1979 Canadian Grand Prix

1979 Canadian Grand Prix
Race 14 of 15 in the 1979 Formula One season
Race details
Date 30 September 1979
Location Circuit Île Notre-Dame, Montreal
Course Semi-permanent racing facility
Course length 4.500 km (2.796 miles)
Distance 72 laps, 324.000 km (201.324 miles)
Weather Partially cloudy, mild and dry with temperatures reaching up to 21 °C (70 °F); wind speeds up to 18.3 kilometres per hour (11.4 mph)[1]
Pole position
Driver Williams-Ford
Time 1:29.892
Fastest lap
Driver Australia Alan Jones Williams-Ford
Time 1:31.272 on lap 65
Podium
First Williams-Ford
Second Ferrari
Third Williams-Ford
Lap leaders

The 1979 Canadian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on 30 September 1979 at the Circuit Île Notre-Dame, Montreal.

During practice Niki Lauda announced his retirement from Formula One. The Brabham team, who had replaced their Alfa Romeo-engined BT48 with the Cosworth DFV-engined BT49, recruited Argentine newcomer Ricardo Zunino as Lauda's replacement.

The organizers would not let the Alfa Romeo factory team compete unless they pre-qualified. They refused to do so but a compromise was reached where one of their drivers would be allowed to take part in practice. The other, Bruno Giacomelli, was not allowed to enter the race.

The race turned into a close duel between Alan Jones and Gilles Villeneuve that continued the entire race.

As of 2024, Regazzoni's podium remains the last for a Swiss driver in Formula One.

  1. ^ "Weather information for the "1979 Canadian Grand Prix"". The Old Farmers' Almanac. Retrieved 2018-08-31.