Jackie Stewart made a perfect start to the 1969 Formula 1 season, winning the first two races in his Ford powered Matra. It may not have been the fastest car at either event but it was certainly reliable. When others fell by the wayside Stewart was able to take advantage.
Hill Scores Fifth Monaco Grand Prix Victory
By 1969 Graham Hill was acknowledged as being a master of the Monaco Grand Prix circuit. Nevertheless, the Lotus driver could only manage fourth place on the grid. Stewart was on pole, ahead of Chris Amon’s Ferrari and Jean-Pierre Beltoise in the other Matra.
Stewart led the race from Amon, until the Ferrari’s differential failed. Stewart was also out of luck on this occasion, retiring with a broken driveshaft. Hill cruised by on the way to recording his fifth Grand Prix win in the principality. Piers Courage finished an excellent second, ahead of Jo Siffert’s Lotus 49 entered by Rob Walker. Richard Attwood, substituting for an injured Jochen Rindt at Lotus, was fourth. Bruce McLaren finished in fifth, with McLaren driver Denny Hulme sixth.
Stewart Victorious in Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort
Following the cancellation of the Belgian Grand Prix amidst safety concerns the next race on the Formula 1 calendar was the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. Rindt had recovered from his Montjuich Park crash and took pole in his Lotus. Stewart was second on the grid and Hill third.
Hill made the best start, but was soon passed by both Stewart and Rindt. The pole-sitter chased Stewart’s leading Matra until a driveshaft broke on his Lotus. Stewart was left circulating alone at the front and won the race comfortably from Siffert. Amon was third for Ferrari, with Hulme fourth, Jacky Ickx fifth and Jack Brabham sixth.
French Grand Prix Won by Stewart and Matra
The 1969 French Grand Prix was staged at the Clermont-Ferrand circuit. After qualifying Stewart was on pole, with Hulme second in his McLaren. In third place was Rindt’s Lotus, followed by Ickx’s Brabham.
The race turned into a walkover for Stewart, who led for the entire distance. It was a good day all round for Matra, with Jean-Pierre Beltoise finishing second in the company’s home Grand Prix. The Frenchman relieved Ickx of the position on the very last lap. McLaren was fourth, Vic Elford fifth and Hill sixth. Stewart’s victory meant that he had won four out of the five Grands Prix so far in the 1969 season.
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