1976 Spanish Grand Prix

Championship standings

Lauda extended his lead further at Long Beach, where Regazzoni won for Ferrari and Lauda brought home second. Hunt collided with Depailler on the fourth lap and retired.

Previous race

Regazzoni led every lap at Long Beach for a dominant Ferrari win, completing the grand slam of pole, fastest lap, lead, and victory. Lauda came home second despite losing most gears in the final stint. Hunt clashed with Depailler trying to pass for second on lap four and was out on the spot.

Between-race developments

The Parnelli team has folded. After his retirement in Long Beach, Mario Andretti met Lotus team manager Colin Chapman for breakfast and agreed a deal on the spot. Andretti joins Lotus on a permanent contract.

Entrants

The European season opens with new regulations now in force. From 1 May, cars must be no wider than 215 cm and airbox height is capped at 850 mm — eliminating many of the tall, striking airbox designs of recent seasons. Tyrrell unveil the P34 six-wheeler for Patrick Depailler, its four front wheels intended to improve mechanical front-end grip. The novel car qualified third behind Hunt and Lauda. Lauda is racing with broken ribs sustained in a tractor accident.

The Spanish Grand Prix has moved permanently to Jarama near Madrid after the 1975 Montjuïc accident.

Milestones

This is the Formula One World Championship debut for Swiss constructor Boro — the first Dutch constructor to participate in Formula One — as well as the 50th Grand Prix start for Matra as an engine supplier.