The Best F1 Drivers Of The 1970s

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Formula 1 lived one of its golden ages during the 70s, which was a time with many changes in all aspects. Most of the legends of the first generations of F1 were retiring, while other young drivers came to the category to stay and consolidate themselves as new icons.

Classic teams were declining, while other new teams were rising, such as McLaren, Williams or Tyrrell. The 70s were the time of the technical and aerodynamic innovations we know today, thanks to cars that left their mark, such as the ground effect Lotus or the turbocharged Renaults, while they became safer and faster.

Likewise, Formula 1 was filled with colors with the arrival of sponsors and advertising, especially tobacco advertising, creating iconic liveries. The 1970s was certainly an era with many stories to tell, so with that said, let\’s look at some of the best drivers from this golden age of F1.

1. Emerson Fittipaldi

Active years: 1970-1980

Entries: 149

Wins: 14

Podiums: 35

Pole Positions: 6

World Champion in 1972 and 1974

Emerson Fittipaldi was Brazil\’s first Formula 1 champion, and the main face of the new generation of drivers that emerged during the 1970s, and raced throughout the decade in its entirety, being, curiously, the first part of his sporting career where he achieved the most success.

Fittipaldi made his F1 debut in 1970 with Team Lotus, and after Jochen Rindt\’s death, he became the team leader. Already in his first season, he scored a victory in the United States GP, showing the great potential he had. 

After a less competitive season, Fittipaldi forged a rivalry with Jackie Stewart. In 1972, the Brazilian scored 5 victories and won the championship, becoming at the age of 25 the youngest driver in history to win an F1 title, until he was surpassed in 2005 by Fernando Alonso.

In 1973 Stewart took his revenge, and Fittipaldi was runner-up, with 3 victories and 5 podiums. In 1974, the Brazilian signed for McLaren, and after the Scot\’s retirement from F1, his new rival for the championship was Clay Regazzoni, who could not beat him, so Fittipaldi won his second drivers\’ title, being the first in McLaren\’s history.

In 1975, McLaren also had a competitive car, but Fittipaldi could not repeat the success and was beaten by Niki Lauda\’s Ferrari. After that season, Fittipaldi\’s racing career declined, as he joined his brother Wilson\’s team, which was supported by the Brazilian sugar and alcohol cooperative Copersucar.

Fittipaldi Automotive was the first and only Brazilian F1 team and they could not fight for victories, as in 8 seasons they only achieved 3 podiums. After F1, Fittipaldi competed in several American categories, such as the CART Series, winning once, and the Indy 500, which he won in 1989 and 1993.

2. Niki Lauda

Active years: 1971-1979, 1982-1985

Entries: 177

Wins: 25

Podiums: 54

Pole Positions: 24

World Champion in 1975, 1977 and 1984

For many, Niki Lauda is the greatest driver in the history of Formula 1, and he had a great personality both on and off the track. Lauda made his F1 debut in 1971 with March, although his early years were not very competitive due to his cars.

His best days came in 1974 when he signed for Ferrari. During that first season with the Prancing Horse, Lauda proved that with a car to match, he could be at the level of the best, obtaining 2 victories and 3 podiums.

In 1975, the Italians built the Ferrari 312T, which became the most successful car in F1 history, and was used until 1980. With it, Lauda dominated the 1975 and 1977 seasons, winning both championships by a large margin.

In 1976, however, he was unable to win the championship, as an event occurred that would mark his entire life. During the first half of the season, Lauda led the championship well ahead of James Hunt\’s McLaren.

However, in round 10, at the Nürburgring, Lauda had a serious accident that ended with his car on fire, and although the Austrian miraculously survived, he suffered severe burns all over his body. In an astonishing and forced recovery, Lauda returned to racing just a month later for the Italian GP.

However, due to the after-effects of the accident, the Austrian was not at his best, and Hunt beat him at the end of the championship by just one point. This epic rivalry is beautifully depicted in the 2013 movie “Rush,” which goes into great detail about every aspect of the 1976 season and the story of both drivers.

