The 1971 Italian Grand Prix produced the closest finish in Formula One history, with the top five cars separated by only 0.61 seconds.
Key Facts
- Winning margin
- 0.01 seconds
- Top 5 covered by
- 0.61 seconds
- Average race speed
- 242.615 km/h (150.754 mph)
- Fastest F1 race record held for
- 32 years (until 2003 Italian Grand Prix)
- Race number in 1971 season
- Race 9 of 11
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The 1971 Formula One season brought competitors to Monza for the Italian Grand Prix, race nine of eleven in both the World Championship of Drivers and the International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers. Monza's high-speed layout favored close slipstreaming battles among the leading cars.
On 5 September 1971, Peter Gethin won the race by 0.01 seconds over Ronnie Peterson, with François Cevert third, Mike Hailwood fourth, and Howden Ganley fifth. The average race speed of 242.615 km/h set a record as the fastest Formula One race ever recorded at that time.
The finish was recorded as the closest in Formula One history. The race's average speed of 242.615 km/h stood as the fastest-ever Formula One race for 32 years until the 2003 Italian Grand Prix. For Gethin, it proved to be his sole Grand Prix victory before he retired from Formula One in 1974.
Result
at Monza, Italy