French GP, 1972

As the Dutch Grand Prix was canceled because safety work had not been done, there had been a month-long break between the Belgian and French GPs. In that time there had been a rather curious Grand Prix of the Italian Republic at the Vallelunga circuit, in the hills outside Rome. Ferrari did not bother to compete and there were only seven cars in the race after Niki Lauda had a big crash in his BRM in practice. The race was won by Emerson Fittipaldi from the Surtees of Andrea de Adamich. and Nanni Galli third in the new Tecno.

The Clermont Ferrand track had been improved to meet the new safety standards and there was a big field with Jackie Stewart back in action after missing the Belgian GP because of a stomach ulcer. Tyrrell had a new 005 chassis but this was crashed early on by Francois Cevert. The team ran a third car for Elf protege Formula 3 driver Patrick Depailler. McLaren again ran Brian Redman in its second car as Peter Revson was busy in a USAC race in Pocono. With Mario Andretti also away and Clay Regazzoni having broken his arm playing football, Ferrari took on Tecno driver Nanni Galli for the weekend. The Tecno was therefore driven by Derek Bell.

Qualifying saw the latest version of the Matra on pole position in the hands of Chris Amon with Denny Hulme second for McLaren. The second row featured Stewart and Jacky Ickx (Ferrari), while Tim Schenken (Surtees) and Helmut Marko (BRM) caused some excitement by qualifying on row three head of Francois Cevert (Tyrrell) and Emerson Fittipaldi (Lotus). Galli was disappointing in the Ferrari, qualifying only 19th while local hero Jean-Pierre Beltoise having to start at the back of the grid in Howden Ganley's car after his own broke down on Sunday morning.

Amon took the lead from Hulme and Stewart with Ickx and Marko chasing. In the opening laps Fittipaldi moved ahead of Hailwood, Schenken and Marko to take fifth place. On the ninth lap Marko's race (and sadly his career) ended when a stone thrown up by Fittipaldi's car hit him in the left eye. He lost sight in that eye and never raced F1 again, but did help to develop the careers of many young Austrian drivers in the years that followed, notably Gerhard Berger. Peterson inherited sixth place, having overtaken Hailwood. Stewart overtook Hulme on lap 17 and then Amon had to pit because on a puncture, caused by the flying stones and so Stewart took the lead. Hulme stopped for new tires and dropped down the order, leaving Ickx in second place. The Ferrari than had a puncture and Ickx had to pit and so Fittipaldi moved to second place ahead of Peterson and Cevert. In the closing laps Amon recovered, repassing Peterson (who had been overtaken by Cevert) and then Cevert himself to grab third place.