German Grand Prix 1979 - Race Schedule and Countdown

German Grand Prix

Hockenheim • Germany

Complete

Jul 29, 1979 2:00 PM

Race Results

🥇Winner
Williams
🥈2nd Place
🥉3rd Place

Race Summary

Alan Jones claimed his first victory of the season at the German Grand Prix, leading home Clay Regazzoni for Williams's first-ever one-two finish and confirming the British team's emergence as Formula 1's newest powerhouse. The Australian dominated proceedings at Hockenheim's ultra-fast circuit, demonstrating the FW07's superiority and his own aggressive, uncompromising driving style. Jones's breakthrough victory marked him as Williams's team leader and a potential future champion.

Regazzoni's second place extended his remarkable late-career renaissance, with the veteran Swiss driver proving the perfect wingman for Jones's championship ambitions. The Williams one-two sent shockwaves through the paddock, with Ferrari suddenly facing a serious threat to their championship dominance. Jacques Laffite salvaged third place for Ligier, though the French team's challenge had clearly faded. Both Ferrari drivers encountered problems again, with the Scuderia's reliability beginning to show cracks under pressure.

The German Grand Prix marked a changing of the guard in Formula 1, with Williams displacing Ferrari and Ligier as the class of the field. Patrick Head's FW07 design had evolved into the grid's fastest car, combining effective ground effect aerodynamics with exceptional mechanical grip and handling balance. Jones's aggressive driving style and refusal to accept second place made him the perfect driver to exploit the car's potential. Williams's sudden surge to dominance previewed what would become championship-winning form in 1980, though they had arrived too late to challenge seriously for the 1979 title.