1972 French Grand Prix

Previous race

At Nivelles, Fittipaldi dominated from pole to flag for his second consecutive win. Cevert drove a strong second for Tyrrell in Stewart’s absence; Hulme completed the podium.

Between-race developments

Stewart returns to the Tyrrell cockpit after missing Belgium with gastritis.

Track changes

The French Grand Prix moves to the Circuit de Charade near Clermont-Ferrand — a 8.2 km stretch of public roads around the base of an extinct volcano. Dark volcanic rocks fall from the mountain onto both sides of the circuit, making tyre punctures a known hazard. Drivers who run wide send rocks into the middle of the track ahead of pursuing cars.

Entrants

Patrick Depailler makes his Formula One debut. Chris Amon takes pole position for Matra — the Tyrrell team brought a new-specification chassis for Cevert, who was fastest in practice before crashing into a barrier and injuring his hand; he starts the race in the old-specification spare car. Hulme and Stewart start second and third.

Milestones

Amon’s pole position is the fifth of his Formula One career.