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{{Short description|26th season of the FIA’s Formula One motor racing}}{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}{{F1 season | year = 1972! Entrant! Constructor! Chassis! Engine! Tyre! Driver! Rounds! Brabham-Ford

List of Formula One World Drivers’ Champions	: Emerson Fittipaldi}}{{nowrap>List of Formula One World Constructors’ Champions	: Team Lotus>Lotus-Ford}}}}File:Emerson Fittipaldi GP74 01.jpg|thumb|Brazilian Emerson FittipaldiEmerson FittipaldiThe 1972 Formula One season was the 26th season of the FIA’s Formula One motor racing. It featured the 23rd World Championship of Drivers, the 15th International Cup for F1 Manufacturers, and numerous non-championship Formula One races. The World Championship season commenced on 23 January and ended on 8 October after twelve races.Emerson Fittipaldi, driving for Lotus, became the youngest World Champion to date at 25 years.WEB,www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1972/drivers.html, 1972 Driver Standings, Formula1.com, 28 March 2024, This record would stand until Fernando Alonso’s title in {{F1|2005}}. Reigning champion Jackie Stewart came second in the championship. The Lotus team had finished fifth in the standings of {{F1|1971}}, but kept developing their innovative Lotus 72 “wedge” design to take a surprise championship victory.WEB,www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1972/team.html, 1972 Constructor Standings, Formula1.com, 28 March 2024, The car sported a striking black and gold livery for their sponsor Imperial Tobacco had introduced a new brand of John Player Special cigarettes.The British Racing Motors (BRM) team took its last victory when Jean-Pierre Beltoise won the rain-affected 1972 Monaco Grand Prix in a BRM P160. Drivers and constructors The following teams and drivers contested the 1972 World Championship.{| class=“wikitable sortable” style="font-size: 85%”
{{flagicon	Brabham>Motor Racing Developments!rowspan=3| Brabham-Ford	Brabham BT33	Brabham BT34>BT34BT37	Cosworth DFV	3.0 V8 engine>V8	{{Goodyear}}	GBR}} Graham Hill| All
	ARG}} Carlos Reutemann| 1–2, 5–12
	BRA|1968}} Wilson Fittipaldi| 3–12
{{flagicon	British Racing Motors>Marlboro BRM{{flagicon	British Racing Motors>España Marlboro BRM{{flagicon	British Racing Motors>Austria Marlboro BRM!rowspan=10| BRM	BRM P160	BRM P153>P153BRM P180	BRM P160>P160C	BRM P142 3.0 V12	{{Firestone}}	NZL}} Howden Ganley| 1–6, 8–12
	SWE}} Reine Wisell| 1, 3–4, 6, 8, 10
	GBR}} Peter Gethin| 1–7, 9–12
	ESP|1945}} Alex Soler-Roig| 1, 3
	AUT}} Helmut Marko| 1–2, 4–6
	FRA}} Jean-Pierre Beltoise| 2–12
	AUS}} Vern Schuppan| 5
	GBR}} Jackie Oliver| 7
	CAN}} Bill Brack| 11
	GBR}} Brian Redman| 12
{{flagicon	Scuderia Ferrari>Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC!rowspan=5| Ferrari	312B2	Scuderia Ferrari	001/1 3.0 Flat-12>F12	{{Firestone}}	BEL}} Jacky Ickx| All
	CHE}} Clay Regazzoni| 1–5, 8–12
	USA}} Mario Andretti| 1–3, 10, 12
	ITA}} Nanni Galli| 6
	ITA}} Arturo Merzario| 7–8
{{flagicon	Team Lotus>John Player Team Lotus{{flagicon	Team Lotus>World Wide Racing!rowspan=3| Lotus-Ford	72D	Cosworth DFV	3.0 V8 engine>V8	{{Firestone}}	BRA|1968}} Emerson Fittipaldi| All
	AUS}} David Walker| 1–9, 12
	SWE}} Reine Wisell| 11–12
{{flagicon	March Engineering>STP March Racing Team!rowspan=2| March-Ford	721721X721G	Cosworth DFV	3.0 V8 engine>V8	{{Goodyear}}	SWE}} Ronnie Peterson| All
	AUT}} Niki Lauda| All
FRA}} Équipe Matra Sports! Matra	Matra MS120C>MS120CMS120D	Equipe Matra Sports>Matra MS72 3.0 V12| {{Goodyear}}	NZL}} Chris Amon| All
{{flagicon	McLaren>Yardley Team McLaren!rowspan=4| McLaren-Ford	McLaren M19A	McLaren M19C>M19C	Cosworth DFV	3.0 V8 engine>V8	{{Goodyear}}	NZL}} Denny Hulme| All
	USA}} Peter Revson| 1–3, 5, 7, 9–12
	GBR}} Brian Redman| 4, 6, 8
	ZAF|1928}} Jody Scheckter| 12
{{flagicon	Surtees Racing Organisation>Brooke Bond Oxo - Rob Walker Team Surtees{{flagicon	Surtees Racing Organisation>Ceramica Pagnossin Team Surtees{{flagicon	Surtees Racing Organisation>Flame Out Team Surtees{{flagicon	Surtees Racing Organisation>Team Surtees!rowspan=4| Surtees-Ford	Surtees TS9	Surtees TS14>TS14	Cosworth DFV	3.0 V8 engine>V8	{{Firestone}}	AUS}} Tim Schenken| All
	ITA}} Andrea de Adamich| All
	GBR}} Mike Hailwood| 2–10, 12
	GBR}} John Surtees| 10, 12
{{flagicon	Tyrrell Racing>Elf Team Tyrrell!rowspan=3| Elf Tyrrell-Ford	Tyrrell 003	Tyrrell 002>002Tyrrell 004	Tyrrell 005>005006	Cosworth DFV	3.0 V8 engine>V8	{{Goodyear}}	GBR}} Jackie Stewart| 1–4, 6–12
	FRA}} François Cevert| All
	FRA}} Patrick Depailler| 6, 12
{{flagicon	Frank Williams Racing Cars>Team Williams Motul!rowspan=2| March-FordPolitoys-Ford	March 711	721Politoys FX3>FX3	Cosworth DFV	3.0 V8 engine>V8	{{Goodyear}}	FRA}} Henri Pescarolo| All
	BRA|1968}} Carlos Pace| 2–12
FRG}} Team Eifelland Caravans! Eifelland-Ford	Eifelland 21>21	Cosworth DFV>Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8| {{Goodyear}}	FRG}} Rolf Stommelen| 2–9
ZAF	Scuderia Scribante>Lucky Strike Racing! Lotus-Ford	Lotus 72>72D	Cosworth DFV>Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8| {{Firestone}}	ZAF|1928}} Dave Charlton| 2, 6–8
{{flagicon	1928}} Team Gunston! Surtees-Ford	Surtees TS9>TS9	Cosworth DFV	3.0 V8 engine>V8	{{Firestone}}	RHO}} John Love| 2
	Brabham BT33>BT33	ZAF		William Ferguson (racing driver)>William Ferguson| 2
GBR}} Clarke-Mordaunt-Guthrie Racing! March-Ford| 721G	Cosworth DFV>Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8| {{Firestone}}	GBR}} Mike Beuttler| 3–12
{{flagicon	Tecno (motorsport)>Martini Racing!rowspan=2| Tecno	PA123/3	Tecno (motorsport)	Series-P 3.0 Flat-12>F12	{{Firestone}}	ITA}} Nanni Galli| 5, 7, 9–10
	GBR}} Derek Bell| 6, 8, 10–12
GBR}} Darnval Connew Racing Team! Connew-Ford	Connew PC1>PC1	Cosworth DFV>Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8| {{Firestone}}	FRA}} François Migault| 7, 9
USA}} Gene Mason Racing! March-Ford	March 711>711	Cosworth DFV>Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8| {{Firestone}}	USA}} Skip Barber| 11–12
USA}} Champcarr Inc.! Surtees-Ford	Surtees TS9>TS9B	Cosworth DFV>Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8| {{Firestone}}	USA}} Sam Posey| 12

