Emerson Fittipaldi vs Ronnie Peterson

1973·

Ronnie Peterson out-qualified Emerson Fittipaldi 11–4 at Team Lotus in 1973, but Emerson Fittipaldi won the races 8–7. Grid slots, finishes, points and retirements compared.

Emerson FittipaldiRonnie Peterson

4Qualifying11

15 shared races

8Race day7

15 shared races

55Points52

in shared races, as awarded at the time

175Points (today’s rules)151

in shared races, rescored 25-18-15…

Wins: 3/4
Podiums: 8/7
Poles: 1/9
Retirements: 4/6
Best finish: P1/P1
Avg. grid: 5.5/1.9

Race by race

Round-by-round comparison of Emerson Fittipaldi and Ronnie Peterson
R	Grand Prix	Grid	Emerson Fittipaldi	Ronnie Peterson	Points
1	1Argentine Grand Prix	2/5	P1	Oil pressure	9 / 0
2	2Brazilian Grand Prix	2/1	P1	Wheel	9 / 0
3	3South African Grand Prix	2/4	P3	P11▼	4 / 0
4	4Spanish Grand Prix	7/1	P1	Gearbox	9 / 0
5	5Belgian Grand Prix	9/1	P3	Accident	4 / 0
6	6Monaco Grand Prix	5/2	P2	P3	6 / 4
7	7Swedish Grand Prix	4/1	P12▼	P2	0 / 6
8	8French Grand Prix	3/5	Accident	P1	0 / 9
9	9British Grand Prix	5/1	Transmission	P2	0 / 6
10	10Dutch Grand Prix	16/1	Physical	P11▼	0 / 0
11	11German Grand Prix	14/2	P6	Ignition	1 / 0
12	12Austrian Grand Prix	1/2	Fuel system	P1	0 / 9
13	13Italian Grand Prix	4/1	P2	P1	6 / 9
14	14Canadian Grand Prix	5/1	P2	Suspension	6 / 0
15	15United States Grand Prix	3/1	P6	P1	1 / 9
	Average finish		P3.5	P3.7

How to read this table

The driver ahead in a round is shown in bold, the other in grey. Grid shows Emerson Fittipaldi / Ronnie Peterson.
P1 a win,P3 a podium,DNF a retirement.
▲ a finish at least 4 places better than that driver’s own average finish this season (see the average row), ▼ at least 4places worse. Retirements are not counted in the average.

Emerson Fittipaldi’s career Ronnie Peterson’s career Team Lotus 1973 season All teammate battles

How these numbers are calculated

Only races both drivers started are counted. Entries that did not qualify, did not pre-qualify or were withdrawn are excluded, as are cars that never left the grid or the garage, and the Indianapolis 500 of 1950–1960.
Until the mid-1960s drivers could share a car during a race. Each driver is compared from the car they started (which sets their grid position), with the best result of any car they drove and the points from all of them, as officially credited.
Qualifying is compared on grid position rather than session times. Session-by-session qualifying data only exists from 1994, while grid position is recorded for over 99% of entries right back to 1950 — including every race of the 1950s, 60s and 70s.
On race day the driver classified ahead takes the round. If neither was classified, the one who completed more laps is credited; if both retired on the same lap it is scored as a tie and excluded from the tally.
Points are those awarded at the time and include sprint races from 2021. Where the season used an older system, a second points row rescores every round under the current system so seasons from different eras can be compared.
These are points scored in the races both drivers started, not their season totals: races either missed, or contested alongside a different teammate, are left out. Up to 1990 even full-season totals differ from the championship standings, because only a driver’s best results counted towards the title. In 1988 Alain Prost outscored Ayrton Senna 105 to 94 and still lost the championship. Theseason page has the final standings.