In 1978 and 1979, Lauda raced for Brabham, with less competitive cars, and after 2 years out of competition, he returned in 1982 with McLaren, with whom he proved he was still at a high level, winning the 1984 championship and becoming the only driver in F1 history to be champion for both Ferrari and McLaren, two of the most successful teams in history.

At the end of 1985, Lauda finally retired from F1 and began a successful career as a businessman, and until shortly before his death in 2019, he was a non-executive chairman and shareholder of Mercedes

3. Jackie Stewart

Active years: 1965-1973

Entries: 100

Wins: 27

Podiums: 43

Pole Positions: 17

World Champion in 1969, 1971 and 1973

Jackie Stewart is not only considered one of the best drivers of the 70s but one of the best drivers in history, with great skill behind the wheel within the reach of very few. Stewart was born in Scotland into a family with a passion for racing. His father was an amateur motorcycle racer and his brother also participated in some racing competitions, however, Jackie was the one who went the furthest.

Stwart grew up with Fangio as his role model and made his F1 debut in 1965. During the 1960s he already established himself as one of the best drivers on the grid, winning the title with Matra in 1969 and being runner-up in 1968. With the turn of the decade, Stewart took a change of scenery and joined the up-and-coming Tyrrell team.

1970 was not particularly competitive for the team, but in 1971 Stewart absolutely dominated the season, and with 6 victories he scored twice as many points as the runner-up, Ronnie Peterson. In 1972, despite achieving 4 victories, he was beaten by Emerson Fittipaldi, but in 1973 fortune changed and the Scotsman became world champion again.

By the end of that season, Stewart had achieved everything he wanted in Formula 1, and retired from racing at the peak of his career.

Stewart is not only one of the greatest drivers in the history of F1, but also one of the greatest and most beloved personalities, as well as one of the great advocates of racing safety, promoting the use of full-face helmets, seat belts and effective assistance equipment.

4. Jody Scheckter

Active years: 1972-1980

Entries: 113

Wins: 10

Podiums: 33

Pole Positions: 3

World Champion in 1979

Jody Scheckter participated in the last round of 1972 with McLaren, and in 1973 he participated in 5 races with the British team.

In his third GP, he led most of the race until he crashed with Emerson Fittipaldi. In the following race, the British GP, Scheckter lost control of his car at 250 km/h during the first lap, causing one of the biggest and most dramatic accidents in F1, which left nine cars out.

After that, Scheckter was retired from four races. Scheckter was nicknamed Fletcher after the novel Jonathan Livingston Seagull, who tried to fly when he was too young and crashed into the cliff wall, although he possessed great potential.

In the last race of 1973, however, Scheckter\’s approach to racing changed completely, as he saw François Cevert die during free practice without being able to save him. In 1974 he signed for Tyrrell, and his career took off from there.

Scheckter took two wins and two podiums and was third in the championship, and after a somewhat less competitive year, although he took a win, in 1976 he was again third in the championship, proving that he was on a par with the best.

In 1977 he signed for Walter Wolf Racing and was runner-up, only beaten by the dominant Ferrari of Niki Lauda. In 1979, Scheckter signed for Ferrari and drove the 312T4, and had a great fight with his teammate Gilles Villeneuve, but Fletcher beat him and won the championship, becoming the first and so far only South African to be F1 world champion.

After an uncompetitive season with Ferrari in 1980, Scheckter retired from F1. His career went from strength to strength, as he was initially considered a reckless driver but later became one of the fastest.

5. Mario Andretti

Active years: 1968-1972, 1974-1982

Entries: 131

Wins: 12

Podiums: 19

Pole Positions: 18

World Champion in 1978

Mario Andretti was born in Italy, but his family moved to the United States when he was very young, and today Andretti is one of the most recognized American drivers in history, as well as the most successful in Formula 1.

Andretti began his racing career in America in a variety of championships, winning the Indy 500 in 1969 and Daytona 500 in 1967, among other things. At the 1965 Indy 500, he met Colin Chapman, owner of the Lotus F1 team, who told him to call him when he was ready to race in the category.