Team and driver changes

File:1972 French Grand Prix Beltoise (5226254108).jpg|thumb|225px|Jean-Pierre Beltoise, driving for BRM in the 1972 French Grand Prix1972 French Grand PrixFile:1972 French Grand Prix Walker (5226203182).jpg|thumb|225px|David Walker in the Lotus 72Lotus 72

• BRM hired Reine Wisell from Lotus and Jean-Pierre Beltoise from Matra. The team had lost Jo Siffert when he died during the 1971 World Championship Victory Race at Brands Hatch. Still, they were a popular outfit and managed to field no less than five cars in the opening race of the championship.
• After a collaboration with McLaren in {{F1|1970}}, Alfa Romeo had worked with March in {{F1|1971}}. Both campaigns were unsuccessful and the Italian firm pulled out of the sport. (They would return with Brabham in {{F1|1976}}.) March promoted their Formula Two driver Niki Lauda to the F1 team, while the Austrian kept racing in F2 as well.
• At Lotus, Emerson Fittipaldi was joined by David Walker, while McLaren signed 1971 Can-Am champion Peter Revson. They had previously worked together for the 1971 Indianapolis 500.
• Matra reduced their operations to just one car, after Beltoise moved to BRM.
• The Surtees team signed Tim Schenken from Brabham and Andrea de Adamich from March. Mike Hailwood was promoted to a full-time drive while still driving in Formula Two. He would actually win the F2 title this year. Owner John Surtees would shift focus to his management role and retired from racing at the end of the season.
• Brabham, in the hands of new managing director Bernie Ecclestone, promoted their F2 driver Carlos Reutemann to race besides veteran Graham Hill. Wilson Fittipaldi Júnior paid his way to a third Brabham seat.
• Starting his third year as a team owner in F1, Frank Williams gained sponsorship from French oil company Motul, with which he was able to buy a new March 721 for his driver Henri Pescarolo. He also promoted his F2 driver Carlos Pace to the team, giving him previous year’s March 711. The Williams team tried out with a Politoys FX3, but the car’s steering failed on the first run, during the British Grand Prix, and the chassis was heavily damaged.

Mid-season changes

File:1972 French Grand Prix Stommelen (5226216580).jpg|thumb|225px|Rolf Stommelen in the Eifelland in France ]]File:1972 Italian GP - Nanni Galli (Martini Tecno).jpg|thumb|225px|Nanni Galli in the Tecno during the Italian GP ]]

• Günther Hennerici, owner of the caravan manufacturing company Eifelland, married Formula Two driver Hannelore Werner. Together, they set up a racing team that competed in the 1971 German Formula Three Championship, before expanding to F1 in 1972. From the second race of the season on, they entered a redesigned March 721 under the Eifelland name and signed Rolf Stommelen from Surtees. Before the season was over, however, they withdrew from the championship and refocussed their efforts on Formula Three.
• Tecno was a successful Italian karting and racing team. With sponsorship from Martini, they built their own F1 chassis and entered the 1972 championship from the Belgian Grand Prix on. They signed Nanni Galli, coming from the March team.
• The Connew Racing Team had the intent to enter and compete in the whole 1972 season, but only managed to start the Austrian Grand Prix, with French driver Francois Migault at the wheel. They converted their self-made chassis to meet Formula 5000 regulations for 1973, but at the end of that year, the car was crashed beyond repair and the team folded.

