1979 F1 World Championship
Formula 1 Races at Zandvoort, Monza, Montreal and Watkins Glen
Oct 16, 2008
Jones and Villeneuve Star at Zandvoort
Gilles Villeneuve once again made the headlines at Zandvoort, but not because he won the race. Starting from sixth he was soon on the tail of Alan Jones in the leading Williams. Villeneuve then executed an audacious pass around the outside of Jones at the 180° Tarzan corner.
A short time later Villeneuve’s Ferrari spun due to a slow puncture. Refusing to admit defeat Villeneuve got going and continued at breakneck speed to the pits. By the time he reached them his 312T4 was looking distinctly second hand, although Villeneuve took some convincing that his race really was over. Jones stayed ahead until the finish, despite gear selection problems in the closing stages. Jody Scheckter was second for Ferrari, but over 20 seconds behind. In third place was the Ligier of Jacques Laffite.
Scheckter Wins F1 Title at Italian GP
Scheckter could clinch the championship at Monza, but it was Renault who dominated qualifying. René Arnoux and Jean-Pierre Jabouille occupied the front row. In the race Arnoux retired with ignition failure. Scheckter was left out in front with Villeneuve very close behind. To have any chance of the title Villeneuve needed to pass his team-mate but it was not Villeneuve’s style to go against team orders. Villeneuve selflessly followed Scheckter’s car for the rest of the race. Laffite was third again for Ligier. With the victory Scheckter became the 1979 Formula 1 World Champion.
Jones and Villeneuve in Canadian GP Duel
As was tradition in the 1970s the Formula 1 season concluded with two North American races. At the Canadian Grand Prix Niki Lauda announced his retirement from the sport, with immediate effect. In his 1986 autobiography, “Meine Story”, published by Motorbooks International, Lauda described his feelings that weekend;
“I look the car over. Nothing. No thrill… The exhaust rasps as I drive away from the pits. Brrrm, brrrm. The noise is flatter, muted. There is nothing special about this. There is no substitute for the ‘feel’ of a 12-cylinder engine.”
Of the drivers remaining Jones was the fastest in qualifying, with Villeneuve second. Villeneuve led Jones for a while but the positions were reversed by the time of the flag. It had not been an easy race for Jones, however, with Villeneuve pushing him hard. Clay Regazzoni was third in the other Williams.
Villeneuve Wins US GP East for Ferrari
Villeneuve provided a startling demonstration of his undoubted talent during an extremely wet practice session for the final Grand Prix at Watkins Glen. The French-Canadian ended the session with a lap time 11 seconds faster than anyone else.
It was wet at the start of the race too. Villeneuve led from pole-sitter Jones and claimed his third victory of the season. Arnoux finished second for Renault and Didier Pironi third for Tyrrell. Jones had a disastrous race, losing a wheel after a pit stop.
Despite a disappointing final race Jones and Williams had been the class of the Formula 1 field in the latter part of the season. 1979 had brought the team their first Grand Prix victories. In 1980 they would be aiming for the World Championship.
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