Formula 1 historical archive

Patrick Depailler won the 1978 Monaco Grand Prix

Patrick Depailler won the 1978 Monaco Grand Prix for Tyrrell, ahead of Niki Lauda and Jody Scheckter at Circuit de Monaco.

Browse the full classification, related season, driver, team, circuit, and championship history.

Race recap

Winner
Patrick Depailler
Team
Tyrrell
Top listed
Patrick Depailler, Niki Lauda, and Jody Scheckter
Race date
May 7, 1978
Pole
Carlos Reutemann
Fastest lap
Niki Lauda
Classified drivers
30
Circuit
Circuit de Monaco

The decisive result

Patrick Depailler finished first for Tyrrell. Niki Lauda is listed 2 for Brabham, with Jody Scheckter 3 for Wolf.

Grid to finish

Emerson Fittipaldi from P20 to P9 (+11), Didier Pironi from P13 to P5 (+8), and Riccardo Patrese from P14 to P6 (+8) recorded the largest positive grid-to-finish changes in the classification. Carlos Reutemann started from the listed P1 grid position.

Status and fastest lap

The classification lists 6 DNPQ, 6 Finished, 4 DNQ, 3 +1 lap, and 2 Accident. Niki Lauda holds the fastest-lap entry at 1:28.650 on lap 72. It records the result without speculating about incidents or strategy.

This summary sticks to the classification and does not speculate about incidents, strategy, weather, or causes. Source: F1DB (CC BY 4.0) · updated Jul 26, 2026.

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Race classification
PosDriverConstructorTime / statusPoints
1Patrick DepaillerTyrrell1:55:14.6609
2Niki LaudaBrabham1:55:37.1106
3Jody ScheckterWolf1:55:46.9504
4John WatsonBrabham1:55:48.1903
5Didier PironiTyrrell1:56:22.7202
6Riccardo PatreseArrows1:56:23.4301
7Patrick TambayMcLaren+1 lap0
8Carlos ReutemannFerrari+1 lap0
9Emerson FittipaldiFittipaldi+1 lap0
10Jean-Pierre JabouilleRenault+4 laps0
11Mario AndrettiTeam Lotus+6 laps0
DNFGilles VilleneuveFerrariAccident0
DNFRonnie PetersonTeam LotusGearbox0
DNFJames HuntMcLarenHandling0
DNFRolf StommelenArrowsUnwell0
DNFAlan JonesWilliamsOil leak0
DNFJacky IckxEnsignBrakes0
DNFHans-Joachim StuckShadowAccident0
DNFJacques LaffiteLigierGearbox0
DNFRupert KeeganSurteesTransmission0