1979 Formula One Season

The 1979 Formula One season, alternately known as the 1979 FIA Formula One World Championship, was the 30th season of World Championship racing organised by the FIA to the Formula One rulebook. 1979 proved to be a season of intrigue and a changing of the guard, with former Champions retiring, new manufacturers arriving, and FISA and FOCA drawing battle lines as they continued to fight for control over the series.
Mario Andretti would start the season as the defending drivers' Champion, while his team, campaigned as the defending holders of the International Cup for Constructors.'Canadian GP, 1978', grandprix.com, (Inside F1 Inc., 2015), http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr313.html, (Accessed 18/09/2018) They duly started the 1979 season as the favourites having introduced the concept of ground-effect to Formula One, with fifteen races scheduled between January and October.'Argentine GP, 1979', grandprix.com, (Inside F1 Inc., 2015), http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr314.html, (Accessed 26/09/2018)
However, the opening round in Argentina underlined how far the ground-effect revolution had come, for racer Jacques Laffite swept to victory, the first for himself and the French constructor. The Frenchman duly made it two from two with pole, victory and fastest lap in Brazil, before Gilles Villeneuve claimed victory at the following two rounds.'United States GP, 1979', grandprix.com, (Inside F1 Inc., 2015), http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr317.html, (Accessed 06/11/2018)
Patrick Depailler was the next winner of the season, claiming the honours in Spain, followed by two victories for Jody Scheckter.'Monaco GP, 1979', grandprix.com, (Inside F1 Inc., 2015), http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr320.html, (Accessed 22/11/2018) Indeed, the South African ace would make his bid for the Championship with a series of strong finishes across the first half of the season, with Villeneuve, Laffite and Depailler all failing to register major points if they failed to win.
The second half of the season would see the rise of and , with Jean-Pierre Jabouille claiming a historic victory for Renault at their home race at Dijon Prenois.'French GP, 1979', grandprix.com, (Inside F1 Inc., 2015), http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr321.html, (Accessed 24/12/2018) Clay Regazzoni was the next winner, before Alan Jones went on a run of three consecutive victories, although Scheckter's consistent scoring ensured that the Australian was too far back to challenge for the crown.'Dutch GP, 1979', grandprix.com, (Inside F1 Inc., 2015), http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr325.html, (Accessed 03/01/2019)
Indeed, Scheckter and would secure their crowns at the 1979 Italian Grand Prix, with the South African sweeping to victory ahead of teammate Villeneuve.'Italian GP, 1979', grandprix.com, (Inside F1 Inc., 2015), http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr326.html, (Accessed 04/01/2019) The Canadian ace then enjoyed a race long battle with Jones for victory on his home soil, with Jones ultimately emerging ahead, before ending the season with victory at the season finale at Watkins Glen.'United States GP, 1979', grandprix.com, (Inside F1 Inc., 2015), http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr328.html, (Accessed 12/01/2019)
Jody Scheckter became the first South African World Champion.
Outside of the fight for the Championship there would be sweeping changes at , a complete collapse from Lotus, and the return of . Niki Lauda would also call time on his F1 career, although would ultimately return in 1982, as did Champion James Hunt at Le Mans legend Jacky Ickx.
==Background==
==Teams and Drivers==
===Driver changes===
===Team changes===
==Calendar==
The calendar for the 1979 World Championship tour would follow the almost identically, with some minor revisions and a late cancellation. The biggest change would be a swap between Spain and Monaco, with the latter moving to late May, while the 1979 Swedish Grand Prix was cancelled in early June after failing to secure funding. The second half of the season was then identical to how it had been in 1978, albeit with the season finale switching back to Watkins Glen.
===World Championship Schedule===
Outlined below is the full calendar for the 1979 FIA Formula One World Championship:
===Non-Championship Races===
There would also be three non-Championship races open to the World Championship entrants, including the return of the Race of Champions. The second race was staged at Donington Park and named the Gunnar Nilsson Memorial Trophy, although it was held as a time trial rather than race. The third and final Grand Prix would be held at the Autodromo Dino Ferrari as a test event for the circuit to take over the Italian Grand Prix in .
