Clay Regazzoni earned his first Grand Prix victory for Ferrari at Monza, but the weekend was overshadowed by Jochen Rindt’s fatal qualifying accident. Jackie Stewart and Jean-Pierre Beltoise completed the podium after a closely fought race held in the aftermath of the tragedy.
Race Guide
Season: 1970 F1 World Championship
Race date: 6 September 1970
Race start time: 15:30 local time (UTC+02:00)
Circuit: Autodromo Nazionale di Monza
Laps: 68 laps
Circuit length: 5.750 km
1969 winner: Jackie Stewart
| Result | Driver / Time | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Pole position | Jacky Ickx | Ferrari |
| Pole time | 1:24.14 | |
| Fastest lap | Clay Regazzoni | Ferrari |
| Fastest-lap time | 1:25.200 on lap 65 | |
| First | Clay Regazzoni | Ferrari |
| Second | Jackie Stewart | March |
| Third | Jean-Pierre Beltoise | Matra |
Weekend Schedule
| Date | Session | Local Time |
|---|---|---|
| 4 September 1970 | Friday first timed practice | Afternoon |
| 4 September 1970 | Friday second timed practice | After a one-hour interval; ended at 18:30 |
| 5 September 1970 | Saturday final qualifying | 15:00–18:30; interrupted |
| 6 September 1970 | Race | 15:30 |
All times are local. The race time is the scheduled start; weather delays and interruptions are described below.
Championship background
Jochen Rindt arrived at round 10 leading the 1970 F1 World Championship on 45 points, with Jack Brabham on 25. Lotus – Ford headed the constructors’ standings after the preceding race with 50 points.
Race entries
Ferrari fielded Ickx, Regazzoni and Giunti, while Lotus brought a third 72 for Fittipaldi. Hill also had a 72, and Stewart could choose between his March and the new Tyrrell. Galli attempted to qualify a second Alfa Romeo-powered McLaren. Unlike several other organisers, Monza offered no guaranteed places to seeded drivers: the fastest 20 were to qualify.
Friday first timed practice
Ickx immediately demonstrated Ferrari’s power advantage, beating the existing lap record while retaining the car’s normal aerodynamic equipment. Several rivals removed wings to reduce drag, trading stability for straight-line speed. Matra experimented with additional fuel tanks, and the new Tyrrell was initially absent from the session. Ickx’s early 1:24.61 set a demanding target for those seeking a Ferrari slipstream.
Friday second timed practice
The Tyrrell appeared but stopped with fuel-feed trouble, sending Stewart back to his March. Fittipaldi crashed his new Lotus at the Parabolica and damaged it beyond immediate repair, although he escaped injury. Ickx improved to 1:24.14, with Regazzoni and Giunti also below the previous record. Stewart split the Ferraris with a strong lap in the March, keeping himself in the front-running contest.
Saturday final qualifying
Practice was halted after Rindt crashed approaching the Parabolica. He was fatally injured, and both the works Lotus team and Hill’s Rob Walker entry withdrew. Running eventually resumed in a subdued atmosphere. Stewart improved slightly, while Rodriguez produced the day’s fastest lap late in the session. Ickx’s Friday time remained unbeaten, putting Ferrari on pole for a race stripped of its anticipated celebratory mood.
Qualifying Classification
The Lotus withdrawals altered the starting field. Galli remained a reserve: he completed a preparation lap when Surtees was delayed, but Surtees reached the grid and Galli did not start.
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Best Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | Jacky Ickx | Ferrari | 1:24.14 |
| 2 | 10 | Pedro Rodríguez | BRM | 1:24.36 |
| 3 | 4 | Clay Regazzoni | Ferrari | 1:24.39 |
| 4 | 16 | Jackie Stewart | March | 1:24.73 |
| 5 | 6 | Ignazio Giunti | Ferrari | 1:24.74 |
| 6 | 8 | Jackie Oliver | BRM | 1:24.77 |
| 7 | 50 | Jo Siffert | March | 1:25.09 |
| 8 | 44 | Jack Brabham | Brabham | 1:25.39 |
| 9 | 30 | Denny Hulme | McLaren | 1:25.47 |
| 10 | 14 | John Surtees | Surtees | 1:25.56 |
| 11 | 20 | François Cevert | March | 1:25.56 |
| 12 | 22 | Jochen Rindt | Lotus | 1:25.71 |
| 13 | 34 | Andrea de Adamich | McLaren | 1:25.91 |
| 14 | 52 | Ronnie Peterson | March | 1:25.93 |
| 15 | 40 | Jean-Pierre Beltoise | Matra | 1:26.01 |
| 16 | 42 | Henri Pescarolo | Matra | 1:26.04 |
| 17 | 32 | Peter Gethin | McLaren | 1:26.19 |
| 18 | 28 | Graham Hill | Lotus | 1:26.38 |
| 19 | 24 | John Miles | Lotus | 1:26.51 |
| 20 | 46 | Rolf Stommelen | Brabham | 1:26.60 |
| 21 | 48 | Chris Amon | March | 1:26.67 |
| 22 | 54 | Tim Schenken | De Tomaso | 1:26.67 |
| 23 | 12 | George Eaton | BRM | 1:27.15 |
| DNQ | 38 | Jo Bonnier | McLaren | 1:28.07 |
| DNQ | 26 | Emerson Fittipaldi | Lotus | 1:28.39 |
| DNQ | 36 | Nanni Galli | McLaren | 1:28.59 |
| DNQ | 56 | Silvio Moser | Bellasi | 1:28.61 |
What happened in the 1970 Italian Grand Prix?
