1958 Formula One season

Summary

The 1958 Formula One season was the 12th season of Formula One motor racing. It featured the 1958 World Championship of Drivers,[1] which commenced on 19 January 1958 and ended on 19 October after eleven races. This was the first Formula One season in which a manufacturers title was awarded, the International Cup for F1 Manufacturers[2] being contested concurrently with the World Championship of Drivers except the Indianapolis 500 which did not count towards the Cup. Englishman Mike Hawthorn won the Drivers' title after a close battle with compatriot Stirling Moss and Vanwall won the inaugural Manufacturers award from Ferrari. Hawthorn retired from racing at the end of the season, only to die three months later after a road car accident. It was the first of only two occasions in Formula One history where a driver won the championship, having won only one race in the season, the other being Keke Rosberg in 1982.[3]

The season was one of the most important and tragic seasons in Formula One's history. Four drivers died in four different races during this season. Italian Luigi Musso in his works Ferrari during the French Grand Prix at Reims; Musso's teammate, Englishman Peter Collins during the German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring, Englishman Stuart Lewis-Evans in his Vanwall at the Moroccan Grand Prix in Casablanca, and in a non-Formula One race, American Pat O'Connor at the Indianapolis 500. Hawthorn retired from motor racing after his success but was killed in a road accident only a few months later. This season was also effectively the last year of Grand Prix racing where the field was dominated by front-engined cars; this had been the case since the early 1900s when car racing was happening in informal events across Europe and the United States. The 1959 and 1960 seasons would be transitional years, where grids at Grand Prix events would feature more and more mid-engined cars and fewer front-engined cars. The mid-engined cars, with their better road holding, increased driving comfort, lighter weight, and ease on tires and mechanical components (particularly brakes), were the way to go. Even an old-fashioned traditionalist like Enzo Ferrari had to concede that mid-engined cars were what his team needed to be competitive, and Ferrari did not have a race-ready mid-engined car until 1961.

Teams and drivers edit

The following teams and drivers competed in the 1958 FIA World Championship.

