1975 French Grand Prix
| Race details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 9 of 14 in the 1975 Formula One season | |||
 |
|||
| Date | July 6, 1975 | ||
| Location | Paul Ricard Circuit | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 5.809 km (3.61 mi) | ||
| Distance | 54 laps, 313.686 km (194.94 mi) | ||
| Weather | Dry and sunny | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Ferrari | ||
| Time | 1:47.82 | ||
| Fastest lap | |||
| Driver |
 Jochen Mass
|
McLaren-Ford | |
| Time | 1:50.60 on lap 38 | ||
| Podium | |||
| First | Ferrari | ||
| Second | Hesketh-Ford | ||
| Third | McLaren-Ford | ||
The 1975 French Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Paul Ricard on 6 July 1975. It was the 53rd French Grand Prix and the third time the race was held at Paul Ricard. The race was held over 54 laps of the five kilometre circuit for a race distance of 313 kilometres.
The race was won by world championship points leader, Austrian driver Niki Lauda driving a Ferrari 312T. Lauda won the race in dramatic fashion in a late race dogfight with British driver James Hunt in his Hesketh 308 while West German driver Jochen Mass closed rapidly on the fighting pair in his McLaren M23. It was Lauda's fourth win for the season, giving him a 22-point lead in the points over Brabham driver Carlos Reutemann.
Niki Lauda was suffering from flu and was definitely not on top form. Jean-Pierre Jarier brought a smile to French faces by setting Friday's quickest time. Jody Scheckter driving the new lightweight Tyrrell 007 set a record through the speed trap of 190 mph.
On the start line, Tom Pryce was left without a clutch and retired shortly afterwards. Lauda led from Scheckter, James Hunt and Jochen Mass. Clay Regazzoni had promoted himself to a fantastic second place before his engine exploded, Scheckter taking over the position before Hunt passed him on lap eight. Lauda and Hunt maintained first and second whilst Scheckter, struggling with near-catastrophic handling had to concede to Mass and Emerson Fittipaldi.
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