1979 Italian Grand Prix

Previous race

Jones won at Zandvoort — Williams’ fourth consecutive victory — with Scheckter second. Villeneuve led for much of the race but spun, then lost a rear tyre which exploded and shredded on the circuit. He rejoined and drove an entire lap on three wheels before pitting, his suspension too damaged to continue. After Pironi also retired with a suspension failure, Laffite took third.

Championship standings

Scheckter holds a commanding lead in the Drivers’ Championship, with Jones as his only remaining mathematical rival.

Track changes

Monza has been substantially revamped for 1979. The circuit has been resurfaced and new run-off areas added at the Curva Grande and the Lesmo curves.

Entrants

Alfa Romeo returns to the World Championship after missing several recent rounds, entering two cars: a new 179 chassis for Bruno Giacomelli and the old 177 for Vittorio Brambilla, making his first appearance since the crash at Monza in 1978 that claimed the life of Ronnie Peterson. Héctor Rebaque has his self-built HR100 chassis ready for its constructor debut. Marc Surer, who won the Formula Two championship last month, makes his Formula One debut at Ensign, replacing Patrick Gaillard.

Milestones

This is Ferrari’s 300th start in a World Championship event. In those 300 races Ferrari has won 78 Grands Prix, achieved 255 podium finishes, 89 pole positions and 88 fastest laps.

This is the Formula One World Championship debut for Marc Surer and for the Rebaque constructor.