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Calendar{| class“wikitable” style@font-size: 85%;”

! Round! Grand Prix! Circuit! Date! 1ARG}} Argentine Grand Prix| Autódromo Oscar Alfredo Gálvez, Buenos Aires| 23 January! 2ZAF|1928}} South African Grand PrixKyalami>Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit, Midrand| 4 March! 3ESP|1945}} Spanish Grand Prix| Circuito Permanente Del Jarama, Madrid| 1 May! 4MCO}} Monaco Grand Prix| Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo| 14 May! 5BEL}} Belgian Grand Prix| Nivelles-Baulers, Nivelles| 4 June! 6FRA}} French Grand Prix| Charade Circuit, Clermont-Ferrand| 2 July! 7GBR}} British Grand Prix| Brands Hatch, Kent| 15 July! 8FRG}} German Grand Prix| Nürburgring, Nürburg| 30 July! 9AUT}} Austrian Grand Prix| Österreichring, Spielberg| 13 August! 10ITA}} Italian Grand Prix| Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza| 10 September! 11CAN}} Canadian Grand Prix| Mosport Park, BowmanvilleThe Canadian Grand Prix was supposed to be held at Circuit Mont-Tremblant was due to host the race in rotation with Mosport Park but the Mont-Tremblant circuit had safety concerns regarding the bitter winters seriously affecting the track surface and a dispute with the local racing authorities there in 1972. Mosport would host the race in 1972 on its intended date.}}! 12USA}} United States Grand PrixWatkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, New York>New York| 8 October

Calendar changes

• The Argentine Grand Prix returned to the calendar in 1972, for the first time since {{F1|1960}}. The Autódromo Oscar Alfredo Gálvez would be used again.
• The Belgian Grand Prix returned as well, after the {{F1|1971}} race was cancelled because of the failure to bring Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps up to mandatory safety standards. The 1972 race was held at the Nivelles-Baulers circuit.
• The Spanish Grand Prix was moved from Montjuïc to Jarama, in keeping with the event-sharing arrangement between the two circuits. Likewise, the French Grand Prix was moved from Circuit Paul Ricard to the Charade Circuit and the British Grand Prix was moved from Silverstone to Brands Hatch.

Cancelled rounds

• F1 intended to organise a second Grand Prix in the United States, dubbed the United States Grand Prix West, at the Ontario Motor Speedway near Los Angeles. It would be the third race on the calendar on 9 April. The FIA demanded the circuit’s owners to hold a test event first, but they did not comply and the event was cancelled.
• The Dutch Grand Prix was originally scheduled for 18 June, between the Belgian and French Grand Prix, but was cancelled because of safety upgrades that were not completed at the Zandvoort Circuit in time for the race, due to lack of funds.David Hayhoe, Formula 1: The Knowledge records and trivia since 1950 – 2nd Edition, 2021, page 35.
• The Mexican Grand Prix was scheduled on 22 October, to be the last race of the championship, but it was cancelled after local interest dissipated after the death of Pedro Rodríguez in a sportscar crash in 1971.WEB,forums.autosport.com/topic/63822-grand-prix-cancelled/, Grand Prix Cancelled, Autosport, 23 January 2016,

Regulation changes

Technical regulations

• The minimum weight was raised from {{convert|530|kg|abbr=on}} to {{convert|550|kg|abbr=on}}.
• Like it was from {{F1|1961}} to {{F1|1969}}, cars running a compressed engine, for example with a turbocharger, could now have a displacement of {{convert|1500|cc|abbr=on}}. (For the two years in between, it was reduced to {{convert|500|cc|abbr=on}}.) The maximum displacement for naturally aspirated engines remained at {{conv|3000|cc|abbr=on}}.

Safety measures

Safety was becoming a serious talking point in F1. Since {{F1|1969}}, circuits had started installing some safety features. 1972 was the first season in which all the visited tracks were up to the mandatory safety standards. The official Circuit Safety Criteria were published, including, for example, specifications on debris fences.WEB,www.f1technical.net/articles/25, F1 rules and stats 1970-1979, F1Technical.net, Steven de Grootte, 1 January 2009, 7 February 2024, WEB,www.atlasf1.com/news/safety.html, Safety Improvements in F1 since 1963, AtlasF1, 7 February 2024, On the cars, some safety measures were made mandatory as well:

• the fuel tanks had to be lined with “safety foam”,
• no magnesium sheet could be less than {{convert|3|mm}} thick,
• the driver had to have a headrest,
• minimum dimensions were set for the cockpit,
• the driver had to be secured by a 6-point harness,
• a single switch was designed to cut off the electronical components on the car and to set off the fire extinguisher,
• a 15W red light needed to be installed at the rear of the car.

Sporting regulations

The first Drivers’ Code of Conduct was published.

