1978 Alternate Formula One season

1978 Formula One season
Mario Andretti entered the season as World Champion.
Season
Races	16
Start date	5 March
Start Event	Austral Líneas Aéreas Argentine Grand Prix
End date	9 October
End Event	Template:USA Toyota United States Grand Prix
Awards
Driver's Champion	TBD
Constructor's Champion	TBD
Entrant's Champion	TBD
Seasons
Previous season	Next season
1977	1979
Regional Series
Tier 1	1978 British Formula One

The 1978 Formula One season was the 29th season of Formula One. Mario Andretti and Lotus entered the season as reigning champions.

Teams and drivers

Team	Constructor	Chassis	Engine	Tyres	#	Driver	Rounds
Template:GBR John Player Team Lotus [?]	Lotus-Ford	Lotus 79	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	Template:Dunlop Template:Goodyear [?]	1	Template:USA Mario Andretti	1-
					2	Template:GBR Thomas Nurmester	1-
Template:GBR Penthouse Team Tyrrell [?]	Tyrrell-Ford	Tyrrell 010	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	Template:Michelin	3	Template:FRA Didier Pironi	1-
					4	Template:GBR Robert Kagan	1-
Template:GBR Martini Racing [?]	Brabham-Ford	Brabham BT46	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	Template:Goodyear	5	Template:GBR James Hunt	1-
					6	Template:GBR John Watson	1-
Template:GBR Marlboro Team McLaren [?]	McLaren-Ford	McLaren M23B	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	Template:Dunlop	7	Template:SUI Clay Regazzoni	1-
					8	Template:USA Tom Sneva	1-
Template:GBR March Engineering [?]	March-Ford	March 781	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	Template:Michelin	9	Template:GBR Tom Pryce	1-
					10	Template:BEL Patrick Nève	1-
Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC [?]	Ferrari	Ferrari 312T3	Ferrari 015 3.0 F12	Template:Goodyear	11	Jody Scheckter	1-
					12	Gilles Villeneuve	1-
Template:FRA Équipe Renault Elf [?]	Renault	Renault RS01	Renault-Gordini EF1 1.5 V6T	Template:Michelin	14	Template:FRA Jean-Pierre Jabouille	1-
					15	Template:FRA René Arnoux	1-
ATS Racing Team [?]	ATS-Ford	ATS D1	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	Template:Michelin	16	Rolf Stommelen	1-
					17	Hans Heyer	1-
Template:GBR Warsteiner Arrows Racing Team [?]	Arrows-Ford	Arrows A1	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	Template:Pirelli	18	Gunnar Nilsson 1	None
						Gianfranco Brancatelli	1-
					19	Keke Rosberg	1-
Template:GBR F&S Properties Team Ensign [?]	Ensign-Ford	Ensign N178	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	Template:Goodyear	21	Ronnie Peterson	1-
					22	Template:USA Bobby Rahal	1-
Scuderia Everest [?]	Minardi-Ford	Minardi M178	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	Template:Pirelli	23	Riccardo Patrese	1-
					24	Piercarlo Ghinzani	1-
Template:FRA Ligier Gitanes [?]	Ligier-Matra	Ligier JS5C Ligier JS7	Matra MS73 3.0 V12	Template:Michelin	25	Template:FRA Jacques Laffite	1-
					26	Template:FRA François Migault	1-4
						Template:FRA Anton Roche	5,10,15-16
						Template:FRA Henri Pescarolo	6-9
						Template:FRA Michel Leclère	11-14