Date 	Event 	Circuit 	Report
15 April 	XIII Marlboro/Daily Mail Race of Champions	Brands Hatch 	Report
3 June 	Gunnar Nilsson Memorial Trophy 	Donington Park 	Report
16 September	Dino Ferrari Grand Prix 	Autodromo Dino Ferrari	Report
==Season Report==
===Pre-season===
===Round 1: 1979 Argentine Grand Prix===
The 1979 World Championship tour would kick off on the 21 January, with the Argentine Grand Prix hosting the opening round. There would be a surprise to the season, however, as swept to a front-row lock-out in qualifying, with Jacques Laffite claiming pole ahead of teammate Patrick Depailler. However, the start of the race would see a huge accident thin the field and stop the race almost before it began, with Didier Pironi, Patrick Tambay, Nelson Piquet, Jody Scheckter and Arturo Merzario left on the sidelines with heavy damage.
The second start saw Depailler leap into an early lead, while Laffite fell to fourth behind Jean-Pierre Jarier and John Watson. Laffite then produced the charge of his life to climb back into the lead before the end of lap eleven, before powering away from Depailler. He duly cruised home to claim a dominant victory, while Carlos Reutemann and Watson moved onto the podium as a misfire caused Depailler's pace to collapse late on.
===Round 2: 1979 Brazilian Grand Prix===
Ligier again proved to be the chassis to beat at the Brazilian Grand Prix, with Laffite and Depailler again securing a front-row lock-out for the French squad.'Brazilian GP, 1979', grandprix.com, (Inside F1 Inc., 2015), http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr315.html, (Accessed 31/10/2018) Reutemann led the anti-Ligier charge from third ahead of World Champion teammate Mario Andretti, while the s shared the third row. However, things would not go Ligier's way at the start of the race, for Reutemann was able to charge through to take second from Depailler, as Laffite swept into the lead.
Laffite duly powered away to claim his second straight victory, as well as a maiden Grand Chelem as he collected fastest lap and led every tour of the Autódromo do Interlagos. Depailler, meanwhile, would power past Reutemann early on before charging away to claim second, with the Argentine left to fight teammate Andretti for third. Mechanical fatigue eventually saw Reutemann secure the final podium spot, with Pironi, Gilles Villeneuve and Scheckter completing the points after stopping for fresh tyres.
===Round 3: 1979 South African Grand Prix===
The XXV Simba Grand Prix of South Africa would serve as the third race of the season in early March, and would see a French built car again sweep to pole.'South African GP, 1979', grandprix.com, (Inside F1 Inc., 2015), http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr316.html, (Accessed 04/11/2018) However, this car would not be a Ligier, rather a turbocharged in the hands of Jean-Pierre Jabouille. Indeed, it was a historic day for F1, for Jabouille became the first man to claim pole in a turbocharged car, a sign of things to come in the following decade.
A cloud burst during the opening lap of the race ultimately saw the race stopped at the end of the second lap, with Villeneuve having scrambled ahead of Jabouille. The Canadian duly lined up on pole for the restart, and subsequently sprinted away as the lights went out, followed by teammate Scheckter. Jabouille, meanwhile, decided to start the race on slicks in spite of the sodden track, and hence paid the price as the two Ferraris sprinted away.
However, the circuit would quickly dry, forcing the two Ferraris to stop for slicks mid-race. Villeneuve would rejoin in second, behind Scheckter, although that was only because the South African ace opted to hold onto his wets through until lap 53. Once he stopped Villeneuve was left to power home to another impressive victory, while Scheckter charged hard on his fresh slicks to claim second ahead of Jarier.
===Round 4: 1979 United States Grand Prix West===
The F1 circus headed back across the Atlantic for the fourth race of the season, landing at the Long Beach Street Circuit for the annual scramble in the streets of California. Qualifying would see Villeneuve sweep to pole ahead of Reutemann, while Scheckter beat Depailler to third. Indeed, the only blot on the Canadian's copy book would come on raceday, with the Canadian at fault for two false starts.
