1965 Formula One season explained

The 1965 Formula One season was the 19th season of FIA Formula One racing. It featured the 16th World Championship of Drivers, the 8th International Cup for F1 Manufacturers, and seven non-championship races open to Formula One cars. The World Championship was contested over ten races between 1 January and 24 October 1965.

Jim Clark won the Drivers' Championship in a Lotus-Climax.[1] It was his second and last championship. Lotus were also awarded the International Cup for F1 Manufacturers for the second time.[2]

Teams and drivers

The following teams and drivers competed in the 1965 FIA World Championship.

EntrantConstructorChassisEngineTyreDriverRounds
Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC
North American Racing Team
Ferrari158
1512
Ferrari 205B 1.5 V8
Ferrari 207 1.5 F12
John Surtees1–8
Lorenzo BandiniAll
Nino Vaccarella8
Pedro Rodríguez9–10
Bob Bondurant9
Ludovico Scarfiotti10
Owen Racing OrganisationBRMP261BRM P56 1.5 V8 Graham HillAll
Jackie StewartAll
Team LotusLotus-Climax33
25
Climax FWMV 1.5 V8 Jim Clark1, 3–10
Mike Spence1, 3–10
Gerhard Mitter7
Geki8
Moisés Solana9–10
Brabham Racing OrganisationBrabham-ClimaxBT7
BT11
Climax FWMV 1.5 V8 Jack Brabham1–3, 5, 7, 9–10
Dan Gurney1, 3–10
Denny Hulme2, 4–8
Giancarlo Baghetti8
Cooper Car CompanyCooper-ClimaxT77
T73
Climax FWMV 1.5 V8 Bruce McLarenAll
Jochen RindtAll
R.R.C. Walker Racing TeamBrabham-ClimaxBT7Climax FWMV 1.5 V8 Jo BonnierAll
Brabham-BRMBT11BRM P56 1.5 V8 Jo SiffertAll
DW Racing EnterprisesBrabham-ClimaxBT11Climax FWMV 1.5 V8 Bob Anderson1–7
Lotus-Climax33 Paul Hawkins2, 7
Reg Parnell RacingLotus-BRM25
33
BRM P56 1.5 V8 Tony Maggs1
Richard Attwood2–3, 5–10
Mike Hailwood2
Innes Ireland3–6, 8–10
Chris Amon4, 7
Bob Bondurant10
John Willment AutomobilesBrabham-BRMBT11BRM P56 1.5 V8 Frank Gardner1–3, 5–8
Brabham-FordBT10Ford 109E 1.5 L4 Paul Hawkins1
John LoveCooper-ClimaxT55Climax FPF 1.5 L4 John Love1
David ProphetBrabham-FordBT10Ford 109E 1.5 L4 David Prophet1
Otelle NucciAlfa Special-Alfa RomeoSpecialAlfa Romeo Giulietta 1.5 L4 Peter de Klerk1
LDS-ClimaxMk2Climax FPF 1.5 L4 Doug Serrurier1
Lawson OrganisationLotus-Climax21Climax FPF 1.5 L4 Ernie Pieterse1
Scuderia ScribanteLotus-Climax21Climax FPF 1.5 L4 Neville Lederle1
Clive Puzey MotorsLotus-Climax18/21Climax FPF 1.5 L4 Clive Puzey1
Sam TingleLDS-Alfa RomeoMk2Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1.5 L4 Sam Tingle1
Ted LanfearLotus-Ford22Ford 109E 1.5 L4 Brausch Niemann1
Trevor BlokdykCooper-FordT59Ford 109E 1.5 L4 Trevor Blokdyk1
Jackie PretoriusLDS-Alfa RomeoMk1Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1.5 L4 Jackie Pretorius1
Ecurie TomahawkLotus-Ford20Ford 109E 1.5 L4 Dave Charlton1
Honda R & D CompanyHondaRA272Honda RA272E 1.5 V12 Ronnie Bucknum2–4, 8–10
Richie Ginther2–6, 8–10
Scuderia Centro SudBRMP57BRM P56 1.5 V8 Lucien Bianchi3
Willy Mairesse3
Masten Gregory3, 5, 7–8
Roberto Bussinello7–8
Giorgio Bassi8
Bob Gerard RacingCooper-ClimaxT60Climax FWMV 1.5 V8 John Rhodes5
Cooper-FordT71/73Ford 109E 1.5 L4 Alan Rollinson5
Ian Raby RacingBrabham-BRMBT3BRM P56 1.5 V8 Ian Raby5, 7
Chris Amon5
Brian GubbyLotus-Climax24Climax FWMV 1.5 V8 Brian Gubby5