Template:GBR Saudia Williams Racing Team [?]	Williams-Ford	Williams FW06	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	Template:Goodyear	27	Template:FRA Patrick Depailler	1-
					28	Template:AUS Alan Jones	1-
Autodelta [?]	Alfa Romeo	Alfa Romeo 178	Alfa Romeo 115-12 3.0 F12		30	Template:FRA Jean-Pierre Jarier	1-3
						Emerson Fittipaldi 2	4-16
					31	Elio de Angelis	1-
Beta Utensili HB Bewaking Alarmsystemen [?]	Boro-Ford	Boro 003	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	Template:Goodyear	32	Leonhard von Gottorp	1-
					33	Vittorio Brambilla	1-
Dywa [?]	Dywa-Renzo	Dywa-001	Renzo DFV-2 3.0 V8		35	Renzo Zorzi	4-14
					36	Arsenio Matarazzo	4-14
Template:USA Interscope Racing [?]	Interscope-Ford	PC3-I	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	Template:Dunlop	37	Template:USA Danny Ongais	1-
					38	Template:USA Mike Mosley	1-
Team Merzario [?]	March-Ford	March 771	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8		39	Arturo Merzario	4-14
					40	Beppe Gabbiani	4-14
Centro Asegurador F1 [?]	March-Ford	March 761	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	Template:Michelin	41	Emilio de Villota	4-14
					42	Template:FRA Gabriel Château	4-14
Template:GBR B&S Fabrications [?]	March-Renzo	March 741	Renzo DFV 3.0 V8	Template:Dunlop	43	Template:GBR Divina Galica	9, 12
					44	Conny Andersson	9, 12
Willi Kauhsen Racing Team [?]	Kauhsen-Ford	Kauhsen WK1	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	Template:Dunlop	45	Anne Schröder	5, 10-14
					46	Klaus Ludwig	5, 10-14
Template:GBR Hesketh Racing [?]	Hesketh-Ford	Hesketh 308D/77	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	Template:Dunlop	47	Anders Olofsson	5, 9, 11
					48	Template:GBR Stephen South	5, 9, 11
Team Rebaque [?]	March-Ford	March 771	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	Template:Pirelli	49	Héctor Rebaque	4-14
					50	Template:USA Brett Lunger	4-14
Template:GBR North Star Racing [?]	Lola-Renzo	Lola T380	Renzo DFV-2 3.0 V8	Template:Dunlop	52	Giorgio Francia	5, 14
					53	Template:BEL Silvio Bachot	5
						Template:FRA Anton Roche	14
Template:GBR Shadow Racing Team [?]	Shadow-Ford	Shadow DN5B	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	Template:Dunlop	56	Freddy Kottulinsky	4, 6-7
					57	Template:BEL Silvio Bachot	4, 6-7
Template:GBR LEC Refrigeration Racing [?]	LEC-Ford	LEC CRP1	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	Template:Dunlop	60	Ian Scheckter	4,6-7,10-12
					61	Gijs van Lennep	4,6-7,10-12
Escuderia Hernandez [?]	Hernandez-Ford	Hernandez HB.2	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	Template:Dunlop	65	Héctor Luis Gradassi	1, 3, 16
					66	Osvaldo López	1, 3, 16
Template:USA Gilmore Racing [?]	March-Ford	March 761	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8		76	Template:USA George Snider	3
					77	Template:USA Jerry Sneva	3
	Gilmore-Ford	Gilmore G1			76	Template:USA George Snider	16
					77	Template:USA Jerry Sneva	16
Template:USA Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing [?]	Parnelli-Ford	Parnelli VPJ4B	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	Template:Dunlop	98	Template:GBR Peter Gregg	None 3
					99	Template:USA Jim Busby	None 3

