1972 Formula One season

1972 FIA Formula One World Championship season
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Index: Races by country \| Races by season

The 1972 Formula One season was the 23rd FIA Formula One season. It featured the 23rd World Championship of Drivers, the 15th International Cup for F1 Manufacturers ^[1] and numerous non-championship Formula One races. The World Championship season commenced on January 23 and ended on October 8 after twelve races.

Season summary[]

Lotus took the championship by surprise in 1972 with 25-year old Brazilian driver Emerson Fittipaldi became the first Brazilian World Champion and the youngest world champion at that point. Jackie Stewart came second in the championship.

The British Racing Motors (BRM) team took its last victory when Jean-Pierre Beltoise won the rain-affected 1972 Monaco Grand Prix in a BRM P160.

Season review[]

Rnd	Race	Location	Date	Pole Position	Fastest Lap	Race Winner	Constructor	Report
1	Argentine Grand Prix	Autódromo Oscar Alfredo Gálvez	January 23	Carlos Reutemann	Jackie Stewart	Jackie Stewart	Tyrrell-Ford	Report
2	South African Grand Prix	Kyalami	March 4	Jackie Stewart	Mike Hailwood	Denny Hulme	McLaren-Ford	Report
3	Spanish Grand Prix	Circuito Permanente Del Jarama	May 1	Jacky Ickx	Jacky Ickx	Emerson Fittipaldi	Lotus-Ford	Report
4	Monaco Grand Prix	Circuit de Monaco	May 14	Emerson Fittipaldi	Jean-Pierre Beltoise	Jean-Pierre Beltoise	BRM	Report
5	Belgian Grand Prix	Nivelles-Baulers	June 4	Emerson Fittipaldi	Chris Amon	Emerson Fittipaldi	Lotus-Ford	Report
6	French Grand Prix	Charade Circuit	July 2	Chris Amon	Chris Amon	Jackie Stewart	Tyrrell-Ford	Report
7	British Grand Prix	Brands Hatch	July 15	Jacky Ickx	Jackie Stewart	Emerson Fittipaldi	Lotus-Ford	Report
8	German Grand Prix	Nürburgring	July 30	Jacky Ickx	Jacky Ickx	Jacky Ickx	Ferrari	Report
9	Austrian Grand Prix	Österreichring	August 13	Emerson Fittipaldi	Denny Hulme	Emerson Fittipaldi	Lotus-Ford	Report
10	Italian Grand Prix	Autodromo Nazionale Monza	September 10	Jacky Ickx	Jacky Ickx	Emerson Fittipaldi	Lotus-Ford	Report
11	Canadian Grand Prix	Mosport Park	September 24	Peter Revson	Jackie Stewart	Jackie Stewart	Tyrrell-Ford	Report
12	United States Grand Prix	Watkins Glen International	October 8	Jackie Stewart	Jackie Stewart	Jackie Stewart	Tyrrell-Ford	Report

Drivers and constructors[]

