1977 Formula One season

The 1977 Formula One season included the 28th FIA Formula One World Championship season, which commenced on January 9, 1977, and ended on October 23 after seventeen races.

Season summary

Niki Lauda took his second championship, though Mario Andretti won more races. Jody Scheckter's Wolf won first time out, Shadow took their only victory, and Gunnar Nilsson achieved the only win of a career tragically cut short by cancer. Renault entered grand prix racing with a turbocharged car which was initially not very successful. The German ATS team took over the Penske cars and the South African Grand Prix was the last race a BRM ever qualified to start.

The season was also marred by one of the most horrific accidents in Formula One history. During the South African GP on March 5, TV cameras captured how Tom Pryce was unable to avoid 19-year-old race marshall Frederik Jansen Van Vuuren. The latter was killed by the terrifying collision, his bloody corpse was hurtled into the air, and his fire extinguisher killed and nearly decapitated Pryce, whose car proceeded to the end of the straight where it collided with Jacques Laffite's Ligier.

Drivers and constructors

Entrant	Constructor	Chassis	Engine	Tyres	No	Driver	Rounds
Marlboro Team McLaren	McLaren	M23 M26	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	G	1	James Hunt	All
					2	Jochen Mass	All
					14	Bruno Giacomelli	14
					40	Gilles Villeneuve	10
Elf Team Tyrrell	Tyrrell	P34	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	G	3	Ronnie Peterson	All
					4	Patrick Depailler	All
John Player Team Lotus	Lotus	78	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	G	5	Mario Andretti	All
					6	Gunnar Nilsson	All
Martini Racing	Brabham	BT45 BT45B	Alfa Romeo 115-12 3.0 F12	G	7	John Watson	All
					8	Carlos Pace	1-3
						Hans-Joachim Stuck	4-17
					21	Giorgio Francia	14
Hollywood March Racing Team Rothmans International	March	761B 771	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	G	9	Alex Ribeiro	All
					10	Ian Scheckter	1-2, 5-16
						Hans-Joachim Stuck	3
						Brian Henton	4
Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC	Ferrari	312T2	Ferrari 015 3.0 F12	G	11	Niki Lauda	1-15
						Gilles Villeneuve	17
					12	Carlos Reutemann	All
					21	Gilles Villeneuve	16
Rotary Watches Stanley BRM Stanley BRM	BRM	P207 P201B	BRM P202 3.0 V12 BRM P200 3.0 V12	G	14	Larry Perkins	2-3
					29	Teddy Pilette	13-14
					35	Conny Andersson	5, 7-9
						Guy Edwards	10
					40	Teddy Pilette	11
Interscope Racing	Penske	PC4	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	G	14	Danny Ongais	15-16
Équipe Renault Elf	Renault	RS01	Renault-Gordini EF1 1.5 V6	M	15	Jean-Pierre Jabouille	10, 13-16
Shadow Racing Team	Shadow	DN5B DN8	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	G	16	Tom Pryce	1-3
						Renzo Zorzi	4-5
						Riccardo Patrese	6-7, 9-11, 13-14, 16-17
						Jackie Oliver	8
						Arturo Merzario	12
						Jean-Pierre Jarier	15
					17	Renzo Zorzi	1-3
						Alan Jones	4-17
Durex Team Surtees Beta Team Surtees Team Surtees	Surtees	TS19	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	G	18	Hans Binder	1-6, 15-17
						Larry Perkins	7-9
						Vern Schuppan	10-13
						Lamberto Leoni	14
					19	Vittorio Brambilla	All
Walter Wolf Racing	Wolf	WR1 WR2 WR3	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	G	20	Jody Scheckter	All
Team Tissot Ensign with Castrol	Ensign	N177	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	G	22	Clay Regazzoni	All
						Jacky Ickx	6
Theodore Racing Hong Kong	Ensign	N177	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	G	23	Patrick Tambay	10-17
Penthouse Rizla Racing Hesketh Racing	Hesketh	308E	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	G	24	Rupert Keegan	5-16
					25	Harald Ertl	5-9
						Héctor Rebaque	11-13
						Ian Ashley	14-16
					39	Héctor Rebaque	7-9
						Ian Ashley	12-13
Ligier Gitanes	Ligier	JS7	Matra MS76 3.0 V12	G	26	Jacques Laffite	All
					27	Jean-Pierre Jarier	17
Williams Grand Prix Engineering	March	761	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	G	27	Patrick Nève	5, 7-16
Copersucar-Fittipaldi	Fittipaldi	FD04 FD5	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	G	28	Emerson Fittipaldi	1-16
					29	Ingo Hoffmann	1-2
Chesterfield Racing	March McLaren	761 M23	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	G	30	Brett Lunger	3-5, 7-16
LEC Refrigeration Racing	LEC	CRP1	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	G	31	David Purley	5, 7-10
RAM Racing/F&S Properties RAM Racing	March	761	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	G	32	Mikko Kozarowitsky	8, 10
						Michael Bleekemolen	13
					33	Boy Hayje	3, 5-8, 13
						Andy Sutcliffe	10
ATS Racing Team	Penske	PC4	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	G	33	Hans Binder	12, 14
					35	Hans Heyer	11
						Hans Binder	13
					34	Jean-Pierre Jarier	4-14
Iberia Airlines	McLaren	M23	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	G	36	Emilio de Villota	5, 7-8, 10-12, 14
Team Merzario	March	761B	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	G	37	Arturo Merzario	5-7, 9-11, 13
British Formula One Team	March	761 761B	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	G	38	Bernard de Dryver	7
						Brian Henton	5, 10, 12
HB Bewaking Alarmsystemen	Boro	001	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	G	38	Brian Henton	13-14
Jolly Club of Switzerland	Apollon	Fly/FW03	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	G	41	Loris Kessel	14
Melchester Racing	Surtees	TS19	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	G	44	Tony Trimmer	10
Brian McGuire	McGuire	BM1	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	G	45	Brian McGuire	10
Meiritsu Racing Team	Tyrrell	007	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	D	50	Kunimitsu Takahashi	17
Kojima Engineering	Kojima	KE009	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	B	51	Noritake Takahara	17
Heroes Racing Corporation	Kojima	KE007	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	B	52	Kazuyoshi Hoshino	17