Driver changes

Three future champions made their debuts in 1965:

Calendar

RoundGrand PrixCircuitDate
1 South African Grand PrixPrince George Circuit, East London1 January
2 Monaco Grand PrixCircuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo30 May
3 Belgian Grand PrixCircuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot13 June
4 French Grand PrixCharade Circuit, Clermont-Ferrand27 June
5 British Grand PrixSilverstone Circuit, Silverstone10 July
6 Dutch Grand PrixCircuit Zandvoort, Zandvoort18 July
7 German Grand PrixNürburgring, Nürburg1 August
8 Italian Grand PrixAutodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza12 September
9 United States Grand PrixWatkins Glen International, New York3 October
10 Mexican Grand PrixMagdalena Mixhuca, Mexico City24 October

Calendar changes

Championship report

Rounds 1 to 3

For the first time, the championship started in South Africa, and it did on the very first day of the year. Sixteen drivers were invited to the event and guaranteed a place on the grid. There were four places remaining, but fourteen drivers applied. Through pre-qualifying and subsequent qualifying, the grid was filled. The drivers started in order of their fastest qualifying times: champion Jim Clark in his Lotus-Climax was on pole position, ahead of champion John Surtees (Ferrari) and and champion Jack Brabham (Brabham). After the start, Clark led away with his teammate Mike Spence up to second. Not many changes in positions happened after that, until Brabham's engine started misfiring, leaking oil, and sending Spence in a spin on the next lap. The podium was taken by Clark, Surtees and champion Graham Hill (BRM). Spence and Brabham finished fourth and eighth, respectively.[4]

Just short of a full five months later, the Monaco Grand Prix was held and for this race, the organisers guaranteed one place on the grid for each factory team. The rest of the applicants had to be fast enough during qualifying to gain a starting ticket. In disagreement, Lotus decided to withdraw from the event, instead entering the Indianapolis 500 a day later. Hill started on pole position, ahead of Brabham and Hill's teammate Jackie Stewart. Brabham fell back and the two BRMs led away. Hill lost a lot of time when he had to avoid a backmarker, going up the escape road and having to push his car back onto the track. On lap 30, Stewart spun coming out of the fastest corner, before Brabham's Climax engine seized. Hill made it back into the lead, ahead of the Ferraris of Bandini and Surtees. Richard Attwood crashed in the hairpin, the leaders narrowly avoiding him, before Paul Hawkins crashed into the harbour. His car sank to the bottom but Hawkins was unhurt, as was Attwood. Hill took the win, ahead of Bandini and Stewart, after Surtees ran out of fuel with a lap to go.[5]

For the Belgian Grand Prix, Hill started on pole again, ahead of Clark and Stewart. Rain fell and everyone held a safe distance from the car in front, expect Clark, who took the lead through the most dangerous corner on the track, the Masta Kink. He quickly pulled out a big lead and even lapped Hill. Stewart finished second, ahead of Bruce McLaren, Brabham and Hill. Attwood crashed at Masta, his Lotus breaking in half and catching fire, but the driver escaping with only minor burns.[6]

After his Grand Slam in Belgium, Jim Clark (Lotus) was leading the Drivers' Championship with 18 points, ahead of Graham Hill (BRM, 15) and debutant Jackie Stewart (BRM, 11). In the Manufacturers' Championship, BRM was leading with 19 points, ahead of Lotus (18) and Ferrari (12).

Rounds 4 to 7

The French Grand Prix was run for the first time at the Circuit de Charade, which was described as a quicker, twistier version of the Nürburgring.[7] Championship leader Jim Clark qualified his Lotus on pole position, ahead of two "number two drivers": Jackie Stewart (BRM) and Lorenzo Bandini (Ferrari). Their respective team leaders, Graham Hill and John Surtees, started thirteenth and fourth. Except from Bandini's accident on lap 36, the race finished as it started: Clark claimed another Grand Slam victory, ahead of Stewart and Surtees. Hill recovered to fifth.[8]