Entrant Constructor Chassis Engine Tyre Driver Rounds
  Scuderia Sud Americana Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 P   Juan Manuel Fangio 1
  Carlos Menditeguy 1
  Ken Kavanagh Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 P   Jean Behra 1
  Luigi Taramazzo 2
  Ken Kavanagh 2, 5
  Jo Bonnier Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 P   Harry Schell 1
  Jo Bonnier 2–3, 5, 7, 9
  Phil Hill 6
  Giulio Cabianca 10
  Hans Herrmann 10–11
  Francesco Godia Sales Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 P   Paco Godia 1–2, 5–6
  H.H. Gould Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 D   Horace Gould 1–3
  Masten Gregory 3
  R.R.C. Walker Racing Team Cooper-Climax T43
T45
Climax FPF 2.0 L4 C
D
  Stirling Moss 1
  Maurice Trintignant 2–3, 7–11
  Ron Flockhart 2
T43 Climax FPF 1.5 L4 D   François Picard 11
  Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari 246 Ferrari 143 2.4 V6 E   Luigi Musso 1–3, 5–6
  Peter Collins 1–3, 5–8
  Mike Hawthorn 1–3, 5–11
  Wolfgang von Trips 2, 6–10
  Olivier Gendebien 5, 10–11
  Phil Hill 10–11
156 Ferrari D156 1.5 V6 E   Phil Hill 8
  Owen Racing Organisation BRM P25 BRM P25 2.5 L4 D   Jean Behra 2–3, 5–11
  Harry Schell 2–3, 5–11
  Maurice Trintignant 6
  Jo Bonnier 10–11
  Ron Flockhart 11
  Bernie C. Ecclestone Connaught-Alta B Alta GP 2.5 L4 A   Bernie Ecclestone 2, 7
  Bruce Kessler 2
  Paul Emery 2
  Jack Fairman 7
  Ivor Bueb 7
  Cooper Car Company Cooper-Climax T45
T44
Climax FPF 2.0 L4 D   Jack Brabham 2–3, 5–7, 9–10
  Roy Salvadori 2–3, 5–11
  Ian Burgess 7
  Jack Fairman 11
T45 Climax FPF 1.5 L4 D   Bruce McLaren 8, 11
  Jack Brabham 8, 11
  Team Lotus Lotus-Climax 12
16
Climax FPF 2.0 L4
Climax FPF 2.2 L4
D   Cliff Allison 2–3, 5–8, 10–11
  Graham Hill 2–3, 5–7, 9–11
  Alan Stacey 7
16 Climax FPF 1.5 L4 D   Graham Hill 8
  Vandervell Products Vanwall VW 5 Vanwall 254 2.5 L4 D   Stirling Moss 2–3, 5–11
  Tony Brooks 2–3, 5–11
  Stuart Lewis-Evans 2–3, 5–7, 9–11
  Maria Teresa de Filippis Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 P   Maria Teresa de Filippis 2, 5, 10
  Giorgio Scarlatti Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 P   Giorgio Scarlatti 2–3
  Jo Bonnier 6
  Scuderia Centro Sud Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 P   Gerino Gerini 2, 6–7, 10–11
  Maurice Trintignant 5
  Masten Gregory 5
  Wolfgang Seidel 5, 11
  Carroll Shelby 6–7, 10
  Troy Ruttman 6, 8
  Jo Bonnier 8
  Hans Herrmann 8
  Cliff Allison 9
  Maria Teresa de Filippis 9
Cooper-Climax T43 Climax FPF 1.5 L4 D   Wolfgang Seidel 8
  OSCA Automobili OSCA F2 OSCA 372 1.5 L4 P   Giulio Cabianca 2
  Luigi Piotti 2
  André Testut Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 P   André Testut 2
  Louis Chiron 2
  Ecurie Maarsbergen Porsche RSK Porsche 547/3 1.5 F4 D   Carel Godin de Beaufort 3
RS550 Porsche 547/3 1.5 F4 D   Carel Godin de Beaufort 8
  Juan Manuel Fangio Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 P   Juan Manuel Fangio 6
  Dick Gibson Cooper-Climax T43 Climax FPF 1.5 L4 D   Dick Gibson 8
  Dr Ing F. Porsche KG Porsche RSK Porsche 547/3 1.5 F4 ?   Edgar Barth 8
  High Efficiency Motors Cooper-Climax T43 Climax FPF 1.5 L4 D   Ian Burgess 8
  Ecurie Eperon d'Or Cooper-Climax T43 Climax FPF 1.5 L4 D   Christian Goethals 8
  Ecurie Demi Litre Lotus-Climax 12 Climax FPF 1.5 L4 D   Ivor Bueb 8
  J.B. Naylor Cooper-Climax T45 Climax FPF 1.5 L4 D   Brian Naylor 8
  Tony Marsh Cooper-Climax T45 Climax FPF 1.5 L4 D   Tony Marsh 8
  Temple Buell Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 D   Carroll Shelby 9–10
  Masten Gregory 10–11
  André Guelfi Cooper-Climax T45 Climax FPF 1.5 L4 D   André Guelfi 11
  British Racing Partnership Cooper-Climax T45 Climax FPF 1.5 L4 D   Tom Bridger 11
  Robert La Caze Cooper-Climax T45 Climax FPF 1.5 L4 D   Robert La Caze 11
  • The above list does not include drivers who only contested the Indianapolis 500.
  • Pink background denotes Formula Two cars at the German and Moroccan Grands Prix

Calendar edit

Round Grand Prix Circuit Date
1   Argentine Grand Prix Autódromo Oscar Alfredo Gálvez, Buenos Aires 19 January
2   Monaco Grand Prix Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo 18 May
3   Dutch Grand Prix Circuit Zandvoort, Zandvoort 26 May
4   Indianapolis 500 Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway 30 May[a]
5   Belgian Grand Prix Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot 15 June
6   French Grand Prix Reims-Gueux, Gueux 6 July
7   British Grand Prix Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone 19 July
8   German Grand Prix Nürburgring, Nürburg 3 August
9   Portuguese Grand Prix Circuito da Boavista, Porto 24 August
10   Italian Grand Prix Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza 7 September
11   Moroccan Grand Prix Ain-Diab Circuit, Casablanca 19 October

Calendar changes edit

The Dutch Grand Prix returned to the calendar after being cancelled in 1956 and 1957 due to the Suez Crisis.

The Belgian Grand Prix returned to the calendar after being cancelled in 1957 due to the Suez Crisis.

The French Grand Prix was moved from Rouen-Les-Essarts to Reims-Gueux for a year.

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

The Portuguese Grand Prix hosted its first World Championship Grand Prix in 1958, the race was held at the Circuito da Boavista on 24 August.

The Moroccan Grand Prix hosted its first World Championship Grand Prix in 1958, the race was held at the Ain-Diab Circuit on 19 October.

The Pescara Grand Prix was dropped from the calendar, it was added as a replacement race in 1957 as the Belgian, Dutch and Spanish Grands Prix were cancelled due to the Suez Crisis.

