1955 Formula One season

Summary

The 1955 Formula One season was the ninth season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the 1955 World Championship of Drivers,[1] which commenced on 16 January 1955 and ended on 11 September after seven races. Juan Manuel Fangio won his second consecutive World Championship title in a season curtailed by tragedies.

The season also included several non-championship Formula One races.

This was the last championship for Mercedes until 2014.

Teams and drivers edit

The following teams and drivers competed in the 1955 FIA World Championship.

Entrant Constructor Chassis Engine Tyre Driver Rounds
  Daimler Benz AG Mercedes W196 Mercedes M196 2.5 L8 C   Juan Manuel Fangio 1–2, 4–7
  Karl Kling 1, 4–7
  Stirling Moss 1–2, 4–7
  Hans Herrmann 1–2
  André Simon 2
  Piero Taruffi 6–7
  Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari 625
555
Ferrari 555 2.5 L4 E   Umberto Maglioli 1, 7
  José Froilán González 1
  Maurice Trintignant 1–2, 4–7
  Harry Schell 2, 4
  Piero Taruffi 2, 4
  Paul Frère 2, 4
  Mike Hawthorn 5–7
  Eugenio Castellotti 5–7
  Giuseppe Farina 1–2, 4
Lancia D50 Lancia DS50 2.5 V8 7
  Officine Alfieri Maserati Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 P   Jean Behra 1–2, 4–7
  Roberto Mieres 1–2, 4–7
  Sergio Mantovani 1
  Luigi Musso 1–2, 4–7
  Carlos Menditeguy 1, 7
  Clemar Bucci 1
  Harry Schell 1
  Cesare Perdisa 2, 4
  André Simon 6
  Peter Collins 7
  Horace Gould 7
  Alberto Uria Maserati A6GCM Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 P   Alberto Uria 1
  Scuderia Lancia Lancia D50 Lancia DS50 2.5 V8 P   Alberto Ascari 1–2
  Luigi Villoresi 1–2, 7
  Eugenio Castellotti 1–2, 4
  Louis Chiron 2
  Equipe Gordini Gordini T16 Gordini 23 2.5 L6 E   Élie Bayol 1–2
  Pablo Birger 1
  Jesús Iglesias 1
  Robert Manzon 2, 5–6
  Jacques Pollet 2, 5, 7
  Hermano da Silva Ramos 5–7
  Mike Sparken 6
  Jean Lucas 7
  Ecurie Rosier Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 P   Louis Rosier 2, 4–5
  Vandervell Products Vanwall VW 55 Vanwall 254 2.5 L4 P   Mike Hawthorn 2, 4
  Ken Wharton 6–7
  Harry Schell 6–7
  Stirling Moss Ltd Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 D   Lance Macklin 2, 6
  Johnny Claes 4
  Peter Walker 5
  John Fitch 7
  E.N. Whiteaway HWM-Alta 53 Alta GP 2.5 L4 D   Ted Whiteaway 2
  Equipe Nationale Belge Ferrari 625 Ferrari 625 2.5 L4 E   Johnny Claes 5
  Gould's Garage (Bristol) Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 D   Horace Gould 5–6
  Connaught Engineering Connaught-Alta B Alta GP 2.5 L4 D   Kenneth McAlpine 6
  Jack Fairman 6
  R.R.C. Walker Racing Team Connaught-Alta B Alta GP 2.5 L4 D   Tony Rolt 6
  Peter Walker 6
  Leslie Marr Connaught-Alta B Alta GP 2.5 L4 D   Leslie Marr 6
  Cooper Car Company Cooper-Bristol T40 Bristol BS1 2.0 L6 D   Jack Brabham 6
  Owen Racing Organisation Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 D   Peter Collins 6
  Gilby Engineering Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 D   Roy Salvadori 6
  Scuderia Volpini Arzani-Volpini-Maserati F1 Maserati 4CLT 2.5 L4 P   Luigi Piotti 7

Season summary edit

 
Juan Manuel Fangio in a Mercedes Benz W196, pictured at the Nurburgring in 1986. This was the car he used to win his 3rd Drivers' Championship

Mercedes drivers again dominated the championship, with Fangio taking four races and his new teammate Stirling Moss winning the British Grand Prix. Ferrari won at Monaco after all of the Mercedes cars broke down and Lancia driver Alberto Ascari crashed into the harbour. Although Ascari was apparently unscathed, the double World Champion crashed fatally at Monza while testing sportscars four days later.

