It will be the first time since 1974 that the world championship has gone into the final race with the top two drivers level on points, but that is just about where the similarities between the two seasons end. Effectively at the halfway point of the season after the race in Sweden, Fittipaldi led the world championship with 27 points, with Regazzoni just five points behind, while Lauda and Scheckter were a further point back. Heading into the Italian Grand Prix, the home of Ferrari, at Monza in the first of the remaining three races, Regazzoni on 46 points led Scheckter by five points, with Lauda on 38 and Fittipaldi a point further back.

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