1969 Monaco Grand Prix

Previous race

Stewart won the Spanish Grand Prix, finishing two full laps ahead of McLaren and Beltoise in one of the most dominant drives of the season. Rindt led until his rear wing collapsed at 225 km/h on lap 20, sending him into the barriers; he overturned and was hospitalised. Amon inherited a thirty-second lead before his engine failed on lap 56. Ickx’s wing also collapsed mid-race, requiring a pit stop, before his rear wishbone broke and forced retirement.

Between-race developments

Rindt is absent, recovering from injuries sustained in Spain.

The wing crisis forces the CSI’s hand at Monaco. Acting after the first practice session had already run on Thursday, the governing body banned all aerodynamic wings and aerofoils — only the original nose spoilers remain permitted. All times set in Thursday practice were scrapped. Ferrari had arrived with a hydraulically controlled wing; Matra had added further aerodynamic bodywork to their noses. All of it comes off.