Emerson Fittipaldi won his second drivers' championship in 1974, delivering McLaren and Marlboro their first Formula One titles in a fifteen-race season.
Key Facts
- Season races
- 15 championship races plus 3 non-championship
- Season span
- 13 January – 6 October 1974
- Drivers' champion
- Emerson Fittipaldi (McLaren)
- Season number
- 28th FIA Formula One season
- Driver fatalities
- 2 (Peter Revson, Helmut Koinigg)
- Final race decider
- Fittipaldi 4th place beat equal-points Regazzoni
By the Numbers
Cause → Event → Consequence
Defending champion Jackie Stewart retired at the end of 1973, leaving the drivers' title open. Emerson Fittipaldi joined McLaren, which was newly backed by Marlboro sponsorship, while Ferrari fielded Clay Regazzoni as a strong contender. The two drivers matched each other closely enough to enter the final race level on points.
The 1974 Formula One season ran fifteen championship rounds from January to October. Fittipaldi and Regazzoni were tied on points heading into the United States Grand Prix finale, but Regazzoni suffered handling problems and dropped back, while Fittipaldi finished fourth to secure the title. The season was also marked by the deaths of Peter Revson and Helmut Koinigg.
Fittipaldi's victory gave him a second world championship and handed McLaren its first constructors' title. It also inaugurated what would become a long run of success for Marlboro-sponsored Formula One teams. The deaths of Revson and Koinigg renewed scrutiny of circuit safety standards in the sport.