1976 Formula One season
1977 season >
The Formula 1 1976 season was the 27th FIA Formula 1 World Championship. She was discharged through 16 races in the period from 25 January 1976 to 24 October 1976. James Hunt won for the first and only time the drivers' world championship. Ferrari was the fourth time Constructors' world champions.
The FIA honorary title of European Grand Prix was awarded to the Grand Prize of the Netherlands in 1976.
At the tenth race of the season at the Nürburgring sovereign leading, reigning world champion Niki Lauda crashed heavily and suffered severe burns. Lauda had to miss two races and already drove six weeks after his accident, racing again. Before the last race in Japan Lauda had three points ahead of Hunt. Since Lauda but, like some other colleagues in heavy rain and thick fog soon after initiating broke even, the race because of the adverse conditions for safety reasons, Hunt filed a third space to pass Lauda with a point and win the world title.
- 3.1 Drivers' Championship
- 3.2 Constructors' Championship
- 4.1 Race of Champions
- 4.2 International Trophy
Teams and Drivers
Race Reports
Grand Prix of Brazil
The Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos was held on 25 January 1976, and went over a distance of 40 laps of 7.96 km, which corresponds to a total distance of 318.4 km.
Niki Lauda won the race ahead of Patrick Depailler and Tom Pryce.
Grand Prix of South Africa
The Grand Prix of South Africa at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit was held on 6 March 1976, and went over a distance of 78 laps of 4.104 km, which corresponds to a total distance of 320.112 km.
In the closing stages of the race Lauda had to struggle with a slow puncture, so that Hunt pulled up to him and up to 1.3 seconds.
United States Grand Prix West
The Grand Prix of the United States of America West on the Long Beach Grand Prix Circuit was held on 28 March 1976, and went over a distance of 80 laps of 3.251 km, which corresponds to a total distance of 260.080 km.
Clay Regazzoni won the race ahead of Niki Lauda and Patrick Depailler.
Grand Prix of Spain
The Grand Prix of Spain at the Circuito Permanente del Jarama took place on 2 May 1976, and went over a distance of 75 laps of 3.404 km, which corresponds to a total distance of 255.300 km.
James Hunt won the race ahead of Niki Lauda and Gunnar Nilsson. In the Parc fermé, the width of the McLaren M23 of James Hunt was assessed as non-compliant. The victory was denied him then. McLaren lodged an appeal against the disqualification. Two months later, the protest was upheld and restored the original race result.
The Tyrrell P34 was the first time a Formula 1 racing car with six wheels used.
Grand Prix of Belgium
The Belgian Grand Prix at the Circuit Zolder was held on 16 May 1976, and went over a distance of 70 laps of 4.262 km, which corresponds to a total distance of 298.340 km.
Niki Lauda won the race ahead of Clay Regazzoni and Jacques Laffite.
Grand Prix of Monaco
The Monaco Grand Prix at the Circuit de Monaco took place on 30 May 1976, and went over a distance of 78 laps of 3.312 km, which corresponds to a total distance of 258.336 km.
Niki Lauda won the race ahead of Jody Scheckter and Patrick Depailler.
GP Sweden - Anderstorp (June 13 )
Distance: 72 laps of 4.018 kilometers ( 289.296 km )
Pole Position: Jody Scheckter ( Tyrrell - Ford) 1:25,65
Fastest lap: Carlos Pace ( Brabham - Alfa Romeo ) 1:27,283
Weather: sunny and warm
French Grand Prix - Circuit Paul Ricard ( 4th of July)
Distance: 54 laps of 5.810 kilometers ( 313.740 km )
Pole position: James Hunt (McLaren - Ford) 1:47,89
Fastest lap: Niki Lauda (Ferrari) 1:51,0
Weather: Sunny and very hot
GP Great Britain - Brands Hatch (18 July )
Distance: 76 laps of 4.265 kilometers ( 324.140 km )
Pole position: Niki Lauda (Ferrari) 1:19,35
Fastest Lap: James Hunt (McLaren - Ford) 1:19,82
Weather: sunny and warm
James Hunt, who had come first to the finish, was later disqualified, which Niki Lauda won the race.
