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The 1978 Formula One season was the 29th season of Formula One. Mario Andretti and Lotus entered the season as reigning champions, but would face a strong challenge from Ferrari and Williams, with both teams developing a ground effects chassis for the 1978 season.
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-
|
Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC [?]
|
Ferrari
|
Ferrari 312T3
|
Ferrari 015 3.0 F12
|
Template:Goodyear
|
5
|
Jody Scheckter
|
1-
|
6
|
Gilles Villeneuve
|
1-
|
Template:GBR Martini Racing [?]
|
Brabham-Ford
|
Brabham BT46 Brabham BT46B
|
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8
|
Template:Goodyear
|
7
|
Template:GBR James Hunt
|
1-
|
8
|
Template:GBR John Watson
|
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
|
1-6
|
Template:FRA François Migault
|
7-
|
Template:GBR Marlboro Team McLaren [?]
|
McLaren-Ford
|
McLaren M23B
|
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8
|
Template:Dunlop
|
11
|
Template:SUI Clay Regazzoni
|
1-
|
12
|
Template:USA Tom Sneva
|
1-6
|
Template:FRA René Arnoux
|
7-
|
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
|
1-6
|
Template:USA Tom Sneva
|
7-
|
ATS Racing Team [?]
|
ATS-Ford
|
ATS D1
|
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8
|
Template:Michelin
|
16
|
Rolf Stommelen
|
1-
|
17
|
Hans Heyer
|
1-8
|
Template:AUT Harald Ertl
|
9-
|
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
|
1-5, 7-9
|
Nelson Piquet
|
6
|
Template:FRA Gabriel Château
|
10-
|
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, 10-11
|
Template:FRA Henri Pescarolo
|
6-9
|
Template:FRA Michel Leclère
|
12-16
|
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
|
1-11, 13-16
|
Bertram Schäfer
|
12
|
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
|
1-10, 12-16
|
Arie Luyendyk
|
11
|
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
|
4-9
|
Timo Fuchs
|
10-14
|
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, 9, 12-13
|
46
|
Klaus Ludwig
|
5, 9, 12-13
|
Template:GBR Hesketh Racing [?]
|
Hesketh-Ford
|
Hesketh 308E
|
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8
|
Template:Dunlop
|
47
|
Anders Olofsson
|
5
|
Template:FRA Patrick Tambay
|
9, 11
|
48
|
Template:GBR Stephen South
|
5, 9
|
Nelson Piquet
|
11
|
Team Rebaque [?]
|
March-Ford
|
March 771
|
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8
|
Template:Pirelli
|
49
|
Héctor Rebaque
|
4
|
50
|
Template:USA Brett Lunger
|
4
|
Rebaque-Ford
|
Rebaque HR78
|
Template:Pirelli
|
49
|
Héctor Rebaque
|
5-14
|
50
|
Template:USA Brett Lunger
|
5-14
|
Template:GBR North Star Racing [?]
|
Lola-Renzo
|
Lola T380
|
Renzo DFV-2 3.0 V8
|
Template:Dunlop
|
52
|
Giorgio Francia
|
5
|
Template:BEL Silvio Bachot
|
9, 14
|
53
|
Template:BEL Silvio Bachot
|
5
|
Template:BEL Patrick Nève
|
9
|
Bertram Schäfer
|
14
|
Template:GBR British Formula One Racing Team [?]
|
March-Ford
|
March 771
|
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8
|
Template:Dunlop
|
54
|
Template:GBR Hope Stever
|
9
|
55
|
Template:GBR Harvey Jones
|
9
|
Template:GBR Shadow Racing Team [?]
|
Shadow-Ford
|
Shadow DN5B
|
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8
|
Template:Dunlop
|
56
|
Freddy Kottulinsky
|
4, 6
|
57
|
Template:BEL Silvio Bachot
|
4, 6
|
Équipe Vitesse [?]
|
March-Ford
|
March 761
|
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8
|
Template:Dunlop
|
58
|
Template:BEL Max Vitesse
|
11
|
59
|
Template:BEL Padè Vitesse
|
11
|
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
|
66
|
Osvaldo López
|
1, 3
|
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
|
Scuderia Cacciatori [?]
|
March-Renzo
|
March 741
|
Renzo DFV 3.0 V8
|
Template:Dunlop
|
88
|
Violetta Cacciatori
|
11, 14
|
89
|
Ottavia Cacciatori
|
11, 14
|
Template:USA Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing [?]
|
Parnelli-Ford
|
Parnelli VPJ4B
|
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8
|
Template:Dunlop
|
98
|
Template:GBR Peter Gregg
|
3 3
|
99
|
Template:USA Jim Busby
|
3 3
|
Notes
Team Changes
Pre-season
Mid-Season
Driver Changes
Pre-Season
- Brabham signed John Watson from Shadow to replace Patrick Tambay alongside James Hunt. Tambay would return to Formula 2 for a year.
- McLaren appointed Clay Regazzoni to race alongside Tom Sneva, replacing Carlos Reutemann, who retired from racing.
- March signed Patrick Nève to partner Tom Pryce.
- After his win at the 1977 Canadian Grand Prix, Ferrari signed Gilles Villeneuve to partner 1976 champion Jody Scheckter.
- Renault signed René Arnoux to replace Jean-Pierre Jarier. Jarier would go to Alfa Romeo to cover for the injured Emerson Fittipaldi.
- Arrows signed Finnish rookie Keke Rosberg, and Swede Gunnar Nilsson, but after the latter's diagnosis with testicular cancer, they signed Italian Gianfranco Brancatelli as a last minute replacement.
- Ensign signed American youngster Bobby Rahal to replace Nilsson alongside Ronnie Peterson.
- Everest signed Italians Riccardo Patrese and Piercarlo Ghinzani.
- Ligier signed François Migault to partner Jacques Laffite. Jacky Ickx would retire from Formula One and Harvey Jones would drive for the British Formula One Racing Team.
- Williams signed Ferrari refugee Patrick Depailler to partner Australian Alan Jones, who was returning to racing after his accident after the previous year's Dutch Grand Prix.
- Alfa Romeo brought Elio de Angelis to their team from Williams, with Jean-Pierre Jarier covering for the injured Emerson Fittipaldi.
- Boro signed former Hesketh driver Leonhard von Gottorp to drive alongside Italian Vittorio Brambilla.
- Dywa kept Renzo Zorzi and signed Arsenio Matarazzo to replace Alberto Colombo.
- Team Merzario signed Beppe Gabbiani to replace Tom Belsø, who would return to Formula 2.
- B&S Fabrications kept Divina Galica and partnered her with Swede Conny Andersson.
- Kauhsen signed Anne Schröder and Klaus Ludwig.
- Hesketh kept Stephen South and used Swedish driver Anders Olofsson. Héctor Rebaque would drive for his own team, Leonhard von Gottorp would go to Boro, Patrick Nève would go to March, Giancarlo Martini would go to Formula 2 and Brian Henton would drive in Aurora F1.
- Rebaque used American Brett Lunger alongside Héctor Rebaque.
- Struggling privateers North Star Racing would sign Giorgio Francia and Anton Roche.
- Shadow signed Swedish nobleman and rally driver Freddy Kottulinsky, and 1971 British Formula Three champion Silvio Bachot
- LEC used Ian Scheckter and Gijs van Lennep.
- Hernandez used local drivers Héctor Luis Gradassi and Osvaldo López
- Gilmore used George Snider and Jerry Sneva
- Parnelli signed Peter Gregg and Jim Busby, but due to the team's bankruptcy, neither would compete in a grand prix weekend.
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