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The 1971 French Grand Prix was the fifth race of the 1971 Formula One season, and was held at the new Circuit Paul Ricard on 4 July 1971. Despite Ferrari being heavy favorites to win, Jackie Stewart scored a Grand Chelem, and teammate François Cevert made it a Tyrrell 1-2.

Background[]

After two years at the Charade Circuit, near Clermont-Ferrand, the race was held at the brand-new Circuit Paul Ricard, near Marseille. Wide and flat, the circuit was criticized by journalists, but the safety features and modern facilities made it popular with drivers and teams. The 1.9km-long Mistral straight meant that a premium would be placed on horsepower and aerodynamics. The track had been used extensively for off-season testing, but no one had ever raced here in mid-summer, so the very warm and breezy conditions caught some teams off guard.

  • Brabham: Both cars featured high engine air boxes and single oil coolers. The BT34 also had revised oil pipes.
  • BRM: The cars were fitted with modified rear wings, allowing for a greater range of adjustments.
  • Ferrari: Mario Andretti was not present, due to a USAC commitment. The team brought three cars, all of which had been upgraded with an anti-vibration damper device in the rear suspension. Clay Regazzoni tried out a nose with streamlined vertical members at the end of the wings, to decrease drag from the front tires, but it was not used in the race. With the almost two km long back straight, Ferrari were heavy favorites here.
  • Lotus: Emerson Fittipaldi had recovered from his road accident enough to drive, but still had visible bandages and was obviously in pain. Reine Wisell's car had been upgraded to 72D specification. Dave Walker's accident at Zandvoort in the 56B turbine did a severe amount of damage to the chassis, and sent a large amount of sand into the turbine itself. Neither the car nor the turbine could not be repaired in time, so Walker did not drive this weekend.
  • March: Andrea de Adamich had returned to drive the primary Alfa Romeo engined car. Ronnie Peterson was driving a second Alfa Romeo car this weekend, as the team was critically short of Cosworth engines. Cosworth had apparently suffered a bad batch of crankshafts, and the company was overwhelmed with repair requests. This also prevented March from entering a fourth car for Nanni Galli. Peterson's car also had a new air intake box.
  • Matra: the Matras had a new front wheel design, to increase airflow to the brakes, as this track is hard on braking. Chris Amon decided he liked the handling of the spare car, and drove it in the race.
  • McLaren: The team transporter broke down on the drive across France, and did not arrive until Friday night, so the drivers missed Friday practice. Once they got going, the only change to the cars was an engine air box on Denny Hulme's car.
  • Williams: Henri Pescarolo's 711 had been almost completely rebuilt since Zandvoort. The team's primary sponsor, Motul Oil, arranged for local driver Max Jean to run the team's spare 701 for the weekend.
  • Tyrrell: Both cars had lower-drag rear wings mounted, and the 003 (Jackie Stewart's car) raced with the full-width streamlined nose seen in practice at Zandvoort. As usual, car 001 was along as a spare.


Entry list[]

The full entry list for the 1971 French Grand Prix is outlined below:

No. Driver Entrant Constructor Chassis Engine Model Tyre
1 Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi United Kingdom Gold Leaf Team Lotus Lotus 72D Ford Cosworth DFV V8 3.0 F
2 Sweden Reine Wisell United Kingdom Gold Leaf Team Lotus Lotus 72D Ford Cosworth DFV V8 3.0 F
4 Belgium Jacky Ickx Italy Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC Ferrari 312B2 Ferrari 001/1 F12 3.0 F
5 Switzerland Clay Regazzoni Italy Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC Ferrari 312B2 Ferrari 001/1 F12 3.0 F
6 United States Mario Andretti Italy Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC Ferrari 312B2 Ferrari 001/1 F12 3.0 F
7 United Kingdom Graham Hill United Kingdom Motor Racing Developments Brabham BT34 Ford Cosworth DFV V8 3.0 G
8 Australia Tim Schenken United Kingdom Motor Racing Developments Brabham BT33 Ford Cosworth DFV V8 3.0 G
9 New Zealand Denny Hulme United Kingdom Bruce McLaren Motor Racing McLaren M19A Ford Cosworth DFV V8 3.0 G
10 United Kingdom Peter Gethin United Kingdom Bruce McLaren Motor Racing McLaren M19A Ford Cosworth DFV V8 3.0 G
11 United Kingdom Jackie Stewart United Kingdom Elf Team Tyrrell Tyrrell 003 Ford Cosworth DFV V8 3.0 G
12 France François Cevert United Kingdom Elf Team Tyrrell Tyrrell 002 Ford Cosworth DFV V8 3.0 G
14 Mexico Pedro Rodríguez United Kingdom Yardley Team BRM BRM P160 BRM P142 V12 3.0 F
15 Switzerland Jo Siffert United Kingdom Yardley Team BRM BRM P160 BRM P142 V12 3.0 F
16 New Zealand Howden Ganley United Kingdom Yardley Team BRM BRM P153 BRM P142 V12 3.0 F
17 Sweden Ronnie Peterson United Kingdom STP March Racing Team March 711 Alfa Romeo T33 V8 3.0 F
18 Spain Alex Soler-Roig United Kingdom STP March Racing Team March 711 Ford Cosworth DFV V8 3.0 F
19 Italy Andrea de Adamich United Kingdom STP March Racing Team March 711 Alfa Romeo T33 V8 3.0 F
20 New Zealand Chris Amon France Equipe Matra Sports Matra MS120B Matra MS71 V12 3.0 G
21 France Jean-Pierre Beltoise France Equipe Matra Sports Matra MS120B Matra MS71 V12 3.0 G
22 United Kingdom John Surtees United Kingdom Brooke Bond Oxo Team Surtees Surtees TS9 Ford Cosworth DFV V8 3.0 F
23 France Gérard Larrousse United Kingdom Brooke Bond Oxo Team Surtees Surtees TS9 Ford Cosworth DFV V8 3.0 F
24 West Germany Rolf Stommelen United Kingdom Auto Motor und Sport Team Surtees Surtees TS9 Ford Cosworth DFV V8 3.0 F
25 United Kingdom Mike Beuttler United Kingdom Clarke-Mordaunt-Guthrie Racing March 701 Ford Cosworth DFV V8 3.0 F
26 France Jean-Pierre Jarier France Shell Arnold Team March 701 Ford Cosworth DFV V8 3.0 F
27 France Henri Pescarolo United Kingdom Frank Williams Racing Cars March 711 Ford Cosworth DFV V8 3.0 F
28 France Max Jean United Kingdom Frank Williams Racing Cars March 701 Ford Cosworth DFV V8 3.0 F
33 Italy Nanni Galli United Kingdom STP March Racing Team March 711 Ford Cosworth DFV V8 3.0 F
34 France François Mazet Switzerland Jo Siffert Automobiles March 701 Ford Cosworth DFV V8 3.0 F