Championship report

Rounds 1 to 4

File:Reutemann debut f1.jpg|thumb|225px|Carlos Reutemann (left) started on pole position in his debut race.]]When Formula One returned to Argentina for the first time since {{F1|1960}}, it was local driver Carlos Reutemann who made his debut and immediately scored pole position for Brabham. Reigning champion Jackie Stewart started second in his Tyrrell and Peter Revson lined up in third for his first race with McLaren. At the start, Stewart took the lead off of Reutemann, but the Argentine driver kept on his tail. Behind them, Emerson Fittipaldi overtook Denny Hulme for third place, while Revson had fallen back. Reutemann started struggling on his super-soft Goodyear tyres and, by lap 11, he was down to fourth place. Half-way through the race, he made a pit stop and rejoined a lap down. Stewart dominated the pace and went on to win the race, almost half a minute ahead of Hulme and a full minute ahead of the Ferraris of Jacky Ickx and Clay Regazzoni. Fittipaldi had retired with suspension damage.WEB,www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/march-1972/56/the-argentine-grand-prix-2/, 1972 Argentine Grand Prix race report, MotorsportMagazine, Andrew Marriott, February 1972, 17 February 2024, Stewart secured pole position for the South African Grand Prix at Kyalami, ahead of Regazzoni and Fittipaldi. Hulme got off the line remarkably well: from his fifth position on the grid, he moved up to shortly take the lead, before Stewart regelated him back to second. Regazzoni fell back into the midfield. Veteran Mike Hailwood, driving for Surtees, started fourth but passed Fittipaldi and, later, the overheating McLaren of Hulme, before actually challenging Stewart for the lead. However, on lap 28, his rear suspension collapsed and he had to retire. Stewart then looked set to win, until he suffered a gearbox failure on lap 45 and Fittipaldi inherited the lead. The Brazilian, however, ran into handling problems and saw Hulme go past. Finally, the New Zealander took the chequered flag, ahead of Fittipaldi and Peter Revson.In Spain, Emerson Fittipaldi was joined on the grid by his brother Wilson, marking the first time two brothers raced simultaneously. Wilson had replaced Carlos Reutemann after the Swiss driver injured his ankle in a Formula 2 race a week earlier. On the Jarama circuit, the Belgian Jacky Ickx took a dominant pole position, seven tenths ahead of Denny Hulme and Emerson Fittipaldi. Stewart started in fourth. On race day, Hulme had another mighty get-away and took the lead, before, like in South Africa, Stewart passed him. Hulme and Ickx were then both passed by Fittipaldi in a miscommunication with a backmarker. By lap 30, it had started raining slightly and Stewart fell back: Fittipaldi and Ickx both passed him. The Brazilian held on to take the victory, while Stewart spun off the track and retired. Since Ickx had set a new lap record and actually lapped his teammate in third place, Fittipaldi’s win showed that the Lotus 72 was now truly ahead in the development race.WEB,www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/june-1972/25/the-spanish-grand-prix-4/, 1972 Spanish Grand Prix race report, MotorsportMagazine, Denis Jenkinson, June 1972, 17 February 2024, This showed again during qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix, where Fittipaldi took pole position ahead of the Ferraris of Ickx and Regazzoni. Jean-Pierre Beltoise and Peter Gethin started a surprising fourth and fifth for BRM. Before the race, it had started raining and the cars took off in a cloud of spray. Fittipaldi got away slowly, so Ickx jumped ahead, but Beltoise surprised everyone, pulling off a dive to the inside of the first corner and coming out on top. The Marlboro-sponsored BRM was now the only one with a clear view ahead. Just after half-distance, Gethin crashed in the new chicane before Tabac corner and Stewart spun off as well. The Scot, however, regained his podium position when Regazzoni crashed off on a patch of oil. Beltoise held on to what would be his only victory and BRM’s last. Ickx finished second ahead of Fittipaldi, who overtook Stewart in the end.WEB,www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/june-1972/30/the-30th-monaco-gp/,web.archive.org/web/20220203130817/https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/june-1972/30/the-30th-monaco-gp/, 1972 Monaco Grand Prix race report, MotorsportMagazine, Denis Jenkinson, June 1972, 3 February 2022, 17 February 2024, In the drivers’ championship, Emerson Fittipaldi (Lotus) led with 19 points, ahead of Jacky Ickx (Ferrari and Denny Hulme (McLaren). Reigning champion Jackie Stewart (Tyrrell) was in fourth. In the manufacturers’ championship, Lotus, McLaren and Ferrari all shared the top spot with 19 points.

Rounds 5 to 7

Jackie Stewart was a notable absence in the Belgian Grand Prix. His gruelling schedule of racing in F1, Can-Am and touring cars, as well as promotional events for sponsors Elf and Ford, and a side job as sports commentator on United States television on top of that, resulted in a case of gastritis. Under doctor’s orders, he rested for three weeks and severely restricted his activities after that. Championship leader Emerson Fittipaldi qualified on pole position in the Lotus, ahead of Clay Regazzoni in the Ferrari and Denny Hulme in the McLaren. Regazzoni’s teammate Jacky Ickx, second in the championship, lined up in fourth, with Francois Cevert, the primary Tyrrell driver for this race, in fifth. At the start, Regazzoni took the lead, but saw Fittipaldi come back past on lap 9. Both Ferraris retired: Ickx with a problem to his accelerator linkage and Regazzoni when he hit backmarker Nanni Galli in the Tecno. The order at the finish of a relatively unexciting race was Fittipaldi, Cevert, Hulme.WEB,www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/july-1972/34/the-belgian-formula-one-race/,web.archive.org/web/20220706011923/https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/july-1972/34/the-belgian-formula-one-race/, 1972 Belgian Grand Prix race report, MotorsportMagazine, Denis Jenkinson, July 1972, 6 July 2022, 17 February 2024, File:1972 French Grand Prix Amon (5225676175).jpg|thumb|225px|Chris Amon (bottom) started on pole position for the French Grand Prix.]]The F1 circus moved down to France, where the French Grand Prix was held at the Circuit de Charade, a twisty and undulating {{convert|5.1|km|abbr=on}} stretch of public roads. While Stewart was back in his car, but his teammate Cevert was comfortably fastest in practice. He drove a new-spec Tyrrell chassis, until he crashed into the guard rail, injured his hand, and was left with the old-spec spare car. He would not be the last driver to spin or crash out, trying to get to grips with the challenging circuit. Matra had also brought an upgraded chassis and gave Chris Amon everything he needed to snatch pole position. Hulme and Stewart started behind him. As the race got underway, not much changed in terms of position, but Helmut Marko was hit in the eye by a stone flicked up by Jacky Ickx’s Ferrari. He stopped by the side of the track and was rushed off to hospital. This would mean the end of his racing career. The rough dirt on the track resulted in more trouble: Amon got a flat left-front tyre and a 50-second pit stop left him in ninth position. But he put up a valiant fight and came home in third, behind winner Jackie Stewart and second-placed Emerson Fittipaldi.WEB,www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/august-1972/50/5th-grand-prix-of-france/,web.archive.org/web/20220522211557/https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/august-1972/50/5th-grand-prix-of-france/, 1972 French Grand Prix race report, MotorsportMagazine, Denis Jenkinson, 2 July 1972, 22 May 2022, 28 February 2024, Coming to Brands Hatch for the British Grand Prix, Denny Hulme, third in the championship, was recovering from a high-speed crash in the Can-Am race of the week before. He did drive but qualified down in eleventh. Stewart and Amon, heroes of the last race, both crashed in practice and qualified in their spare cars, fourth and seventeenth, respectively. Jacky Ickx got pole position ahead of Emerson Fittipaldi and Peter Revson. At the start, Jean-Pierre Beltoise jumped up to third but quickly started to hold up the pack, which meant that the front two created a big lead over the first few laps. But with Beltoise’s retirement on lap 22 and the leaders having trouble getting past a backmarker, Jackie Stewart gradually closed up and, on lap 25, managed to overtake Fittipaldi. After the Brazilian got back past, the leading pack stayed in their respective order until Ickx’s Ferrari started leaking oil and he had to retire on lap 49. Fittipaldi took the win ahead of Stewart and Revson, only the top three finishing on the lead lap. Ronnie Peterson was fourth until his engine and gearbox gave up, he crashed off the road and hit two cars that had retired at the same spot earlier in the race. Chris Amon finished in a surprising fourth position ahead of Denny Hulme.WEB,www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/august-1972/23/the-rac-british-grand-prix/,web.archive.org/web/20230606163700/https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/august-1972/23/the-rac-british-grand-prix/, 1972 British Grand Prix race report - Uninspiring, MotorsportMagazine, Denis Jenkinson, 15 July 1972, 6 June 2023, 28 February 2024, In the drivers’ championship, Emerson Fittipaldi (Lotus) led with 43 points, ahead of Jackie Stewart (Tyrrell) with 27 and Denny Hulme (McLaren) with 21. The manufacturers’ championship saw Lotus in the lead with 43 points, ahead of Tyrrell with 33 and McLaren with 27.

