Before the race, Brabham announced that then unknown Brazilian driver Nelson Piquet, who had raced unsuccessfully earlier in the season with Ensign and BS Fabrications, would be joining them in a third car, alongside regular drivers Niki Lauda and John Watson.
Antes da carreira, Brabham anunciou que o entón descoñecido piloto brasileiro Nelson Piquet, que competera sen éxito a principios de tempada con Ensign e BS Fabrications, uniríase a eles nun terceiro coche, xunto aos pilotos titulares Niki Lauda e John Watson.