Formula One 1978 Season |
|
|
|
|
Regulations:
Engine: 1500cc (supercharged / turbocharged), 3000cc (normally aspirated)
Cylinders: 12 (maximum)
Weight: 575 kg (minimum)
Points - Driver & Constructors: 1st: 9, 2nd: 6, 3rd: 4, 4th: 3, 5th: 2, 6th: 1 |
1978 Grand Prix Calendar |
Date |
Grand Prix |
Circuit |
Pole Position |
Winner |
January 15th, 1978 |
|
Argentine GP |
Buenos Aires |
Mario Andretti |
Mario Andretti |
January 29th, 1978 |
|
Brazilian GP |
Jacarepagua |
Ronnie Peterson |
Carlos Reutemann |
March 4th, 1978 |
|
South African GP |
Kyalami
|
Niki Lauda |
Ronnie Peterson |
April 2nd, 1978 |
|
US West GP |
Long Beach |
Carlos Reutemann |
Carlos Reutemann |
May 7th, 1978 |
|
Monaco GP |
Monte Carlo |
Carlos Reutemann |
Patrick Depailler |
May 21st, 1978 |
|
Belgian GP |
Zolder |
Mario Andretti |
Mario Andretti |
June 4th, 1978 |
|
Spanish GP |
Jarama |
Mario Andretti |
Mario Andretti |
June 17th, 1978 |
|
Swedish GP |
Anderstorp |
Mario Andretti |
Niki Lauda |
July 2nd, 1978 |
|
French GP |
Paul Ricard |
John Watson |
Mario Andretti |
July 16th, 1978 |
|
British GP |
Brands Hatch |
Ronnie Peterson |
Carlos Reutemann |
July 30th, 1978 |
|
German GP |
Hockenheim |
Mario Andretti |
Mario Andretti |
August 13th, 1978 |
|
Austrian GP |
Osterreichring |
Ronnie Peterson |
Ronnie Peterson |
August 27th, 1978 |
|
Dutch GP |
Zandvoort |
Mario Andretti |
Mario Andretti |
September 10th, 1978 |
|
Italian GP |
Monza |
Mario Andretti |
Niki Lauda |
October 1st, 1978 |
|
United States GP |
Watkins Glen |
Mario Andretti |
Carlos Reutemann |
October 8th, 1978 |
|
Canadian GP |
Montréal |
Jean-Pierre Jarier |
Gilles Villeneuve |
|
|
|
|
1978 F1 Constructors
Championship |
Position |
Manufacturer |
Points |
C |
Lotus / Ford |
85 |
2 |
Ferrari / Ferrari |
58 |
3 |
Brabham / Alfa Romeo |
53 |
4 |
Tyrrell / Ford |
38 |
5 |
Wolf / Ford
|
24 |
6 |
Ligier / Matra |
19 |
7 |
Fittipaldi / Ford |
17 |
8 |
McLaren / Ford |
15 |
|
|
|
|
James Hunt's McLaren M26 at the lead of the 1978 Swedish GP. It was a disappointing race for Hunt, who managed only 8th place, not being able to make the M26 handle well at the Anderstorp circuit. |
The Swedish Grand Prix
The 1978 Grand Prix saw the first, and last, appearance of the Brabham Alfa Romeo BT 46 'sucker car' which Niki Lauda drove to an easy win. The car raised a storm of controversy; the enormous rear-mounted fan, ostensibly to cool the re-positioned radiators, was thought by rival constructors to constitute an aerodynamic device which contravened the FIA regulation that all such devices be 'firmly fixed while the car is in motion'. It was generally felt that the fan was meant to suck air from under the car, exerting a 'reverse hovercraft' effect of greater downforce.
Following objections the car was banned by the CSI with a promise to make the regulations less ambiguous, but the race result stood. The superior traction given the Brabham enabled it to overhaul Mario Andretti's Lotus 79 which had looked unbeatable in its first two races. Lauda's win was the first victory for the Brabham-Alfa and briefly raised the prospect of a hard struggle between it and the Lotus to the end of the season. Andretti's retirement with engine trouble allowed Ricardo Patrese's Arrows second place, fractionally ahead of Ronnie Peterson in the second Lotus who drove a typical, storming race in the later stages. |
Niki Lauda's Brabham-Alfa BT46 during its first and last appearance in 'fan car' guise, it was an easy winner at the 1978 Swedish GP. |
|
Sell Your Car or Parts
Browse the Classifieds
It's Absolutely Free! - Find Out More
|
|