Rounds 8 to 10

The German Grand Prix was held at the most demanding circuit on the calendar: the infamous Nürburgring Nordschleife. In practice, Francois Cevert got air at Pflanzgarten corner and was one of four drivers to crash off the track. All escaped unhurt, but left their respective teams with a lot of repair work. The unofficial lap record was beaten by a full ten seconds on Friday and Ferrari’s Jacky Ickx went another three seconds faster on Saturday to claim pole position, ahead of championship leaders Jackie Stewart and Emerson Fittipaldi. Ronnie Peterson started in fourth in his March but was second after the start. Clay Regazzoni (Ferrari) got up to third, while Stewart fell back behind Fittipaldi. After two laps of the {{convert|22.8|km|abbr=on}} circuit, Ickx was out of sight of his nearest challengers and kept setting new lap records. Fittipaldi got up to second, but Stewart was stuck in fifth place. When Peterson locked up, Regazzoni and Stewart got by, and they even gained another place when Fittipaldi’s gearbox blew up and caused an engine fire. On lap 10, Henri Pescarolo suffered an enormous crash at Adenau corner but was unhurt. Ickx’s engine was losing a bit of power due to a split exhaust manifold, but he won the race with almost a minute to spare. By leading every lap, he actually achieved a grand chelem. On the second-to-last lap, Stewart saw a chance to finally get past Regazzoni, but their wheels touched and the Scot crashed off. So the Ferraris finished 1-2 ahead of Peterson in the March.WEB,www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/september-1972/48/the-34th-german-grand-prix/,web.archive.org/web/20230530212248/https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/september-1972/48/the-34th-german-grand-prix/, 1972 German Grand Prix race report, MotorsportMagazine, admin, 30 July 1972, 30 May 2023, 28 February 2024, The Austrian Grand Prix was held in really hot and sunny conditions. Fittipaldi scored pole position ahead of Regazzoni and Stewart. At the start of the race, they went three-wide into the first corner and it was Stewart who took the lead. Fittipaldi fell back to third but overtook Regazzoni when the Ferrari’s engine sputtered. The Brazilian gradually closed up to the leader. On lap 23, the lead changed hands and Denny Hulme was challenging for second. Stewart’s Tyrrell looked to have trouble with its rear suspension and the Scot would eventually finish seventh, over a minute down. Fittipaldi and Hulme fought a close battle, the Lotus crossing the line just over a second ahead of the McLaren. Hulme’s teammate Peter Revson finished third.WEB,www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/september-1972/25/austrian-grand-prix-14/,web.archive.org/web/20230603220510/https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/september-1972/25/austrian-grand-prix-14/, 1972 Austrian Grand Prix race report, MotorsportMagazine, Denis Jenkinson, 13 August 1972, 3 June 2023, 28 February 2024, File:1972 Italian Grand Prix, race start.jpg|thumb|225px|Start of the Italian Grand Prix ]]The European leg of the season concluded with the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. The circuit had been slowed down by two chicanes, so for once this year, earlier lap records would not be challenged. Jacky Ickx delighted the crowd with a pole position for Ferrari, just 0.04 seconds ahead of Chris Amon in the Matra. Stewart started third, Fittipaldi in sixth. However, seconds after the start, Stewart lost all drive from his engine and had to retire. Ickx and Amon had a trouble-free getaway, while dust on the track left the rest of the field blind into the first corner. No accidents happened but Niki Lauda retired, as the dust had clogged up his March’s throttle system. Amon fell back to fifth place, promoting Regazzoni to second, and even to first when the Swiss driver passed his teammate for the lead. Francois Cevert retirement on lap 14 left Tyrrell’s championships hopes seriously diminished. Regazzoni hit Carlos Pace when the Brazilian was recovering from a spin and both cars were out of the race. A lot of drivers retired, including Amon with overheatingbrakes and, on lap 46, leader Jacky Ickx with a failure of all the electrics. Fittipaldi took the win ahead of Hailwood in the Surtees and Hulme in the McLaren.WEB,www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/october-1972/25/the-43rd-italian-grand-prix/,web.archive.org/web/20230530200223/https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/october-1972/25/the-43rd-italian-grand-prix/, 1972 Italian Grand Prix race report, MotorsportMagazine, Denis Jenkinson, 10 September 1972, 30 May 2023, 28 February 2024, With an unsurmountable lead of 30 points over his nearest rival, Emerson Fittipaldi clinched the 1972 Drivers’ Championship. At the age of 25, he was the youngest-ever World Champion, a record that would stand until 2005. Denny Hulme (McLaren) had overtaken Jackie Stewart (Tyrrell) in the championship, standing on 31 points compared to 27. Lotus secured the Manufacturers’ Championship since McLaren and Tyrrell were now too far back.

