Denny Hulme was back in action at Clermont-Ferrand, although his burnt hands (a legacy of his Indianapolis crash) were far from healed. There was also a McLaren powered by an Alfa-Romeo engine, to be driven by the bespectacled Andrea de Adamich. The unusual combination was no match for the DFV powered machines.
Rindt Wins with Lotus 72 in France, Britain and Germany
In qualifying the V12’s dominated, with Jacky Ickx’s Ferrari and Jean-Pierre Beltoise’s Matra sharing the front row. Both Ickx and Beltoise led but the former retired and the latter suffered a puncture, handing the victory to Jochen Rindt. Chris Amon was second again, while Jack Brabham completed the podium.
At Brands Hatch in July the new Surtees car made its first appearance. It was also Emerson Fittipaldi’s first Grand Prix, driving an old Lotus 49. At the start Ickx led before his fast but fragile Ferrari succumbed to gearbox problems. Rindt then led Brabham until lap 68, when the Australian managed to squeeze past. A deserved win was taken away from Brabham on the last lap as his car crawled across the line suffering from fuel starvation. As in Monaco, Rindt was the benefactor from Brabham’s misfortune, and the Austrian extended his lead at the top of the points table. Hulme finished in an excellent third place for McLaren.
Hockenheim was a new venue for the Formula 1 World Championship in 1970. Previously, the fast tree-lined circuit had mainly been used to host motorcycle racing, but safety concerns over the Nurburgring meant it was chosen to host the German Grand Prix.
The race saw a scintillating battle between Ickx and Rindt, as the frequently swapped the lead with each other. At the flag Rindt was just ahead of the Belgian. Hulme scored another third place, while Fittipaldi impressed with a fourth place finish.
Ickx and Regazzoni Dominate Austrian F1 Race
Next on the calendar was another new circuit, the Osterreichring near Zeltweg. Rindt delighted the Austrian crowd by taking pole for his home race, but Ferrari looked threatening. Regazzoni took the lead before being passed by team-leader Ickx. Rindt struggled to keep on terms with the Italian cars before his engine failed. Brabham’s title hopes were further dented, quite literally, by a holed radiator. Tyrrell also had a miserable time as both Jackie Stewart and François Cevert retired. At the front Ickx and Regazzoni disappeared to score a Ferrari 1-2, with Rolf Stommelen third in a Brabham. The Ferrari drivers also shared the same fastest lap time.
The final four races of the 1970 F1 season.
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