1975 Austrian Grand Prix
| Race details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 12 of 14 in the 1975 Formula One season | |||
 |
|||
| Date | August 17, 1975 | ||
| Official name | VIII Großer Preis von Österreich | ||
| Location | Spielberg, Austria | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 5.911 km (3.673 mi) | ||
| Distance | 29 laps, 171.427 km (106.520 mi) | ||
| Weather | Heavy rain | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Ferrari | ||
| Time | 1:34.85 | ||
| Fastest lap | |||
| Driver |
 Vittorio Brambilla
|
March-Ford | |
| Time | 1:53.90 | ||
| Podium | |||
| First | March-Ford | ||
| Second | Hesketh-Ford | ||
| Third | Shadow-Ford | ||
The 1975 Austrian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Österreichring on 17 August 1975. It was the eighth Austrian Grand Prix and the sixth to be held at the Österreichring. It was held over 29 of the scheduled 54 laps of the six kilometre circuit for a race distance of 171 kilometres. The race was shortened by heavy rain, meaning that only half points were awarded.
Mastering the wet weather, the race was won by Italian driver Vittorio Brambilla driving a March 751. It was Brambilla's only Formula One win in his seven-year Grand Prix career. He took a 27-second win over British driver James Hunt in his Hesketh 308. Eight seconds further back was the Shadow DN5 of British driver Tom Pryce in the first of just two podiums in his abbreviated career.
With neither Carlos Reutemann nor Emerson Fittipaldi featuring in the points, Niki Lauda's sixth position actually allowed him to expand his points lead to 17.5 points. If Lauda scored any points at all at the Italian Grand Prix the Austrian driver could claim the championship.
Niki Lauda delighted his home crowd by claiming his seventh pole position of the year. Rolf Stommelen returned after his crash in Spain, Chris Amon had returned for Ensign and Brett Lunger qualified well in his début for Hesketh.
Practice was marred by a series of accidents, Brian Henton crashing his Lotus when he hit an oil patch and Wilson Fittipaldi breaking two bones in his hand. During the final practice session, Mark Donohue crashed at Vost-Hugel, the flat-out right hander after the pits. The catch fencing balled up under the car, catapulting it into an advertising hoarding. Both Donohue, who had suffered a brain hemorrhage, and a track marshal who had been hit by debris died two days later.
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