However, once the race did eventually get underway there would be no stopping Villeneuve, who duly sprinted away to claim a dominant victory. The Canadian would also secure his maiden Grand Chelem as he danced his Ferrari to fastest lap, while teammate Scheckter had to battle back from a poor opening lap to claim second. Alan Jones, meanwhile, would elbow his way through to third having endured a race long fight with Depailler and Jarier.
===Round 5: 1979 Spanish Grand Prix===
F1 arrived in Europe for the first time in 1979 on the 29 April, with the World Championship field massing at the Circuito del Jarama for the Spanish Grand Prix.'Spanish GP, 1979', grandprix.com, (Inside F1 Inc., 2015), http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr318.html, (Accessed 08/11/2018) Qualifying would see Ligier return to their early form, Laffite sweeping to pole ahead of Depailler, while fresh-faced Championship leader Villeneuve beat defending Champion Andretti to third. Unfortunately for Villeneuve his hopes of claiming a third victory of the season would evaporate early on, as the Canadian bounced off the side of Reutemann on the opening tour after making a poor start.
Out front, meanwhile, Depailler would power past Laffite at the start, before the two blasted away to fight a private duel for victory. However, Laffite would ultimately ruin his race when his best opportunity to take the lead came, with an inopportune gear change causing his to detonate on lap fifteen. Depailler was hence left on his own at the head of the field, having amassed a huge lead in the opening stages.
The fight for the other podium spots would, however, rage throughout the rest of the race with Reutemann, Andretti, Scheckter and Niki Lauda all fighting hard. Ultimately mechanical fatigue eliminated Lauda, while tyre fatigue saw Scheckter drop behind both Loti late on. Reutemann hence claimed second ahead of Andretti and the South African, while Jarier and Pironi just held on to deny a charging Villeneuve a point.
===Round 6: 1979 Belgian Grand Prix===
The Belgian Grand Prix would host yet another surprise for F1's class of 1979, with returning the field as a factory team for the first time since the 1951 Spanish Grand Prix.'Belgian GP, 1979', grandprix.com, (Inside F1 Inc., 2015), http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr319.html, (Accessed 12/11/2018) Bruno Giacomelli was given the honour of representing the Quadrifoglio, and while he managed to qualify for the race, he was someway off the outright pace. Indeed, pole would instead go to Laffite for the fourth time in 1979, with Depailler and Nelson Piquet, using an Alfa engined at the head of the grid.
It was advantage Depailler off the line, with the Frenchman powering past his teammate with ease as Laffite spun his wheels. Indeed, Laffite dropped behind both Piquet and Jones at the start, with Jones also managing to elbow the Brazilian out of the way to claim second at the end of the opening tour. The Ferraris and Clay Regazzoni subsequently joined the fray on the second lap, with Scheckter and Villeneuve both smacking the Swiss ace to leave the with heavy damage.
Out front, meanwhile, Depailler would be caught and passed by a recovering Laffite, until both Ligiers hit tyre trouble. That briefly allowed Jones to lead until his race was ended by an electrical failure, with Depailler subsequently inheriting the lead until he went straight into the barriers with horrendous understeer. Laffite hence regained the lead, although a lack of grip meant he was powerless to prevent Scheckter sweeping through late on to claim victory.
===Round 7: 1979 Monaco Grand Prix===
===Round 8: 1979 French Grand Prix===
===Round 9: 1979 British Grand Prix===
===Round 10: 1979 German Grand Prix===
===Round 11: 1979 Austrian Grand Prix===
===Round 12: 1979 Dutch Grand Prix===
===Round 13: 1979 Italian Grand Prix===
===Round 14: 1979 Canadian Grand Prix===
===Round 15: 1979 United States Grand Prix===
===Results===
==Standings==
===1979 FIA Formula One World Championship for Drivers===
Outlined below are the full final standings from the 1979 FIA Formula One World Championship for Drivers:
World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers
Pos. 	Driver 	1 	2 	3 	4 	5 	6 	7 	8 	9 	10 	11 	12 	13 	14 	15 	Pts.
