1970 was a year of transition in racing at the sharp end; a season that pitched the old guard against a feisty new breed of drivers pushing forward into a new era.
Nothing symbolised the battle more than the cars used by top contenders: Jacky Ickx’s Ferrari 312B relied on brute force to compensate for its outdated styling, whereas Jochen Rindt’s Lotus 72 showed that radical aerodynamics represented a brave and (potentially) faster way forward.
Jackie Stewart was the defending champion but took nothing for granted. When different drivers won the first four races, Stewart, and the world, knew that the title fight was wide open. Thrilling battles ensued until triumph and tragedy came together in one fatal collision at Monza resulting in Jochen Rindt becoming the first posthumous champion.
