The 1979 FIA Formula One World Championship began on 21 January and concluded on 7 October, over 15 race weekends. In addition to the championship rounds, the year also included three non-championship Formula One races, a practice still occasionally seen during this period in the sport’s history.
Season
The World Drivers’ Championship was won by Jody Scheckter, driving for Ferrari, while the Constructors’ Championship was also secured by the Italian team. Ferrari’s success was strengthened by the performance of Scheckter’s teammate Gilles Villeneuve, who finished second in the Drivers’ Championship, ensuring the team dominated both standings.
Ferrari’s title triumph continued a highly successful era for the team. The 1979 Constructors’ Championship was their fourth in five seasons, demonstrating Ferrari’s strength during the late 1970s. However, while the team would continue to achieve success in the Constructors’ standings in later years, Scheckter’s victory would prove to be significant for another reason. It marked Ferrari’s last Drivers’ Championship for the next twenty-one years, until Michael Schumacher secured the title for the team in 2000.
Scheckter’s championship also holds a unique place in the history of the sport. As of 2026, he remains the only driver from an African nation to win the Formula One World Championship, representing South Africa during his career.
The season also marked the final Formula One campaign for James Hunt, the 1976 World Champion. Hunt, one of the most charismatic figures in the sport during the 1970s, retired from Formula One partway through the season, bringing an end to a career that had included several memorable victories and a dramatic championship triumph three years earlier.
1979 Formula 1 Race Calendar
1979 Formula 1 Race Results
Grands Prix
1979 Formula 1 Standings
Driver standings
| Pos | Driver | Nationality | Car | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jody Scheckter | RSA | Ferrari | 51 |
| 2 | Gilles Villeneuve | CAN | Ferrari | 47 |
| 3 | Alan Jones | AUS | Williams Ford | 40 |
| 4 | Jacques Laffite | FRA | Ligier Ford | 36 |
| 5 | Clay Regazzoni | SUI | Williams Ford | 29 |
| 6 | Patrick Depailler | FRA | Ligier Ford | 20 |
| 6 | Carlos Reutemann | ARG | Lotus Ford | 20 |
| 8 | Rene Arnoux | FRA | Renault | 17 |
| 9 | John Watson | GBR | McLaren Ford | 15 |
| 10 | Didier Pironi | FRA | Tyrrell Ford | 14 |
| 10 | Jean-Pierre Jarier | FRA | Tyrrell Ford | 14 |
| 10 | Mario Andretti | USA | Lotus Ford | 14 |
| 13 | Jean-Pierre Jabouille | FRA | Renault | 9 |
| 14 | Niki Lauda | AUT | Brabham Ford | 4 |
| 15 | Nelson Piquet | BRA | Brabham Ford | 3 |
| 15 | Elio de Angelis | ITA | Shadow Ford | 3 |
| 15 | Jacky Ickx | BEL | Ligier Ford | 3 |
| 15 | Jochen Mass | GER | Arrows Ford | 3 |
| 19 | Riccardo Patrese | ITA | Arrows Ford | 2 |
| 19 | Hans-Joachim Stuck | GER | ATS Ford | 2 |
| 21 | Emerson Fittipaldi | BRA | Fittipaldi Ford | 1 |
Team standings
| Pos | Team | PTS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ferrari | 113 |
| 2 | Williams Ford | 75 |
| 3 | Ligier Ford | 61 |
| 4 | Lotus Ford | 39 |
| 5 | Tyrrell Ford | 28 |
| 6 | Renault | 26 |
| 7 | McLaren Ford | 15 |
| 8 | Brabham Ford | 7 |
| 9 | Arrows Ford | 5 |
| 10 | Shadow Ford | 3 |
| 11 | ATS Ford | 2 |
| 12 | Fittipaldi Ford | 1 |