Rounds 11 and 12

File:Peter Revson M19C.png|thumb|225px|After securing pole position, Peter Revson crashed out of qualifying for the Canadian Grand Prix.]]The McLaren drivers were already familiar with the Mosport International Raceway, host of the Canadian Grand Prix, thanks to their experience in Can-Am. They managed to secure a 1-2 on the grid, Peter Revson ahead of Denny Hulme, with a surprising Ronnie Peterson in third. And it was the Swede that actually reached the first corner first, while Hulme fell back when dirt clogged up his throttle. Coming to complete the first lap, Peterson almost crashed out, and after another mistake a few laps later, he lost the lead to Jackie Stewart. Champion Emerson Fittipaldi was challenging Revson for third. Peterson collided with Graham Hill when trying to lap him. He stopped with a bent steering column and was pushed into the pits. When he rejoined, he found Hill and made clear that the Brit knew how he felt. Peterson was later disqualified for the push up the pits. Fittipaldi fell back with damage to the nose of his car, so on the podium stood Stewart, Revson and Hulme.WEB,www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/november-1972/39/canadian-grand-prix-5,web.archive.org/web/20220706092116/https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/november-1972/39/canadian-grand-prix-5, 1972 Canadian Grand Prix race report, MotorsportMagazine, Andrew Marriott, 24 September 1972, 6 July 2022, 28 February 2024, Coming to the final race of the championship, the United States Grand Prix, Stewart was determined to show that the loss of the title did not mean a loss of form, and it would be one of the most convincing wins of his career, achieving a hat-trick of pole position, fastest lap and victory. Revson and Hulme started second and third for McLaren. At the start, Revson was caught up in a collision with Regazzoni and Reutemann, so Hulme was up to second and Fittipaldi up to third. Future champion Jody Scheckter was running fourth in his debut race and actually went past the freshly crowned Brazilian, but when a sudden shower arrived, he spun off at the first corner. Stewart was now leading 40 seconds ahead of his teammate Francois Cevert, and then the McLaren of Hulme.WEB,www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/november-1972/28/united-states-grand-prix,web.archive.org/web/20211128211101/https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/november-1972/28/united-states-grand-prix, 1972 United States Grand Prix race report, MotorsportMagazine, Motor Sport, 8 October 1972, 28 November 2021, 28 February 2024, Emerson Fittipaldi finished on top of the standings with 61 points, ahead of Jackie Stewart with 45 and Denny Hulme with 39. In the Manufacturers’ Championship, Lotus were first with 61 points. Tyrrell were now second (51), having just overtaken McLaren (47).

Results and standings

“>

Grands Prix{| class“wikitable” style@font-size: 85%;”

! Round! Grand Prix! Pole position! Fastest lap! Winning driver! Winning constructor! Tyre! Report! 1ARG}} Argentine Grand PrixARG}} Carlos ReutemannGBR}} Jackie StewartGBR}} Jackie StewartGBR}} Tyrrell Racing-Ford Motor Company>Ford| {{Goodyear}}1972 Argentine Grand Prix>Report! 2ZAF|1928}} South African Grand PrixGBR}} Jackie StewartGBR}} Mike HailwoodNZL}} Denny HulmeGBR}} McLaren-Ford| {{Goodyear}}1972 South African Grand Prix>Report! 3ESP|1945}} Spanish Grand PrixBEL}} Jacky IckxBEL}} Jacky IckxBRA|1968}} Emerson FittipaldiGBR}} Team Lotus-Ford Motor Company>Ford| {{Firestone}}1972 Spanish Grand Prix>Report! 4MCO}} Monaco Grand PrixBRA|1968}} Emerson FittipaldiFRA}} Jean-Pierre BeltoiseFRA}} Jean-Pierre BeltoiseGBR}} BRM| {{Firestone}}1972 Monaco Grand Prix>Report! 5BEL}} Belgian Grand PrixBRA|1968}} Emerson FittipaldiNZL}} Chris AmonBRA|1968}} Emerson FittipaldiGBR}} Team Lotus-Ford Motor Company>Ford| {{Firestone}}1972 Belgian Grand Prix>Report! 6FRA}} French Grand PrixNZL}} Chris AmonNZL}} Chris AmonGBR}} Jackie StewartGBR}} Tyrrell Racing-Ford Motor Company>Ford| {{Goodyear}}1972 French Grand Prix>Report! 7GBR}} British Grand PrixBEL}} Jacky IckxGBR}} Jackie StewartBRA|1968}} Emerson FittipaldiGBR}} Team Lotus-Ford Motor Company>Ford| {{Firestone}}1972 British Grand Prix>Report! 8FRG}} German Grand PrixBEL}} Jacky IckxBEL}} Jacky IckxBEL}} Jacky IckxITA}} Ferrari| {{Firestone}}1972 German Grand Prix>Report! 9AUT}} Austrian Grand PrixBRA|1968}} Emerson FittipaldiNZL}} Denny HulmeBRA|1968}} Emerson FittipaldiGBR}} Team Lotus-Ford Motor Company>Ford| {{Firestone}}1972 Austrian Grand Prix>Report! 10ITA}} Italian Grand PrixBEL}} Jacky IckxBEL}} Jacky IckxBRA|1968}} Emerson FittipaldiGBR}} Team Lotus-Ford Motor Company>Ford| {{Firestone}}1972 Italian Grand Prix>Report! 11CAN}} Canadian Grand PrixUSA}} Peter RevsonGBR}} Jackie StewartGBR}} Jackie StewartGBR}} Tyrrell Racing-Ford Motor Company>Ford| {{Goodyear}}1972 Canadian Grand Prix>Report! 12USA}} United States Grand PrixGBR}} Jackie StewartGBR}} Jackie StewartGBR}} Jackie StewartGBR}} Tyrrell Racing-Ford Motor Company>Ford| {{Goodyear}}1972 United States Grand Prix>Report