Practice Overview[]

Qualifying Results[]

Pos No. Driver Constructor Lap Gap
1 11 United Kingdom Jackie Stewart Tyrrell-Ford 1:50.71
2 5 Switzerland Clay Regazzoni Ferrari 1:51.53 +0.82
3 4 Belgium Jacky Ickx Ferrari 1:51.88 +1.11
4 7 United Kingdom Graham Hill Brabham-Ford 1:52.32 +1.61
5 15 Mexico Pedro Rodríguez BRM 1:52.46 +1.75
6 14 Switzerland Jo Siffert BRM 1:52.50 +1.79
7 12 France François Cevert Tyrrell-Ford 1:52.69 +1.98
8 21 France Jean-Pierre Beltoise Matra 1:52.92 +2.21
9 20 New Zealand Chris Amon Matra 1:52.94 +2.23
10 24 Germany Rolf Stommelen Surtees-Ford 1:53.10 +2.39
11 9 New Zealand Denny Hulme McLaren-Ford 1:53.24 +2.53
12 17 Sweden Ronnie Peterson March-Alfa Romeo 1:53.36 +2.65
13 22 United Kingdom John Surtees Surtees-Ford 1:53.57 +2.86
14 8 Australia Tim Schenken Brabham-Ford 1:53.58 +2.87
15 2 Sweden Reine Wisell Lotus-Ford 1:53.75 +3.04
16 16 New Zealand Howden Ganley BRM 1:53.77 +3.06
17 1 Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi Lotus-Ford 1:54.22 +3.51
18 27 France Henri Pescarolo March-Ford 1:54.27 +3.56
19 10 United Kingdom Peter Gethin McLaren-Ford 1:54.90 +4.19
20 19 Italy Andrea de Adamich March-Alfa Romeo 1:56.17 +5.46
21 18 Spain Alex Soler-Roig March-Ford 1:57.07 +6.36
22 28 France Max Jean March-Ford 1:59.79 +9.08
23 34 France François Mazet March-Ford 2:00.51 +9.80

Grid[]

Race[]

Results[]

Pos No Driver Constructor Laps Time/Retired Grid Points
1 11 United Kingdom Jackie Stewart Tyrrell-Ford 55 1:46:41.68 1 9
2 12 France François Cevert Tyrrell-Ford 55 +28.12 7 6
3 1 Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi Lotus-Ford 55 +34.07 17 4
4 14 Switzerland Jo Siffert BRM 55 +37.17 6 3
5 20 New Zealand Chris Amon Matra 55 +41.08 9 2
6 2 Sweden Reine Wisell Lotus-Ford 55 +1:15.98 15 1
7 21 France Jean-Pierre Beltoise Matra 55 +1:16.93 8  
8 22 United Kingdom John Surtees Surtees-Ford 55 +1:24.91 13  
9 10 United Kingdom Peter Gethin McLaren-Ford 54 +1 Lap 20  
10 16 New Zealand Howden Ganley BRM 54 +1 Lap 16  
11 24 Germany Rolf Stommelen Surtees-Ford 53 +2 Laps 10  
12 8 Australia Tim Schenken Brabham-Ford 50 Engine 14  
13 34 France François Mazet March-Ford 50 +5 Laps 23  
NC 28 France Max Jean March-Ford 46 +9 Laps 22  
Ret 27 France Henri Pescarolo March-Ford 45 Transmission 18  
Ret 7 United Kingdom Graham Hill Brabham-Ford 35 Oil pressure 4  
Ret 19 Italy Andrea de Adamich March-Alfa Romeo 32 Engine 20  
Ret 15 Mexico Pedro Rodríguez BRM 28 Coil failure 5  
Ret 5 Switzerland Clay Regazzoni Ferrari 21 Accident damage 2  
Ret 17 Sweden Ronnie Peterson March-Alfa Romeo 20 Engine 12  
Ret 9 New Zealand Denny Hulme McLaren-Ford 16 Ignition 11  
Ret 1 Belgium Jacky Ickx Ferrari 5 Engine 3  
Ret 18 Spain Alex Soler-Roig March-Ford 4 Fuel pump 21  

