Jackie Stewart demonstrated why he is one of Formula 1’s greats after taking the 1971 Canadian Grand Prix win, despite difficult racing conditions.
The Scot had seen a dominant season with Tyrrell, having taken five previous victories from the last nine races. Stewart started the race having already secured the drivers’ championship title two races before in Austria, despite a violent crash, which saw him retire from the grand prix.
On 19 September 1971, Formula 1 headed to Mosport Park for the Canadian Grand Prix for the penultimate race of the year.
The race went ahead despite treacherous conditions, with the grand prix already delayed after Wayne Kelly suffered a fatal accident in the Formula Ford race earlier in the day. The delay meant that the 1971 Canadian Grand Prix was started in the pouring rain.
Before the grand prix even began, Howden Ganley had crashed his BRM during the warm-up lap and was unable to start the race.
Jackie Stewart leads the 1971 Canadian Grand Prix in heavy rain
At the beginning of the 1971 Canadian Grand Prix, Stewart, who had started from pole, retained his lead as cars made their way off the grid.
Lap three saw Graham Hill crash his Brabham, and just five laps later, Clay Regazzoni also crashed his Ferrari. The Swiss driver had a lucky escape when he was able to climb from his burning Ferrari.
Stewart displayed his sheer talent when driving along the slippery surface of the Mosport Park track. The 3.958 km (2.46 mi) circuit saw weather conditions worsen over the course of the grand prix, with organisers finally making the decision to end the race early.
The race was red-flagged on lap 64 out of 80, after marshals were unable to see each other through the heavy rain and fog that had descended over Ontario. Due to the delay, it was also getting darker, making conditions extremely difficult for drivers to see.
The red flag and eventual end to the 1971 Canadian Grand Prix made it the first race in history to be red-flagged.
Because 60 per cent of the race had been completed, drivers were awarded full points after the red flag. Stewart, who had comfortably taken the drivers’ title, was awarded nine points, with second-place Ronnie Peterson taking six points to keep himself comfortably in the runner-up position heading into the last race.
During the 1971 season, Stewart’s determination to make Formula 1 safer intensified, including pushing for mandatory seatbelts, full-face helmets and improved medical facilities.
The red-flagged session proved that the Scotsman’s pressure had begun to pay off, when organisers stopped the session instead of continuing in unsafe conditions.