1969 Formula One season

1969 FIA Formula One
World Championship
Drivers' Champion: Jackie Stewart
Constructors' Champion: Matra-Ford
Previous: 1968 Next: 1970

The 1969 Formula One season included the 20th FIA Formula One World Championship season, which commenced on 1 March 1969, and ended on 19 October after eleven races.

Season summary

The McLaren M7C with early 1969 high-position wings attached. In the Donington Grand Prix Collection.

Matra withdrew their works team from the 1969 championship and focused on their partnership with Ken Tyrrell. Stewart won the 1969 title easily with the new Matra MS80, which corrected most of the weaknesses of the MS10. Stewart's title was the first won by a French chassis, and the only one won by a chassis built in France. It was a spectacular achievement from a constructor that had only entered Formula One the previous year.

Jacky Ickx had a strong second half to the season for Brabham, winning in Germany and Canada, after Jack Brabham was sidelined by a testing accident.[1] Ickx finished second in the Drivers' Championship, with 37 points to Jackie Stewart's 63.

After several incidents in which wings, struts, or the suspension (to which they were attached) collapsed, wings were banned from Monaco 1969. They were reintroduced later in the season but were to be restricted in size and height, and attached directly to the chassis in a fixed position.

1969 also saw a brief resurgence of interest in four wheel drive following a number of wet races the previous year. Four such cars were entered for the British Grand Prix, and Johnny Servoz-Gavin became the one and only driver to score a point with a 4WD, finishing sixth with the Matra MS84 at the Canadian Grand Prix. At the same race, Al Pease made history by being the only driver disqualified from a World Championship event for being too slow. Wide tyres and downforce quickly proved to be superior means of increasing grip, and the technology was largely abandoned, although Lotus continued to experiment with the idea for a few more years. Bruce McLaren described the handling of his M9 as being like trying to sign an autograph while someone was jogging his elbow; Cosworth discovered that their car handled better the more drive went to the rear wheels.

1969 was the first year in which genuine safety measures were implemented at circuits. The cars were going far faster over time, particularly with the increased engine capacity rules for 1966 onwards from 1.5 litres uncompressed to 3 litres uncompressed or 1.5 litres compressed. The Montjuic circuit was a first in Grand Prix racing- the circuit was completely Armco-lined. Although safety measures in 1969 were still nearly non-existent compared to today's modern safety standards, these measures were a new step forward to protect drivers from further harm. About half the circuits in Formula One at this time had some safety standards, such as Monaco, Silverstone and Magdalena Mixhuca in Mexico City; although circuits were nearly unchanged from previous years, such as the Nürburgring in Germany and the Clermont-Ferrand circuit in France; both were mountain road circuits with all kinds of unprotected drop offs and solid obstacles on the sides of both circuits. Another example was the feared Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium. The Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps was boycotted by many of the drivers because of the extreme danger of the track after an overall inspection of Spa by Jackie Stewart, who was responsible for most of the activities in Formula One to try and make it safer. He demanded changes to the circuit that the track owners did not want to pay for, so the race was boycotted and eventually cancelled. Spa was included in 1970 after Armco was added to the track.[2]

