Lap Ledger1950–2027 · every championship race

Season · 16 rounds, all run

1978 FIA Formula One World Championship

Ground effect arrives: the Lotus 79 'wing car'. Ronnie Peterson died from injuries sustained at Monza.

Rounds
16all run
Drivers' champion
Mario Andretti64 points
Constructors' champion
Team Lotus86 points
Margin
13over Ronnie Peterson

How the title was decided

010203040506070R3R6R9R12R156451
Mario AndrettiRonnie PetersonCarlos Reutemann

The three drivers who finished highest, tracked from the opening round. Before 1991 only a driver's best few results counted, so a line can rise by less than they scored that weekend.

The numbers behind this chart, How the title was decided
How the title was decided
DriverAfter roundPoints
Mario Andretti19
Mario Andretti212
Mario Andretti312
Mario Andretti418
Mario Andretti518
Mario Andretti627
Mario Andretti736
Mario Andretti836
Mario Andretti945
Mario Andretti1045
Mario Andretti1154
Mario Andretti1254
Mario Andretti1363
Mario Andretti1464
Mario Andretti1564
Mario Andretti1664
Ronnie Peterson12
Ronnie Peterson22
Ronnie Peterson311
Ronnie Peterson414
Ronnie Peterson514
Ronnie Peterson620
Ronnie Peterson726
Ronnie Peterson830
Ronnie Peterson936
Ronnie Peterson1036
Ronnie Peterson1136
Ronnie Peterson1245
Ronnie Peterson1351
Ronnie Peterson1451
Ronnie Peterson1551
Ronnie Peterson1651
Carlos Reutemann29
Carlos Reutemann39
Carlos Reutemann418
Carlos Reutemann518
Carlos Reutemann622
Carlos Reutemann722
Carlos Reutemann822
Carlos Reutemann922
Carlos Reutemann1031
Carlos Reutemann1131
Carlos Reutemann1231
Carlos Reutemann1331
Carlos Reutemann1435
Carlos Reutemann1544
Carlos Reutemann1648

Final drivers' standings

Final drivers' standings
PosDriverWinsPointsGap
1Mario Andretti664—
2Ronnie Peterson25113
3Carlos Reutemann44816
4Niki Lauda24420
5Patrick Depailler13430
6John Watson02539
7Jody Scheckter02440
8Jacques Laffite01945
9Gilles Villeneuve11747
10Emerson Fittipaldi01747
11Alan Jones01153
12Riccardo Patrese01153
13James Hunt0856
14Patrick Tambay0856
15Didier Pironi0757
16Clay Regazzoni0460
17Jean-Pierre Jabouille0361
18Hans-Joachim Stuck0262
19Héctor Rebaque0163
19Vittorio Brambilla0163
19Derek Daly0163
A driver with points and no position was excluded from the classification: the points stand, the position does not. Wins are counted from the race records, and a shared drive is a win for both of its drivers. The gap is to the highest points total classified, so the leader's own is an em dash; before 1991 it is a difference of net totals, dropped scores and all.

Final constructors' standings

Final constructors' standings
PosConstructorPointsGap
1Team Lotus ford86—
2Ferrari ferrari5828
3Brabham alfa-romeo5333
4Tyrrell ford3848
5Walter Wolf Racing ford2462
6Ligier matra1967
7Fittipaldi ford1769
8McLaren ford1571
9Williams ford1175
10Arrows ford1175
11Shadow ford680
12Renault renault383
13Surtees ford185
13Ensign ford185
The gap is to the highest points total classified, so the leader's own is an em dash; before 1991 it is a difference of net totals, dropped scores and all. The championship is contested by a chassis–engine pair, so one name can appear more than once with different engines.

