24/10/2026
One of the most dramatic title deciders in history, 50 years ago. 🌧️
After a warm-up full of spins and aquaplaning at a wet and foggy , almost all drivers - including title contenders James Hunt and Niki Lauda - voted to cancel or postpone the race. Hours passed while all parties argued; an already costly flyaway, a circuit packed with fans and high-priced live broadcast rights all set up a financial disaster if the race didn't go ahead. So, despite standing water and poor visibility, the Grand Prix started just after 3pm. 😶🌫️
Hunt - who had holes drilled into his visor before the start - leapt from second to the lead. Lauda dropped back from third out of the top ten and, on lap two, sensationally pulled into the pits, refusing to race in such conditions; Carlos Pace and Emerson Fittipaldi did the same laps later. 🙅♂️
Lauda watched from the pits as Hunt, now only needing fourth or better to take the title, led a field of drivers just trying to stay on track; he seemed to have the measure of everyone until, unexpectedly, the weather began to clear, and the drying circuit began to shred the wet tyres - and neither Hunt nor McLaren wanted to make the call to pit. 😰
Hunt fell behind polesitter Andretti in the closing laps to preserve his tyres - but his left front blew! He limped to the pits and emerged with new tyres in fifth behind Andretti, Regazzoni, Jones and Depailler with just five laps to go. ⌛️ Regazzoni and Jones too had tyre issues, and Hunt on a charge passed both, going after Depailler as confusion at McLaren had him believing he had to make up one more place. When he crossed the line with the Tyrrell agonisingly in sight, Hunt was furious, and on arrival into pit lane berated his team over their pit signals - only for McLaren boss Teddy Mayer to break the news: he was third, and World Champion by one point! 🏆
The drama admittedly overshadowed Mario Andretti's first win in five years - on tyres that were down to the canvas! 🛞 Lauda, who felt no regrets over his decision to withdraw, had left early for his flight home - and learned of his championship loss at the airport. 😮💨
📸, all 1976 Japanese Grand Prix:
1. Surrounded by press, McLaren's Teddy Mayer gestures "three" to tell a furious James Hunt he has finished third, clinching the World Championship. | David Phipps/Sutton Images
2. L to R: James Hunt, Niki Lauda, Bernie Ecclestone and Ronnie Peterson gather under an umbrella in pit lane. | LAT Images
3. Niki Lauda climbs out of his Ferrari 312/T2, withdrawing from the race. | LAT Images
4. Mechanics - including Howard Moore, left - drill holes into James Hunt's visor ahead of the race start. | LAT Images
5. The race start, led by Mario Andretti (left, Lotus 77) and James Hunt (right, McLaren M23). | David Phipps/Sutton Images
6. The McLaren team - including Teddy Mayer, Alastair Caldwell and Howard Moore - stand anxiously on pit wall, indicating to James Hunt that tyres are ready for him in the closing laps. | David Phipps/Sutton Images
7. James Hunt watches on as his punctured left front tyre is changed. | LAT Images
8. Vittorio Brambilla spins the rear tyres of his March 761 as he recovers from a spin while trying to pass James Hunt for the lead. | LAT Images
9. Third-placed new World Champion James Hunt (L) and race winner Mario Andretti (R) stand on the podium. | LAT Images
10. Cars sit under covers in a gloomy pitlane, with Jochen Mass (centre right) watching on from under an umbrella. | LAT Images
