The new Circuit Paul Ricard at Le Castellet was a new generation race track with advanced safety features and an impressive pit building. It was a the shape of the things to come. The teams traveled straight to the new track from Holland and so there were no major changes, although a bandaged Emerson Fittipaldi had recovered from his road accident and was back in action for Lotus. The gas turbine car was out of action because of damage done to it in Holland. Also missing was Mario Andretti who had flown off to the United States to race USAC cars at Pocono. Andrea de Adamich was back at the wheel of the March-Alfa Romeo after Nanni Galli had had two races in the car and because Cosworth engines were in short supply Ronnie Peterson was running one in his factory March.. There were two new faces in private Marches: François Mazet driving for Jo Siffert and Jean Max driving a second car for Frank Williams.

Jackie Stewart took pole position in the Tyrrell with Clay Regazzoni and Jacky Ickx alongside in their Ferraris. The second row featured Graham Hill's Brabham and Pedro Rodríguez's BRM while Siffert was on row three in his BRM, alongside François Cévert (Tyrrell) and Jean-Pierre Beltoise (Matra). Team Lotus was again off the pace with Reine Wisell 15th and Fittipaldi 17th.

At the start Stewart went into the lead with Regazzoni chasing. Ickx was in trouble with his engine and dropped quickly back to retire while there was a battle for third place between Rodríguez and Beltoise. On the 19th lap Peterson's Alfa Romeo engine blew up and Regazzoni spun off on the oil. Hill had a similar accident but was able to get going and pit for repairs. This left Rodríguez in second place but seven laps later his ignition failed. By then Cévert had moved into third and so he found himself promoted to second place behind Stewart, giving Tyrrell a 1-2. Third place went to Fittipaldi who had driven a good race to come up through the field.