Chris Amon stayed with Matra, using the Matra MS120C specification version for 1972 before being replaced by the Matra MS120D version mid-season. The Argentine Grand Prix was a bad race for Amon with gearbox problems on the warm-up lap. He then finished 15th in the South African Grand Prix. More gearbox problems followed at the Spanish Grand Prix, before luck came Amon's way with two sixth-place finishes at Monaco and in Belgium. The French Grand Prix saw Amon on pole and he was leading the race until a puncture forced him to pit, but he charged back through the field, bettering the Charade Circuit lap record to finish third. Amon finished fourth in the British Grand Prix and 15th in the German Grand Prix, before another points finish with fifth in the Austrian Grand Prix. Amon's brakes failed in the Italian Grand Prix and he later came in sixth in the Canadian Grand Prix. At the last race of the season, he finished 15th in the United States Grand Prix. Matra pulled out of Formula One afterwards to concentrate on Le Mans.