1979 British Grand Prix
The Grand Prix of Great Britain in 1979 took place on July 14 in Silverstone and was the ninth race of the Formula 1 season 1979.
- 3.1 Start -up
- 3.2 race
- 4.1 Drivers' Championship
- 4.2 Constructors' Championship
Reports
Background
The advanced Williams FW07 had proven during tests, which took place between the French Grand Prix and the ninth world championship race in the UK as very competitive. McLaren had now completed a first copy of the M29, which was to replace the problematic M28. The team Merzario also stepped up to a more advanced vehicle that the acquired Arturo Merzario Willi Kauhsen Racing Team based on the Kauhsen WK. The Team Lotus returned, however, finally to previous model year Lotus 79 back because the disadvantages of the new Type 80 were too serious.
The Alfa Romeo Autodelta racing team decided not to participate in the British Grand Prix.
Training
Just before Renault driver Jean -Pierre Jabouille Alan Jones secured the first pole position of his Grand Prix career in the Williams. Nelson Piquet formed together with the second Williams works driver Clay Regazzoni the second row in front of René Arnoux and Niki Lauda.
The two Ferrari drivers Jody Scheckter and Gilles Villeneuve occupied after training places 11 and 13
Hans -Joachim Stuck and Arturo Merzario missed qualifying for one of the 24 starting places.
Race
Jones continued his pole position into a lead over Jabouille and Regazzoni. Piquet, who had initially located on the fourth rank, retired in the second round as a result of a spin. His position was occupied then by his teammate Lauda. However, this fell in the subsequent round behind Arnoux and Villeneuve.
Regazzoni overhauled in the 17th round of the disabled by tire problems Jabouille, who shortly afterwards was heading the box to make change his tires. The pit stop failed, so the Frenchman his team had to go one more time. It overheated his engine and he left. This Arnoux came in third place ahead of Scheckter and Villeneuve.
In the 39th round of the hitherto leading Alan Jones also had to give up due to an overheated engine the race. His team-mate Clay Regazzoni took over the top and thus represented the first victory for the aspiring Williams team safe. René Arnoux was second ahead of Jean -Pierre Jarier who had passed during the last third of the race to Jody Scheckter and John Watson. Scheckter lost in the penultimate round of the fourth place at Watson. Jacky Ickx was in sixth the last championship point of the day.
It was Regazzoni for the first Grand Prix victory since the U.S. Grand Prix West in 1976, his fifth overall, while his last.
Message list
Classifications
Line-up
Race
WM stands after the race
The first six of the race were 9, 6, 4, 3, 2 and 1 point (s).