Peterson considers McLaren

Ronnie Peterson, a JPS Team Lotus driver, had qualified his Lotus 78 in seventh position for the 1978 Monaco Grand Prix, just behind the McLaren of James Hunt in sixth. A few minutes later, the Swede (picture above) was seen casually chatting with McLaren team-principal Teddy Mayer and his lead driver James Hunt, in the Monaco pitlane.

Peterson had promised Lotus team boss Colin Chapman to play second fiddle to Mario Andretti and help him clinch the 1978 Drivers’ World Title. He kept his promise, and did not challenge Andretti when the two were leading, even though he sometimes was faster.

Unsatisfied with this situation, he started talks with McLaren and by the time the championship arrived at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, Peterson confirmed he had signed with McLaren for the 1979 F1 season. Unfortunately, he was the main victim of a fiery crash involving many cars at the start of the race, sustaining heavy leg injuries, and he sadly died the next morning of an embolism.

His teammate Mario Andretti (picture below) secured the championship at this very race, he remembers: “It should have been the happiest day of my life, but I couldn’t celebrate. And I knew also that Ronnie would have been sincerely happy for me.” Peterson took second place in the 1978 standings posthumously and never drove a McLaren.