1973 Formula 1 Season
A Review of the Belgian, Monaco, Swedish and French F1 Races
Stewart Wins Belgian and Monaco F1 Races
Zolder was another new circuit on the Formula 1 calendar in 1973. Problems with the Belgian track appeared in practice when the road surface started to break up. For a while there was the possibility of the race being cancelled but temporary repairs were made and the Grand Prix went ahead.
Ronnie Peterson had taken pole position in his Lotus, ahead of Denny Hulme’s McLaren. The Swede had no answer for François Cevert, however, who was in the lead by lap two. The Frenchman looked set for victory until he spun, handing the Grand Prix to his team-mate Jackie Stewart. Cevert recovered to finish second, with Fittipaldi third for Lotus.
The circuit at Monaco had been revised for the 1973 Grand Prix, with the addition of the fast section which rounded the swimming pool. Stewart excelled around the principality and put his Tyrrell 006 on pole.
In the race it was Cevert in the other Tyrrell who took the lead, pursued by Peterson, Regazzoni and Stewart. Cevert’s lead lasted less than a lap before he made an error and struck a kerb. By lap eight Stewart was in the lead and maintained it to the finish, ahead of Fittipaldi in second and Peterson in third. Wilson Fittipaldi had been running third until his retirement while Cevert managed to keep going after his early off and finished fourth.
Another impressive drive at Monaco came from Niki Lauda in his BRM. Although the Austrian eventually retired he had caught the attention of Enzo Ferrari, watching the race on TV in Italy.
Hulme Beats Peterson on Last Lap at Anderstorp
Sweden held its first Formula 1 Grand Prix in 1973, at the Anderstorp circuit. The locals flocked to the circuit on race day after their countryman Ronnie Peterson qualified on pole. The JPS Lotuses dominated the race, until Fittipaldi retired three laps from the end. Peterson was still on course for victory until disaster struck when his Lotus developed a slow puncture. Denny Hulme passed Peterson’s ailing car on the very last lap. Peterson held on for second, which was some consolation, while Cevert was third in his Tyrrell.
Peterson Wins First Grand Prix at Paul Ricard
The young South African Jody Scheckter was back in a McLaren for the French Grand Prix at Paul Ricard, after driving for the team at his home race earlier in the year. In qualifying he produced a stunning lap to join pole-sitter Stewart on the front row. In the race Scheckter led for most of the way before an acrimonious collision with Fittipaldi, who was trying to pass for the lead. Peterson gratefully accepted the lead and went on to score the first Grand Prix victory of his career. Cevert was again on the podium in second while Carlos Reutemann finished third for Brabham.
1973 F1 season review continues here.
1973 Elf Tyrrell-Ford F1
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