Notes

• 1 Gunnar Nilsson signed with Arrows for the 1978 season, but was too ill to compete.
• 2 Emerson Fittipaldi missed the first three races of the season recovering from two broken legs sustained in an accident during the 1977 Dutch Grand Prix.
• 3 Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing formally announced their intention to compete in the 1978 season and signed Peter Gregg and Jim Busby, but had to declare bankruptcy shortly thereafter.

Calendar

Championship Grands Prix

	Race	Track	Date	Pole position	Fastest lap	Winning driver	Constructor	Entrant	Report
1	Austral Líneas Aéreas Argentine Grand Prix	Autódromo Juan y Oscar Gálvez	5 March	Gilles Villeneuve	Jody Scheckter	Template:AUS Alan Jones	Template:GBR Williams-Ford	Template:GBR Saudia Williams Racing Team	Report
2	Asseng South African Grand Prix	Kyalami	26 March	Jody Scheckter	Template:GBR James Hunt	Template:GBR James Hunt	Template:GBR Brabham-Ford	Template:GBR Martini Racing	Report
3	Template:USA Toyota United States Grand Prix West	Long Beach	9 April	Template:AUS Alan Jones	Jody Scheckter	Jody Scheckter	Ferrari	Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC	Report
4	RACE Spanish Grand Prix	Circuito del Jarama	7 May						Report
5	Template:BEL Marlboro Belgian Grand Prix	Circuit Zolder	21 May						Report
6	Monaco Grand Prix	Circuit de Monaco	4 June						Report
7	Template:FRA FFSA French Grand Prix	Circuit Paul Ricard	11 June						Report
8	Cinzano Tuscan Grand Prix	Mugello Circuit	25 June						Report
9	Template:GBR John Player British Grand Prix	Brands Hatch	16 July						Report
10	Template:SUI Marlboro Swiss Grand Prix	Circuit Dijon-Prenois	30 July						Report
11	Autorensport Dutch Grand Prix	Circuit Park Zandvoort	6 August						Report
12	AvD German Grand Prix	Hockenheimring	20 August						Report
13	Template:AUT Citizen Austrian Grand Prix	Österreichring	27 August						Report
14	Arexons Italian Grand Prix	Autodromo Nazionale Monza	10 September						Report
15	Labatt's Canadian Grand Prix	Circuit Île Notre-Dame	1 October						Report
16	Template:USA First National City United States Grand Prix	Watkins Glen	9 October						Report

Non-Championship Events

	Race	Track	Date	Pole position	Fastest lap	Winning driver	Winning constructor	Winning entrant	Report
1	Template:USA Budweiser Grand Prix of Cleveland	Burke Lakefront Airport	23 April	Template:USA Mario Andretti	Template:USA Mario Andretti	Template:GBR Thomas Nurmester	Template:GBR Lotus-Ford	Template:GBR John Player Team Lotus	Report
2	Template:GBR XXX BRDC International Trophy	Silverstone	28 May						Report
3	Trofeo Dino Ferrari	Autodromo Dino Ferrari	18 June						Report
4	Template:GBR Race of Champions	Brands Hatch	9 July						Report
5	Template:GBR Tony Brise Memorial Trophy	Silverstone	15 July						Report

Standings

Drivers' Championship

Position	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th
Points	9	6	4	3	2	1

Only a driver's best 11 finishes counted towards the championship

Pos Driver ARG RSA USW Template:USA ESP BEL Template:BEL MON FRA Template:FRA TUS GBR Template:GBR SUI Template:SUI NED GER AUT Template:AUT ITA CAN USA Template:USA Pts 1 Jody Scheckter 4 2 1 18 2 Template:AUS Alan Jones 1 Ret 4 12 3 Template:FRA Patrick Depailler 2 3 Ret 10 4 Template:GBR James Hunt Ret 1 11 9 5 Template:USA Mario Andretti Ret 12† 2 6 6 Template:FRA Didier Pironi 5 4 7 5 7 Template:GBR John Watson 3 Ret 15 4 8 Template:GBR Thomas Nurmester Ret Ret 3 4 9 Template:SUI Clay Regazzoni 6 5 Ret 3 10 Gilles Villeneuve 13† Ret 5 2 11 Elio de Angelis 12† Ret 6 1 12 Piercarlo Ghinzani DNPQ 6 DNPQ 1 — Template:GBR Tom Pryce 9 7 13 0 — Template:GBR Robert Kagan 7 Ret 12 0 — Leonhard von Gottorp 11 8 19 0 — Template:FRA Jacques Laffite 14† Ret 8 0 — Ronnie Peterson 8 Ret Ret 0 — Template:USA Tom Sneva Ret Ret 9 0 — Vittorio Brambilla Ret 9 DNQ 0 — Template:FRA François Migault 10 11 14 0 — Rolf Stommelen Ret 10 DNPQ DNPQ 0 — Keke Rosberg Ret DNPQ 10 0 — Template:FRA Jean-Pierre Jarier Ret Ret 16 0 — Template:USA Bobby Rahal Ret Ret 17 0 — Template:USA Danny Ongais DNPQ DNPQ 18 DNPQ 0 — Template:FRA René Arnoux Ret Ret Ret 0 — Template:FRA Jean-Pierre Jabouille Ret Ret Ret 0 — Gianfranco Brancatelli Ret DNPQ Ret 0 — Riccardo Patrese DNPQ Ret DNPQ 0 — Template:USA Mike Mosley DNPQ DNPQ Ret DNPQ 0 — Template:BEL Patrick Nève DNQ DNQ DNQ 0 — Hans Heyer DNQ DNQ DNPQ DNPQ 0 — Osvaldo López DNPQ DNPQ 0 — Héctor Luis Gradassi DNPQ DNPQ 0 — Template:USA Jerry Sneva DNPQ 0 — Template:USA George Snider DNPQ 0 — Héctor Rebaque DNPQ 0 — Template:USA Brett Lunger DNPQ 0 — Emilio de Villota DNPQ 0 — Template:FRA Gabriel Château DNPQ 0 — Ian Scheckter DNPQ 0 — Gijs van Lennep DNPQ 0 — Arturo Merzario DNPQ 0 — Beppe Gabbiani DNPQ 0 — Freddy Kottulinsky DNPQ 0 — Template:BEL Silvio Bachot DNPQ 0 — Renzo Zorzi DNPQ 0 — Arsenio Matarazzo DNPQ 0

