Formula one. Season 1972. Review

For the first time in Formula 1 a main sponsor became the defining team name and identity, thus in 1972 Lotus changed into John Player Team Lotus and the Lotus 72 became a JPS Lotus. Moreover, the black and gold liveried 72 was hailed as one of the iconic images of the 1970s and with it Emerson Fittipaldi was, aged 25, crowned the youngest-ever World Champion. This historic achievement was helped by the fact that Jackie Stewart was suffering from an ulcer, the consequence of his arduous racing schedule on both sides of the Atlantic: he missed six weeks of the Grand Prix season but still had four wins and ended as runner-up to the title.
However, before the racing began, 1972 started with a major political clash within the sport's governing bodies, the FIA, its sporting off-shoot the CSI, the Grand Prix Drivers' Association and the Formula 1 Constructors' Association. The situation was too complex to detail here, but the constructors revolted because in December 1971 the CSI had, without consultation, decided to impose mandatory refuelling in GPs from 1973. Arguments raged but, in the end, the CSI backed down.
Meanwhile, Ford maintained their domination within the powerplant suppliers for the fifth year, not simply in F1 with their Cosworth V8 - winning all but two of the season's 12 GPs - but also in Formula 2 with the BDA engine. In fact, only Ferrari, BRM and Matra managed without the DFV, and the first two won just a single GP each with their 12-cylinder-engined cars. It was the fifth consecutive World Championship to be won by the Keith Duckworth-designed Cosworth V8 engine - and Fittipaldi's title was Colin Chapman's fifth championship in ten years.
Although, technically, the Lotus 72 almost certainly remained the most advanced racing car of the time, the designers continued to concentrate their efforts to improve what had now become known as downforce. All entries sported large aerofoils front and rear, aimed at reducing the potential for lift. Invariably, inboard disc brakes also became de rigueur due to lack of space within the small diameter wheels, as did ventilated discs appearing with small holes on the rubbing surfaces. Rising rate suspension was also occupying designers' minds.
Probably, one of the most significant and visible of changes, so obvious to the race spectators, was that the main sponsors' names were now emblazoned on the cars themselves in the form of decals, and in the race programme entry lists. Apart from John Player Team Lotus, there were Yardley-McLaren, Marlboro-BRM, Elf-Tyrrell, STP-March, Brooke Bond Oxo-Walker Team Surtees et al. Another change was that the Brabham team was bought by businessman and former F3 driver Bernie Ecclestone.
The importance of safety must have been getting through to the designers of the cars and the circuits on which they raced: for the first time in many years, there were no fatalities in F1 Grand Prix accidents.