Lauda was unhappy with the performance of the car at the first two races of 1977, and led an extensive test programme to develop the car in the weeks between the Brazilian and South African grands prix.
Lauda non estaba contento co rendemento do coche nas dúas primeiras carreiras de 1977, e dirixiu un amplo programa de probas para desenvolver o coche nas últimas semanas entre os Grandes Premios de Brasil e Suráfrica.