SEASON 1977 IN FORMULA 1: Lauda reclaims his throne

SEASON 1977 IN FORMULA 1: Lauda reclaims his throne

17 starts are set in the calendar of the 1977 season in Formula 1. Thus, the 30th edition of the world championship becomes the longest in the history of the race up to that point. After James Hunt's dramatic success last year, all eyes are once again on the Brits on the track. This time, however, Niki Lauda brings a cause for joy. In 1977, the Austrian driver won the world title for the second time in his career, reminding the world that he is still a force to be reckoned with. Against this background, lesser-known characters enter the battle for the trophy during the season. One of them is Mario Andretti with a Lotus Ford who wins the most number of starts - 5. However, in the general standings, the American pilot finished third. Jody Schecter from South Africa took the second place in points. For constructors, the trophy is indisputable and Ferrari is above all.

The 1977 season also goes down in history as one of the most sinister in terms of absenteeism in Formula 1. On March 5, during the South African Grand Prix, two of the marshals crossed the track to help put out a fire that broke out in a from the cars. The lack of clear instructions to the pilots leads to ignorance on their part that there are people on the track. Thus, Tom Price found himself unable to react in time and crashed at a speed of 270 kilometers per hour. The explosion from his car was so strong that 19-year-old Frederik Jansen van Vuuren died on the spot. The wave narrowly doesn't kill Price himself, whose head misses a blown fire extinguisher by inches. The chaos during the competition once again provoked the need to take new measures related to safety during the starts. This time, however, the case is not considered only in relation to the pilots, but also to all those whose work is related to the organization of the track.

A few weeks later, another tragedy left its mark. In a plane accident, Carlos Pace lost his life. Thus, the 1977 season became one of the blackest in the history of Formula 1.

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