson	Emerson Fittipaldi	Peter Revson	McLaren-Ford	G	Report
15	United States Grand Prix	Ronnie Peterson	James Hunt	Ronnie Peterson	Lotus-Ford	G	Report

World Drivers' Championship 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 Colour Result Gold Winner Silver 2nd place Bronze 3rd 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

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

International Cup for F1 Manufacturers 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[]