1979 F1 Season
Argentine, Brazilian, South African and US GP West Formula 1 Races
The 1979 Formula 1 season saw major changes in the sport. Lotus’s domination in 1978 with their ground-effect cars meant that other teams were left with no option but to incorporate the technology into their new cars. Ferrari were seemingly at a disadvantage as their wide flat-12 engine was not the best shape for a wing car, but the 1979 Ferrari 312T4 would prove to be a Formula 1 design classic.
Laffite and Ligier Win in Argentina and Brazil
Ligier opted to expand their operation in 1979 and enter two cars, with Patrick Depailler joining team-leader Jacques Laffite. At the opening round of the season in Argentina the blue cars were the surprising pace-setters. Pole position went to Laffite with his team-mate second fastest. Carlos Reutemann, now with Lotus, had to be content with third on the grid.
The race was re-started after a multiple accident at the start which left Brabham’s Nelson Piquet and Ferrari’s Jody Scheckter injured, neither seriously. Depailler took the lead but was soon passed by Laffite in the other Ligier. Laffite stayed there until the flag, with Reutemann second and John Watson third in a McLaren. Depailler struggled to fourth, his Ligier having developed a misfire.
At the next race in Brazil Ligier demonstrated that they were no one-hit wonder, with Laffite and Depailler again on the front row. The front of the grid had a symmetrical look to it, with Reutemann and Mario Andretti on the second row for Ferrari. On the third row were the Ferrari drivers Gilles Villeneuve and Scheckter.
Ligier continued their form into the race, with Laffite winning from Depailler. In third place was Reutemann while fourth went to Didier Pironi’s Tyrrell. Local hero Emerson Fittipaldi had been fighting with the front-runners in his Copersucar until a loose wheel forced him to pit.
Villeneuve and Ferrari Triumph at Kyalami and Long Beach
From Brazil, the Formula 1 circus moved to Kyalami for the South African Grand Prix. Renault were unique in 1979, using 1.5 litre turbocharged engines, as opposed to traditional normally aspirated units. Jean-Pierre Jabouille took full advantage of the engine’s prodigious power to put his Renault on pole, ahead of Scheckter’s Ferrari. In third place was the other Ferrari of Villeneuve.
The race began in dry conditions but a sudden downpour saw it stopped after two laps. At the re-start, on a damp track, Scheckter gambled and kept his slicks on. As the track dried everyone had to stop except Scheckter. His gamble looked like paying off, but eventually his slicks began to deteriorate and he was left with no option but to pit for fresh ones. The win, went to his team-mate Villeneuve, with Scheckter three seconds behind. Tyrrell driver Jean-Pierre Jarier was third.
Long Beach was the venue for the US Grand Prix West in 1979 and the race turned into a Villeneuve master class. The diminutive French-Canadian led every lap, with team-mate Scheckter finishing second. In third place was Williams driver Alan Jones. The victory also gave Villeneuve the championship points lead.
1979 Formula 1 season review continues here.
Ligier JS11 at Goodwood
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