Season review

Rnd Race Circuit Date Pole position Fastest lap Winning driver Constructor Tyre Report
1 South Africa South African Grand Prix Kyalami 1 March Australia Jack Brabham United Kingdom Jackie Stewart United Kingdom Jackie Stewart France Matra-Ford D Report
2 Spain Spanish Grand Prix Montjuïc 4 May Austria Jochen Rindt Austria Jochen Rindt United Kingdom Jackie Stewart France Matra-Ford D Report
3 Monaco Monaco Grand Prix Monaco 18 May United Kingdom Jackie Stewart United Kingdom Jackie Stewart United Kingdom Graham Hill United Kingdom Lotus-Ford F Report
4 Netherlands Dutch Grand Prix Zandvoort 21 June Austria Jochen Rindt United Kingdom Jackie Stewart United Kingdom Jackie Stewart France Matra-Ford D Report
5 France French Grand Prix Charade 6 July United Kingdom Jackie Stewart United Kingdom Jackie Stewart United Kingdom Jackie Stewart France Matra-Ford D Report
6 United Kingdom British Grand Prix Silverstone 19 July Austria Jochen Rindt United Kingdom Jackie Stewart United Kingdom Jackie Stewart France Matra-Ford D Report
7 West Germany German Grand Prix Nürburgring 3 August Belgium Jacky Ickx Belgium Jacky Ickx Belgium Jacky Ickx United Kingdom Brabham-Ford G Report
8 Italy Italian Grand Prix Monza 7 September Austria Jochen Rindt France Jean-Pierre Beltoise United Kingdom Jackie Stewart France Matra-Ford D Report
9 Canada Canadian Grand Prix Mosport Park 20 September Belgium Jacky Ickx Belgium Jacky Ickx
Australia Jack Brabham
Belgium Jacky Ickx United Kingdom Brabham-Ford G Report
10 United States United States Grand Prix Watkins Glen 5 October Austria Jochen Rindt Austria Jochen Rindt Austria Jochen Rindt United Kingdom Lotus-Ford F Report
11 Mexico Mexican Grand Prix Magdalena Mixhuca 19 October Australia Jack Brabham Belgium Jacky Ickx New Zealand Denny Hulme United Kingdom McLaren-Ford G Report

Teams and drivers

Briton Jackie Stewart won his 1st of 3 championships, driving a Matra-Ford for Ken Tyrrell
Stewart in 1969 at Nürburgring

The following teams and drivers competed in the 1969 FIA World Championship.

Entrant Constructor Chassis Engine Tyre Driver Rounds
United Kingdom Gold Leaf Team Lotus Lotus-Ford 49B
63
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 F United Kingdom Graham Hill 1–10
Austria Jochen Rindt 1–2, 4–11
United States Mario Andretti 1, 7, 10
United Kingdom Richard Attwood 3
United Kingdom John Miles 5–6, 8–9, 11
United Kingdom Rob Walker/Jack Durlacher Racing Team Lotus-Ford 49B Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 F Switzerland Jo Siffert All
United Kingdom Bruce McLaren Motor Racing McLaren-Ford M7A
M7C
M9A
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G New Zealand Denny Hulme All
New Zealand Bruce McLaren All
United Kingdom Derek Bell 6
United Kingdom Matra International Matra-Ford MS10
MS80
MS84
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 D United Kingdom Jackie Stewart All
France Jean-Pierre Beltoise All
France Johnny Servoz-Gavin 9–11
MS7 Ford Cosworth FVA 1.6 L4 D France Johnny Servoz-Gavin 7
Italy Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC
United States North American Racing Team
Ferrari 312 Ferrari 255C 3.0 V12 F New Zealand Chris Amon 1–6
Mexico Pedro Rodríguez 6, 8–11
Italy Tino Brambilla 8
United Kingdom Owen Racing Organisation BRM P138
P133
P139
BRM P142 3.0 V12 D United Kingdom John Surtees 1–4, 6–11
United Kingdom Jackie Oliver 1–4, 6–11
Canada Bill Brack 9
Canada George Eaton 10–11
United Kingdom Reg Parnell Racing BRM P126 BRM P142 3.0 V12 G Mexico Pedro Rodríguez 1–3
United Kingdom Motor Racing Developments Ltd Brabham-Ford BT26A
BT26
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G Australia Jack Brabham 1–4, 8–11
Belgium Jacky Ickx All
Rhodesia Team Gunston Lotus-Ford 49 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 D Rhodesia John Love 1
Brabham-Repco BT24 Repco 620 3.0 V8 F Rhodesia Sam Tingle 1
South Africa Team Lawson McLaren-Ford M7A Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 D South Africa Basil van Rooyen 1
South Africa Jack Holme Brabham-Repco BT20 Repco 620 3.0 V8 G South Africa Peter de Klerk 1
United Kingdom Frank Williams Racing Cars Brabham-Ford BT26A Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 D United Kingdom Piers Courage 2–11
BT30 Ford Cosworth FVA 1.6 L4 D United Kingdom Richard Attwood 7
United Kingdom Antique Automobiles Cooper-Maserati T86B Maserati 10/F1 3.0 V12 G United Kingdom Vic Elford 3
McLaren-Ford M7B Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 4–7
Switzerland Silvio Moser Racing Team Brabham-Ford BT24 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G Switzerland Silvio Moser 3–5, 8–11
Sweden Ecurie Bonnier Lotus-Ford 63
49B
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 F Sweden Joakim Bonnier 6–7
West Germany Ahrens Racing Team Brabham-Ford BT30 Ford Cosworth FVA 1.6 L4 D West Germany Kurt Ahrens, Jr. 7
United States Roy Winkelmann Racing Lotus-Ford 59B Ford Cosworth FVA 1.6 L4 F West Germany Hans Herrmann 7
West Germany Rolf Stommelen 7
West Germany Bayerische Motoren Werke AG BMW 269 BMW M12/1 1.6 L4 D West Germany Hubert Hahne 7
West Germany Gerhard Mitter 7
Austria Dieter Quester 7
France Matra Sports Matra-Ford MS7 Ford Cosworth FVA 1.6 L4 D France Henri Pescarolo 7
Italy Tecno Racing Team Tecno-Ford TF69 Ford Cosworth FVA 1.6 L4 D France François Cevert 7
Switzerland Squadra Tartaruga Brabham-Ford BT23C Ford Cosworth FVA 1.6 L4 F Switzerland Xavier Perrot 7
United Kingdom Felday Engineering Ltd Brabham-Ford BT30 Ford Cosworth FVA 1.6 L4 F United Kingdom Peter Westbury 7
United States Pete Lovely Volkswagen Inc. Lotus-Ford 49B Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 F United States Pete Lovely 9–11
Canada Paul Seitz Brabham-Climax BT23B Climax FPF 2.8 L4 D Canada John Cordts 9
Canada John Maryon Eagle-Climax T1F Climax FPF 2.8 L4 F Canada Al Pease 9

