1975 Belgian Grand Prix

The 1975 Formula One Belgian Grand Prix was held at Zolder on May 25, 1975.

Race summary

Ferrari arrived at Zolder eager for the fray and buoyed up by their Monaco victory. Niki Lauda dutifully gained pole after a technical gremlin held up early leader Carlos Pace and Saturday's qualifying was rained out. Vittorio Brambilla was third on the grid and Tony Brise stunned on his debut race for Graham Hill, gaining a fourth-row start ahead of Championship leader Emerson Fittipaldi. Ronnie Peterson suffered the unfortunate experience of being giving a parking ticket during the practice session - after having parked his car in a dangerous position at the edge of the track, rather than risk a puncture by pulling into the gravel trap.

Pace took the lead whilst Brambilla and Regazzoni duelled. Jochen Mass and John Watson collided - the German retired whilst Watson returned to the pits with a damaged nosecone. Alan Jones also had to retire after a collision with Jacques Laffite. Arturo Merzario was out with a burnt out clutch. Pace's fiery start was now causing problems with brakes and cold tyres and he was having to drop back.

Brambilla took the lead until lap 6 when he was passed by Lauda. Tony Brise spun at the chicane and retired shortly after with piston failure. Jody Scheckter was storming through the field to be in second place by lap 9. Brambilla's brakes were fading and he dropped down the order. Jean-Pierre Jarier spun into the catch-fencing, James Hunt retired with a broken gear-linkage. Clay Regazzoni had risen to 3rd, but then dived into the pits to change a blistered tyre. Lauda led Scheckter comfortably and the race settled down into a procession.

Carlos Pace had handling problems and dropped down the order when he lost third gear. By lap 49, Ronnie Peterson crashed into the catch fencing, whilst Brambilla surrendered third place to change a blistered tyre, resuming but retiring with brake problems.

Fittipaldi was also having brake problems, leaving him helpless against the assault of Regazzoni and Tom Pryce as he dropped from 5th to 7th in the last 6 laps.

Classification

Notes

*Pole position: Niki Lauda - 1:25.43cite book | last = Lang | first = Mike | title = Grand Prix! Vol 3 | publisher = Haynes Publishing Group | year = 1983 | pages = p78 | isbn = 0-85429-380-9]
*Fastest lap: Clay Regazzoni - 1:26.76 on lap 11cite book | last = Lang | first = Mike | title = Grand Prix! Vol 3 | publisher = Haynes Publishing Group | year = 1983 | pages = p80 | isbn = 0-85429-380-9]

References

"Unless otherwise indicated, all race results are taken from cite web | title = The Official Formula 1 website | url = http://www.formula1.com/results/season/1975/463/ | accessdate = 2007-06-15

F1 race report
Name_of_race = Belgian Grand Prix
Year_of_race = 1975
Previous_race_in_season = 1975 Monaco Grand Prix
Next_race_in_season = 1975 Swedish Grand Prix
Previous_year's_race = 1974 Belgian Grand Prix
Next_year's_race = 1976 Belgian Grand Prix