1977 F1 World Championship

The 1977 FIA Formula One World Championship began on 9 January and concluded on 23 October, over 17 race weekends. At the time, this made 1977 the longest Formula One season in history. In addition to the championship rounds, the year also included a single non-championship race, the 1977 Race of Champions.

Season

The World Drivers’ Championship was won by Niki Lauda, who secured the second title of his Formula One career driving for Ferrari. Interestingly, Lauda achieved the championship despite Mario Andretti winning more races during the season. Lauda’s consistency throughout the year allowed him to build a strong points advantage, and he ultimately secured the title at the United States Grand Prix. Shortly afterwards, Lauda left Ferrari before the end of the season, meaning he did not compete in the remaining races despite already being crowned champion.

In the Constructors’ Championship, Ferrari continued its strong run of success by securing the title for the third consecutive season. The team benefited from a solid campaign by Carlos Reutemann, who joined Ferrari as a new driver and contributed significantly to the team’s championship-winning effort.

Despite the competitive action on track, the 1977 season was overshadowed by several tragic events. During the South African Grand Prix, a catastrophic accident occurred when Tom Pryce struck 19-year-old race marshal Frederik Jansen van Vuuren, who had attempted to cross the circuit while carrying a fire extinguisher. The collision killed the marshal instantly, and the fire extinguisher struck Pryce’s helmet with fatal force. Pryce’s car continued down the straight before eventually colliding with Jacques Laffite’s Ligier.

Further tragedy struck shortly afterwards when Brazilian driver Carlos Pace lost his life in an aviation accident, only a few weeks after the South African Grand Prix.

The final race of the season, the Japanese Grand Prix, also ended in tragedy. During lap six, Gilles Villeneuve, competing in just his second race for Ferrari, collided with Ronnie Peterson’s six-wheeled Tyrrell P34. Villeneuve’s car was launched into the air and crashed into a restricted area beside the circuit. The accident struck track marshal Kengo Yuasa, who had been attempting to move spectators away from the area, and photographer Kazuhiro Ohashi. Although Villeneuve survived the crash without serious injury, both Yuasa and Ohashi were killed instantly, bringing a sombre conclusion to a season characterised by both intense competition and profound loss.

1977 Formula 1 Race Calendar

Round	Grand Prix	Circuit	Date
1	1977 Argentine Grand Prix	Autodromo de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires	9 January
2	1977 Brazilian Grand Prix	Autodromo de Interlagos, São Paulo	23 January
3	1977 South African Grand Prix	Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit, Midrand	5 March
4	1977 United States Grand Prix West	Long Beach Street Circuit, California	3 April
5	1977 Spanish Grand Prix	Circuito Permanente Del Jarama, Madrid	8 May
6	1977 Monaco Grand Prix	Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo	22 May
7	1977 Belgian Grand Prix	Circuit Zolder, Heusden-Zolder	5 June
8	1977 Swedish Grand Prix	Scandinavian Raceway, Anderstorp	19 June
9	1977 French Grand Prix	Dijon-Prenois, Prenois	3 July
10	1977 British Grand Prix	Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone	16 July
11	1977 German Grand Prix	Hockenheimring, Hockenheim	31 July
12	1977 Austrian Grand Prix	Österreichring, Spielberg	14 August
13	1977 Dutch Grand Prix	Circuit Zandvoort, Zandvoort	28 August
14	1977 Italian Grand Prix	Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza	11 September
15	1977 United States Grand Prix	Watkins Glen Grand Prix Course, New York	2 October
16	1977 Canadian Grand Prix	Mosport Park, Bowmanville, Ontario	9 October
17	1977 Japanese Grand Prix	Fuji Speedway, Oyama, Shizuoka	23 October

1977 Formula 1 Race Results

Grands Prix

Round	Grand Prix	Pole position	Fastest lap	Winning driver	Winning constructor	Report
1	1977 Argentine Grand Prix	James Hunt	James Hunt	Jody Scheckter	Wolf-Ford	Report
2	1977 Brazilian Grand Prix	James Hunt	James Hunt	Carlos Reutemann	Ferrari	Report
3	1977 South African Grand Prix	James Hunt	John Watson	Niki Lauda	Ferrari	Report
4	1977 United States Grand Prix West	Niki Lauda	Niki Lauda	Mario Andretti	Lotus-Ford	Report
5	1977 Spanish Grand Prix	Mario Andretti	Jacques Laffite	Mario Andretti	Lotus-Ford	Report
6	1977 Monaco Grand Prix	John Watson	Jody Scheckter	Jody Scheckter	Wolf-Ford	Report
7	1977 Belgian Grand Prix	Mario Andretti	Gunnar Nilsson	Gunnar Nilsson	Lotus-Ford	Report
8	1977 Swedish Grand Prix	Mario Andretti	Mario Andretti	Jacques Laffite	Ligier-Matra	Report
9	1977 French Grand Prix	Mario Andretti	Mario Andretti	Mario Andretti	Lotus-Ford	Report
10	1977 British Grand Prix	James Hunt	James Hunt	James Hunt	McLaren-Ford	Report
11	1977 German Grand Prix	Jody Scheckter	Niki Lauda	Niki Lauda	Ferrari	Report
12	1977 Austrian Grand Prix	Niki Lauda	John Watson	Alan Jones	Shadow-Ford	Report
13	1977 Dutch Grand Prix	Mario Andretti	Niki Lauda	Niki Lauda	Ferrari	Report
14	1977 Italian Grand Prix	James Hunt	Mario Andretti	Mario Andretti	Lotus-Ford	Report
15	1977 United States Grand Prix	James Hunt	Ronnie Peterson	James Hunt	McLaren-Ford	Report
16	1977 Canadian Grand Prix	Mario Andretti	Mario Andretti	Jody Scheckter	Wolf-Ford	Report
17	1977 Japanese Grand Prix	Mario Andretti	Jody Scheckter	James Hunt	McLaren-Ford	Report

1977 Formula 1 Standings

Driver standings

Team standings