Video: strategic drive by Niki Lauda seals title for Ferrari at Monza | 1977 Italian GP. With 3 races remaining, the Championship was ours!.

The 1977 Italian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Monza on September 11, 1977.

Carlos Reutemann cheered the home fans by starting second in front of Jody Scheckter. Scheckter took the lead after a brilliant start, and in second place was Clay Regazzoni’s Ensign who got an even better one. Regazzoni however did not have the pace and soon dropped down the order, whereas Mario Andretti was on the move, passing Hunt on the second lap, and Scheckter a few laps later to take the lead. Hunt dropped back with brake troubles as the race progressed, and Scheckter retired when his engine failed, leaving Reutemann and Niki Lauda in second and third.

Lauda was soon past Reutemann, and the latter had to retire when he spun off on oil on the track left by the car of debutant Bruno Giacomelli, handing third to Alan Jones. The race finished in that order; with Andretti taking a dominant victory from Lauda, who closed in on the championship, and Jones who took his second podium in three races.

By finishing 2nd, Ferrari won the Constructor’s Championship with three races left. The track invasion was inevitable as the fans rushed to the podium to cheer the winners.

— see video above —