HistoryData
general1971

1971 Austrian Grand Prix — motor car race

August 15, 1971

Jo Siffert won from pole at the 1971 Austrian Grand Prix, the race in which Jackie Stewart clinched his second World Championship and Niki Lauda made his F1 debut.

Quick Facts

Year
1971
Category
general

Key Facts

Race winner
Jo Siffert (BRM)
Race length
54 laps
Championship round
Race 8 of 11
Stewart's points lead
32 points over Ickx
Niki Lauda debut
First Formula One race
Tim Schenken podium
Only career F1 podium (3rd)

By the Numbers

54
Race length
8
Championship round
32
Stewart's points lead
1
Tim Schenken podium

Location

Map of Zeltweg, AustriaMap of Zeltweg, AustriaZeltweg, Austria

Cause → Event → Consequence

Cause

Going into the race, Jackie Stewart held a commanding 32-point lead over Jacky Ickx in the 1971 World Championship of Drivers. With only three rounds remaining, any retirement by Ickx would mathematically secure the title for Stewart, regardless of his own result.

Event

The 54-lap race at Österreichring on 15 August 1971 was won by Jo Siffert from pole position, with Emerson Fittipaldi second and Tim Schenken third. Jacky Ickx retired on lap 32 with engine failure, and Stewart himself retired four laps later with a halfshaft issue.

Consequence

Ickx's retirement handed Stewart his second Formula One World Championship. Siffert's victory proved to be both his final pole position and final race win before his death at Brands Hatch later that year. Niki Lauda's debut marked the beginning of a career that would lead to multiple world titles.

Timeline Context

Timeline around 197119711968196919701972197319741971 treaty between Italy and Tunisia1971 European Athletics Championships — 1971 edition of the European Athletics Championships1971 CONCACAF Championship — 1971 edition of the CONCACAF Championship association football competition1971 Formula One season — sports seasonEurovision Song Contest 1971 — 16th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest1971–72 UEFA Cup — inaugural season of Europe's secondary club football tournament organised by UEFA1971–72 European Cup — 17th season of the UEFA club football tournament1971 World Women's Handball Championship — 1971 edition of the World Women's Handball Championship1971-austrian-grand-prix-motor-car-race-1971