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) Orange Did not qualify (DNQ) Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ) Black Disqualified (DSQ) Pale Blue Withdrawn (WD) Blank Did Not Enter (No text) Excluded (EX) Did not Start (DNS) Did not Arrive (DNA) Event cancelled (C) Injured (INJ) Bold denotes pole position Italics denote fastest lap † Classification despite retirement ‡ Race not run to scheduled distance

Constructor's Championship

Only a constructor's best placed two cars at each event counted for the championship. All results counted towards the championship

Pos Constructor # ARG RSA USW Template:USA ESP BEL Template:BEL MON FRA Template:FRA TUS GBR Template:GBR SUI Template:SUI NED GER AUT Template:AUT ITA CAN USA Template:USA Pts 1 Template:GBR Williams-Ford 27 2 3 Ret 22 28 1 Ret 4 2 Ferrari 11 4 2 1 20 12 13† Ret 5 3 Template:GBR Brabham-Ford 5 Ret 1 11 13 6 3 Ret 15 4 Template:GBR Lotus-Ford 1 Ret 12† 2 10 2 Ret Ret 3 5 Template:GBR Tyrrell-Ford 3 5 4 7 5 4 7 Ret 12 6 Template:GBR McLaren-Ford 7 6 5 Ret 3 8 Ret Ret 9 7 Alfa Romeo 30 Ret Ret Ret 1 31 12† Ret 6 8 Minardi-Ford 23 DNPQ Ret DNPQ 1 24 DNPQ 6 DNPQ — Template:GBR March-Ford 9 9 7 13 0 10 DNQ DNQ DNQ 39 DNPQ 40 DNPQ 41 DNPQ 42 DNPQ 49 DNPQ 50 DNPQ 76 DNPQ 77 DNPQ — Boro-Ford 32 11 8 19 0 33 Ret 9 DNQ — Template:GBR Ensign-Ford 21 8 Ret Ret 0 22 Ret Ret 17 — Template:FRA Ligier-Matra 25 14† Ret 8 0 26 10 11 14 — ATS-Ford 16 Ret 10 DNPQ DNPQ 0 17 DNQ DNQ DNPQ DNPQ — Template:FRA Renault 14 Ret Ret Ret 0 15 Ret Ret Ret — Template:GBR Arrows-Ford 18 Ret DNPQ 10 0 19 Ret DNPQ Ret — Template:USA Interscope-Ford 37 DNPQ DNPQ 18 0 38 DNPQ DNPQ Ret — Hernandez-Ford 65 DNPQ DNPQ 0 66 DNPQ DNPQ — Template:GBR LEC-Ford 60 DNPQ 0 61 DNPQ — Template:GBR Shadow-Ford 56 DNPQ 0 57 DNPQ — Dywa-Renzo 56 DNPQ 0 57 DNPQ