Ickx and Rodriguez began on the front row, with Regazzoni, Stewart and the other front-runners drawn into Monza’s familiar slipstream battle. Ickx’s mechanical retirement removed Ferrari’s pole-sitter, but Regazzoni remained in contention as the lead changed hands.
Regazzoni eventually broke away from the group and claimed his first championship victory in only his fifth start. Stewart finished second, with Beltoise third. Hulme, Stommelen and Cevert took the remaining points, Cevert scoring for the first time.
The home victory brought Ferrari supporters a moment of sporting success, but Rindt’s death defined the weekend. He remained ahead in the championship with three races left. His rivals would ultimately be unable to overhaul his points total, making him Formula One’s only posthumous World Champion.
After the race, Jochen Rindt headed the drivers’ standings with 45 points, followed by Jackie Stewart on 25. Lotus – Ford led the constructors’ table on 50, with March – Ford on 39.
1970 Italian Grand Prix race results
The 1970 Italian Grand Prix was held on 6 September 1970, with a scheduled start of 15:30 local time.
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Laps | Time / Retired | Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | Clay Regazzoni | Ferrari | 68 | 1:39:07.1 | 9 |
| 2 | 18 | Jackie Stewart | March | 68 | + 5.73 | 6 |
| 3 | 40 | Jean-Pierre Beltoise | Matra | 68 | + 5.80 | 4 |
| 4 | 30 | Denny Hulme | McLaren | 68 | + 6.15 | 3 |
| 5 | 46 | Rolf Stommelen | Brabham | 68 | + 6.41 | 2 |
| 6 | 20 | François Cevert | March | 68 | + 1:03.46 | 1 |
| 7 | 48 | Chris Amon | March | 67 | + 1 Lap | 0 |
| 8 | 34 | Andrea de Adamich | McLaren | 61 | + 7 Laps | 0 |
| NC | 32 | Peter Gethin | McLaren | 60 | + 8 Laps | 0 |
| Ret | 8 | Jackie Oliver | BRM | 36 | Engine | 0 |
| Ret | 52 | Ronnie Peterson | March | 35 | Engine | 0 |
| Ret | 44 | Jack Brabham | Brabham | 31 | Accident | 0 |
| Ret | 2 | Jacky Ickx | Ferrari | 25 | Clutch | 0 |
| Ret | 12 | George Eaton | BRM | 21 | Overheating | 0 |
| Ret | 54 | Tim Schenken | De Tomaso | 17 | Engine | 0 |
| Ret | 6 | Ignazio Giunti | Ferrari | 14 | Fuel system | 0 |
| Ret | 42 | Henri Pescarolo | Matra | 14 | Engine | 0 |
| Ret | 10 | Pedro Rodríguez | BRM | 12 | Engine | 0 |
| Ret | 50 | Jo Siffert | March | 3 | Engine | 0 |
| Ret | 14 | John Surtees | Surtees | 0 | Electrical | 0 |
| DNS | 16 | Jackie Stewart | Tyrrell | Practice only | 0 | |
| DNS | 28 | Graham Hill | Lotus | Withdrew (Teammate’s fatal accident) | 0 | |
| DNS | 24 | John Miles | Lotus | Withdrew (Teammate’s fatal accident) | 0 | |
| DNS | 22 | Jochen Rindt | Lotus | Fatal accident in qualifying | 0 | |
| DNQ | 38 | Jo Bonnier | McLaren | 0 | ||
| DNS | 26 | Emerson Fittipaldi | Lotus | Withdrew (Teammate’s fatal accident) | 0 | |
| DNQ | 36 | Nanni Galli | McLaren | 0 | ||
| DNQ | 56 | Silvio Moser | Bellasi | 0 |
Lotus withdrew after the death of Jochen Rindt. Their places on the grid were left vacant.
1970 Italian Grand Prix Fastest Laps
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Lap | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | Clay Regazzoni | Ferrari | 65 | 1:25.200 |
Only drivers with a recorded lap time appear. No fastest-lap bonus point was awarded.
1970 Post-Race F1 Championship Standings
Championship standings after the 1970 Italian Grand Prix.
1970 Post-Race F1 Drivers' Championship Standings
1970 Post-Race F1 Constructors' Championship Standings
| POS | Car | PTS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lotus – Ford | 50 |
| 2 | March – Ford | 39 |
| 3 | Brabham – Ford | 35 |
| 4 | Ferrari | 34 |
| 5 | McLaren – Ford | 30 |
| 6 | Matra | 21 |
| 7 | BRM | 13 |
| — | McLaren – Alfa Romeo | 0 |
| — | Surtees – Ford | 0 |
| — | De Tomaso – Ford | 0 |
| — | Bellasi – Ford | 0 |
| — | Tyrrell – Ford | 0 |
Drivers counted their best 6 results from rounds 1–7 and their best 5 from rounds 8–13. Only the highest-placed car for each constructor could score constructor points, with the same dropped-results limits applying.
1970 Formula 1 Race Calendar
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