Italian Grand Prix 1971 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Peter Gethin claimed his sole Grand Prix victory in the most dramatic fashion imaginable, winning the Italian Grand Prix at Monza in the closest finish in Formula 1 history. The British driver crossed the line just 0.01 seconds ahead of Ronnie Peterson's March, with the top five cars covered by an astonishing 0.61 seconds after two hours of slipstreaming battles. François Cevert finished third for Tyrrell, ahead of Mike Hailwood's Surtees and Howden Ganley's BRM in a photo finish that remains the fastest race in F1 history at an average speed of 150.75 mph.

The race at the pre-chicane Monza configuration was a spectacular display of slipstreaming warfare, with multiple drivers swapping positions lap after lap on the circuit's long straights. Gethin, starting from eighth on the grid, worked his way through the field with perfectly-timed moves, timing his final run to the line to perfection. The BRM P160's straight-line speed proved crucial in the final sprint to the checkered flag, as Gethin edged ahead of Peterson by the narrowest margin ever recorded in Grand Prix racing.

The dramatic finish provided a thrilling spectacle for the passionate tifosi, though Ferrari's absence from the podium disappointed the home crowd. Peterson's second place was another strong result in an impressive season for the Swedish star, while Cevert's third continued Tyrrell's consistent scoring. Gethin's victory, achieved in just his eighth Grand Prix start, would prove to be his only win in Formula 1, making the Monza triumph all the more special. The race exemplified the spectacular, high-speed racing possible at pre-chicane Monza and remains one of the most memorable finishes in motorsport history.