The disaster at the 24 Hours of Le Mans on 11 June, which killed Pierre Levegh and over 80 spectators, led to the cancellations of the French, German, Spanish, and Swiss Grands Prix.[2] The French round, which was supposed to be held at Reims between the Dutch and British rounds, on 3 July, was first rescheduled to 25 September[3] and subsequently cancelled. Then the German event, scheduled for 31 July at the Nürburgring, the Swiss round at Bremgarten, planned to take place on 21 August, and the Spanish round on 23 October at Pedralbes, followed suit.[4] Pedralbes and Bremgarten were then abandoned and never used again for racing; motor racing was banned altogether in Switzerland, and no circuit race was held in Switzerland until the 2018 Zürich ePrix. These cancellations effectively handed the Drivers' title to Fangio after he finished 2nd to Moss at the British Grand Prix. However, he was not crowned champion until well after the British Grand Prix because the German, Swiss and Spanish rounds were cancelled after the British Grand Prix took place.

The 1955 season would be the final for Mercedes Benz as a constructor until the team's revival in 2010. It would also mark the final win for Mercedes until the 2012 Chinese Grand Prix.

Aside from Ascari's death this year, Italian Mario Alborghetti died at the non-championship Pau Grand Prix in France driving a Maserati and two drivers were killed in the Indy 500, Manny Ayulo in practice, and previous race winner Bill Vukovich during the race two weeks later.

Calendar edit

Round Grand Prix Circuit Date
1   Argentine Grand Prix Autódromo Oscar Alfredo Gálvez, Buenos Aires 16 January
2   Monaco Grand Prix Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo 22 May
3   Indianapolis 500 Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway 30 May[a]
4   Belgian Grand Prix Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot 5 June
5   Dutch Grand Prix Circuit Zandvoort, Zandvoort 19 June
6   British Grand Prix Aintree Motor Racing Circuit, Merseyside 16 July
7   Italian Grand Prix Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza 11 September

The following rounds were included on the provisional calendars published but were cancelled:

Grand Prix Circuit Original date
  French Grand Prix Reims-Gueux, Gueux 3 July
  German Grand Prix Nürburgring, Nürburg 31 July
  Swiss Grand Prix Circuit Bremgarten, Bern 21 August
  Spanish Grand Prix Pedralbes Circuit, Barcelona 23 October

Calendar changes edit

The Monaco Grand Prix returned to the calendar after a five year absence.

The Dutch Grand Prix returned to the calendar after a year absence.

The British Grand Prix was moved from Silverstone Circuit to Aintree Motor Racing Circuit, in keeping with the event-sharing arrangement between the two circuits.

The French Grand Prix was supposed to have been held on 3 July but was cancelled.

The German Grand Prix was supposed to have been held on 31 July but was cancelled.

The Swiss Grand Prix was supposed to have been held on 21 August but was cancelled.

The Spanish Grand Prix was supposed to have been held on 23 October but was cancelled.

