1979 Dutch Grand Prix

Previous race

Jones won at the Österreichring with Villeneuve second and Laffite third — Williams’ third successive victory at Silverstone, Hockenheim and Austria. Arnoux led from pole early but suffered fuel pressure problems and dropped to sixth. Both Brabham-Alfa Romeos retired with engine failures.

Championship standings

Williams have won three races in a row, but the scoring system limits Jones’s title prospects: he collected only four points in the first seven rounds, capping his maximum possible score for the season at 40 points. Scheckter amassed 30 points in the first half and has collected five more in the second; he needs only six additional points to be mathematically certain of beating Jones.

Track changes

Zandvoort has been modified with a new chicane placed between the two most dangerous sections of the circuit — the Hondenvlak and Tunnel Oost corners. The chicane slows the cars only marginally but removes the flat-out runs through both corners.

Entrants

Jean-Pierre Jarier returns to Tyrrell after missing Germany and Austria with hepatitis.

Milestones

This is the 100th Grand Prix start for Shadow. In those 100 races the team has won one Grand Prix, achieved seven podium finishes, three pole positions and two fastest laps.

This is also the 300th Grand Prix start for a Ferrari-powered car.