1969 Drivers' Championship final standings

Pos. Driver RSA
South Africa
ESP
Spain
MON
Monaco
NED
Netherlands
FRA
France
GBR
United Kingdom
GER
West Germany
ITA
Italy
CAN
Canada
USA
United States
MEX
Mexico
Pts.
1 United Kingdom Jackie Stewart 1 1 Ret 1 1 1 2 1 Ret Ret 4 63
2 Belgium Jacky Ickx Ret 6 Ret 5 3 2 1 10 1 Ret 2 37
3 New Zealand Bruce McLaren 5 2 5 Ret 4 3 3 4 5 DNS DNS 26
4 Austria Jochen Rindt Ret Ret Ret Ret 4 Ret 2 3 1 Ret 22
5 France Jean-Pierre Beltoise 6 3 Ret 8 2 9 6 3 4 Ret 5 21
6 New Zealand Denny Hulme 3 4 6 4 8 Ret Ret 7 Ret Ret 1 20
7 United Kingdom Graham Hill 2 Ret 1 7 6 7 4 9 Ret Ret 19
8 United Kingdom Piers Courage Ret 2 Ret Ret 5 Ret 5 Ret 2 10 16
9 Switzerland Jo Siffert 4 Ret 3 2 9 8 5 8 Ret Ret Ret 15
10 Australia Jack Brabham Ret Ret Ret 6 Ret 2 4 3 14
11 United Kingdom John Surtees Ret 5 Ret 9 Ret DNS NC Ret 3 Ret 6
12 New Zealand Chris Amon Ret Ret Ret 3 Ret Ret 4
13 United Kingdom Richard Attwood 4 3
14 United Kingdom Vic Elford 7 10 5 6 Ret 3
15 Mexico Pedro Rodríguez Ret Ret Ret Ret 6 Ret 5 7 3
16 Switzerland Silvio Moser Ret Ret 7 Ret Ret 6 11 1
17 United Kingdom Jackie Oliver 7 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 6 1
18 France Johnny Servoz-Gavin 6 NC 8 1
Rhodesia Sam Tingle 8 0
United States Pete Lovely 7 Ret 9 0
United Kingdom John Miles Ret 10 Ret Ret Ret 0
Canada Bill Brack NC 0
United States Mario Andretti Ret Ret Ret 0
Sweden Jo Bonnier Ret Ret 0
Canada George Eaton Ret Ret 0
South Africa Peter de Klerk NC 0
South Africa Basil van Rooyen Ret 0
Rhodesia John Love Ret 0
United Kingdom Derek Bell Ret 0
Canada John Cordts Ret 0
Canada Al Pease DSQ 0
Italy Ernesto Brambilla DNS 0
Pos. Driver RSA
South Africa
ESP
Spain
MON
Monaco
NED
Netherlands
FRA
France
GBR
United Kingdom
GER
West Germany
ITA
Italy
CAN
Canada
USA
United States
MEX
Mexico
Pts.
Key
Colour Result
Gold Winner
Silver 2nd place
Bronze 3rd place
Green Points finish
Blue Non-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple Did not finish (Ret)
Red Did not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
Black Disqualified (DSQ)
White Did not start (DNS)
Race cancelled (C)
Blank Did not practice (DNP)
Excluded (EX)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Withdrawn (WD)

