1978 Monaco Grand Prix
The Monaco Grand Prix 1978 was held on May 7 and was the fifth race of the Formula 1 season 1978.
- 3.1 Start -up
- 3.2 race
- 4.1 Drivers' Championship
- 4.2 Constructors' Championship
Reports
Background
The fifth world championship race of the year launched the Formula 1 in the European season. The field was a month ago almost unchanged compared to the Grand Prix of Long Beach. One of the few exceptions was the Formula 1 comeback by Jacky Ickx after about a year interruption instead of Lamberto Leoni at Ensign. In addition, the Martini team came back on.
The Team Surtees sat first time a copy of the new car type TS20. The vehicle was driven by Vittorio Brambilla.
Training
Due to a starter limit of 20 vehicles a pre-qualification has been given the message list, which included 30 potential participants, again necessary excreting at the end of the six slowest pilots. Four other non-participants were identified during regular training.
Carlos Reutemann secured for the second consecutive pole position, closely followed by the two Brabham pilots John Watson and Niki Lauda and Mario Andretti Lotus. The third row of the grid formed Depailler Patrick and James Hunt.
Race
The best launches reach Watson, who took the lead, and Depailler, the number two ranked. Reutemann dueled with Lauda for third place before Hunt fifth. During the first round, there was a contact between the two duelists. Hunt had to dodge and it touched the wall. While Lauda was able to continue the race in third place ahead of Mario Andretti, Jody Scheckter and Alan Jones, Reutemann and Hunt had to pit to have repairs.
In the 38th round Watson had to relinquish the lead after a mistake at Depailler. Also Lauda came over to Watson, but had a short time to visit the box later due to a puncture.
Patrick Depailler won his first Grand Prix and took over by the lead in the championship standings. Niki Lauda came to the end of the race back up to second place forward before Jody Scheckter, John Watson, Didier Pironi and Riccardo Patrese.
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).