The Lotus 72 was a Formula 1 car designed by Colin Chapman and Maurice Phillipe of Lotus for the 1970 season. It was yet another innovative design by Chapman featuring inboard brakes, side mounted radiators in sidepods, as opposed to the nose mounted radiators which had been commonplace since the 1950's and an overhead air intake. The overall shape of the car was innovative too, resembling a wedge on wheels which was inspired by the earlier Lotus 56 gas turbine car, and the layout taken from the Lotus 63 four wheel drive project testbed. The shape made for better air penetration and higher speeds. In a back-to-back test with the Lotus 49, the 72 was 12mph faster with the same Ford engine.

The car was introduced partway into the 1970 season, driven by Jochen Rindt and John Miles. Rindt made the car instantly successful, winning the Dutch, French, British and German Grands Prix in quick succession, before Rindt was tragically killed in a qualifying crash at Monza. His replacement, Emerson Fittipaldi won the USA race, helping Rindt become F1's only posthumous World Champion. Rindt and Fittipaldi's combined points for the season helped Lotus to its fourth constructors' championship.

The car was developed during 1971 by BRM incumbent Tony Rudd, and Fittipaldi became the youngest world champion in F1's history in 1972 winning 5 races in the 72, whilst Lotus again won the constructors' championship. The car now sported a striking paintscheme of black and gold, as Lotus was now sponsored by John Player Special cigarettes.

The 1973 season saw new rules introduced to increase car safety. This included mandatory deformable structure to be built into the sides of the cars, causing the 72 to be further updated with integrated sidepods and new wing mounts. Fittipaldi was joined for 1973 by the brilliant Swede Ronnie Peterson. Peterson fell in love with the 72; a perfect marriage of car and driver. In his first season with Lotus, Peterson won 4 races, while Fittipaldi won 3, but their internal fight helped Jackie Stewart snatch the drivers' championship, while Lotus kept the constructor's championship. Fittipaldi left for McLaren in 1974, ironically to drive a car closely based on the 72, the McLaren M23. This left Peterson as team leader, while Jacky Ickx joined the team to partner him. Peterson won another 3 races in the now aging 72 in 1974, but for 1975 without a replacement chassis the 72 was pressed into service. By now it was obvious that the car, even with further modifications was no match for the new Ferrari 312T which took the title or even the latest Brabham BT44 and Lotus finished 6th in the constructors' championship.

After 20 wins, 2 drivers' and 3 constructors' championships, the 72 was retired for the 1976 season.

Lotus vehicles | Formula One cars