† Formula Two cars occupied fifth to tenth positions in the German Grand Prix, however drivers of these cars were not eligible for championship points. The points for fifth and sixth were awarded to the drivers of the eleventh and twelfth placed cars.

1969 Constructors' Championship final standings

Points were awarded on a 9–6–4–3–2–1 basis to the first six finishers at each round, however only the best placed car from each manufacturer was eligible to score points. The best five results from the first six rounds and the best four results from the last five rounds were retained.

Pos. Manufacturer RSA
South Africa
ESP
Spain
MON
Monaco
NED
Netherlands
FRA
France
GBR
United Kingdom
GER
West Germany
ITA
Italy
CAN
Canada
USA
United States
MEX
Mexico
Pts.
1 France Matra-Ford 1 1 Ret 1 1 1 2 1 4 NC 4 66
2 United Kingdom Brabham-Ford Ret 6 2 5 3 2 1 (5) 1 2 2 49 (51)
3 United Kingdom Lotus-Ford 2 Ret 1 2 6 4 4 2 3 1 9 47
4 United Kingdom McLaren-Ford 3 2 (5) 4 4 3 3 4 5 Ret 1 38 (40)
5 United Kingdom BRM 7 5 Ret 9 Ret DNS NC NC 3 6 7
6 Italy Ferrari Ret Ret Ret 3 Ret Ret 6 Ret 5 7 7
United Kingdom Cooper-Maserati 7 0
United Kingdom Brabham-Repco 8 0
United Kingdom Brabham-Climax Ret 0
United States Eagle-Climax DSQ 0
Pos. Manufacturer RSA
South Africa
ESP
Spain
MON
Monaco
NED
Netherlands
FRA
France
GBR
United Kingdom
GER
West Germany
ITA
Italy
CAN
Canada
USA
United States
MEX
Mexico
Pts.

Non-Championship race results

Other Formula One races held in 1969, which did not count towards the World Championship.

Race Name Circuit Date Winning driver Constructor Report
United Kingdom IV Race of Champions Brands Hatch 16 March United Kingdom Jackie Stewart France Matra-Cosworth Report
United Kingdom XXI BRDC International Trophy Silverstone 30 March Australia Jack Brabham United Kingdom Brabham-Cosworth Report
Spain Madrid Grand Prix Jarama 13 April United Kingdom Keith Holland United Kingdom Lola-Chevrolet Report
United Kingdom XVI International Gold Cup Oulton Park 16 August Belgium Jacky Ickx United Kingdom Brabham-Cosworth Report

References

    • Henry, Alan (1985). Brabham, the Grand Prix Cars. Osprey. p. 85. ISBN 0-905138-36-8.
  1. "Grand Prix - The Killer Years". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
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