One of the Most Chaotic Formula 1 Races of the 1970s: Fires, Multi-Car Crashes and Reutemann’s First Ferrari Victory
CLASSIC MOTORSPORT
1/7/20262 min read
Long before modern safety standards and race control systems, Formula 1 could still descend into pure, uncontrolled chaos. One Grand Prix in the 1970s became the ultimate example of how quickly a race could spiral beyond anyone’s control — featuring a suspiciously fast start, a grass fire beside the track, a crumbling racing surface, and a single corner that turned into a scrapyard. What began as a flat-out fight for the lead between Carlos Pace, James Hunt and Carlos Reutemann would soon evolve into one of the most accident-filled, dangerous, and unforgettable races of the decade.
The start was defined by Carlos Pace’s lightning reaction, as the Brazilian launched away the instant the lights went out, seemingly claiming the lead. Many spectators failed to notice that it was actually Carlos Reutemann who swept through the opening corner in first place. His advantage was brief. Still on the opening lap, Pace attacked around the outside of the banked Turn Three and reclaimed the position, ending the lap several seconds clear.
Behind them, James Hunt led Jochen Mass, with Mario Andretti and Clay Regazzoni locked in pursuit. Patrick Depailler headed the next group, while Larry Perkins was already out, retiring with yet another overheating failure.
In the early phase, Pace controlled the pace as Reutemann came under heavy pressure from Hunt. The McLaren driver forced his way past on lap three and began hunting down the Brabham-Alfa Romeo. Although Hunt was stronger through the corners, Pace’s straight-line speed kept him just out of reach. Further back, Andretti filled Mass’s mirrors, with Regazzoni waiting to capitalize. Trouble spread quickly: Gunnar Nilsson stopped with a puncture, Vittorio Brambilla required a radiator repair, and Ian Scheckter was eliminated by a gearbox problem.
A brief scare followed when a small grass fire broke out near the final corner, sending smoke across the track before being extinguished. Soon after, Hunt launched another attack, forcing Pace wide at Turn Three. The Brazilian hit a badly degraded patch of asphalt, lost control, and drifted back across the circuit. Hunt had nowhere to go. He narrowly escaped serious damage, but Pace’s Brabham was torn apart moments later when its entire nose section detached, effectively ending his race.
Hunt inherited the lead from Reutemann, Mass and Andretti — but chaos was only beginning. Mass lost control under braking at Turn Three and slammed into the catch fencing. Regazzoni was collected seconds later. Depailler spun trying to avoid the wreckage, and an unsighted Ronnie Peterson was launched off the road at high speed. Niki Lauda and John Watson missed the debris by inches. The crumbling surface outside the corner, later described as “like black ice,” turned the area into a trap — yet the race continued.
As half-distance approached, Hunt’s advantage evaporated due to severe front-tyre wear. Reutemann closed rapidly and swept past on lap 23. Hunt pitted, rejoined behind Lauda and Watson, passed both, and set off in pursuit, but the damage was done. Tom Pryce ran second until engine overheating ended his charge.
More cars would later crash into the Turn Three graveyard, including Depailler, Laffite, Watson and, remarkably, Pace himself. At the flag, Reutemann cruised to his first victory for Ferrari. Hunt finished second, Lauda was third and the final car on the lead lap. Emerson Fittipaldi secured fourth, Nilsson recovered to fifth, Renzo Zorzi took sixth, and Ingo Hoffmann was among the few still running.