The calendar

  1. R1Argentinerun
  2. R2Brazilianrun
  3. R3South Africanrun
  4. R4United States Westrun
  5. R5Monacorun
  6. R6Belgianrun
  7. R7Spanishrun
  8. R8Swedishrun
  9. R9Frenchrun
  10. R10Britishrun
  11. R11Germanrun
  12. R12Austrianrun
  13. R13Dutchrun
  14. R14Italianrun
  15. R15United Statesrun
  16. R16Canadianrun

The outline is F1DB’s, for every layout; the trace is OpenStreetMap’s, where it exists. F1DB, CC BY 4.0 · drawn by Jules Roy.

The calendar
RGrand PrixCircuitDatesWinnerConstructorPoleFastest lap
1Argentine Grand PrixAutodromo Oscar GalvezMario AndrettiTeam LotusMario AndrettiGilles Villeneuve
2Brazilian Grand PrixJacarepaguaCarlos ReutemannFerrariRonnie PetersonCarlos Reutemann
3South African Grand PrixKyalamiRonnie PetersonTeam LotusNiki LaudaMario Andretti
4United States Grand Prix WestLong BeachCarlos ReutemannFerrariCarlos ReutemannAlan Jones
5Monaco Grand PrixCircuit de MonacoPatrick DepaillerTyrrellCarlos ReutemannNiki Lauda
6Belgian Grand PrixCircuit ZolderMario AndrettiTeam LotusMario AndrettiRonnie Peterson
7Spanish Grand PrixCircuito del JaramaMario AndrettiTeam LotusMario AndrettiMario Andretti
8Swedish Grand PrixScandinavian RacewayNiki LaudaBrabhamMario AndrettiNiki Lauda
9French Grand PrixCircuit Paul RicardMario AndrettiTeam LotusJohn WatsonCarlos Reutemann
10British Grand PrixBrands HatchCarlos ReutemannFerrariRonnie PetersonNiki Lauda
11German Grand PrixHockenheimringMario AndrettiTeam LotusMario AndrettiRonnie Peterson
12Austrian Grand PrixRed Bull RingRonnie PetersonTeam LotusRonnie PetersonRonnie Peterson
13Dutch Grand PrixCircuit ZandvoortMario AndrettiTeam LotusMario AndrettiNiki Lauda
14Italian Grand PrixAutodromo Nazionale MonzaNiki LaudaBrabhamMario AndrettiMario Andretti
15United States Grand PrixWatkins GlenCarlos ReutemannFerrariMario AndrettiJean-Pierre Jarier
16Canadian Grand PrixCircuit Gilles-VilleneuveGilles VilleneuveFerrariJean-Pierre JarierAlan Jones
Two names in one cell is a shared drive: both drivers are classified in that position, and both are winners. Open any round for its full classification.

