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
|
John Player Team Lotus [?]
|
Lotus-Ford
|
Lotus 79
|
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8
|
[?]
|
1
|
Mario Andretti
|
1-
|
2
|
Thomas Nurmester
|
1-
|
Penthouse Team Tyrrell [?]
|
Tyrrell-Ford
|
Tyrrell 010
|
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8
|
|
3
|
Didier Pironi
|
1-
|
4
|
Robert Kagan
|
1-
|
Martini Racing [?]
|
Brabham-Ford
|
Brabham BT46
|
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8
|
|
5
|
James Hunt
|
1-
|
6
|
John Watson
|
1-
|
Marlboro Team McLaren [?]
|
McLaren-Ford
|
McLaren M23B
|
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8
|
|
7
|
Clay Regazzoni
|
1-
|
8
|
Tom Sneva
|
1-
|
March Engineering [?]
|
March-Ford
|
March 781
|
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8
|
|
9
|
Tom Pryce
|
1-
|
10
|
Patrick Nève
|
1-
|
Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC [?]
|
Ferrari
|
Ferrari 312T3
|
Ferrari 015 3.0 F12
|
|
11
|
Jody Scheckter
|
1-
|
12
|
Gilles Villeneuve
|
1-
|
Équipe Renault Elf [?]
|
Renault
|
Renault RS01
|
Renault-Gordini EF1 1.5 V6T
|
|
14
|
Jean-Pierre Jabouille
|
1-
|
15
|
René Arnoux
|
1-
|
ATS Racing Team [?]
|
ATS-Ford
|
ATS D1
|
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8
|
|
16
|
Rolf Stommelen
|
1-
|
17
|
Hans Heyer
|
1-
|
Warsteiner Arrows Racing Team [?]
|
Arrows-Ford
|
Arrows A1
|
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8
|
|
18
|
Gunnar Nilsson 1
|
None
|
Gianfranco Brancatelli
|
1-
|
19
|
Keke Rosberg
|
1-
|
F&S Properties Team Ensign [?]
|
Ensign-Ford
|
Ensign N178
|
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8
|
|
21
|
Ronnie Peterson
|
1-
|
22
|
Bobby Rahal
|
1-
|
Scuderia Everest [?]
|
Minardi-Ford
|
Minardi M178
|
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8
|
|
23
|
Riccardo Patrese
|
1-
|
24
|
Piercarlo Ghinzani
|
1-
|
Ligier Gitanes [?]
|
Ligier-Matra
|
Ligier JS5C Ligier JS7
|
Matra MS73 3.0 V12
|
|
25
|
Jacques Laffite
|
1-
|
26
|
François Migault
|
1-4
|
Anton Roche
|
5,10,15-16
|
Henri Pescarolo
|
6-9
|
Michel Leclère
|
11-14
|
Saudia Williams Racing Team [?]
|
Williams-Ford
|
Williams FW06
|
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8
|
|
27
|
Patrick Depailler
|
1-
|
28
|
Alan Jones
|
1-
|
Autodelta [?]
|
Alfa Romeo
|
Alfa Romeo 178
|
Alfa Romeo 115-12 3.0 F12
|
|
30
|
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
|
|
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
|
Interscope Racing [?]
|
Interscope-Ford
|
PC3-I
|
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8
|
|
37
|
Danny Ongais
|
1-
|
38
|
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
|
|
41
|
Emilio de Villota
|
4-14
|
42
|
Gabriel Château
|
4-14
|
B&S Fabrications [?]
|
March-Renzo
|
March 741
|
Renzo DFV 3.0 V8
|
|
43
|
Divina Galica
|
9, 12
|
44
|
Conny Andersson
|
9, 12
|
Willi Kauhsen Racing Team [?]
|
Kauhsen-Ford
|
Kauhsen WK1
|
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8
|
|
45
|
Anne Schröder
|
5, 10-14
|
46
|
Klaus Ludwig
|
5, 10-14
|
Hesketh Racing [?]
|
Hesketh-Ford
|
Hesketh 308D/77
|
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8
|
|
47
|
Anders Olofsson
|
5, 9, 11
|
48
|
Stephen South
|
5, 9, 11
|
Team Rebaque [?]
|
March-Ford
|
March 771
|
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8
|
|
49
|
Héctor Rebaque
|
4
|
50
|
Brett Lunger
|
4
|
Rebaque-Ford
|
Rebaque HR100
|
|
49
|
Héctor Rebaque
|
5-14
|
50
|
Brett Lunger
|
5-14
|
North Star Racing [?]
|
Lola-Renzo
|
Lola T380
|
Renzo DFV-2 3.0 V8
|
|
52
|
Giorgio Francia
|
5, 14
|
53
|
Silvio Bachot
|
5
|
Anton Roche
|
14
|
British Formula One Racing Team [?]
|
TBA
|
TBA
|
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8
|
|
54
|
Hope Stever
|
9
|
55
|
TBA
|
9
|
Shadow Racing Team [?]
|
Shadow-Ford
|
Shadow DN5B
|
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8
|
|
56
|
Freddy Kottulinsky
|
4, 6-7
|
57
|
Silvio Bachot
|
4, 6-7
|
LEC Refrigeration Racing [?]
|
LEC-Ford
|
LEC CRP1
|
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8
|
|
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
|
|
65
|
Héctor Luis Gradassi
|
1, 3, 16
|
66
|
Osvaldo López
|
1, 3, 16
|
Gilmore Racing [?]
