1972 Monaco Grand Prix
The Monaco Grand Prix 1972 was held on 14 May and was the fourth round of the Formula 1 season 1972.
- 3.1 Start -up
- 3.2 race
- 4.1 Drivers' Championship
- 4.2 Constructors' Championship
Reports
Background
The fourth world championship race in Monaco, a similar field of drivers found one like two weeks ago in Spain. The exceptions were the two American Mario Andretti and Peter Revson, who were both involved in pre-tests for the Indianapolis 500. While Andretti was missing without replacement, Revson was represented at McLaren by Brian Redman. In addition, Wilson Fittipaldi took the injured to continue Carlos Reutemann at Brabham.
Since small modifications had been carried out on the route, agreed with the organizers that 25 cars could participate in the race. In recent years, it had always given due to the limited space for security reasons a limitation of the field of 16 or 18 cars in the previous year.
Tyrrell sat for the first time the new type 004 in the race. Jackie Stewart drove the car while his teammate François Cevert continue the proven 002 drove.
Training
In Friday's practice, which was held in dry conditions, Emerson Fittipaldi secured with a lap time of 1:21,4 the first pole position of his Formula 1 career. Since it was raining on Saturday, no driver was able to offer this time. Behind the Brazilians, the two Ferrari drivers Jacky Ickx and Clay Regazzoni qualified ahead of Jean -Pierre Beltoise in one of the factory BRM also each with their bests achieved on Friday.
Race
The rain that had begun on Saturday also held on Sunday to continue. Beltoise made a good start from the second row, which took him straight to the top, he did not relinquish it until the end of the race. Once started, also from the second row Regazzoni followed him in second place, while Fittipaldi and Ickx, who started from the front row again found, in places three and four before Stewart. Due to the generally poor visibility through the whirling of the respective preceding vehicles spray Beltoise had a decisive advantage at the top, which he used to expand his leadership. This was facilitated by him in addition that Regazzoni in the fifth round had a gaffe in which he forced Fittipaldi and Ickx with the emergency exit of the harbor chicane. Although all three were able to continue the race, but lost a few seconds.
Stewart was long finished third, before he turned. He was able to continue the race though, but was overtaken by Regazzoni. A short time later, however, this difference in turn out for a spin. The thus reconquered third place gave Stewart a few rounds while he was hampered by his misfiring engine. Fittipaldi finally overtook him just before the finish and secured the podium.
18 racing cars reached the destination, François Cevert was not considered due to its large residue. Unusually for that time was the fact that Pure Wisell was the only driver who had to abandon the race due to a technical defect. The remaining six pilots who did not reach the target, were all eliminated by mistake on the wet track.
Jean -Pierre Beltoise reached his first and only Grand Prix victory calculated on the applicable driving skills as extremely demanding track in Monaco in one at the time, not very competitive under normal conditions BRM P160B. His compatriot Olivier Panis succeeded in 1996 on the same site, a comparable success.
The triumph turned out to be the last victory for BRM out. Although the team from the sponsors some with up to five works cars took to the Grand Prix of the year in 1972 due to the generous support, did not manage another victory. Also in the following years remained of successes before the team officially got out in late 1975 and 1977, the last customer vehicles disappeared.
Message list
1 marked with a "T" behind the starting number cars were their drivers as spare car available, but were not utilized.
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).