Season review

Rnd	Race	Date	Location	Pole Position	Fastest Lap	Race Winner	Constructor	Report
1	Argentine Grand Prix	January 9	Oscar Gálvez	James Hunt	James Hunt	Jody Scheckter	Wolf-Ford	Report
2	Brazilian Grand Prix	January 23	Interlagos	James Hunt	James Hunt	Carlos Reutemann	Ferrari	Report
3	South African Grand Prix	March 5	Kyalami	James Hunt	John Watson	Niki Lauda	Ferrari	Report
4	United States Grand Prix West	April 3	Long Beach	Niki Lauda	Niki Lauda	Mario Andretti	Lotus-Ford	Report
5	Spanish Grand Prix	May 8	Jarama	Mario Andretti	Jacques Laffite	Mario Andretti	Lotus-Ford	Report
6	Monaco Grand Prix	May 22	Monaco	John Watson	Jody Scheckter	Jody Scheckter	Wolf-Ford	Report
7	Belgian Grand Prix	June 5	Zolder	Mario Andretti	Gunnar Nilsson	Gunnar Nilsson	Lotus-Ford	Report
8	Swedish Grand Prix	June 19	Scandinavian Raceway	Mario Andretti	Mario Andretti	Jacques Laffite	Ligier-Matra	Report
9	French Grand Prix	July 3	Dijon-Prenois	Mario Andretti	Mario Andretti	Mario Andretti	Lotus-Ford	Report
10	British Grand Prix	July 16	Silverstone	James Hunt	James Hunt	James Hunt	McLaren-Ford	Report
11	German Grand Prix	July 31	Hockenheimring	Jody Scheckter	Niki Lauda	Niki Lauda	Ferrari	Report
12	Austrian Grand Prix	August 14	Österreichring	Niki Lauda	John Watson	Alan Jones	Shadow-Ford	Report
13	Dutch Grand Prix	August 28	Zandvoort	Mario Andretti	Niki Lauda	Niki Lauda	Ferrari	Report
14	Italian Grand Prix	September 11	Monza	James Hunt	Mario Andretti	Mario Andretti	Lotus-Ford	Report
15	United States Grand Prix	October 2	Watkins Glen	James Hunt	Ronnie Peterson	James Hunt	McLaren-Ford	Report
16	Canadian Grand Prix	October 9	Mosport	Mario Andretti	Mario Andretti	Jody Scheckter	Wolf-Ford	Report
17	Japanese Grand Prix	October 23	Fuji Speedway	Mario Andretti	Jody Scheckter	James Hunt	McLaren-Ford	Report