The British Grand Prix was run at Silverstone, where Clark scored another pole position, ahead of Hill and Honda driver Richie Ginther. At the start, Ginther challenged Clark for the lead, but fell back to fourth and then retired on lap 26. Surtees was fighting for third place against Lotus driver Mike Spence, while his team leader suddenly slowed down. The Climax engine was losing oil and Clark was coasting round the corners, only using power on the straights. Hill did anything within his might to chase his rival down, but the Lotus hang on to finish with 3 seconds to spare. Surtees came in third.[9]

The Dutch Grand Prix was run just a week later and all eyes were on Clark. It was his rival Hill, however, that scored pole position. Clark started in second, Ginther again in third. Moments before the flag fell, Lotus team owner Colin Chapman was involved in a brawl with the Dutch police. It would result in his arrest and a two-day imprisonment. The race went on unhindered, however, and saw Ginther take the lead. On lap 5, Hill and Clark were back at the front, with the Lotus soon getting ahead. Hill then lost second place to his teammate Stewart and third place to Brabham driver Dan Gurney. Clark scored his fifth win of the season, ahead of Stewart, his fourth podium, and Gurney, his first podium of the year.[10]

It was Clark on top again during qualifying for the German Grand Prix, with more than 3 seconds over the BRMs of Stewart and Hill. At the start, Surtees's gearbox went wrong and he fell back. It would lead to his retirement on lap 11. Clark and Hill were fighting for the lead, while Stewart's suspension failed and he handed third place to Gurney. Clark broke the lap record a couple of times and won his fifth consecutive race. It was the first time since Jack Brabham in that a driver achieved this feat. Hill was second, Gurney third.[11]

Jim Clark (Lotus) was still leading the Drivers' Championship, now at 54 points, ahead of Graham Hill (BRM, 30) and Jackie Stewart (BRM, 25). Hill would have to win the remaining three races to prevent Clark from becoming champion. In the Manufacturers' Championship, Lotus led with 54 points, ahead of BRM (39) and Scuderia Ferrari (21).

Rounds 8 to 10

Championship favourite Jim Clark (Lotus) achieved his fifth pole position of the year at the Italian Grand Prix, ahead of John Surtees for Ferrari and Jackie Stewart for BRM. At the start, Surtees had problems with his clutch, so Clark and Stewart were followed by Graham Hill, who had to finish first to stay in the race for the championship. The top three were engaged in a slipstream battle and the lead changed hands lap after lap. With ten laps to go, Clark suddenly stopped with a failing fuel pump, so Hill and Stewart were free to fight over the win in equal machinery. Going into the last lap, Hill touched the grass with his outer wheels, almost spinning but certainly valuable seconds. Stewart won his first race, with Hill in second and Dan Gurney in third. Despite Clark's retirement, Hill's second place meant that the 1965 championship was now decided.[12]

Hill started on pole for the United States Grand Prix, ahead of Clark and Honda driver Richie Ginther. Clark quickly grabbed the lead but soon retired with a broken piston. As it had happened more often, Ginther fell back, while his American rival Gurney went up the order. He came within four seconds of Hill when the Brit slid off the track, but when he made a mistake himself, his team leader Jack Brabham took second place. The Australian challenged Hill for the lead, but was unable to get by, and then became the third top-runner to take to the grass. The order at the finish was Hill, Gurney, Brabham. Lotus clinched the Manufacturers' Championship, seeing that BRM could no longer catch them in the last race. [13]

The season ended with the Mexican Grand Prix, where Clark scored another pole position, ahead of Americans Gurney and Ginther. The Honda driver took the lead at the start, while Stewart got up to second, before being passed by Mike Spence. His teammate Clark suffered his third consecutive retirement, before Stewart went out at the half-way point, and Hill's engine gave out with ten laps to go. Gurney passed Spence for second place and came within 3 seconds of the leader, but Ginther held on to his and Honda's first win.[14]

Jim Clark (Lotus) was awarded the 1965 Drivers' Championship after scoring 54 points, ahead of Graham Hill (BRM, 40) and Jackie Stewart (BRM, 33). Lotus clinched the Manufacturers' Championship as well, with 54 points, ahead of BRM (45), with Brabham just overtaking Ferrari for third place (27 and 26 points, respectively).