Who entered

Who entered
ConstructorEntered asChassisDesignsEnginesTyres
ArrowsArrows Racing TeamArrows FA1, Arrows A12Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8Goodyear
ATSATS Racing TeamATS HS1, ATS D12Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8Goodyear
BrabhamParmalat Racing TeamBrabham BT45C, Brabham BT46, Brabham BT46B, Brabham BT46C4Alfa Romeo 115-12 3.0 F12Goodyear
EnsignMario Deliotti RacingEnsign N1751Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8Goodyear
EnsignSachs RacingEnsign N1771Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8Goodyear
EnsignTeam Tissot EnsignEnsign N1771Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8Goodyear
FerrariScuderia Ferrari SpA SEFACFerrari 312T2, Ferrari 312T32Ferrari 015 3.0 F12Michelin
FittipaldiFittipaldi AutomotiveFittipaldi F5A1Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8Goodyear
HeskethOlympus Cameras with Hesketh RacingHesketh 308E1Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8Goodyear
LigierLigier GitanesLigier JS7, Ligier JS7/9, Ligier JS93Matra MS76 3.0 V12, Matra MS78 3.0 V12Goodyear
MarchPatrick NèveMarch 781S1Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8Goodyear
MartiniAutomobiles MartiniMartini MK231Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8Goodyear
McLarenCentro Asegurador F1McLaren M231Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8Goodyear
McLarenLiggett Group with BS FabricationsMcLaren M23, McLaren M262Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8Goodyear
McLarenMarlboro Team McLarenMcLaren M261Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8Goodyear
McLarenMelchester RacingMcLaren M231Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8Goodyear
MerzarioTeam MerzarioMerzario A11Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8Goodyear
RenaultÉquipe Renault ElfRenault RS011Renault-Gordini EF1 1.5 V6 TMichelin
ShadowInterscope RacingShadow DN91Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8Goodyear
ShadowVilliger ShadowShadow DN8, Shadow DN92Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8Goodyear
SurteesBeta Team SurteesSurtees TS19, Surtees TS202Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8Goodyear
SurteesDurex Team SurteesSurtees TS19, Surtees TS202Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8Goodyear
SurteesTeam SurteesSurtees TS201Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8Goodyear
Team LotusJohn Player Team LotusLotus 78, Lotus 792Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8Goodyear
Team LotusTeam RebaqueLotus 781Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8Goodyear
TheodoreTheodore RacingTheodore TR11Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8Goodyear
TheodoreTheodore Racing Hong KongTheodore TR11Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8Goodyear
TyrrellFirst National City Elf Team TyrrellTyrrell 0081Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8Goodyear
Walter Wolf RacingTheodore Racing Hong KongWolf WR3, Wolf WR42Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8Goodyear
Walter Wolf RacingWalter Wolf RacingWolf WR1, Wolf WR3, Wolf WR5, Wolf WR64Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8Goodyear
WilliamsWilliams Grand Prix EngineeringWilliams FW061Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8Goodyear
Show all 31 entrantsShow the first 10, Who entered
Where an entrant ran more than one design, no source records which car raced which round — so those race results carry no chassis.

Photographs

From Wikimedia Commons, each shown with the photographer and licence its terms require.

Tyrrell 008
Tyrrell 008
Tyrrell 008 2007 · Darren · CC BY 2.0
McLaren M26
McLaren M26
McLaren M26 2007 · Darren · CC BY 2.0
Fittipaldi F5
Fittipaldi F5
Fittipaldi F5A Auto und Technik Museum Sinsheim · Marcin Wichary · CC BY 2.0
Lotus 78
Lotus 78
2017 FIA Masters Historic Formula One Championship, Circuit of the Americas (23970306838) · https://www.flickr.com/photos/mrlaugh/ · CC BY-SA 2.0 · unchecked
Williams FW06
Williams FW06
Williams FW06 front Donington Grand Prix Collection · Morio · CC BY-SA 3.0
Renault RS01
Renault RS01
Paris - Retromobile 2013 - Renault F1 RS01 - 1978 - 102 · Thesupermat · CC BY-SA 3.0 · unchecked

A photograph marked unchecked has a file name that does not name the car it is shown for. Most are still the right car, filed under the driver rather than the machine — but nobody has confirmed these one by one.

4 more photographs
Hesketh 308E
Hesketh 308E
Hesketh 308E 2008 Goodwood · Brian Snelson from Hockley, Essex, England · CC BY 2.0
Surtees TS20
Surtees TS20
SurteesTS20BarryBoor · The original uploader was Scottanon at English Wikipedia . · Attribution
McLaren M23
McLaren M23
Emerson Fittipaldi McLaren M23 1974 Britain · Gerald Swan · CC BY-SA 3.0
Shadow DN9
Shadow DN9
Elio de Angelis - Shadow DN9B at Druids Bend at the 1979 Race of Champions (50140833091) · Martin Lee from London, UK · CC BY-SA 2.0

Where this comes from

Team
Team Lotus
Runner-up
Ronnie Peterson — 51
Engine formula
3.0 L naturally aspirated / 1.5 L turbocharged
Tyres
Goodyear, Firestone, Dunlop
Entered
48 drivers, 20 constructors, 5 engine makers — counted from the entries, whether or not they started