In 1968, Andretti was ready for F1 and made his debut with Lotus in the United States GP held at Watkins Glens. To everyone\’s surprise, the American got the pole position, although in the race he had to retire due to a clutch problem.

For the following four seasons, Andretti participated in F1 on a part-time basis, with Lotus, March and Ferrari. With the Prancing Horse, he scored a victory in the 1971 South African GP.

After 1972, Andretti was left without a team but returned with Parnelli in 1974. In 1976, Colin Chapman called him back, and Andretti returned to Lotus, which was in the midst of developing the revolutionary ground effect on its cars. Andretti jumped at the chance, and with a competitive car proved to be very fast.

In 1977, already with the famous Lotus 78, Andretti was third in the championship, with 4 victories and a podium, and in 1978 the American was unbeatable, and with 6 victories and 1 podium, he was proclaimed world champion.

After that season Andretti did not have very competitive cars again, and raced in F1 until 1982, although he managed one pole position and two podiums, proving that he still had talent and ability.

6. James Hunt

Active years: 1973-1979

Entries: 93

Wins: 10

Podiums: 23

Pole Positions: 14

World Champion in 1976

James Hunt is one of the most iconic and legendary drivers in Formula 1 history for his eccentricities and personality, as well as his speed on the track. Hunt had a short racing career, but he did not go unnoticed, becoming the F1 rockstar of the 70s.

Hunt made his Formula 1 debut in 1973 with the Hesketh team, with whom he had raced in F2. Hesketh was also making its debut in the category that year, and it was a fun and wild team. Hunt\’s overalls read \”Sex: Breakfast of Champions\”, and it was common to see him surrounded by women before races and smoking.

Hesketh established itself as a strong midfield team, and in three seasons Hunt scored 8 podiums and 1 win. In 1976, Hunt joined McLaren, following Fittipaldi\’s departure, and that season he contested the title with Niki Lauda.

After the Austrian\’s near-fatal accident, Hunt was able to get close enough in the championship, and thanks to his good results in the last races he won the title by 1 point, with 6 victories and 2 podiums, consolidating his legend.

Hunt continued two and a half more seasons in F1, which went from better to worse, achieving 3 victories and 3 podiums, and in the middle of the 1979 season, he retired. He was a racing commentator until 1993 when he died of a heart attack due to the excesses of his life.

7. Ronnie Peterson

Active years: 1970-1978

Entries: 123

Wins: 10

Podiums: 26

Pole Positions: 14

Championship runner-up in 1971 and 1978 and 3rd in 1973

Ronnie Peterson is one of the best drivers who never won a title, and was admired by Jackie Stewart and Gilles Villeneuve, as he was incredibly fast. He even inspired George Harrison, a member of the Beatles, to compose the song \”Faster.\”

Peterson made his F1 debut in 1970 with March, albeit without a very competitive car. In 1971, however, the car was faster, and to everyone\’s surprise, Peterson was runner-up with 5 podiums, only behind Jackie Stewart.

 In 1973 he signed for Lotus, and was third in the championship with four wins and three podiums, behind Stewart and Fittipaldi, his teammate, who left the team due to the tension between him and the Swede.

1975, 1976 and 1977 were not good years for him as he did not have very competitive cars. After a very uncompetitive season with Tyrrell, Peterson returned to Lotus in 1978, with Mario Andretti, who was the first driver. Lotus absolutely dominated the season, and Andretti won the title while Peterson was runner-up.

Peterson died that season due to a crash in the Italian GP, in which 11 out of the 24 cars were involved. James Hunt tried to avoid Riccardo Patrese and collided with Peterson, who crashed into the guardrail and his car caught fire. Hunt got him out of the car, unconscious and with two broken legs, and he died days later at the hospital.

Peterson was said by many to be the fastest of all drivers and earned the nickname “Superswede”. He didn\’t always have competitive cars, but when he did, he was on par with the best in history.

8. Carlos Reutemann

Active years: 1972-1982

Entries: 146

Wins: 12

Podiums: 45

Pole Positions: 6

Championship runner-up in 1981 and 3rd in 1975, 1978 and 1980

Carlos Reutemann is another of the best drivers in history who has never won a title. Twenty years after Fangio\’s titles, Reutemann took his legacy to bring Argentina back to success.

