1969 German Grand Prix

Previous race

Stewart won the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, lapping the entire field for his fifth victory in six races. Ickx finished second with McLaren third. Rindt ran at the front with Stewart throughout before pitting late when his rear wing end plate came loose, fouling the left-rear tyre; after the stop his team put in insufficient fuel, forcing a second stop, and he came home fourth.

Entrants

Twelve Formula Two cars join the Formula One grid at the Nürburgring, as is traditional for the German Grand Prix given the circuit’s length. Ferrari has withdrawn from this race to focus on preparations for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

Andretti drives the four-wheel-drive Lotus 63.

Practice

BMW’s Gerhard Mitter was killed at Schwedenkreuz during practice for the Formula Two programme, a suspected suspension or steering failure. BMW withdrew their entire entry — Hubert Hahne and Dieter Quester — and Hans Herrmann, who had also entered, withdrew from the race.

Andretti took the Lotus 63 out for a small number of practice laps.

Piers Courage crashed at Breidscheid after sliding on oil and went into a ditch by the Adenauer bridge. He was unhurt.

Milestones

This is the Formula One World Championship debut for Rolf Stommelen, François Cevert, and Peter Westbury, among others.