The 1973 Formula One season was the 27th season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the 1973 World Championship of Drivers and the 1973 International Cup for F1 Manufacturers, contested over 15 races. Jackie Stewart won his third and final World Drivers' Championship, driving for Tyrrell-Ford. The season was marked by the tragic death of François Cevert at the final race weekend, which also marked Stewart's final Grand Prix. Emerson Fittipaldi and Ronnie Peterson were key contenders, with the Lotus team providing strong competition.
The 1973 season began at the Buenos Aires circuit. Emerson Fittipaldi won the race in his Lotus 72, finishing ahead of François Cevert in the Tyrrell and Jackie Stewart in third. Fittipaldi's victory set the tone for a competitive season between Lotus and Tyrrell.
Emerson Fittipaldi delighted his home crowd by winning the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos. He led a Lotus 1-2 finish with teammate Ronnie Peterson in second, while Jackie Stewart finished third. The result gave Fittipaldi an early lead in the championship standings.
Jackie Stewart won the Belgian Grand Prix at the legendary Spa-Francorchamps circuit, taking a commanding victory ahead of François Cevert, who completed a Tyrrell 1-2. Emerson Fittipaldi retired with mechanical issues, allowing Stewart to close the gap in the championship battle.
The British Grand Prix at Silverstone was marred by one of the largest crashes in Formula One history. On the first lap, a multi-car pileup involving at least 11 cars occurred, triggered when Jody Scheckter spun and was hit by following cars. The race was restarted and Peter Revson went on to win his first Grand Prix.
Jackie Stewart won the German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring, claiming his 27th career victory and breaking the all-time Formula One win record previously held by Jim Clark. This would prove to be Stewart's final Grand Prix victory, cementing his legacy as one of the sport's all-time greats.
François Cevert, Jackie Stewart's Tyrrell teammate and protégé, was killed during qualifying for the United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen. The 29-year-old French driver crashed heavily at the Esses section. The Tyrrell team withdrew from the race, and Jackie Stewart, who had planned this to be his final Grand Prix, never competed again.
The United States Grand Prix went ahead without the Tyrrell team. Ronnie Peterson won the race in his Lotus, with James Hunt finishing second and Carlos Reutemann third. Jackie Stewart clinched his third World Drivers' Championship, finishing the season with 71 points ahead of Emerson Fittipaldi on 55 and Ronnie Peterson on 52.
Despite not competing in the final race, Tyrrell-Ford secured the International Cup for F1 Manufacturers with 82 points, ahead of Lotus-Ford on 76. The season marked the peak of the Tyrrell team's success in Formula One, with Jackie Stewart's championship and François Cevert's promising career cut tragically short.