Milestones[]

Standings after race[]

Drivers' World Championship
Pos. Driver Pts
1 United Kingdom Jackie Stewart 33
2 Belgium Jacky Ickx 19
3= United States Mario Andretti 9
3= Sweden Ronnie Peterson 9
3= Mexico Pedro Rodríguez 9
6= Switzerland Clay Regazzoni 8
6= New Zealand Chris Amon 8
8= France François Cevert 6
8= New Zealand Denny Hulme 6
8= Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi 6
11= Sweden Reine Wisell 4
11= Switzerland Jo Siffert 4
13 United Kingdom John Surtees 2
14= France Jean-Pierre Beltoise 1
14= Germany Rolf Stommelen 1
Constructors' World Championship
Pos. Team Pts
1 United Kingdom Tyrrell-Ford 33
2 Italy Ferrari 28
3 United Kingdom BRM 12
4= United Kingdom March-Ford 9
4= United Kingdom Lotus-Ford 9
6 France Matra 8
7 United Kingdom McLaren-Ford 6
8 United Kingdom Surtees-Ford 3

References[]

  • Pritchard, Anthony (1972). The Motor Racing Year No3. W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.. pp. 64-71. ISBN 0-393-08502-3.
V T E 1971 Formula One Season
Constructors Bellasi • Brabham • BRM • Ferrari • Lotus • March • Matra • McLaren • Surtees • Tyrrell
Engines Alfa Romeo • BRM • Ferrari • Ford Cosworth • Matra
Drivers De Adamich • Amon • Andretti • Barber • Bell • Beltoise • Beuttler • Bonnier • Cannon • Cevert • Charlton • Craft • Donohue • Eaton • Elford • Fittipaldi • Galli • Ganley • Gethin • Hailwood • Hill • Hobbs • Hulme • Ickx • Jarier • Jean • Lauda • van Lennep • Love • Lovely • Marko • Mazet • Moser • Oliver • Pescarolo • Peterson • Posey • Pretorius • Redman • Regazzoni • Revson • Rodríguez • Schenken • Siffert • Soler-Roig • Stewart • Stommelen • Surtees • Walker • Wisell
Cars Bellasi F1 70 • Brabham BT33 • Brabham BT34 • BRM P153 • BRM P160 • Ferrari 312B • Ferrari 312B2 • Lotus 56B • Lotus 69 • Lotus 72C • Lotus 72D • March 701 • March 711 • Matra MS120B • McLaren M7C • McLaren M14A • McLaren M19A • Surtees TS7 • Surtees TS9 • Tyrrell 001 • Tyrrell 002 • Tyrrell 003
Tyres Goodyear • Firestone
Races South Africa • Spain • Monaco • Netherlands • France • Britain • Germany • Austria • Italy • Canada • United States
Non-championship Races Argentina • Race of Champions • Questor • Spring Trophy • International Trophy • Jochen Rindt • Gold Cup • World Championship
See also 1970 Formula One Season • 1972 Formula One Season • Category
V T E France French Grand Prix
Circuits Le Mans (1906, 1921, 1929)
Dieppe (1907-1908, 1912)
Amiens (1913)
Lyon (1914, 1924)
Strasbourg (1922)
Tours (1923)
Montlhéry (1925, 1927, 1931, 1933-1937)
Reims-Gueux (1932, 1938-1939, 1948–1951, 1953–1954, 1956, 1958–1961, 1963, 1966)
Lyon-Parilly (1947)
Rouen-Les-Essarts (1952, 1957, 1962, 1964, 1968)
Charade Circuit (1965, 1969–1970, 1972)
Bugatti Circuit (1967)
Circuit Paul Ricard (1971, 1973, 1975–1976, 1978, 1980, 1982–1983, 1985–1990, 2018–2019, 2021-2022)
Dijon-Prenois (1974, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1984)
Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours (1991–2008)
PR Screen Shot 2017-03-23 at 12.15.31 AM
Races 195019511952195319541955195619571958195919601961196219631964196519661967196819691970197119721973197419751976197719781979198019811982198319841985198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009–201720182019202020212022
European Championship Races 193119321933–193719381939
Non-Championship Races 1906190719081909–19111912191319141915–192019211922192319241925192619271928192919301931–1932193319341935193619371938–1946194719481949
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