1973 Formula One season
The 1973 Formula One season was the 27th season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the 1973 World Championship of Drivers and the 1973 International Cup for F1 Manufacturers, which were contested concurrently over a fifteen-race series that commenced on 28 January and ended on 7 October. There were two new races for the 1973 season – the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos in São Paulo and the Swedish Grand Prix at Anderstorp. The season also included two non-championship races which were open to both Formula One and Formula 5000 cars.
The World Championship of Drivers was won by Jackie Stewart, driving for Elf Team Tyrrell, and the International Cup for F1 Manufacturers by John Player Team Lotus. In the World Championship, Lotus teammates Emerson Fittipaldi and Ronnie Peterson raced each other while Stewart was supported at Tyrrell by François Cevert. Stewart took the Drivers' title at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, but then at the final race of the season, the United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen, Cevert crashed during Saturday practice in the notorious 'Esses' and was killed instantly. Stewart and Tyrrell withdrew from the race, handing the Manufacturers' title to Lotus. At the end of the season Stewart made public his decision to retire, a decision that had been made before the US Grand Prix. By the end of the 1973 season the best car on the track was probably the new McLaren M23, a wedge-shaped car following the same concept as the Lotus 72 but with more conventional suspension and up-to-date aerodynamics. The 1973 season marked the debut of future world champion James Hunt at the Monaco Grand Prix driving a privateer March 731 entered by Hesketh Racing.
The 1973 season saw the intervention of a Safety Car in Formula One for the first time, in the form of a Porsche 914 at the Canadian Grand Prix. However, this safety concept would not be officially introduced until twenty years later, in. As well as Cevert, Briton Roger Williamson was also killed during the season, in a crash at the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort.
Another change to the rules introduced this season was the cars doing a full warm-up lap before the race. Prior to this, tracks included a dummy grid a short distance behind a grid proper, and the cars would simply move from one to the other to begin the race.
It was also this season that the numbering system for teams was formalised. In the second race of the season in Brazil, team-mates were paired - Lotus drivers 1 and 2; Tyrrell's 3 and 4 and so on - though the numbers assigned to each team still changed for a couple of races until the fifth race, the Belgian Grand Prix, at which the order was set for the rest of the season. For 1974, the numbers were assigned based on finishing positions in the 1973 constructor's championship, after which teams did not change numbers unless they won the drivers' championship, or if a team dropped out.
Drivers and constructors
The following teams and drivers contested the 1973 World Championship.won his third and final Drivers' Championship, driving for Tyrrell.
won their second consecutive Manufacturers' Cup with the Lotus 72.
| Entrant | Constructor | Chassis | Engine | Tyre | Driver | Rounds |
 John Player Team Lotus | Lotus-Ford | 72D 72E | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 |  Emerson Fittipaldi | All | |
| John Player Team Lotus | Lotus-Ford | 72D 72E | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 |  Ronnie Peterson | All | |
| Elf Team Tyrrell | Tyrrell-Ford | 005 006 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Jackie Stewart | All | |
| Elf Team Tyrrell | Tyrrell-Ford | 005 006 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 |  François Cevert | All | |
| Elf Team Tyrrell | Tyrrell-Ford | 005 006 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 |  Chris Amon | 14–15 | |
| Motor Racing Developments Ceramica Pagnossin MRD | Brabham-Ford | BT37 BT42 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 |  Carlos Reutemann | All | |
| Motor Racing Developments Ceramica Pagnossin MRD | Brabham-Ford | BT37 BT42 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Wilson Fittipaldi | All | |
| Motor Racing Developments Ceramica Pagnossin MRD | Brabham-Ford | BT37 BT42 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 |  Andrea de Adamich | 4–6, 8–9 | |
| Motor Racing Developments Ceramica Pagnossin MRD | Brabham-Ford | BT37 BT42 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 |  Rolf Stommelen | 11–14 | |
| Motor Racing Developments Ceramica Pagnossin MRD | Brabham-Ford | BT37 BT42 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | John Watson | 9, 15 | |
