Mario Andretti secured his first Formula One victory at the 1971 South African Grand Prix, driving for Ferrari at Kyalami.
Key Facts
- Date
- 6 March 1971
- Circuit
- Kyalami Circuit
- Winner
- Mario Andretti (Ferrari)
- Race number in season
- 1 of 11
- Andretti's next F1 win
- 1976 (five years later)
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The 1971 Formula One season opened with the South African Grand Prix at Kyalami, the first of eleven rounds in both the World Championship of Drivers and the International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers. Ferrari entered Mario Andretti as part of their competitive effort for the season.
On 6 March 1971, Mario Andretti drove for Ferrari in the Fifth AA Grand Prix of South Africa at Kyalami Circuit. He won the race outright, claiming victory in the opening round of the 1971 Formula One season in what was formally known as the Fifth AA Grand Prix of South Africa.
The win marked Andretti's first Formula One victory, a milestone in his racing career. However, he would not win another Formula One race until 1976, making this result a notable but isolated achievement within his F1 record during that period.