Pos. 	Driver 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Pts.
 	Scheckter 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	7th 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	51 (60)
 	Villeneuve 	 	 	 	 	7th 	7th 	 	 	14th 	8th 	 	 	 	 	 	47 (53)
 	Jones 	9th 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	9th 	 	 	40 (43)
4th 	Laffite 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	8th 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	36
5th 	Regazzoni 	10th 	15th 	9th 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	29 (32)
6th 	Depailler 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	20 (22)
= 	Reutemann 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	13th 	8th 	 	 	 	7th 	 	 	20 (25)
8th 	Arnoux 	 	 	 	 	9th 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	17
9th 	Watson 	 	8th 	 	 	 	 	 	11th 	 	 	9th 	 	 	 	 	15
10th 	Pironi 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	10th 	9th 	7th 	 	10th 	 	 	14
= 	Jarier 	 	 	 	 	 	11th 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	14
= 	Andretti 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	10th 	 	14
13th 	Jabouille 	 	10th 	 	 	 	 	8th 	 	 	 	 	 	14th 	 	 	9
14th 	Lauda 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	4
15th 	de Angelis 	7th 	12th 	 	7th 	 	 	 	16th 	12th 	11th 	 	 	 	 	 	3
= 	Piquet 	 	 	7th 	8th 	 	 	7th 	 	 	12th 	 	 	 	 	 	3
= 	Ickx 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	3
= 	Mass 	8th 	7th 	12th 	9th 	8th 	 	 	15th 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	3
19th 	Patrese 	 	9th 	11th 	 	10th 	 	 	14th 	 	 	 	 	13th 	 	 	2
= 	Stuck 	 	 	 	 	14th 	8th 	 	 	 	 	 	 	11th 	 	 	2
21st 	Fittipaldi 	 	11th 	13th 	 	11th 	9th 	 	 	 	 	 	 	8th 	8th 	7th 	1
— 	Rebaque 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	12th 	9th 	 	 	7th 	 	 	 	0
— 	Tambay 	 	 	10th 	 	13th 	 	 	10th 	7th 	 	10th 	 	 	 	 	0
— 	Zunino 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	7th 	 	0
— 	Lees 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	7th 	 	 	 	 	 	0
— 	Daly 	11th 	13th 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	8th 	 	 	 	 	0
— 	Hunt 	 	 	8th 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	0
— 	Lammers 	 	14th 	 	 	12th 	10th 	 	18th 	11th 	10th 	 	 	 	9th 	 	0
— 	Rosberg 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	9th 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	0
— 	Brambilla 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	12th 	 	 	0
— 	Gaillard 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	13th 	 	 	 	 	 	 	0
— 	Giacomelli 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	17th 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	0
— 	Merzario 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	0
— 	Surer 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	0
— 	Brancatelli 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	0
— 	Ribeiro 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	0
Pos. 	Driver 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Pts.
Pos. 	Driver 	1 	2 	3 	4 	5 	6 	7 	8 	9 	10 	11 	12 	13 	14 	15 	Pts.
===1979 FIA Formula One International Cup for Constructors===
Outlined below are the full final standings from the 1979 FIA Formula One International Cup for Constructors:
International Cup for Constructors	International Cup for Constructors	International Cup for Constructors	International Cup for Constructors	International Cup for Constructors	International Cup for Constructors	International Cup for Constructors	International Cup for Constructors	International Cup for Constructors	International Cup for Constructors	International Cup for Constructors	International Cup for Constructors	International Cup for Constructors	International Cup for Constructors	International Cup for Constructors	International Cup for Constructors	International Cup for Constructors	International Cup for Constructors	International Cup for Constructors
Pos. 	Team 	No. 	1 	2 	3 	4 	5 	6 	7 	8 	9 	10 	11 	12 	13 	14 	15 	Pts.