Results and standings

Grands Prix

RoundGrand PrixPole positionFastest lapWinning driverWinning constructorTyreReport
1 South African Grand Prix Jim Clark Jim Clark Jim Clark Lotus-ClimaxReport
2 Monaco Grand Prix Graham Hill Graham Hill Graham Hill BRMReport
3 Belgian Grand Prix Graham Hill Jim Clark Jim Clark Lotus-ClimaxReport
4 French Grand Prix Jim Clark Jim Clark Jim Clark Lotus-ClimaxReport
5 British Grand Prix Jim Clark Graham Hill Jim Clark Lotus-ClimaxReport
6 Dutch Grand Prix Graham Hill Jim Clark Jim Clark Lotus-ClimaxReport
7 German Grand Prix Jim Clark Jim Clark Jim Clark Lotus-ClimaxReport
8 Italian Grand Prix Jim Clark Jim Clark Jackie Stewart BRMReport
9 United States Grand Prix Graham Hill Graham Hill Graham Hill BRMReport
10 Mexican Grand Prix Jim Clark Dan Gurney Richie Ginther HondaReport

Scoring system

Points were awarded to the top six classified finishers. Only the best six results counted towards the championship.

The International Cup for F1 Manufacturers only counted the points of the highest-finishing driver for each race. Additionally, like the Drivers' Championship, only the best six results counted towards the cup.

Numbers without parentheses are championship points; numbers in parentheses are total points scored. Points were awarded in the following system:

World Drivers' Championship standings

Pos.DriverRSA
MON
BEL
FRA
GBR
NED
GER
ITA
USA
MEX
Pts.
1 Jim Clark11111110RetRet54
2 Graham Hill31(5)(5)2(4)221Ret40 (47)
3 Jackie Stewart(6)32252Ret1RetRet33 (34)
4 Dan GurneyRet10Ret63332225
5 John Surtees24Ret337RetRet17
6 Lorenzo Bandini15298Ret9644813
7 Richie GintherRet6RetRet6147111
8 Mike Spence47748Ret11Ret310
= Bruce McLaren553Ret10RetRet5RetRet10
10 Jack Brabham8Ret4DNS53Ret9
11 Denny Hulme84Ret5RetRet5
= Jo Siffert7686913RetRet1145
13 Jochen RindtRetDNQ11Ret14Ret486Ret4
14 Pedro Rodríguez572
= Ronnie BucknumRetRetRetRet1352
= Richard AttwoodRet141312Ret61062
Jo BonnierRet7RetRet7Ret778Ret0
Frank Gardner12RetRet811RetRet0
Masten GregoryRet128Ret0
Bob AndersonNC9DNS9RetRetDNS0
Innes Ireland13RetRet109RetDNS0
Paul Hawkins910Ret0
Bob Bondurant9Ret0
Peter de Klerk100
Tony Maggs110
Ian Raby11DNQ0
Moisés Solana12Ret0
Lucien Bianchi120
Nino Vaccarella120
Sam Tingle130
Roberto BussinelloDNQ130
David Prophet140
Chris AmonRetDNSRet0
John LoveRet0
Mike HailwoodRet0
John RhodesRet0
Gerhard MitterRet0
Giancarlo BaghettiRet0
GekiRet0
Giorgio BassiRet0
Willy MairesseDNS0
Alan RollinsonDNS0
Ludovico ScarfiottiDNS0
Trevor BlokdykDNQ0
Doug SerrurierDNQ0
Neville LederleDNQ0
Brausch NiemannDNQ0
Ernie PieterseDNQ0
Brian GubbyDNQ0
Jackie PretoriusDNPQ0
Clive PuzeyDNPQ0
Dave CharltonDNPQ0
Pos.DriverRSA
MON
BEL
FRA
GBR
NED
GER
ITA
USA
MEX
Pts.

International Cup for F1 Manufacturers standings

Pos.ManufacturerRSA
MON
BEL
FRA
GBR
NED
GER
ITA
USA
MEX
Pts.
1 Lotus-Climax110111111012(3)54 (58)
2 BRM(3)1222(2)(2)11Ret45 (61)
3 Brabham-Climax874(4)(6)3332227 (31)
4 Ferrari229337(6)44726 (27)
5 Cooper-Climax553Ret10Ret456Ret14
6 HondaRet6RetRet6147111
7 Brabham-BRM7686811RetRet1145
8 Lotus-BRM11Ret13Ret1310Ret61062
Brabham-Ford90
Alfa Special-Alfa Romeo100
LDS-Alfa Romeo130
Cooper-FordDNQDNS0
LDS-ClimaxDNQ0
Lotus-FordDNQ0
Pos.ManufacturerRSA
MON
BEL
FRA
GBR
NED
GER
ITA
USA
MEX
Pts.

