1971 F1 Season
Formula 1 Grand Prix Motor Racing Review
There were several familiar faces missing from the group photo at Kyalami in 1971. The McLaren team was there, but its founder was not. Bruce McLaren had died while testing one of his own Can-Am cars the previous June. In the same month Piers Courage lost his life during the Dutch Grand Prix. World Champion Jochen Rindt would not be defending his title, having been killed at Monza. On a happier note, Jack Brabham had simply retired from Grand Prix racing after three World Championships.
Andretti Wins for Ferrari at Kyalami
There had been some significant moves over the winter, with Jo Siffert joining the BRM team and Chris Amon going to Matra. Ronnie Peterson’s impressive performances in 1970 were rewarded with a works March drive for the Swede. Despite interest from Ferrari, Jackie Stewart stayed with Tyrrell and it proved to be a wise choice.
In South Africa Stewart was on pole but made an uncharacteristically poor start. Clay Regazzoni led for Ferrari but was passed by an on-form Denny Hulme. The New Zealander looked on course to win in his McLaren until suspension trouble four laps from the end. A grateful Mario Andretti passed Hulme to win for Ferrari. Stewart managed to recover to second, with Regazzoni third. The unfortunate Hulme crawled home in sixth.
Stewart Claims Grand Prix Victories in Spain and Monaco
Next on the championship trail was the scenic Montjuich Park circuit in Spain. The practice sessions were wet and V12’s filled the front row. The Ferrari’s of Ickx and Regazzoni were joined by Amon’s Matra. A dry race enabled Firestone contracted teams to use the company’s new slick tyres, which before long would become de rigeur.
Ickx was fastest away but Stewart showed his fighting spirit to pass the Belgian with his unfancied V8 powered Tyrrell. It was a lead he was never to lose. Ickx trailed home in second with Amon third in the Matra.
It was wet again during practise in Monaco, with the only dry running happening on Friday. Stewart produced a stunning lap to take pole by over a second from Ickx. The Scot was in fine form on a weekend when the celebrated film-maker Roman Polanski was making a documentary about the 1969 World Champion. A frustrated Andretti failed to qualify after his Ferrari broke down during the dry session.
Stewart was untroubled in the race and scored a crushing victory but, behind him, was an equally impressive performance. Peterson passed both Ickx and Siffert to finish second in his March. Ickx could manage no better than third.
1971 Formula 1 season review continues here.
Jackie Stewart Tyrrell
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