Formula 1 historical archive

Mario Andretti won the 1978 Spanish Grand Prix

Mario Andretti won the 1978 Spanish Grand Prix for Team Lotus, ahead of Ronnie Peterson and Jacques Laffite at Circuito del Jarama.

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

Race recap

Winner
Mario Andretti
Team
Team Lotus
Top listed
Mario Andretti, Ronnie Peterson, and Jacques Laffite
Race date
June 4, 1978
Pole
Mario Andretti
Fastest lap
Mario Andretti
Classified drivers
29
Circuit
Circuito del Jarama

The decisive result

Mario Andretti finished first for Team Lotus. Ronnie Peterson is listed 2 for Team Lotus, with Jacques Laffite 3 for Ligier.

Grid to finish

Rupert Keegan from P23 to P11 (+12), Alan Jones from P18 to P8 (+10), and Vittorio Brambilla from P16 to P7 (+9) recorded the largest positive grid-to-finish changes in the classification. Mario Andretti started from the listed P1 grid position.

Status and fastest lap

The classification lists 5 +1 lap, 5 Finished, 4 DNQ, 4 Engine, and 3 +4 laps. Mario Andretti holds the fastest-lap entry at 1:20.060 on lap 5. 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.

Report a correction · Get the iPhone app

Race classification
PosDriverConstructorTime / statusPoints
1Mario AndrettiTeam Lotus1:41:47.0609
2Ronnie PetersonTeam Lotus1:42:06.6206
3Jacques LaffiteLigier1:42:24.3004
4Jody ScheckterWolf1:42:47.1203
5John WatsonBrabham1:42:52.9902
6James HuntMcLaren+1 lap1
7Vittorio BrambillaSurtees+1 lap0
8Alan JonesWilliams+1 lap0
9Jochen MassATS Wheels+1 lap0
10Gilles VilleneuveFerrari+1 lap0
11Rupert KeeganSurtees+2 laps0
12Didier PironiTyrrell+4 laps0
13Jean-Pierre JabouilleRenault+4 laps0
14Rolf StommelenArrows+4 laps0
15Clay RegazzoniShadowFuel pipe0
DNFJacky IckxEnsignEngine0
DNFEmerson FittipaldiFittipaldiThrottle0
DNFCarlos ReutemannFerrariAccident0
DNFNiki LaudaBrabhamEngine0
DNFPatrick DepaillerTyrrellEngine0