1973 Belgian Grand Prix

Championship standings

Fittipaldi leads on 31 points, ahead of Stewart on 19 and Cevert on 12. In the Manufacturers’ Cup, Lotus (31 points) leads Tyrrell (27) by four, with McLaren third on 15.

Previous race

Fittipaldi held on at Montjuïc despite a slow puncture in the closing stages, taking victory ahead of Cevert and Shadow’s George Follmer — Follmer’s first Formula One podium and Shadow’s first as a constructor. Peterson had led comfortably until his gearbox failed on lap 55; Stewart retired with brake problems, and Reutemann’s bid for a surprise win ended with driveshaft failure.

Circuit change

The Belgian Grand Prix moves to Circuit Zolder for the first time, part of a 1972 agreement to alternate with Nivelles-Baulers.

Track conditions

When Stewart, Fittipaldi, and Cevert walked the Zolder circuit ahead of the meeting, they found the tarmac already breaking up from a previous race. The track owners immediately ordered a resurfacing. Cevert warned the FIA that the drivers would seek to cancel the race if the repairs were inadequate. During the opening practice session the track continued to break up and the GPDA threatened strike action; an emergency resurfacing was carried out on Friday evening.

Regulation change

From this race onward, the car numbers assigned at Zolder are fixed for the remainder of the season. They will remain in use until the end of the year.