The 1976 Formula 1 season will forever be remembered for James Hunt’s World Championship battle with the courageous Niki Lauda. In the first half of the season Lauda seemed untouchable but a horrendous accident at the German Grand Prix changed everything.
Hunt had moved from Hesketh to McLaren for 1976. The vacancy at McLaren had emerged when Emerson Fittipaldi elected to join his family run Copersucar team. Results would be a clear indicator of which driver had received the better deal. The prize for largest airbox went to the new Ligier, driven by Jacques Laffite. The ungainly structure may not have won any beauty contests but the Ligier was a very effective racing car.
Lauda Wins at Interlagos and Kyalami
The 1976 season opened in January with the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos. Hunt secured pole, but only just from Lauda. Fittipaldi was an encouraging sixth in the Copersucar at the team’s home race. Less happy were Mario Andretti and Ronnie Peterson, languishing near the back of the grid in their Lotus 77’s.
Clay Regazzoni led in his Ferrari for a few laps before pitting for fresh tyres. This gave the lead to Lauda’s Ferrari, pursued by Hunt, but the Englishman retired a few laps later. Jean-Pierre Jarier, driving for Shadow, found himself in second place, but he didn’t have luck on his side either. Seven laps from the end the Frenchman also retired. At the flag it was Lauda from Patrick Depailler in a Tyrrell. In third place was Tom Pryce, who had driven an excellent race from 12th on the grid.
By the time of the next race in South Africa both Andretti and Peterson had left Lotus. Andretti joined the American Parnelli team while Peterson found a seat at March. Lauda took the lead at the start and led until the chequered flag. Hunt was close behind the Austrian in second, while Jochen Mass finished much further back in third. It was also a good day for American teams. John Watson was fifth for Penske and Andretti one place behind the Ulsterman in his Parnelli. Local boy Ian Scheckter (brother of Tyrrell driver Jody Scheckter) was less happy, after crashing out at the first corner.
Long Beach was a new venue for 1976, the street circuit being chosen to host the United States Grand Prix West. Hunt endured an unhappy weekend, colliding with Depailler in the race, as had happened at Monaco the previous year. Regazzoni won for Ferrari with team-mate Lauda second. The podium was completed by Depailler, who had stormed back through the field after a spin.
Hunt Beats Lauda in Spanish F1 Race
Jarama hosted the 1976 Spanish Grand Prix and, when the cars took to the track, they looked considerably different. New rules meant that the tall airboxes which were so popular had to be removed and replaced with more modest devices. It didn’t slow McLaren down, with Hunt taking pole. Lauda was second on the grid but all the attention was on Depailler’s Tyrrell which had qualified third. It was the first race for the team’s radical P34 six-wheeled car.
Lauda led Hunt initially, while Depailler maintained third place in the six-wheeler before suffering brake problems and crashing out. Hunt the passed Lauda and maintained his lead until the end. In third place was Gunnar Nilsson, making his Grand Prix debut in a Lotus. There was controversy after the race when Hunt was disqualified for a technical infringement. Although he was eventually reinstated, it took several weeks.
1976 Formula 1 season review continues here.