1977 Drivers Championship final standings

Pos Driver ARG BRA RSA USW ESP MON BEL SWE FRA GBR GER AUT NED ITA USA CAN JPN Pts 1 1 Niki Lauda Ret 3 1 2 Ret 2 2 Ret 5 2 1 2 1 2 4 72 2 Jody Scheckter 1 Ret 2 3 3 1 Ret Ret Ret Ret 2 Ret 3 Ret 3 1 10 55 3 Mario Andretti 5 Ret Ret 1 1 5 Ret 6 1 14 Ret Ret Ret 1 2 9 Ret 47 4 Carlos Reutemann 3 1 8 Ret 2 3 Ret 3 6 15 4 4 6 Ret 6 Ret 2 42 5 James Hunt Ret 2 4 7 Ret Ret 7 12 3 1 Ret Ret Ret Ret 1 Ret 1 40 6 Jochen Mass Ret Ret 5 Ret 4 4 Ret 2 9 4 Ret 6 Ret 4 Ret 3 Ret 25 7 Alan Jones Ret Ret 6 5 17 Ret 7 Ret 1 Ret 3 Ret 4 4 22 8 Gunnar Nilsson 5 12 8 5 Ret 1 19 4 3 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 20 9 Patrick Depailler Ret Ret 3 4 Ret Ret 8 4 Ret Ret Ret 13 Ret Ret 14 2 3 20 10 Jacques Laffite Ret Ret Ret 9 7 7 Ret 1 8 6 Ret Ret 2 8 7 Ret 5 18 11 Hans Joachim Stuck Ret Ret 6 Ret 6 10 Ret 5 3 3 7 Ret Ret Ret 7 12 12 Emerson Fittipaldi 4 4 10 5 14 Ret Ret 18 11 Ret DNQ 11 4 DNQ 13 Ret 11 13 John Watson Ret Ret 6 DSQ Ret Ret Ret 5 2 Ret Ret 8 Ret Ret 12 Ret Ret 9 14 Ronnie Peterson Ret Ret Ret Ret 8 Ret 3 Ret 12 Ret 9 5 Ret 6 16 Ret Ret 7 15 Carlos Pace 2 Ret 13 6 16 Vittorio Brambilla 7 Ret 7 Ret Ret 8 4 Ret 13 8 5 15 12 Ret 19 6 8 6 17 Clay Regazzoni 6 Ret 9 Ret Ret DNQ Ret 7 7 DNQ Ret Ret 5 5 Ret Ret 5 18 Patrick Tambay DNQ Ret 6 Ret 5 Ret DNQ 5 Ret 5 19 Jean-Pierre Jarier 6 DNQ 11 11 8 Ret 9 Ret 14 Ret Ret 9 Ret 1 20 Riccardo Patrese 9 Ret Ret Ret 10 13 Ret 10 6 1 21 Renzo Zorzi Ret 6 Ret Ret Ret 1 — Rupert Keegan Ret 12 Ret 13 10 Ret Ret 7 Ret 9 8 Ret 0 — Patrick Nève 12 10 15 DNQ 10 DNQ 9 DNQ 7 18 Ret 0 — Vern Schuppan 12 7 16 DNQ 0 — Ingo Hoffmann Ret 7 0 — Danny Ongais Ret 7 0 — Alex Ribeiro Ret Ret Ret Ret DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ 8 DNQ 11 DNQ 15 8 12 0 — Hans Binder Ret Ret 11 11 9 Ret 12 8 DNQ 11 Ret Ret 0 — Brett Lunger 14 Ret 10 11 DNQ 13 Ret 10 9 Ret 10 11 0 — Harald Ertl Ret DNQ 9 16 DNQ 0 — Jackie Oliver 9 0 — Kunimitsu Takahashi 9 0 — Ian Scheckter Ret Ret 11 DNQ Ret Ret NC Ret Ret Ret 10 Ret Ret Ret 0 — Brian Henton 10 DNQ DNQ DNQ DSQ DNQ 0 — Jacky Ickx 10 0 — Gilles Villeneuve 11 12 Ret 0 — Kazuyoshi Hoshino 11 0 — Larry Perkins Ret 15 12 DNQ DNQ 0 — David Purley DNQ 13 14 Ret DNPQ 0 — Emilio de Villota 13 DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ 17 DNQ 0 — Arturo Merzario Ret DNQ 14 Ret Ret DNQ Ret DNQ 0 — Ian Ashley DNQ DNQ DNQ 17 DNS 0 — Tom Pryce NC Ret Ret 0 — Boy Hayje Ret DNQ DNQ NC DNQ DNQ 0 — Jean-Pierre Jabouille Ret Ret Ret Ret DNQ 0 — Hector Rebaque DNQ DNQ DNQ Ret DNQ DNQ 0 — Hans Heyer Ret 0 — Bruno Giacomelli Ret 0 — Noritake Takahara Ret 0 — Conny Andersson DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ 0 — Teddy Pilette DNQ DNQ DNQ 0 — Mikko Kozarowitzky DNQ DNPQ 0 — Bernard de Dryver DNQ 0 — Michael Bleekemolen DNQ 0 — Lamberto Leoni DNQ 0 — Loris Kessel DNQ 0 — Giorgio Francia DNQ 0 — Tony Trimmer DNPQ 0 — Andy Sutcliffe DNPQ 0 — Guy Edwards DNPQ 0 — Brian McGuire DNPQ 0 Pos Driver ARG BRA RSA USW ESP MON BEL SWE FRA GBR GER AUT NED ITA USA CAN JPN Pts