Results and standings edit

Grands Prix edit

Round Grand Prix Pole position Fastest lap Winning driver Winning constructor Tyre Report
1   Argentine Grand Prix   José Froilán González   Juan Manuel Fangio   Juan Manuel Fangio   Mercedes C Report
2   Monaco Grand Prix   Juan Manuel Fangio   Juan Manuel Fangio   Maurice Trintignant   Ferrari E Report
3   Indianapolis 500   Jerry Hoyt   Bill Vukovich   Bob Sweikert   Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser F Report
4   Belgian Grand Prix   Eugenio Castellotti   Juan Manuel Fangio   Juan Manuel Fangio   Mercedes C Report
5   Dutch Grand Prix   Juan Manuel Fangio   Roberto Mieres   Juan Manuel Fangio   Mercedes C Report
6   British Grand Prix   Stirling Moss   Stirling Moss   Stirling Moss   Mercedes C Report
7   Italian Grand Prix   Juan Manuel Fangio   Stirling Moss   Juan Manuel Fangio   Mercedes C Report

World Championship of Drivers standings edit

Championship points were awarded on an 8–6–4–3–2 basis for the first five places at each race. One point was awarded for the fastest race lap at each race. Only the best five results counted towards the championship. Numbers without parentheses are Championship points; numbers in parentheses are total points scored.

Pos. Driver ARG
 
MON
 
500
 
BEL
 
NED
 
GBR
 
ITA
 
Pts.
1   Juan Manuel Fangio 1 (Ret) 1 1 2 1 40 (41)
2   Stirling Moss 4† / Ret 9 2 2 1 Ret 23
3   Eugenio Castellotti Ret† 2 Ret 5 6† / Ret 3 12
4   Maurice Trintignant 2† / 3† / Ret 1 6 Ret Ret 8 11 13
5   Nino Farina 2† / 3† 4 3 DNS 10 13
6   Piero Taruffi 8† DNS 4 2 9
7   Bob Sweikert 1 8
8   Roberto Mieres 5 Ret 5† 4 Ret 7 7
9   Jean Behra 6† / Ret† / Ret 3† / Ret† 5† / Ret 6 Ret 4 6
10   Luigi Musso 7† / Ret† Ret 7 3 5 Ret 6
11   Karl Kling 4† / Ret Ret Ret 3 Ret 5
12   Jimmy Davies 3 4
13   Tony Bettenhausen 2† 3
14   Paul Russo 2† 3
15   Paul Frère 8† 4 3
16   Johnny Thomson 4 3
17   José Froilán González 2 2
18   Cesare Perdisa 3† / Ret† 8 2
19   Luigi Villoresi Ret† / Ret 5 DNS 2
20   Carlos Menditeguy Ret† / Ret 5 2
21   Umberto Maglioli 3† 6 1 13
22   Hans Herrmann 4† DNQ 1
23   Walt Faulkner 5† 1
24   Bill Homeier 5† 1
25   Bill Vukovich Ret 1
  Mike Hawthorn Ret Ret 7 6† 10 0
  Harry Schell 6† / 7† / Ret† Ret DNS 9† / Ret Ret 0
  Louis Chiron 6 0
  Andy Linden 6 0
  Jacques Pollet 7 10 Ret 0
  Al Herman 7 0
  Mike Sparken 7 0
  Sergio Mantovani 7† / Ret† 0
  Hermano da Silva Ramos 8 Ret Ret 0
  Lance Macklin DNQ 8 0
  Pat O'Connor 8 0
  Louis Rosier Ret 9 9 0
  Ken Wharton 9† Ret 0
  Jimmy Daywalt 9 0
  John Fitch 9 0
  Pat Flaherty 10 0
  Duane Carter 11 0
  Johnny Claes DNS 11 0
  Chuck Weyant 12 0
  Eddie Johnson 13 0
  Jim Rathmann 14 0
  Robert Manzon Ret Ret Ret 0
  Horace Gould Ret Ret Ret 0
  Alberto Ascari Ret Ret 0
  Élie Bayol Ret Ret 0
  André Simon Ret Ret 0
  Peter Collins Ret Ret 0
  Peter Walker Ret Ret† 0
  Jesus Iglesias Ret 0
  Pablo Birger Ret 0
  Alberto Uria Ret 0
  Don Freeland Ret 0
  Cal Niday Ret 0
  Art Cross Ret 0
  Shorty Templeman Ret 0
  Sam Hanks Ret 0
  Keith Andrews Ret 0
  Johnnie Parsons Ret 0
  Eddie Russo Ret 0
  Ray Crawford Ret 0
  Jimmy Bryan Ret 0
  Jack McGrath Ret 0
  Al Keller Ret 0
  Johnny Boyd Ret 0
  Ed Elisian Ret 0
  Rodger Ward Ret 0
  Jerry Hoyt Ret 0
  Jimmy Reece Ret 0
  Fred Agabashian Ret 0
  Kenneth McAlpine Ret 0
  Jack Brabham Ret 0
  Roy Salvadori Ret 0
  Leslie Marr Ret 0
  Jean Lucas Ret 0
  Clemar Bucci Ret† 0
  Tony Rolt Ret† 0
  Ted Whiteaway DNQ 0
  Jack Fairman DNS 0
  Luigi Piotti DNS 0
Pos. Driver ARG
 
