1973 F1 Season

The 1973 Formula One season, the 27th in the series, was a pivotal year in the sport’s history, featuring the World Championship of Drivers and the International Cup for F1 Manufacturers over fifteen races. This season introduced the Brazilian and Swedish Grands Prix, expanding the global footprint of Formula One. Jackie Stewart, driving for Elf Team Tyrrell, clinched the Drivers’ Championship, while John Player Team Lotus secured the Constructors’ Championship. The season was marked by intense competition between Lotus teammates Emerson Fittipaldi and Ronnie Peterson, and the tragic death of François Cevert during practice at the United States Grand Prix, which led to Stewart’s withdrawal from the race and his subsequent retirement announcement.

1973 was a year of significant developments and tragic losses in Formula One. The introduction of the safety car, a Porsche 914 at the Canadian Grand Prix, was a notable innovation, although it wouldn’t become a regular feature until 1993. The season was marred by the deaths of Roger Williamson at the Dutch Grand Prix and François Cevert at the United States Grand Prix. The McLaren M23 emerged as a formidable car, marking the debut of future world champion James Hunt. The season also saw the formalisation of the numbering system for teams, adding a new dimension to the sport’s organisation. The races spanned various continents, with Grands Prix in Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, Spain, Belgium, Monaco, Sweden, France, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Italy, Canada, and the United States.