Entrant	Constructor	Chassis	Engine	Tyre	Driver	Rounds
Motor Racing Developments	Brabham	BT33 BT34 BT37	Cosworth V8	G	Graham Hill	All
					Carlos Reutemann	1-2, 5-12
					Wilson Fittipaldi	3-12
Marlboro BRM	BRM	P160B P153 P180 P160C	BRM V12	F	Howden Ganley	1-6, 8-12
					Reine Wisell	1, 3-10
					Peter Gethin	1-7, 9-12
					Alex Soler-Roig	1, 3
					Helmut Marko	1-2, 4-8
					Jean-Pierre Beltoise	2-12
					Jackie Oliver	7
					Bill Brack	11
Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC	Ferrari	312B2	Ferrari F12	F	Jacky Ickx	All
					Clay Regazzoni	1-5, 8-12
					Mario Andretti	1-3, 5, 7, 10, 12
					Nanni Galli	6
					Arturo Merzario	7-8
John Player Team Lotus World Wide Racing	Lotus	72D	Cosworth V8	F	Emerson Fittipaldi	All
					Dave Walker	1-9, 12
					Reine Wisell	11-12
STP March Racing Team	March	721 721X 721G	Cosworth V8	G F	Ronnie Peterson	All
STP March Racing Team	March	721 721X 721G	Cosworth V8	G F	Niki Lauda	All
Equipe Matra Sports	Matra	MS120C MS120D	Matra V12	G	Chris Amon	All
Yardley Team McLaren	McLaren	M19A M19C	Cosworth V8	G	Denny Hulme	All
					Peter Revson	1-3, 5, 7, 10-12
					Brian Redman	4, 6, 8
					Jody Scheckter	12
Brooke Bond Oxo Team Surtees	Surtees	TS9B TS14	Cosworth V8	F	Tim Schenken	All
					Andrea de Adamich	1-3, 5-12
					Mike Hailwood	2-10, 12
					John Surtees	10, 12
Elf Team Tyrrell	Tyrrell	003 002 004 005 006	Cosworth V8	G	Jackie Stewart	All
					François Cevert	All
					Patrick Depailler	6, 12
Team Williams Motul	March	711 721	Cosworth V8	G	Carlos Pace	2-12
	March	711 721			Henri Pescarolo	1-6, 8-12 7
	Politoys	FX3			Henri Pescarolo	1-6, 8-12 7
Team Eifelland Caravans	Eifelland	21	Cosworth V8	G	Rolf Stommelen	2-9
Scribante Lucky Strike Racing	Lotus	72D	Cosworth V8	F	Dave Charlton	2, 6-8
Team Gunston	Surtees	TS9	Cosworth V8	F	John Love	2
Team Gunston	Brabham	BT33	Cosworth V8	F	Willie Ferguson	2
Clarke-Mordaunt-Guthrie Racing	March	721G	Cosworth V8	F	Mike Beuttler	3-12
Clarke-Mordaunt-Guthrie Racing	Surtees	TS9B	Cosworth V8	F	Andrea de Adamich	4
Martini Racing	Tecno	PA123/3	Cosworth V8 Tecno F12	F	Nanni Galli	3-5, 7, 9-12
Martini Racing	Tecno	PA123/3	Cosworth V8 Tecno F12	F	Derek Bell	6, 8, 10-12
Darnval Connew Racing Team	Connew	PC1	Cosworth V8	F	François Migault	7, 9
Gene Mason Racing	March	711	Cosworth V8	F	Skip Barber	11-12
Champcarr Inc.	Surtees	TS9B	Cosworth V8	F	Sam Posey	12

Results and standings[]

Drivers[]

Points for the 1972 World Championship of Drivers were awarded on a 9-6-4-3-2-1 basis to the top six placegetters in each race. For classification, only the best five results from the first half of the season and the best five results from the second half of the season could be retained.

Pos	Driver	ARG	RSA	ESP	MON	BEL	FRA	GBR	GER	AUT	ITA	CAN	USA	Points
1	Emerson Fittipaldi	Ret	2	1	3	1	2	1	Ret	1	1	11	Ret	61
2	Jackie Stewart	1	Ret	Ret	4		1	2	11	7	Ret	1	1	45
3	Denny Hulme	2	1	Ret	15	3	7	5	Ret	2	3	3	3	39
4	Jacky Ickx	3	8	2	2	Ret	11	Ret	1	Ret	Ret	12	5	27
5	Peter Revson	Ret	3	5		7		3		3	4	2	18	23
6	François Cevert	Ret	9	Ret	NC	2	4	Ret	10	9	Ret	Ret	2	15
7	Clay Regazzoni	4	12	3	Ret	Ret			2	Ret	Ret	5	8	15
8	Mike Hailwood		Ret	Ret	Ret	4	6	Ret	Ret	4	2		17	13
9	Ronnie Peterson	6	5	Ret	11	9	5	7	3	12	9	DSQ	4	12
10	Chris Amon	DNS	15	Ret	6	6	3	4	15	5	Ret	6	15	12
11	Jean-Pierre Beltoise		Ret	Ret	1	Ret	15	11	9	8	8	Ret	Ret	9
12	Mario Andretti	Ret	4	Ret							7		6	4
13	Howden Ganley	9	NC	Ret	Ret	8			4	6	11	10	Ret	4
14	Brian Redman				5		9		5				Ret	4
15	Graham Hill	Ret	6	10	12	Ret	10	Ret	6	Ret	5	8	11	4
16	Carlos Reutemann	7	Ret			13	12	8	Ret	Ret	Ret	4	Ret	3
17	Andrea de Adamich	Ret	NC	4	7	Ret	14	Ret	13	14	Ret	Ret	Ret	3
18	José Carlos Pace		17	6	17	5	Ret	Ret	NC	NC	Ret	9	Ret	3
19	Tim Schenken	5	Ret	8	Ret	Ret	17	Ret	14	11	Ret	7	Ret	2
20	Arturo Merzario							6	12					1
21	Peter Gethin	Ret	NC	Ret	Ret	Ret		Ret		13	6	Ret	Ret	1
22	Wilson Fittipaldi			7	9	Ret	8	12	7	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	0
23	Niki Lauda	11	7	Ret	16	12	Ret	9	Ret	10	13	DSQ	NC	0
24	Patrick Depailler						NC						7	0
25	Helmut Marko	10	14		8	10	Ret							0
26	Mike Beuttler			DNQ	13	Ret	19	13	8	Ret	10	NC	13	0
27	Henri Pescarolo	8	11	11	Ret	NC		Ret	Ret		DNQ	13	14	0
28	David Walker	DSQ	10	9	14	14	18	Ret	Ret	Ret			Ret	0
29	Jody Scheckter												9	0
30	Rolf Stommelen		13	Ret	10	11	16	10	Ret	Ret				0
31	Reine Wisell	Ret		Ret	Ret		Ret		Ret		12	Ret	10	0
32	Sam Posey												12	0
33	Nanni Galli					Ret	13	Ret		Ret	Ret			0
34	Skip Barber											NC	16	0
35	John Love		16											0
—	Dave Charlton		Ret				DNQ	Ret	Ret					0
—	Derek Bell								Ret		DNQ		Ret	0
—	Alex Soler-Roig	Ret		Ret										0
—	Jackie Oliver							Ret						0
—	François Migault									Ret				0
—	John Surtees										Ret			0
—	Bill Brack											Ret		0
Pos	Driver	ARG	RSA	ESP	MON	BEL	FRA	GBR	GER	AUT	ITA	CAN	USA	Points

