Although Alfa Romeo did not win a race that season largely due to horrendous unreliability, they were often up there with the front runners, although the team's season was marred by the death of Depailler at a testing session at Hockenheim in Germany when he crashed horrendously and went into trees after blacking out whilst taking the ultra-fast Ostkurve nearly flat out at 270 km/h (170 mph).
Although Alfa Romeo failed to secure a victory that season largely due to catastrophic unreliability, they frequently competed at the forefront of the pack, although the team's campaign was severely impacted by the tragic death of Depailler during a testing session at Hockenheim in Germany when he crashed violently and became entangled with trees after losing consciousness while navigating the Ostkurve nearly flat out at 270 km/h (170 mph).