Reutemann had humble origins and gave everything to get to F1. In 1972, he made his F1 debut with Brabham, and with each passing season, he established himself as a fast and competent driver. In 1973 he achieved his first podiums, and in 1974 his first victories. In 1975 he signed for Williams, and finished third in the championship, proving that he was worthy of winning a title.

In 1976, Reutemann was hired by Enzo Ferrari to replace Niki Lauda after his accident at Nurburgring, which angered the Austrian driver, thus precipitating his return to F1 just 38 days after his near-fatal accident. Reutemann continued that season at Ferrari in a third car and continued with the team in 1977 and 1978.

In 1978, despite finishing third in the championship, he left Ferrari due to discrepancies with some members of the team and joined Williams, where he stayed until he retired in 1982.

In Williams, he did good performances and brushed the title in 1981, when he finished second in the championship just one point behind Nelson Piquet. With two races to go, Reutemann was leading the championship, and a change in the tire brand caused him to lose speed, according to him.

His last seasons were fraught with a bad atmosphere in the team, as he did not accept being Alan Jones\’ second driver. After motorsport, he turned to politics. Had it not been for the vagaries of fate, Reutemann could have been world champion.

9. Gilles Villeneuve

Active years: 1977-1982

Entries: 68

Wins: 6

Podiums: 13

Pole Positions: 2

Championship runner-up in 1979

Gilles Villeneuve had a short career in Formula 1, but he left a great legacy and mark on the sport because of his personality on and off the track: he was obsessed with winning and competed for everything.

Villeneuve began racing in snow races, which gave him reflections and confidence in the rain. He made his F1 debut in 1977 with McLaren, showing his talent, although surprisingly they did not renew him and Ferrari took the opportunity to sign him in 1978.

Villeneuve achieved his first victory in 1978 at the Canadian GP, and his best year was 1979, in which he achieved 3 victories and the runner-up, and he was key for his teammate Jody Scheckter to win the drivers\’ championship and for Ferrari the constructors\’ championship.

1980, 1981 and 1982 were terrible and sacrificial years for Ferrari, as they were testing the V6 turbo engine. At the 1980 Italian GP in Imola, a puncture caused him to collide with the wall at high speed, and although the chassis broke into pieces he managed to escape unscathed.

In 1981, Scheckter left the team and Villeneuve became the Ferrari leader (even though the Canadian was already faster before he left), and although the team was still not very competitive, he managed to achieve two victories and a third place.

In 1982 Villeneuve began a fierce battle with Didier Pironi, his new teammate, but it did not last long because in the fifth round, the Belgian GP, Villeneuve collided in free practice with Jochen Mass at 200 km/h, causing his car to fly off and disintegrate, ending Gilles\’ life.

Gilles Villeneuve died as he lived, to the limit, as he was passionate about risk. His record does not do him justice, as he always outperformed mediocre Ferraris. His son Jacques continued his legacy and became world champion in 1997, achieving what his father could not.

10. Jochen Rindt

Active years: 1964-1970

Entries: 62

Wins: 6

Podiums: 13

Pole Positions: 10

World Champion in 1970

Although most of his racing career took place in the 1960s, Jochen Rindt can be considered one of the best drivers of the 1970s, as he was the first world champion of the decade. Rindt is the only driver in history to win the title posthumously.

During the 1960s, Rindt never had particularly competitive or reliable cars, but he already proved that he was one of the best drivers on the grid, taking third in the championship in 1966 with Cooper and winning a race in 1969 with Lotus.

Everything changed in 1970 when he did have a competitive car, and with it, he proved to be unbeatable. That season, Rindt won 5 races, and his rivals were far behind in the championship.

However, at the Italian GP, with four races remaining in the season, Rindt went off at the Curva Parabolica, crashing heavily into the barriers, which cost him his life.

For the remainder of the championship, the only driver who could surpass him was Jacky Ickx, who, despite two victories, could not catch him, and Rindt thus became the first and only driver to be proclaimed world champion posthumously.

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