<P> Focussing again on the type 72 chassis, now fielded in John Player Special's black and gold livery, Lotus took the 1972 championship by surprise with 25 - year - old Brazilian driver Emerson Fittipaldi becoming the then youngest world champion . Stewart came second, his performance compromised by a stomach ulcer . </P> <P> In 1973, Lotus teammates Fittipaldi and Ronnie Peterson raced each other while Stewart was supported by François Cevert at Tyrrell . Stewart took the Drivers' title, but then at the final race of the season, the United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen, Cevert crashed during Saturday practice in the notorious esses and was killed instantly . Stewart, temporary hire Chris Amon and Tyrrell withdrew from the race effectively handing the Constructors' title to Lotus . At the end of the season Stewart made public his decision to retire, a decision that was already made before the U.S. Grand Prix . </P> <P> McLaren, having fully recovered from the death of their founder, ended the 1973 season with three wins and several poles . The new M23, an updated interpretation of the Lotus 72 concept, appeared to many as the best design on the field . Fittipaldi made the choice to leave Lotus for McLaren that offered him true lead driver status that Chapman refused to him . </P> <P> The 1974 season went to pre-season favourites McLaren and Fittipaldi, but was a far closer result than expected . Ferrari bounced back from a dismal 1973 season with its first true monocoque cars, the flat - 12 powered 312 B3s driven by young Austrian Niki Lauda and the experienced Clay Regazzoni . Despite the failure of the new Lotus 76, Peterson managed to win Grands Prix with the four - year - old 72 . Brabham driver Carlos Reutemann was also able to win with the new BT44 and young talent Jody Scheckter ended most of the races in the points, including winning the Swedish Grand Prix with the M23 - lookalike Tyrrell 007 . Lauda's season fizzled out after a crash on the first lap of the German Grand Prix . Only the last race of the season decided the Drivers' title between Fittipaldi, Regazzoni, and Scheckter . </P>

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