Pos. 	Team 	No. 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Pts.
rowspan="2" 	 	11 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	7th 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	113
12 	 	 	 	 	 	7th 	7th 	 	 	14th 	8th 	 	 	 	 	 	 	113
rowspan="2" 	 	27 	9th 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	9th 	 	 	75
28 	 	10th 	15th 	9th 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	75
rowspan="2" 	 	25 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	61
26 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	8th 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	61
4th 	 	1 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	10th 	 	39
4th 	 	2 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	13th 	8th 	 	 	 	7th 	 	 	39
4th 	 	31 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	12th 	9th 	 	 	7th 	 	 	 	39
5th 	 	3 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	10th 	9th 	7th 	 	10th 	 	 	28
5th 	 	4 	 	 	 	 	 	11th 	 	 	 	7th 	8th 	 	 	 	 	28
5th 	 	33 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	28
6th 	 	15 	 	10th 	 	 	 	 	8th 	 	 	 	 	 	14th 	 	 	26
6th 	 	16 	 	 	 	 	9th 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	26
7th 	 	7 	 	8th 	 	 	 	 	 	11th 	 	 	9th 	 	 	 	 	15
7th 	 	8 	 	 	10th 	 	13th 	 	 	10th 	7th 	 	10th 	 	 	 	 	15
8th 	 	5 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	7
8th 	 	6 	 	 	7th 	8th 	 	 	7th 	 	 	12th 	 	 	 	 	 	7
9th 	 	29 	 	9th 	11th 	 	10th 	 	 	14th 	 	 	 	 	13th 	 	 	5
9th 	 	30 	8th 	7th 	12th 	9th 	8th 	 	 	15th 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	5
10th 	 	17 	 	14th 	 	 	12th 	10th 	 	18th 	11th 	10th 	 	 	 	9th 	 	7
10th 	 	18 	7th 	12th 	 	7th 	 	 	 	16th 	12th 	11th 	 	 	 	 	 	7
11th 	 	9 	 	 	 	 	14th 	8th 	 	 	 	 	 	 	11th 	 	 	2
12th 	 	14 	 	11th 	13th 	 	11th 	9th 	 	 	 	 	 	 	8th 	8th 	7th 	1
12th 	 	19 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	1
— 	 	5 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	7th 	 	0
— 	 	6 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	0
— 	 	20 	 	 	8th 	 	 	 	 	9th 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	0
— 	 	22 	11th 	13th 	 	 	 	 	 	 	13th 	 	 	 	 	 	 	0
— 	 	35 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	17th 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	0
— 	 	36 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	12th 	 	 	0
— 	 	24 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	0
— 	 	31 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	0
— 	 	36 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	0
Pos. 	Team 	No. 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Pts.
Pos. 	Team 	No. 	1 	2 	3 	4 	5 	6 	7 	8 	9 	10 	11 	12 	13 	14 	15 	Pts.
==References==
Images and Videos:
* F1-history, 'Jacques Laffite (Brazil 1979)', deviantart.com, (DeviantArt, 26/05/2013), https://www.deviantart.com/f1-history/art/Jacques-Laffite-Brazil-1979-373910458, (Accessed 04/11/2018)
* GrandPrixMotorRacing, '#081284541', deviantart.com, (DeviantArt, 03/03/2016), https://www.deviantart.com/grandprixmotorracing/art/081284541-594409372, (Accessed 05/11/2018)
* F1-history, '1979 United States Grand Prix Start', deviantart.com, (DeviantArt, 15/08/2012), https://www.deviantart.com/f1-history/art/1979-United-States-Grand-Prix-Start-321286803, (Accessed 07/11/2018)
* F1-history, 'Reutemann| Villeneuve| Scheckter (1979 Spanish GP)', deviantart.com, (DeviantArt, 14/08/2012), https://www.deviantart.com/f1-history/art/Reutemann-Villeneuve-Scheckter-1979-Spanish-GP-321159987, (Accessed 08/11/2018)
* F1-history, 'B.Giacomelli |E.de Angelis| N.Piquet(Belgium 1979)', deviantart.com, (DeviantArt, 28/12/2012), https://www.deviantart.com/f1-history/art/B-Giacomelli-E-de-Angelis-N-Piquet-Belgium-1979-345242304, (Accessed 19/11/2018)
References:
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