Editing Jochen Rindt (section)

=====1970 season=====
For {{F1|1970}}, Rindt's partner at Lotus was [[John Miles (racing driver)|John Miles]]; Graham Hill had left the team to drive for Rob Walker's [[Privateer (motorsport)|customer franchise]]. Rindt became the clear team leader.<ref>{{cite journal|title=The Grand Prix scene|journal=[[Motor Sport (magazine)|Motor Sport]]|date=7 July 2014 |issue=March 1970|page=24|url=http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/march-1970/24/grand-prix-scene|access-date=16 January 2016|archive-date=16 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160116225253/http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/march-1970/24/grand-prix-scene }}</ref> At the first Grand Prix of the season in [[1970 South African Grand Prix|South Africa]], he qualified fourth, but eventually retired with an engine failure after a first lap incident with [[Chris Amon]] and [[Jack Brabham]], the latter of whom went on to win for the final time in his career.<ref>{{cite journal|title=The Grand Prix of South Africa|journal=[[Motor Sport (magazine)|Motor Sport]]|date=7 July 2014 |issue=April 1970|page=30|url=http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/april-1970/30/grand-prix-south-africa|archive-date=16 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160116230200/http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/april-1970/30/grand-prix-south-africa }}</ref> At the following race, the {{F1GP|1970|Spanish}}, Lotus introduced their revolutionary new car design. Instead of one conventional front radiator, the [[Lotus 72]] featured two, one on each side of the cockpit. Further innovations included torsion bar suspension in place of the widely used coil-springs, and all four brakes mounted inboard to reduce unsprung weight.<ref name=mmmspain70>{{cite journal|title=The Grand Prix of Spain|journal=[[Motor Sport (magazine)|Motor Sport]]|date=7 July 2014 |issue=May 1970|page=30|url=http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/may-1970/30/grand-prix-spain|access-date=16 January 2016|archive-date=16 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160116231255/http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/may-1970/30/grand-prix-spain }}</ref> During its first practice session, the left semi-axle of the car broke, sending Rindt into a spin.{{sfn|Giesser|2010}} The car also proved ineffective in the race; Rindt retired after nine laps.<ref name=mmmspain70/>

As the Lotus 72 was not as effective as the team hoped, it was returned to the factory to be re-built and Rindt used the old Lotus 49 for the next race in [[1970 Monaco Grand Prix|Monaco]]. The necessity of using tyres intended for the new design made the older car unstable. Seemingly unaffected by this, Rindt produced what his race engineer [[Herbie Blash]] called "the race of his life". From eighth on the grid, he worked his way through the field on a track notorious for presenting few overtaking opportunities. In the closing stages, he was second, steadily closing the gap on leader Jack Brabham. On the final lap, on the final corner, Brabham braked too late, touched the kerbstone and went straight ahead into the straw bales, allowing Rindt through to take his first victory of the season. Rindt used the Lotus 49 one last time at the {{F1GP|1970|Belgian}}, a race at which he heavily criticised the organisers for installing guardrails that had gaps of several metres between them.{{sfn|Reuß|2010}} He had originally started practice in the remodelled 72, but the car came to a halt early in the session with a broken [[Double wishbone suspension|lower wishbone]], forcing Rindt to switch cars once more. Despite engine troubles during the rest of practice, he managed to qualify on the front row, but later retired with another engine failure.<ref>{{cite journal|title=The Belgian Grand Prix|journal=[[Motor Sport (magazine)|Motor Sport]]|date=7 July 2014 |issue=July 1970|page=36|url=http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/july-1970/36/belgian-grand-prix|access-date=17 January 2016|archive-date=17 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117100355/http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/july-1970/36/belgian-grand-prix }}</ref>