MON
 
500
 
BEL
 
NED
 
GBR
 
ITA
 
Pts.
Key
Colour Result
Gold Winner
Silver Second place
Bronze Third place
Green Other points position
Blue Other classified position
Not classified, finished (NC)
Purple Not classified, retired (Ret)
Red Did not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
Black Disqualified (DSQ)
White Did not start (DNS)
Race cancelled (C)
Blank Did not practice (DNP)
Excluded (EX)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Withdrawn (WD)
Did not enter (cell empty)
Text formatting Meaning
Bold Pole position
Italics Fastest lap
  • Italics indicates the fastest lap (1 point awarded – point shared equally between drivers sharing fastest lap)
  • Bold indicates pole position
  • † = Car driven by more than one driver

Non-championship races edit

Other Formula One races were also held in 1955, which did not count towards the World Championship.

Race name Circuit Date Winning driver Constructor Report
  VII Gran Premio del Valentino Valentino Park 27 March   Alberto Ascari   Lancia Report
  XVI Pau Grand Prix Pau 11 April   Jean Behra   Maserati Report
  III Glover Trophy Goodwood 11 April   Roy Salvadori   Maserati Report
  IV Grand Prix de Bordeaux Bordeaux 25 April   Jean Behra   Maserati Report
  VII BRDC International Trophy Silverstone 7 May   Peter Collins   Maserati Report
  VIII Gran Premio di Napoli Posillipo 8 May   Alberto Ascari   Lancia Report
  XVII Grand Prix d'Albi Albi (Les Planques) 29 May   André Simon   Maserati Report
  III Curtis Trophy Snetterton 29 May   Roy Salvadori   Maserati Report
  III Cornwall MRC Formula 1 Race Davidstow 30 May   Leslie Marr   Connaught-Alta Report
  III London Trophy Crystal Palace 30 July   Mike Hawthorn   Maserati Report
  III Daily Record Trophy Charterhall 6 August   Bob Gerard   Maserati Report
  III RedeX Trophy Snetterton 13 August   Harry Schell   Vanwall Report
  II Daily Telegraph Trophy Aintree 3 September   Roy Salvadori   Maserati Report
  II International Gold Cup Oulton Park 24 September   Stirling Moss   Maserati Report
  I Avon Trophy Castle Combe 1 October   Harry Schell   Vanwall Report
  V Gran Premio di Siracusa Syracuse 23 October   Tony Brooks   Connaught-Alta Report

Notes edit

  1. ^ The Indianapolis 500 also counted towards the 1955 AAA Championship Car season, and was run for AAA Championship cars, but was not run to Formula One regulations.

References edit

  1. ^ 1974 FIA Yearbook, Grey Section, Previous FIA Championship winners, page 118
  2. ^ Lang, Mike (1981). Grand Prix! Vol 1. Haynes Publishing Group. p. 82. ISBN 0-85429-276-4.
  3. ^ "Matters of Moment | Motor Sport Magazine Archive". Motor Sport Magazine. 7 July 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  4. ^ "The Autocar". The Autocar. 22 April 1955. Retrieved 3 July 2019.