GP Germany - Nurburgring (August 1 )
Distance: 14 laps of 22.835 kilometers ( 319.690 km )
Pole position: James Hunt (McLaren - Ford) 7:06,5
Fastest Lap: Jody Scheckter ( Tyrrell - Ford) 7:10,8
Weather: Cloudy and cool with rain
In this race Niki Lauda crashed heavily. After his Ferrari 312T2 and collided against a rock wall, the car immediately went up in flames. His helmet was thrown out during the impact and fireproof balaclava holding the fire back only briefly. Several subsequent pilots freed him after about half a minute from the burning car. After the accident, not a formula 1 race more was driven on the Nordschleife.
GP Austria - Zeltweg (August 15 )
Distance: 54 laps of 5.911 kilometers ( 319.194 km )
Pole position: James Hunt (McLaren - Ford) 1:35,02
Fastest Lap: James Hunt (McLaren - Ford) 1:35,91
Weather: partly cloudy and dry
GP Netherlands / European Grand Prix - Zandvoort ( 29th August)
Distance: 75 laps of 4.226 kilometers ( 316.950 km )
Pole position: Ronnie Peterson ( March - Ford) 1:21,31
Fastest Lap: John Watson ( Penske - Ford) 1:23,10
Weather: sunny and warm
Italian GP - Monza (September 12 )
Distance: 52 laps of 5.800 kilometers ( 301.600 km )
Pole Position: Jacques Laffite ( Ligier -Matra ) 1:41,35
Fastest lap: Ronnie Peterson ( March - Ford) 1:41,3
Weather: overcast, but warm
GP Canada - Mosport (26 September )
Distance: 80 laps of 3.957 kilometers ( 316.560 km )
Pole position: James Hunt (McLaren - Ford) 1:12,38
Fastest lap: Patrick Depailler ( Tyrrell - Ford) 1:13,817
Weather: sunny and warm
GP USA -East - Watkins Glen (October 10 )
Distance: 59 laps of 5.435 kilometers ( 320.665 km )
Pole position: James Hunt (McLaren - Ford) 1:43,622
Fastest Lap: James Hunt (McLaren - Ford) 1:42,85
Weather: Cloudy and cool
GP Japan - Fuji (October 24 )
Distance: 73 laps of 4.359 kilometers ( 318.207 km )
Pole Position: Mario Andretti ( Lotus Ford) 1:12,77
Fastest lap: Masahiro Hasemi ( Kojima Ford) 1:18,25
Weather: rain fog banks
Niki Lauda Ferrari 312T2 put his off after the second round because he was taking no chances with the dangerous weather conditions. He was followed by Fittipaldi, Pace and Perkins. James Hunt led at times, fell after a pit stop but back and believed lost the world title, so he left before the awards ceremony. His third place finish gave him but to overtake Lauda by one point.
World Cup ratings
For the evaluation, the best seven results of the first eight and the best seven of the remaining eight races were considered. In the constructors of each best-placed car was taken into account.
Drivers' championship
Constructors' Championship
For the constructors' championship included only the best seven results of the first eight and the best seven of the remaining eight races. Furthermore, there were only points for the top-ranked car for each team.
Races without world championship status
In addition to the 16 world championship races in 1976 two Formula 1 races took place, which did not count for the World Championship.
Race of Champions
The XI. Race of Champions held at Brands Hatch on 14 March 1976. The race was over 40 laps of 4.206 kilometers, so had a total distance of 168.24 kilometers. In addition to the British factory teams and the Scuderia Ferrari entered some private teams. A total of 16 drivers were reported. Among the private teams included the Italian Scuderia Everest, the forerunner of the Minardi team, which in Formula 1 history reported a private Ferrari for the first time. Driver was Giancarlo Martini. He qualified seven seconds behind for the penultimate launch site, but did not go into the race because he damaged the Ferrari 312T in the warm-up lap in an accident. The race was won by the later world champion James Hunt.
International Trophy
The XXVIII. BRDC Graham Hill International Trophy was held at Silverstone on 11 April 1976. The race was over 40 laps of 4.724 kilometers, so had a total distance of 188.95 km. The winner was James Hunt.