A hailstorm on lap 53 caused multiple crashes at a single corner, forcing an early finish and leaving the podium incomplete at the 1975 British Grand Prix.
Key Facts
- Race date
- 19 July 1975
- Laps completed
- 56 of 67 scheduled
- Race distance
- 264 km
- Race winner
- Emerson Fittipaldi (McLaren M23)
- Championship round
- Race 10 of 14
- First traffic light start system
- Red and green lights used for the first time
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
A severe hailstorm struck Silverstone during lap 53, creating treacherous aquaplaning conditions on the circuit. The sudden deterioration in track conditions caught multiple drivers off guard at the same corner, leading to a chain of accidents involving Jody Scheckter, James Hunt, Mark Donohue, Wilson Fittipaldi, Jochen Mass, and John Watson.
The 1975 British Grand Prix, formally the John Player Grand Prix, was run over 56 laps at Silverstone on 19 July 1975. Race leader Emerson Fittipaldi had built his advantage before the storm struck. Officials finalised results one lap after the mass crash, declaring Fittipaldi the winner, with Carlos Pace classified second and Scheckter third despite both having crashed.
Fittipaldi took victory for McLaren in a race remembered for its chaotic finish, with three of the top four classified finishers having crashed during the storm. The absent drivers meant an unusual podium ceremony. The race also marked the debut of the traffic light start system, which remained in use until the 1995 Australian Grand Prix.