Triple milestone

Jackie Stewart secured the first pole position of his career (picture above) at the wheel of his Matra MS80 during practice for the 1969 Monaco Grand Prix – also the first for Matra and Elf. A triple milestone in the streets of Monte Carlo.

Nowadays, it’s hard to imagine photographers so close to the track!

This 1969 Monaco Grand Prix was the first without the raised wings, as they were now banned, following the breakages and their catastrophic consequences suffered by Jochen Rindt and Graham Hill on their Lotus’ in Barcelona.

Graham Hill won the 80-lap race at the wheel of his Lotus 49, having started from fourth position. For the Englishman, it would be his 14th and final Grand Prix victory, and his fifth in Monaco, a record that would stand for 24 years.

Jackie Stewart, who had dominated qualifying and the early stages of the race – photo below next to Amon’s Ferrari 312 – was forced to retire on lap 22 with a broken half-shaft.