1975 Season

The 1975 Formula One season is the 29th season of FIA Formula One motor racing, featuring fourteen rounds from 12 January to 5 October. Emerson Fittipaldi defends his drivers’ title with McLaren; McLaren also defend the constructors’ championship. After a strong finish to 1974, many observers consider Brabham favourites for the new season.

Driver changes

Denny Hulme retired at the end of 1974. Jochen Mass, who drove the final two races for McLaren in 1974, is signed for a full season with the team.

John Watson joins Surtees after entering all 1974 races in a private Brabham. Mike Wilds, Rolf Stommelen, and Jacques Laffite are confirmed at BRM, Hill, and Williams respectively.

March announced their retirement from Formula One, then in a dramatic reversal confirmed their entry for 1975 with Vittorio Brambilla and Lella Lombardi. Lombardi is the first woman to qualify in a world championship race since Maria Teresa de Filippis in 1958.

Wilson Fittipaldi enters the season with his own team and chassis, driving the car himself.

Team changes

Williams, having lost their sponsorship from Iso and Marlboro, enter two cars under the Frank Williams Racing Cars name for the first time. Embassy Racing, owned by Graham Hill, enters with a Lola chassis.

Calendar

The fourteen-race season opens in Argentina on 12 January and concludes in the United States on 5 October. Four circuits rotate their hosting rights: the Spanish Grand Prix moves from Jarama to Montjuïc in Barcelona; the French Grand Prix moves from Dijon-Prenois to Paul Ricard; and the British Grand Prix moves from Brands Hatch to Silverstone. The Belgian and Monaco Grands Prix swap their calendar positions, with Monaco following Belgium.

Regulation changes

Fire-resistant race suits are made obligatory for all drivers. Marshal posts with dedicated service roads are introduced and implemented at circuits, and marshals are required to practice extracting drivers from their cars.

Championship points go to the top six finishers. For both the Drivers’ Championship and the Constructors’ Cup, only the best six results from the first seven rounds and the best six results from the final seven rounds count towards the title.