[[File:Rindt at 1970 Dutch Grand Prix.jpg|thumb|Rindt took the [[Lotus 72]]'s maiden victory at the [[1970 Dutch Grand Prix]].|alt=Black-and-white photograph of Rindt racing a flat and winged Formula One car through a corner]]
At the {{F1GP|1970|Dutch}}, Rindt eventually used the new Lotus 72, better sorted after alterations had been made. He set pole position in the final practice session, almost a quarter of a second ahead of his closest challenger, Stewart.<ref>{{Cite magazine|author= Jenkinson, Denis |author-link= Denis Jenkinson |url= http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/august-1970/44/dutch-grand-prix-technical-step-forward |date= August 1970 |title= The Dutch Grand Prix: A Technical Step Forward |magazine= [[Motor Sport (magazine)|Motor Sport]] |volume= 46 |issue= 8 |pages= 850–853 }}</ref> Rindt went on to take his maiden victory in the Lotus 72, but it was not a joyful occasion for him; on lap 23, his close friend Piers Courage, with whom he had eaten dinner just the night before, died in a fiery crash. Rindt was heavily shaken by the loss of yet another fellow driver and contemplated retirement.{{sfn|Henry|1990|p=99}}

After the success at [[Circuit Park Zandvoort|Zandvoort]], Rindt gained confidence in the new Lotus 72, describing it as "the best racing car that exists at the moment".{{sfn|Giesser|2010}} But he continued to have problems. During practice for the {{F1GP|1970|French}}, Rindt opted to drop his new all-enveloping Bell-Star crash helmet, finding it too hot. He went back to using his open-front helmet, only to be hit in the face by a stone from another car, causing a deep cut on his right cheek.<ref name=mmmfrance70>{{cite journal|title=The French Grand Prix|journal=[[Motor Sport (magazine)|Motor Sport]]|date=7 July 2014 |issue=August 1970|page=32|url=http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/august-1970/32/french-grand-prix|access-date=17 January 2016|archive-date=17 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117102323/http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/august-1970/32/french-grand-prix }}</ref> He also suffered a steering failure on his car. Furious over yet another mechanical problem, he stormed into the Lotus garage and yelled at Colin Chapman: "If this happens again and I survive, I will kill all of you!"{{sfn|Giesser|2010}} Rindt was still able to win the race, taking the lead in the championship.<ref name=mmmfrance70/> The next race was the {{F1GP|1970|British}} at [[Brands Hatch]]. Jacky Ickx established an early lead ahead of Brabham and Rindt, but when Ickx's transmission failed, Rindt seized the opportunity to pass Brabham for the lead. Brabham was then able to regain the top spot on lap 69 as Rindt missed a gear and looked the certain winner, only to repeat his misfortune of Monaco: on the last lap, he ran out of fuel, allowing Rindt to take his third win in a row. His victory was cast into doubt shortly after the race when Chief Scrutineer Cecil Mitchell found the rear aerofoil not at the regulated height. Rindt was provisionally disqualified, only to be reinstated as winner after three hours of deliberation.{{sfn|Giesser|2010}}<ref>{{cite journal|title=23rd British Grand Prix|journal=[[Motor Sport (magazine)|Motor Sport]]|date=August 1970|page=22|url=http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/august-1970/22/23rd-british-grand-prix|access-date=17 January 2016|archive-date=17 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117103607/http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/august-1970/22/23rd-british-grand-prix }}</ref>

The {{F1GP|1970|German}} was originally set to take place at its traditional venue, the Nürburgring. The [[Grand Prix Drivers' Association]] (GPDA), represented by Rindt and Graham Hill, demanded changes to the circuit to increase safety, including [[AK Steel Holding|Armco]] barriers along the entire {{convert|22.8|km|mi}} of the ''Nordschleife''. No agreement was reached and the Grand Prix moved to Hockenheim, where Rindt took his fourth victory in succession. The race was another two-way fight, this time between Rindt and Ickx, who exchanged the lead several times.{{sfn|Reuß|2010}} This meant that he could have secured the drivers' title at his home event at the {{F1GP|1970|Austrian}}. He set the Lotus 72 on pole position, to the delight of the crowd, but retired from the race with an engine failure.<ref>{{cite journal|title=The 8th Austrian Grand Prix|journal=[[Motor Sport (magazine)|Motor Sport]]|date=12 January 2016 |issue=September 1970|page=22|url=http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/september-1970/22/8th-austrian-grand-prix|access-date=17 January 2016|archive-date=17 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117104950/http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/september-1970/22/8th-austrian-grand-prix }}</ref> The title decision was therefore postponed to the next race in [[Autodromo Nazionale Monza|Monza]].{{sfn|Giesser|2010}}