Colour	Result
Gold	Winner
Silver	2nd place
Bronze	3rd place
Green	Points finish
Blue	Non-points finish, inc. non-classified finish
Purple	Did not finish (Ret)
Red	Did not qualify (DNQ)
Black	Disqualified (DSQ)
White	Did not start (DNS)
Light blue	Practiced only (PO)
Light blue	Friday test driver (TD) - 2003-2007 only
Blank	Did not practice (DNP)
	Injured or ill (Inj)
	Excluded (EX)
	Did not arrive (DNA)

Constructors[]

Points for the 1972 International Cup for F1 Manufacturers were awarded on a 9-6-4-3-2-1 basis to the top six placegetters in each race. Only the best placed car from each manufacturer was eligible to score points. For classification, only the best five results from the first half of the season and the best five results from the second half of the season could be retained.

Place	Constructor	Chassis	Engine	Points^[2]	Wins	Podiums	Poles
1	Lotus-Ford	72D	Ford Cosworth DFV	61	5	8	3
2	Tyrrell-Ford	002 003 004 005 006	Ford Cosworth DFV	51	4	7	2
3	McLaren-Ford	M19A M19C	Ford Cosworth DFV	47 (49)	1	11	1
4	Ferrari	312B2-72	Ferrari 001/1	33	1	6	4
5	Surtees-Ford	TS9A TS9B TS14	Ford Cosworth DFV	18		1
6	March-Ford	721 721X 721G	Ford Cosworth DFV	15		1
7	BRM	P153 P153B P160B P160C P180	BRM P142	14	1	1
8	Matra	MS120C MS120D	Matra MS71	12		1	1
9	Brabham-Ford	BT33 BT34 BT37	Ford Cosworth DFV	7			1
10	Politoys-Ford	FX3	Ford Cosworth DFV
11	Tecno	PA123	Tecno Series-P
12	Connew-Ford	PC	Ford Cosworth DFV

Non-Championship race results[]

Other Formula One races were also held in 1972, which did not count towards the World Championship.

Race Name	Circuit	Date	Winning driver	Constructor	Report
VII Race of Champions	Brands Hatch	March 19	Emerson Fittipaldi	Lotus-Ford	Report
I Brazilian Grand Prix	Interlagos	March 30	Carlos Reutemann	Brabham-Ford	Report
XXIV BRDC International Trophy	Silverstone	April 23	Emerson Fittipaldi	Lotus-Ford	Report
XIX International Gold Cup	Oulton Park	May 29	Denny Hulme	McLaren-Ford	Report
I Italian Republic Grand Prix	Vallelunga	June 18	Emerson Fittipaldi	Lotus-Ford	Report
Rothmans 50,000	Brands Hatch	August 28	Emerson Fittipaldi	Lotus-Ford	Report
II World Championship Victory Race	Brands Hatch	October 22	Jean-Pierre Beltoise	BRM	Report

External links[]

1972 World Championship race results and images Retrieved from f1-Facts.com on 20 October

References[]

↑ FIA Yearbook, 1974, pages 119 & 121
↑ Only the best 5 results from the first 6 races and the best 5 results from the last 6 races counted towards the Championship. Numbers without parentheses are Championship points; numbers in parentheses are total points scored.

[1] FIA Yearbook, 1974, pages 119 & 121

[points-2] Only the best 5 results from the first 6 races and the best 5 results from the last 6 races counted towards the Championship. Numbers without parentheses are Championship points; numbers in parentheses are total points scored.

[1]

[2]