|
March-Ford
|
March 761
|
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8
|
|
76
|
George Snider
|
3
|
77
|
Jerry Sneva
|
3
|
Gilmore-Ford
|
Gilmore G1
|
|
76
|
George Snider
|
16
|
77
|
Jerry Sneva
|
16
|
Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing [?]
|
Parnelli-Ford
|
Parnelli VPJ4B
|
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8
|
|
98
|
Peter Gregg
|
None 3
|
99
|
Jim Busby
|
None 3
|
Notes
Team Changes
Pre-season
A bunch of teams would leave Formula One by the 1978 season. Wheatcroft Racing were the first to go, after the Michael Tyrrell saga left them bankrupt. South African privateers Lucky Strike Racing also stopped participating in Formula One after 1977. After Brian McGuire was killed in a crash at Brands Hatch in the Shellsport G8 Championship, his team ceased to operate. Then, after the dropping of the Soviet Grand Prix from the 1978 calendar, MADI and Auto Moto Club Skofje Loka decided to not turn up for any races this season. The dropping of the Japanese Grand Prix after 1977 also saw local teams Kojima Engineering, Mitsuoka and Heros Racing Corporation decide to not pour their resources into travelling to a grand prix. The Jolly Club of Switzerland and the Bang & Olufsen Team Michel Vaillant also decided to stop participating in F1. Elsewhere, Roger Penske decided to withdraw from Formula One after two uncompetitive seasons, and Parnelli appeared on the entry list, but ran out of money before being able to pay for any entries.
However, there were a group of new teams joining the grid. Penske was bought by Jackie Oliver and renamed it into the Warsteiner Arrows Racing Team. Emerson Fittipaldi's team was bought out by Alfa Romeo and made their works F1 effort. Emilio De Villota renamed his team from Iberia Airlines to Centro Asegurador F1, and Héctor Rebaque also re-entered Formula One with his own team.
Several teams also had to scale down their F1 entries due to financial issues. Shadow and Hesketh had to cut down to entering just 3 races due to extremely poor 1977 campaigns, with privateers North Star Racing and B&S Fabrications reverted to just 2 race entries instead of the European season.
Mid-season
Driver Changes
Pre-Season
Mid-Season
Calendar
Championship Grands Prix
Non-Championship Events
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
|
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
|
ESP
|
BEL
|
MON
|
FRA
|
TUS
|
GBR
|
SUI
|
NED
|
GER
|
AUT
|
ITA
|
CAN
|
USA
|
Pts
|
1
|
Ferrari
|
11
|
4
|
2
|
1
|
Ret
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
26
|
12
|
13†
|
Ret
|
5
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2
|
Lotus-Ford
|
1
|
Ret
|
12†
|
2
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
23
|
2
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
3
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3
|
Williams-Ford
|
27
|
2
|
3
|
Ret
|
7
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
22
|
28
|
1
|
Ret
|
4
|
8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4
|
Brabham-Ford
|
5
|
Ret
|
1
|
11
|
Ret
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16
|
6
|
3
|
Ret
|
15
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5
|
Tyrrell-Ford
|
3
|
5
|
4
|
7
|
13
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5
|
4
|
7
|
Ret
|
12
|
Ret
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6
|
Alfa Romeo
|
30
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4
|
31
|
12†
|
Ret
|
6
|
5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7
|
McLaren-Ford
|
7
|
6
|
5
|
Ret
|
18†
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3
|
8
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
9
|
Ret
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8
|
Minardi-Ford
|
23
|
DNPQ
|
Ret
|
DNPQ
|
Ret
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
24
|
DNPQ
|
6
|
DNPQ
|
Ret
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
March-Ford
|
9
|
9
|
7
|
13
|
Ret
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
10
|
DNQ
|
DNQ
|
DNQ
|
DNQ
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
39
|
|
|
|
DNPQ
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
40
|
|
|
|
DNPQ
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
41
|
|
|
|
DNPQ
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
42
|
|
|
|
DNPQ
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
49
|
|
|
|
DNPQ
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
50
|
|
|
|
DNPQ
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
76
|
|
|
DNPQ
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
77
|
|
|
DNPQ
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
Ligier-Matra
|
25
|
14†
|
Ret
|
8
|
9
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
26
|
10
|
11
|
14
|
16
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
Boro-Ford
|
32
|
11
|
8
|
19
|
17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
33
|
Ret
|
9
|
DNQ
|
DNQ
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
Ensign-Ford
|
21
|
8
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
11
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
22
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
17
|
12
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
Arrows-Ford
|
18
|
Ret
|
DNPQ
|
10
|
10
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
19
|
Ret
|
DNPQ
|
Ret
|
14
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
ATS-Ford
|
16
|
Ret
|
10
|
DNPQ
|
DNPQ
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
17
|
DNQ
|
DNQ
|
DNPQ
|
DNPQ
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
Renault
|
14
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
15
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
15
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
Ret
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
Interscope-Ford
|
37
|
DNPQ
|
DNPQ
|
18
|
DNPQ
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
38
|
DNPQ
|
DNPQ
|
Ret
|
DNPQ
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
Hernandez-Ford
|
65
|
DNPQ
|
|
DNPQ
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
66
|
DNPQ
|
|
DNPQ
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
Dywa-Renzo
|
35
|
|
|
|
DNPQ
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
36
|
|
|
|
DNPQ
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
Shadow-Ford
|
56
|
|
|
|
DNPQ
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
57
|
|
|
|
DNPQ
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
LEC-Ford
|
60
|
|
|
|
DNPQ
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
61
|
|
|
|
DNPQ
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Entrant's Championship
|