Complete calendar with 15 races
The 1973 Formula 1 season saw Jackie Stewart claim his third World Championship in commanding fashion, but the Scottish legend's finest achievement was forever overshadowed by the tragic death of his protégé François Cevert at Watkins Glen, a loss that brought Stewart's illustrious career to an abrupt and heartbreaking end. The season represented both the pinnacle of Stewart's mastery and the devastating human cost of Grand Prix racing in an era still grappling with inadequate safety standards.
Stewart dominated the championship from start to finish, winning five of the first eight races to build an insurmountable points lead. Driving the Tyrrell 006, Stewart displayed the complete package of speed, racecraft, and tactical intelligence that had made him the sport's preeminent driver. His victories in South Africa, Belgium, Monaco, the Netherlands, and Germany showcased his versatility across different circuit types, from the high-speed sweeps of Zandvoort to the demanding technical challenge of the Nürburgring. With 71 championship points secured with four races remaining, Stewart had already clinched his third title heading to Watkins Glen.
The championship's tragic denouement came during Saturday qualifying at Watkins Glen on October 6th. François Cevert, the charismatic French driver who was being groomed to lead Tyrrell in 1974 after Stewart's planned retirement, was killed when his Tyrrell 006 crashed in the treacherous uphill Esses section of the circuit. The 29-year-old was battling Ronnie Peterson for pole position when his car got slightly offline, touched a curb, and was launched into the barriers with devastating force. Stewart and team owner Ken Tyrrell had kept secret their plan for Cevert to become team leader in 1974, making the loss even more poignant.
In tribute to Cevert, Tyrrell withdrew from the race, and Stewart's career ended not with the planned 100th Grand Prix start but at 99 races. With 27 Grand Prix victories to his name - then a record - Stewart walked away from the sport having achieved everything except the chance to properly say goodbye. His advocacy for improved circuit safety, which had made him unpopular with some circuit owners and organizers, took on added urgency following Cevert's death. The Watkins Glen race proceeded without Tyrrell, and the tragedy cast a pall over what should have been a celebration of Stewart's remarkable career.
The season had begun with significant regulatory changes, most notably the mandatory installation of deformable structures to improve crash safety. While well-intentioned, these measures proved insufficient, as Cevert's death and other serious accidents throughout the year demonstrated. Lotus struggled to maintain their competitiveness despite introducing the Lotus 72E, with Emerson Fittipaldi managing just three podium finishes as the team's championship-winning formula from 1972 proved increasingly outdated.
Ronnie Peterson emerged as Stewart's primary challenger, though the Swedish star's three victories for Lotus came too late to mount a serious title challenge. Peterson won in France, Austria, and Italy, showcasing his spectacular driving style and fearless commitment. His teammate Fittipaldi secured victories in Argentina, Brazil, and Spain, but inconsistency and mechanical issues prevented a sustained championship campaign. The Brazil win was particularly significant as it came in front of Fittipaldi's home crowd at the Interlagos circuit.
Denny Hulme claimed his final Grand Prix victory in Sweden for McLaren, while the emergence of new talent continued with James Hunt scoring his first podium finishes for Hesketh Racing. Ferrari endured a disappointing season despite Jacky Ickx's brief challenge early on, with the Italian team failing to win a single race for the first time in years. The revolutionary March 2-4-0, featuring innovative six-wheel design, captured attention but proved uncompetitive, highlighting the experimental nature of 1970s Formula 1 design.
Tyrrell claimed the Constructors' Championship with 92 points, a fitting tribute to Ken Tyrrell's brilliant team management and Derek Gardner's excellent chassis design. The season's 15 races across four continents demonstrated Formula 1's growing international appeal, though the sport's safety crisis demanded urgent attention. Stewart's retirement at just 34 years old, robbed of his planned farewell and devastated by Cevert's death, marked the end of an era. His 27 victories and three World Championships established him as one of the sport's all-time greats, but his greatest legacy would be his tireless campaigning for safety improvements that would save countless lives in the decades to come. The 1973 season remains a bittersweet chapter in Formula 1 history - a story of triumph tainted by tragedy that served as a catalyst for the safety revolution Stewart had championed.