World Drivers’ Championship standings

{{further|List of Formula One World Championship points scoring systems}}Points for the 1972 World Championship of Drivers were awarded on a 9–6–4–3–2–1 basis to the top six finishers in each race. For classification, only the best five results from the first half of the season and the best five results from the second half of the season could be retained.File:Emerson Fittipaldi.jpg|thumb|175px|Emerson FittipaldiEmerson Fittipaldi{| valign=“top“|{| class=“wikitable” style="font-size: 85%; text-align:center;” valign=“top“!valign=“middle“| Pos!valign=“middle“| Driver! ARG{{flagicon|ARG}}! RSA{{flagicon|ZAF|1928}}! ESP{{flagicon|ESP|1945}}! MON{{flagicon|MCO}}! BEL{{flagicon|BEL}}! FRA{{flagicon|FRA}}! GBR{{flagicon|GBR}}! GER{{flagicon|FRG}}! AUT{{flagicon|AUT}}! ITA{{flagicon|ITA}}! CAN{{flagicon|CAN}}! USA{{flagicon|USA}}!valign=“middle“| Points! 1 {{flagicon1968}} Emerson Fittipaldi Ret 2 1 3 1 2 1 Ret 1 1 11 Ret61! 2 {{flagicon|GBR}} Jackie Stewart 1 Ret Ret 4| 1 2 11 7 Ret 1 145! 3 {{flagicon|NZL}} Denny Hulme 2 1 Ret 15 3 7 5 Ret 2 3 3 339! 4 {{flagicon|BEL}} Jacky Ickx 3 8 2 2 Ret 11 Ret 1 Ret Ret 12 527! 5 {{flagicon|USA}} Peter Revson Ret 3 5| 7| 3| 3 4 2 1823! 6 {{flagicon|FRA}} François Cevert Ret 9 Ret NC 2 4 Ret 10 9 Ret Ret 215! 7 {{flagicon|CHE}} Clay Regazzoni 4 12 3 Ret Ret|| 2 Ret Ret 5 815! 8 {{flagicon|GBR}} Mike Hailwood| Ret Ret Ret 4 6 Ret Ret 4 2| 1713! 9 {{flagicon|SWE}} Ronnie Peterson 6 5 Ret 11 9 5 7 3 12 9 DSQ 412! 10 {{flagicon|NZL}} Chris Amon DNS 15 Ret 6 6 3 4 15 5 Ret 6 1512! 11 {{nowrapFRA}} Jean-Pierre Beltoise}}| Ret Ret 1 Ret 15 11 9 8 8 Ret Ret9! 12 {{flagicon|USA}} Mario Andretti Ret 4 Ret|||||| 7| 64! 13 {{flagicon|NZL}} Howden Ganley 9 NC Ret Ret 8 DNS| 4 6 11 10 Ret4! 14 {{flagicon|GBR}} Brian Redman||| 5| 9| 5||| Ret4! 15 {{flagicon|GBR}} Graham Hill Ret 6 10 12 Ret 10 Ret 6 Ret 5 8 114! 16 {{flagicon|ARG}} Carlos Reutemann 7 Ret|| 13 12 8 Ret Ret Ret 4 Ret3! 17 {{flagicon|ITA}} Andrea de Adamich Ret NC 4 7 Ret 14 Ret 13 14 Ret Ret Ret3! 18 {{flagicon1968}} Carlos Pace| 17 6 17 5 Ret Ret NC NC Ret 9 Ret3! 19 {{flagicon|AUS}} Tim Schenken 5 Ret 8 Ret Ret 17 Ret 14 11 Ret 7 Ret2! 20 {{flagicon|ITA}} Arturo Merzario|||||| 6 12||||1! 21 {{flagicon|GBR}} Peter Gethin Ret NC Ret Ret Ret DNS Ret| 13 6 Ret Ret1! — {{flagicon1968}} Wilson Fittipaldi|| 7 9 Ret 8 12 7 Ret Ret Ret Ret0! — {{flagicon|AUT}} Niki Lauda 11 7 Ret 16 12 Ret 9 Ret 10 13 DSQ NC0! — {{flagicon|FRA}} Patrick Depailler||||| NC||||| 70! — {{flagicon|AUT}} Helmut Marko 10 14| 8 10 Ret||||||0! — {{flagicon|GBR}} Mike Beuttler|| DNQ 13 Ret 19 13 8 Ret 10 NC 130! — {{flagicon|FRA}} Henri Pescarolo 8 11 11 Ret NC DNS Ret Ret DNS DNQ 13 140! — {{flagiconDavid Walker (racing driver)>David Walker DSQ 10 9 14 14 18 Ret Ret Ret|| Ret0! — {{flagicon1928}} Jody Scheckter||||||||||| 90! — {{flagicon|FRG}} Rolf Stommelen| 13 Ret 10 11 16 10 Ret 15|||0! — {{flagicon|SWE}} Reine Wisell Ret| Ret Ret| Ret| Ret| 12 Ret 100! — {{flagicon|USA}} Sam Posey||||||||||| 120! — {{flagicon|ITA}} Nanni Galli|||| Ret 13 Ret| NC Ret||0! — {{flagicon|USA}} Skip Barber|||||||||| NC 160! — {{flagiconJohn Love (racing driver)>John Love| 16||||||||||0! — {{flagicon1928}} Dave Charlton| Ret||| DNQ Ret Ret||||0! — {{flagiconDerek Bell (auto racer)>Derek Bell||||| DNS| Ret| DNQ DNS Ret0! — {{flagicon1945}} Alex Soler-Roig Ret| Ret|||||||||0! — {{flagicon|GBR}} Jackie Oliver|||||| Ret|||||0! — {{flagicon|FRA}} François Migault|||||| DNS| Ret|||0! — {{flagicon|GBR}} John Surtees||||||||| Ret| DNS0! — {{flagicon|CAN}} Bill Brack|||||||||| Ret|0! — {{flagicon1928}} William Ferguson| DNS||||||||||0! — {{flagicon|AUS}} Vern Schuppan|||| DNS|||||||0 valign=“top“!valign=“middle“| Pos!valign=“middle“| Driver! ARG{{flagicon|ARG}}! RSA{{flagicon|ZAF|1928}}! ESP{{flagicon|ESP|1945}}! MON{{flagicon|MCO}}! BEL{{flagicon|BEL}}! FRA{{flagicon|FRA}}! GBR{{flagicon|GBR}}! GER{{flagicon|FRG}}! AUT{{flagicon|AUT}}! ITA{{flagicon|ITA}}! CAN{{flagicon|CAN}}! USA{{flagicon|USA}}!valign=“middle“| Points{{F1 driver results legend 4}}

