Formula 1 — 1966
1966 World Championship
9 Grands Prix
Drivers' Champion
Jack Brabham
Australian
1955 — 1970
3titles
14wins
WDC
Constructors' Champion
Brabham-Repco
British
1966 — 1969
2titles
8wins
WCC
B
Season Commentary · 1966
Race Calendar
| Rnd | Grand Prix | Circuit | Date | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Monaco GP Circuit de Monaco | Circuit de Monaco | 22 May 1966 | StewartBRM |
| 02 | Belgian GP Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps | Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps | 12 Jun 1966 | SurteesFerrari |
| 03 | French GP Reims-Gueux | Reims-Gueux | 3 Jul 1966 | BrabhamBrabham-Repco |
| 04 | British GP Brands Hatch | Brands Hatch | 16 Jul 1966 | BrabhamBrabham-Repco |
| 05 | Dutch GP Circuit Park Zandvoort | Circuit Park Zandvoort | 24 Jul 1966 | BrabhamBrabham-Repco |
| 06 | German GP Nürburgring | Nürburgring | 7 Aug 1966 | BrabhamBrabham-Repco |
| 07 | Italian GP Autodromo Nazionale di Monza | Autodromo Nazionale di Monza | 4 Sept 1966 | ScarfiottiFerrari |
| 08 | United States GP Watkins Glen | Watkins Glen | 2 Oct 1966 | ClarkLotus-BRM |
| 09 | Mexican GP Autódromo Hermanos RodrÃguez | Autódromo Hermanos RodrÃguez | 23 Oct 1966 | SurteesCooper-Maserati |
| P | Driver | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 42 | 4 | ||
| 2 | 28 | 2 | |
| 3 | 22 | 0 | |
| 4 | 18 | 0 | |
| 5 | 17 | 0 | |
| 6 | 16 | 1 | |
| 7 | 14 | 1 | |
| 8 | 12 | 0 | |
| 9 | 12 | 0 | |
| 10 | 9 | 1 | |
| 11 | 5 | 0 | |
| 12 | 4 | 0 | |
| 13 | 4 | 0 | |
| 14 | 3 | 0 | |
| 15 | 3 | 0 | |
| 16 | 3 | 0 | |
| 17 | 1 | 0 | |
| 18 | 1 | 0 | |
| 19 | 1 | 0 | |
| 20 | 1 | 0 |
Data via Jolpica/Ergast · Telemetry not available
1966: The Return of Power, Brabham Builds His Own
Nineteen sixty-six opened the 3-litre era after five years of the underpowered 1.5-litre formula, and it produced one of Formula One's most singular achievements: Jack Brabham won the World Championship in a car bearing his own name — still the only driver ever to do so. At 40, the Australian scored 42 points in nine races with the Brabham-Repco BT19/BT20, powered by an Australian-built V8 originally designed for the Oldsmobile F85.
Simplicity Beats Complexity
While Ferrari arrived with the heavy 312 V12 and BRM tried a complex H16, Brabham's philosophy was light, reliable and ready on day one. He won four in a row at Reims, Brands Hatch, Zandvoort and the Nürburgring — a sequence no champion has matched since Alberto Ascari in 1952/53. Teammate Denny Hulme took points, and the Brabham constructors' title (42 pts) edged Ferrari (31) and Cooper-Maserati (30).
Surtees Walks Out
John Surtees, the reigning Ferrari lead, won the wet Belgian Grand Prix at Spa — then quit the Scuderia mid-season after falling out with team manager Eugenio Dragoni over his entry at Le Mans. He joined Cooper-Maserati, promptly won the Mexican finale, and finished runner-up (28 pts). His exit arguably cost Ferrari the title.
The Safety Awakening
Spa 1966 became a turning point for driver safety. Jackie Stewart's BRM aquaplaned off at Masta and he was trapped in the cockpit with a fuel-soaked overall for 25 minutes; the experience launched his lifelong safety crusade. Lorenzo Bandini also crashed heavily there — he would die at Monaco the following year.
Jim Clark, adapting a 2-litre Climax and then the 3-litre BRM H16, managed only a single win at Watkins Glen. Jochen Rindt, third in the title on Cooper-Maserati, announced himself as the paddock's coming star. Nine races, three engine philosophies, and a champion in his own chassis: 1966 was a reset, and the sport was never the same.