| Yardley Team McLaren | McLaren-Ford | M19A M19C M23 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Denny Hulme | All | |
| Yardley Team McLaren | McLaren-Ford | M19A M19C M23 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 |  Peter Revson | 1–7, 9–15 | |
| Yardley Team McLaren | McLaren-Ford | M19A M19C M23 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 |  Jody Scheckter | 3, 8–9, 14–15 | |
| Yardley Team McLaren | McLaren-Ford | M19A M19C M23 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 |  Jacky Ickx | 11 | |
| Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC | Ferrari | 312B2 312B3 | Ferrari 001/1 3.0 F12 Ferrari 001/11 3.0 F12 | Jacky Ickx | 1–9, 13 | |
| Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC | Ferrari | 312B2 312B3 | Ferrari 001/1 3.0 F12 Ferrari 001/11 3.0 F12 | Arturo Merzario | 1–3, 6, 8, 12–15 | |
| Clarke-Mordaunt-Guthrie Racing Team Pierre Robert | March-Ford | 721G 731 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Mike Beuttler | 1–7, 9–15 | |
| Clarke-Mordaunt-Guthrie Racing Team Pierre Robert | March-Ford | 721G 731 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Reine Wisell | 7–8 | |
| STP March Racing Team March Racing Team | March-Ford | 721G 731 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Jean-Pierre Jarier | 1–3, 5–8, 12, 14–15 | |
| STP March Racing Team March Racing Team | March-Ford | 721G 731 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Henri Pescarolo | 4 | |
| STP March Racing Team March Racing Team | March-Ford | 721G 731 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Roger Williamson | 9–10 | |
| Team Surtees Brooke Bond Oxo Team Surtees Ceramica Pagnossin Team Surtees | Surtees-Ford | TS9A TS9B TS14A | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Mike Hailwood | All | |
| Team Surtees Brooke Bond Oxo Team Surtees Ceramica Pagnossin Team Surtees | Surtees-Ford | TS9A TS9B TS14A | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Carlos Pace | All | |
| Team Surtees Brooke Bond Oxo Team Surtees Ceramica Pagnossin Team Surtees | Surtees-Ford | TS9A TS9B TS14A | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Luiz Bueno | 2 | |
| Team Surtees Brooke Bond Oxo Team Surtees Ceramica Pagnossin Team Surtees | Surtees-Ford | TS9A TS9B TS14A | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Andrea de Adamich | 3 | |
| Team Surtees Brooke Bond Oxo Team Surtees Ceramica Pagnossin Team Surtees | Surtees-Ford | TS9A TS9B TS14A | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Jochen Mass | 9, 11, 15 | |
| Marlboro BRM | BRM | P160C P160D | BRM P142 3.0 V12 | Jean-Pierre Beltoise | All | |
| Marlboro BRM | BRM | P160C P160D | BRM P142 3.0 V12 |  Clay Regazzoni | 1–13, 15 | |
| Marlboro BRM | BRM | P160C P160D | BRM P142 3.0 V12 |  Niki Lauda | All | |
| Marlboro BRM | BRM | P160C P160D | BRM P142 3.0 V12 | Peter Gethin | 14 | |
| Frank Williams Racing Cars | Iso-Marlboro-Ford | FX3B IR | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Nanni Galli | 1–2, 4–6 | |
| Frank Williams Racing Cars | Iso-Marlboro-Ford | FX3B IR | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Howden Ganley | All | |
| Frank Williams Racing Cars | Iso-Marlboro-Ford | FX3B IR | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Jackie Pretorius | 3 | |
| Frank Williams Racing Cars | Iso-Marlboro-Ford | FX3B IR | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 |  Tom Belsø | 7 | |
| Frank Williams Racing Cars | Iso-Marlboro-Ford | FX3B IR | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Henri Pescarolo | 8, 11 | |
| Frank Williams Racing Cars | Iso-Marlboro-Ford | FX3B IR | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Graham McRae | 9 | |
| Frank Williams Racing Cars | Iso-Marlboro-Ford | FX3B IR | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 |  Gijs van Lennep | 10, 12–13 | |
| Frank Williams Racing Cars | Iso-Marlboro-Ford | FX3B IR | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 |  Tim Schenken | 14 | |
| Frank Williams Racing Cars | Iso-Marlboro-Ford | FX3B IR | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Jacky Ickx | 15 | |
| UOP Shadow Racing Team | Shadow-Ford | DN1 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Jackie Oliver | 3–15 | |
| UOP Shadow Racing Team | Shadow-Ford | DN1 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | George Follmer | 3–15 | |
| UOP Shadow Racing Team | Shadow-Ford | DN1 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Brian Redman | 15 | |
| Scribante Lucky Strike Racing | Lotus-Ford | 72D | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Dave Charlton | 3 | |