International Cup for F1 Manufacturers standings

File:Emerson Fittipaldi 1972 Austrian GP.jpg|thumb|Lotus-Ford won the International Cup for F1 Manufacturers]]Points for the 1972 International Cup for F1 Manufacturers were awarded on a 9–6–4–3–2–1 basis to the top six finishers in each race. Only the best placed car from each manufacturer was eligible to score points. For classification, only the best five results from the first half of the season and the best five results from the second half of the season could be retained.{| class=“wikitable” style="font-size: 85%; text-align:center;” valign=“top“! valign=“middle“| Pos.! valign=“middle“| Manufacturer! ARG{{flagicon|ARG}}! RSA{{flagicon|ZAF|1928}}! ESP{{flagicon|ESP|1945}}! MON{{flagicon|MCO}}! BEL{{flagicon|BEL}}! FRA{{flagicon|FRA}}! GBR{{flagicon|GBR}}! GER{{flagicon|FRG}}! AUT{{flagicon|AUT}}! ITA{{flagicon|ITA}}! CAN{{flagicon|CAN}}! USA{{flagicon|USA}}! valign=“middle“| Pts.Only the best 5 results from the first 6 rounds and the best 5 results from the last 6 rounds counted towards the championship. Numbers without parentheses are championship points; numbers in parentheses are total points scored.! 1 {{flagiconTeam Lotus>Lotus-Ford Ret 2 1 3 1 2 1 Ret 1 1 11 10 61! 2 {{flagiconTyrrell Racing>Tyrrell-Ford 1 9 Ret 4 2 1 2 10 7 Ret 1 1 51! 3 {{flagiconMcLaren-Ford Motor Company>Ford 2 1 5 5 3 7 3 (5) 2 3 2 3 47 (49)! 4 {{flagiconScuderia Ferrari>Ferrari 3 4 2 2 Ret 11 6 1 Ret 7 5 5 33! 5 {{flagiconSurtees Racing Organisation>Surtees-Ford 5 16 4 7 4 6 Ret 13 4 2 7 12 18! 6 {{flagiconMarch Engineering>March-Ford 6 5 6 11 5 5 7 3 10 9 9 4 15! 7 {{flagiconBritish Racing Motors>BRM 9 14 Ret 1 8 15 11 4 6 6 10 Ret 14! 8 {{flagiconEquipe Matra Sports>Matra DNS 15 Ret 6 6 3 4 15 5 Ret 6 15 12! 9 {{flagiconBrabham-Ford Motor Company>Ford 7 6 7 9 13 8 8 6 Ret 5 4 11 7! — {{flagiconEifelland-Ford Motor Company>Ford| 13 Ret 10 11 16 10 Ret 15||| 0! — {{flagiconTecno (motorsport)>Tecno|||| Ret DNS Ret Ret NC Ret DNS Ret 0! — {{flagiconFrank Williams Racing Cars>Politoys-Ford|||||| Ret||||| 0! — {{flagiconConnew-Ford Motor Company>Ford|||||| DNS| Ret||| 0 valign=“top“! valign=“middle“| Pos.! valign=“middle“| Manufacturer! ARG{{flagicon|ARG}}! RSA{{flagicon|ZAF|1928}}! ESP{{flagicon|ESP|1945}}! MON{{flagicon|MCO}}! BEL{{flagicon|BEL}}! FRA{{flagicon|FRA}}! GBR{{flagicon|GBR}}! GER{{flagicon|FRG}}! AUT{{flagicon|AUT}}! ITA{{flagicon|ITA}}! CAN{{flagicon|CAN}}! USA{{flagicon|USA}}! valign=“middle“| Pts.

• Bold results counted to championship totals.

Non-championship races

Other Formula One races were also held in 1972, which did not count towards the World Championship.{| class=“wikitable” style="font-size:95%“! Race name! Circuit! Date! Winning driver! Constructor! ReportGBR}} VII Race of Champions| Brands Hatch| 19 MarchBRA|1968}} Emerson FittipaldiGBR}} Lotus-Cosworth1972 Race of Champions>ReportBRA|1968}} I Brazilian Grand PrixAutódromo José Carlos Pace>Interlagos| 30 MarchARG}} Carlos ReutemannGBR}} Brabham-Cosworth1972 Brazilian Grand Prix>ReportGBR}} XXIV BRDC International TrophySilverstone Circuit>Silverstone| 23 AprilBRA|1968}} Emerson FittipaldiGBR}} Lotus-Cosworth1972 BRDC International Trophy>ReportGBR}} XIX International Gold Cup| Oulton Park| 29 MayNZL}} Denny HulmeGBR}} McLaren-Cosworth1972 International Gold Cup>ReportITA}} I Italian Republic Grand PrixACI Vallelunga Circuit>Vallelunga| 18 JuneBRA|1968}} Emerson FittipaldiGBR}} Lotus-Cosworth1972 Italian Republic Grand Prix>ReportGBR}} II World Championship Victory Race| Brands Hatch| 22 OctoberFRA}} Jean-Pierre BeltoiseGBR}} BRM1972 World Championship Victory Race>Report

Notes

{{notelist}}

References

{{reflist}}

External links

• 1972 World Championship race results and images at f1-facts.com

{{Formula One Championship}}