F1 Championship leaders
Drivers’ Championship
| # | Grand Prix | Leader | Lead |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Argentina | (USA) Mario Andretti | 3 |
| 2 | Brazil | (USA) Mario Andretti | 2 |
| 3 | South Africa | (USA) Mario Andretti | 1 |
| 4 | USA West | (ARG) Carlos Reutemann | 0 |
| 5 | Monaco | (FRA) Patrick Depailler | 5 |
| 6 | Belgium | (USA) Mario Andretti | 4 |
| 7 | Spain | (USA) Mario Andretti | 10 |
| 8 | Sweden | (USA) Mario Andretti | 6 |
| 9 | France | (USA) Mario Andretti | 9 |
| 10 | Britain | (USA) Mario Andretti | 9 |
| 11 | Germany | (USA) Mario Andretti | 18 |
| 12 | Austria | (USA) Mario Andretti | 9 |
| 13 | Netherlands | (USA) Mario Andretti | 12 |
| 14 | Italy | (USA) Mario Andretti | 13 |
| 15 | USA | (USA) Mario Andretti | 13 |
| 16 | Canada | (USA) Mario Andretti | 13 |
- First time as championship leader
- Patrick Depailler
- Last time as championship leader
- Mario Andretti
- Patrick Depailler
- First time as championship leader since…
- 1971 for Mario Andretti
- Last time as championship leader until…
- 1981 for Carlos Reutemann
- First time as championship leader by a…
- French driver since 1956
- American driver since 1971
- Last time as championship leader by a…
- Argentine driver until 1981
Constructors’ Championship
| # | Grand Prix | Leader | Lead |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Argentina | Lotus-Ford Cosworth | 3 |
| 2 | Brazil | Lotus-Ford Cosworth | 2 |
| 3 | South Africa | Lotus-Ford Cosworth | 7 |
| 4 | USA West | Lotus-Ford Cosworth | 9 |
| 5 | Monaco | Lotus-Ford Cosworth | 3 |
| 6 | Belgium | Lotus-Ford Cosworth | 11 |
| 7 | Spain | Lotus-Ford Cosworth | 20 |
| 8 | Sweden | Lotus-Ford Cosworth | 18 |
| 9 | France | Lotus-Ford Cosworth | 24 |
| 10 | Britain | Lotus-Ford Cosworth | 18 |
| 11 | Germany | Lotus-Ford Cosworth | 27 |
| 12 | Austria | Lotus-Ford Cosworth | 36 |
| 13 | Netherlands | Lotus-Ford Cosworth | 41 |
| 14 | Italy | Lotus-Ford Cosworth | 33 |
| 15 | USA | Lotus-Ford Cosworth | 33 |
| 16 | Canada | Lotus-Ford Cosworth | 28 |
Notes
- The 1978 season was the sixth season, and the first since 1976, in which the Constructors’ Championship was led from start to finish by the same constructor.
- 1978 was the second and last time Lotus led a championship from start to finish, equaling Cooper‘s record.
- First time as championship leader
- No constructor led the championship for the first time in 1978
- Last time as championship leader
- No constructor led the championship for the last time in 1978
- First time as championship leader since…
- 1973 for Lotus