Key Colour Result Gold Winner Silver 2nd place Bronze 3rd place Green Points finish Blue Non-points finish Non-classified finish (NC) Purple Did not finish (Ret) Red Did not qualify (DNQ) Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ) Black Disqualified (DSQ) White Did not start (DNS) Race cancelled (C) Light blue Practiced only (PO) Friday test driver (TD) (from 2003 onwards) Blank Did not practice (DNP) Excluded (EX) Did not arrive (DNA) Withdrew entry before the event (WD)

1977 Constructors Championship final standings

Pos	Constructor	ARG	BRA	RSA	USW	ESP	MON	BEL	SWE	FRA	GBR	GER	AUT	NED	ITA	USA	CAN	JPN	Pts2
1	Ferrari	3	1	1	2	2	2	2	3	5	2	1	2	1	2	4	12	2	95 (97)
2	Lotus-Ford	5	5	12	1	1	5	1	6	1	3	Ret	Ret	Ret	1	2	9	Ret	62
3	McLaren-Ford	Ret	2	4	7	4	4	7	2	3	1	Ret	6	9	4	1	3	1	60
4	Wolf-Ford	1	Ret	2	3	3	1	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	2	Ret	3	Ret	3	1	10	55
5	Brabham-Alfa Romeo	2	Ret	6	Ret	6	Ret	6	5	2	5	3	3	7	Ret	12	Ret	7	27
6	Tyrrell-Ford	Ret	Ret	3	4	8	Ret	3	4	12	Ret	9	5	Ret	6	14	2	3	27
7	Shadow-Ford	NC	6	Ret	Ret	Ret	6	5	9	Ret	7	10	1	13	3	9	4	4	23
8	Ligier-Matra	NC	Ret	Ret	9	7	7	Ret	1	8	6	Ret	Ret	2	8	7	Ret	5	18
9	Fittipaldi-Ford	4	4	10	5	14	Ret	Ret	18	11	Ret	DNQ	11	4	DNQ	13	Ret		11
10	Ensign-Ford	6	Ret	9	Ret	Ret	10	Ret	7	7	DNQ	6	Ret	5	5	5	5	Ret	10
11	Surtees-Ford	7	Ret	7	11	9	8	4	Ret	13	8	5	15	12	Ret	11	6	8	6
12	Penske-Ford				6	DNQ	11	11	8	Ret	9	Ret	12	8	Ret	Ret	7		1
—	March-Ford	Ret	Ret	14	10	10	DNQ	10	15	NC	10	8	9	10	7	15	8	12	0
—	Hesketh-Ford				WD	Ret	12	9	13	10	Ret	Ret	7	Ret	9	8	Ret		0
—	Kojima-Ford																	11	0
—	LEC-Ford					DNQ	WD	13	14	Ret	DNPQ								0
—	BRM	WD	Ret	15	WD	DNQ		DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNPQ	DNQ	WD	DNQ	DNQ				0
—	Renault									WD	Ret	WD	WD	Ret	Ret	Ret	DNQ		0
—	Boro-Ford													DSQ	DNQ				0
—	Apollon-Ford							WD		WD			WD	WD	DNQ				0
—	McGuire-Ford										DNPQ								0
Pos	Constructor	ARG	BRA	RSA	USW	ESP	MON	BEL	SWE	FRA	GBR	GER	AUT	NED	ITA	USA	CAN	JPN	Pts

• Bold results counted to championship.

Non-Championship race results

Another Formula One race was also held in 1977, which did not count towards the World Championship.

Race Name	Circuit	Date	Winning driver	Constructor	Report
XII Race of Champions	Brands Hatch	March 20	James Hunt	McLaren-Cosworth	Report

Notes

1. ^ Drivers Championship points were awarded on a 9-6-4-3-2-1 basis for the first six places in each race. The best 8 results from the first 9 races and the best 7 results from the remaining 8 races were retained.
2. ^ Constructors points were awarded on a 9-6-4-3-2-1 basis for the first six places in each race, however only the best place car from each constructor was eligible to score points. The best 8 results from the first 9 races and the best 7 results from the remaining 8 races were retained. Numbers without parentheses are retained points; numbers in parentheses are total points scored.

External links

• Championship race results and images from www.f1-facts.com