| Blignaut Lucky Strike Racing | Tyrrell-Ford | 004 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Eddie Keizan | 3 | |
| Embassy Racing | Shadow-Ford | DN1 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Graham Hill | 4–15 | |
| Martini Racing Team | Tecno | PA123/6 | Tecno Series-P 3.0 F12 | Chris Amon | 5–6, 9–10, 12 | |
| LEC Refrigeration Racing | March-Ford | 731 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | David Purley | 6, 9–11, 13 | |
| Hesketh Racing | March-Ford | 731 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | James Hunt | 6, 8–10, 12–15 | |
| Team Ensign | Ensign-Ford | N173 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 |  Rikky von Opel | 8–10, 12–15 |
Grands Prix
The following races counted towards both the 1973 World Championship of Drivers and the 1973 International Cup for F1 Manufacturers.| Rnd | Race | Circuit | Date | Pole position | Fastest lap | Winning driver | Constructor | Tyre | Report |
| 1 | Argentine Grand Prix | Buenos Aires | 28 January | Clay Regazzoni | Emerson Fittipaldi | Emerson Fittipaldi | Lotus-Ford | Report | |
| 2 | Brazilian Grand Prix | Interlagos | 11 February | Ronnie Peterson | Emerson Fittipaldi Denny Hulme | Emerson Fittipaldi | Lotus-Ford | Report | |
| 3 | South African Grand Prix | Kyalami | 3 March | Denny Hulme | Emerson Fittipaldi | Jackie Stewart | Tyrrell-Ford | Report | |
| 4 |  Spanish Grand Prix | Montjuïc | 29 April | Ronnie Peterson | Ronnie Peterson | Emerson Fittipaldi | Lotus-Ford | Report | |
| 5 | Belgian Grand Prix | Zolder | 20 May | Ronnie Peterson | François Cevert | Jackie Stewart | Tyrrell-Ford | Report | |
| 6 |  Monaco Grand Prix | Monaco | 3 June | Jackie Stewart | Emerson Fittipaldi | Jackie Stewart | Tyrrell-Ford | Report | |
| 7 | Swedish Grand Prix | Anderstorp | 17 June | Ronnie Peterson | Denny Hulme | Denny Hulme | McLaren-Ford | Report | |
| 8 | French Grand Prix | Paul Ricard | 1 July | Jackie Stewart | Denny Hulme | Ronnie Peterson | Lotus-Ford | Report | |
| 9 | British Grand Prix | Silverstone | 14 July | Ronnie Peterson | James Hunt | Peter Revson | McLaren-Ford | Report | |
| 10 | Dutch Grand Prix | Zandvoort | 29 July | Ronnie Peterson | Ronnie Peterson | Jackie Stewart | Tyrrell-Ford | Report | |
| 11 | German Grand Prix | Nürburgring | 5 August | Jackie Stewart | Carlos Pace | Jackie Stewart | Tyrrell-Ford | Report | |
| 12 | Austrian Grand Prix | Österreichring | 19 August | Emerson Fittipaldi | Carlos Pace | Ronnie Peterson | Lotus-Ford | Report | |
| 13 | Italian Grand Prix | Monza | 9 September | Ronnie Peterson | Jackie Stewart | Ronnie Peterson | Lotus-Ford | Report | |
| 14 |  Canadian Grand Prix | Mosport Park | 23 September | Ronnie Peterson | Emerson Fittipaldi | Peter Revson | McLaren-Ford | Report | |
| 15 | United States Grand Prix | Watkins Glen | 7 October | Ronnie Peterson | James Hunt | Ronnie Peterson | Lotus-Ford | Report |
Calendar changes
- The Belgian Grand Prix also carried the title of European Grand Prix for 1973.
- After being absent from the Championship in 1972 due to extensive safety upgrades to the Zandvoort circuit including new asphalt, new barriers and a new race control tower, the Dutch Grand Prix returned to the Championship calendar for 1973.
Results and standings
World Championship of Drivers – final standings
Points were awarded on a 9–6–4–3–2–1 basis to the first six finishers in each race. For classification, only the seven best results from the first eight races and the six best results from the last seven races were retained. Drivers who scored an equal number of points were awarded equal championship classifications, regardless of the relative number of wins, second places, etc. scored by each driver. The FIA did not award a championship classification to those drivers who did not score points in the championship.† Clevert suffered a fatal accident in qualifying before the USA grand Prix. International Cup for F1 Manufacturers – final standingsPoints were awarded on a 9–6–4–3–2–1 basis to the first six finishers in each race. Points were only awarded for the position filled by the best placed car from each manufacturer. For classification, only the seven best results from the first eight races and the six best results from the last seven races were retained, Points in the table outside of the parentheses are the points which contributed to the Championship, points within parentheses show the total points scored.Ensign, which did not score points during the championship, was not given a classification in the official FIA results. Non-championship races resultsThe 1973 Formula One season included two non-championship races which were open to both Formula One and Formula 5000 cars.
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