Non-championship races

Other Formula One races were also held in 1965, which did not count towards the World Championship. The last of them, the 1965 Rand Grand Prix, was the first Formula One race for cars with 3-litre engines.

Race NameCircuitDateWinning driverConstructorReport
II Cape South Easter TrophyKillarney9 January Paul Hawkins Brabham-ClimaxReport
I Race of ChampionsBrands Hatch13 March Mike Spence Lotus-ClimaxReport
XIV Syracuse Grand PrixSyracuse4 April Jim Clark Lotus-ClimaxReport
I Sunday Mirror TrophyGoodwood19 April Jim Clark Lotus-ClimaxReport
XVII BRDC International TrophySilverstone15 May Jackie Stewart BRMReport
IV Mediterranean Grand PrixPergusa15 August Jo Siffert Brabham-BRMReport
VIII Rand Grand PrixKyalami4 December Jack Brabham Brabham-ClimaxReport

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 1965 Driver Standings. Formula1.com. 28 March 2024.
  2. Web site: 1965 Constructor Standings. Formula1.com. 28 March 2024.
  3. Web site: Zeltweg 200 Miles . Racing Sports Cars . 28 March 2024.
  4. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20230608183404/https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/february-1965/28/11th-south-african/. 1965 South African Grand Prix race report: Clark peerless at season opener. Motorsport Magazine. Michael Tee. 1 January 1965. 8 June 2023. 28 March 2024.
  5. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20230716155018/https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/july-1965/32/xxiii-monaco-grand-prix/. 1965 Monaco Grand Prix race report: Hill fights back. Motorsport Magazine. Denis Jenkinson. 30 May 1965. 16 July 2023. 28 March 2024.
  6. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20230716153511/https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/july-1965/12/belgian-grand-prix-scotland-forever/. 1965 Belgian Grand Prix race report: Clark weathers the storm at Spa. Motorsport Magazine. Denis Jenkinson. 13 June 1965. 16 July 2023. 28 March 2024.
  7. Web site: The Volcanic Rush of Clermont Ferrand . August 2013 . speedhunters.com . 3 April 2017.
  8. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20230603050740/https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/august-1965/28/51st-grand-prix-de-iacf/. 1965 French Grand Prix race report: A hat-trick of wins for Clark. Motorsport Magazine. Denis Jenkinson. 27 June 1965. 3 June 2023. 28 March 2024.
  9. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20230401022638/https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/august-1965/20/18th-rac-british-grand-prix. 1965 British Grand Prix race report - A close thing. Motorsport Magazine. Denis Jenkinson. 10 July 1965. 1 April 2023. 28 March 2024.
  10. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20230605003229/https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/august-1965/13/dutch-grand-prix-4/. 1965 Dutch Grand Prix race report: Clark rules the dunes. Motorsport Magazine. Denis Jenkinson. 18 July 1965. 5 June 2023. 28 March 2024.
  11. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20220627060134/https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/september-1965/37/27th-german-grand-prix. 1965 German Grand Prix race report: Clark king at the 'ring. Motorsport Magazine. Denis Jenkinson. 1 August 1965. 27 June 2022. 28 March 2024.
  12. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20240117073543/https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/october-1965/19/36th-italian-grand-prix/. 1965 Italian Grand Prix race report: Debutant's delight. Motorsport Magazine. Denis Jenkinson. 12 September 1965. 17 January 2024. 28 March 2024.
  13. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20231004172637/https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/november-1965/42/grand-prix-of-the-united-states/. 1965 United States Grand Prix race report: Hill masterful at the Glen. Motorsport Magazine. Michael Tee. 3 October 1965. 4 October 2023. 28 March 2024.
  14. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20230602051756/https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/december-1965/43/iv-mexican-grand-prix/. 1965 Mexican Grand Prix race report: Ginther wraps it up. Motorsport Magazine. Michael Tee. 24 October 1965. 2 June 2023. 28 March 2024.
  15. Web site: 18 January 2019 . World Championship points systems . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190924032459/http://8w.forix.com/6thgear/points.html . 24 September 2019 . 21 December 2020 . 8W . Forix.