1979 Formula One season facts for kids

The 1979 Formula One season was a super exciting year in the world of car racing! It was a time when the fastest cars and bravest drivers competed to see who was the best. At the end of this thrilling season, Jody Scheckter became the champion.

A Look Back at the 1979 Season

The 1979 Formula One season was a big deal, with 15 races held all over the world. Drivers and their teams battled it out for points in each race. The goal was to score the most points by the end of the year to win the championship.

This season was especially exciting because of the close fight between two teammates from the Ferrari team: Jody Scheckter and Gilles Villeneuve. They were both amazing drivers, and it was hard to tell who would win until the very end.

Key Races and Winners

The season kicked off in Argentina and traveled to many different countries. Here are some of the drivers who won races that year:

• Jacques Laffite from France won the first two races in Argentina and Brazil, driving for Ligier-Ford.
• Gilles Villeneuve from Canada showed his speed by winning races in South Africa, the United States West, and the final race in the United States.
• Jody Scheckter from South Africa won important races in Belgium, Monaco, and Italy. These wins were super important for his championship title!
• Alan Jones from Australia, driving for Williams-Ford, had a strong second half of the season, winning four races in Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, and Canada.
• Other winners included Patrick Depailler (France, Ligier-Ford), Jean-Pierre Jabouille (France, Renault), and Clay Regazzoni (Switzerland, Williams-Ford).

The Championship Battle

The fight for the championship came down to Jody Scheckter and his Ferrari teammate, Gilles Villeneuve. They were both incredibly fast and pushed each other to their limits. Scheckter won three races, and Villeneuve also won three.

In the end, Scheckter's consistent performance and two key wins in Belgium and Monaco helped him pull ahead. He officially secured the championship at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, where he finished first. This was a huge moment for him and for the Ferrari team!

Alan Jones from Australia also had a fantastic season, especially in the second half. He finished third in the championship, showing how strong the Williams team was becoming.

Top Drivers of 1979

Here are the top drivers from the 1979 Formula One season:

• 1. Jody Scheckter (South Africa) - Driving for Ferrari, he became the World Champion! He scored 51 points.
• 2. Gilles Villeneuve (Canada) - Also driving for Ferrari, he was a very close second with 47 points.
• 3. Alan Jones (Australia) - Driving for Williams-Ford, he finished third with 40 points.
• 4. Jacques Laffite (France) - Driving for Ligier-Ford, he earned 36 points.
• 5. Clay Regazzoni (Switzerland) - Driving for Williams-Ford, he scored 29 points.

Drivers earned points for finishing in the top six positions in each race. A first-place finish gave 9 points, second place gave 6 points, and so on.

Images for kids

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  South African Jody Scheckter won the Drivers' Championship, driving for Ferrari.

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  Canadian Gilles Villeneuve finished runner-up in the Drivers' Championship to Ferrari teammate Scheckter.

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  Australian Alan Jones (pictured in 1980) finished third in the Drivers' Championship, driving for Williams.

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  Ferrari won the International Cup for F1 Constructors with its 312T3 and 312T4 (pictured) models.

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  Williams placed second with its FW06 and FW07 (pictured) models.

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  Ligier placed third with its JS11 model.

See also

In Spanish: Temporada 1979 de Fórmula 1 para niños