Season summary edit

 
Mike Hawthorn won the 1958 World Championship of Drivers, driving a Ferrari 246 F1
 
Stirling Moss, driving for Vanwall finished runner up by a single point behind Hawthorn
 
Vanwall won the International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers
 
Ferrari placed second with the Ferrari 246 F1

Although the engine formula remained the same, minimum race lengths were reduced to 300 kilometres (190 mi) or two hours (whichever came first), and the use of commercial petrol became compulsory in place of specialized alcohol-based racing fuels.[4] The International Cup for F1 Manufacturers was awarded for the first time, but Ferrari's Mike Hawthorn won the Drivers' Championship from Stirling Moss, despite the latter having won four of the ten grand prix to Hawthorn's one.

Rear-engined Cooper-Climaxes, entered by the private owner Rob Walker, won two early-season races through Moss and Maurice Trintignant.

Following the Portuguese Grand Prix, Hawthorn faced a penalty, but Moss sportingly spoke up for him, and the points that Hawthorn was able to keep subsequently enabled him to edge ahead of Moss for the title.[5]

Moss's teammate at Vanwall, Tony Brooks, also won three races. His success in the Italian race, overtaking Hawthorn after Moss had retired, ensured the title went to the final round in Morocco. Moss needed to win, with a fastest lap and Hawthorn third or lower to win the title. With Moss leading, Brooks and teammate Stuart Lewis-Evans attempted to hold Hawthorn in third. However, both their engines failed – Lewis-Evans's tragically resulting in severe burns from which he did not recover. Hawthorn finished second to win his first title by a single point. Vanwall won the inaugural Constructors' competition.

Hawthorn's death early in 1959 compounded a tragic season for Formula One, with four drivers killed or fatally injured on the track. Luigi Musso died in the French Grand Prix, Peter Collins a month later in the German Grand Prix – just two weeks after winning his home race, Lewis-Evans died in hospital following his fire in Morocco, and Pat O'Connor died at the Indianapolis 500 (which, at the time, was a round of the World Championship).

Maria Teresa de Filippis became the first woman to drive in a race counting towards the World Championship of Drivers. Reigning five-time World Champion Juan Manuel Fangio, the dominant driver of the 1950s and one of the greatest of all time, competed in only two races as a privateer, retiring after the French Grand Prix.

Results and standings edit

Grands Prix edit

Round Grand Prix Pole position Fastest lap Winning driver Winning constructor Tyre Report
1   Argentine Grand Prix   Juan Manuel Fangio   Juan Manuel Fangio   Stirling Moss   Cooper-Climax C Report
2   Monaco Grand Prix   Tony Brooks   Mike Hawthorn   Maurice Trintignant   Cooper-Climax D Report
3   Dutch Grand Prix   Stuart Lewis-Evans   Stirling Moss   Stirling Moss   Vanwall D Report
4   Indianapolis 500   Dick Rathmann   Tony Bettenhausen   Jimmy Bryan   Epperly-Offenhauser F Report
5   Belgian Grand Prix   Mike Hawthorn   Mike Hawthorn   Tony Brooks   Vanwall D Report
6   French Grand Prix   Mike Hawthorn   Mike Hawthorn   Mike Hawthorn   Ferrari E Report
7   British Grand Prix   Stirling Moss   Mike Hawthorn   Peter Collins   Ferrari E Report
8   German Grand Prix   Mike Hawthorn   Stirling Moss   Tony Brooks   Vanwall D Report
9   Portuguese Grand Prix   Stirling Moss   Mike Hawthorn   Stirling Moss   Vanwall D Report
10   Italian Grand Prix   Stirling Moss   Phil Hill   Tony Brooks   Vanwall D Report
11   Moroccan Grand Prix   Mike Hawthorn   Stirling Moss   Stirling Moss   Vanwall D Report

World Drivers' Championship standings edit

Points were awarded to the first five finishers at each race on an 8–6–4–3–2 basis. An additional point was awarded to the driver setting the fastest race lap. The best six results from the eleven races were retained.

Pos. Driver ARG
 
MON
 
NED
 
500
 
BEL
 
FRA
 
GBR
 
GER
 
POR
 
ITA
 
MOR
 
Pts.[6]
1   Mike Hawthorn (3) (Ret) (5) 2 1 2 Ret 2 2 2 42 (49)
2   Stirling Moss 1 Ret 1 Ret 2 Ret Ret 1 Ret 1 41
3   Tony Brooks Ret Ret 1 Ret 7 1 Ret 1 Ret 24
4   Roy Salvadori Ret 4 8 11 3 2 9 5 7 15
5   Peter Collins Ret 3 Ret Ret 5 1 Ret 14
=   Harry Schell 6 5 2 5 Ret 5 Ret 6 Ret 5 14
7   Maurice Trintignant 1 9 7 Ret 8 3 8 Ret Ret 12
=   Luigi Musso 2 2 7 Ret Ret 12
9   Stuart Lewis-Evans Ret Ret 3 Ret 4 3 Ret Ret 11
10   Phil Hill 7 91 3 3 9
=   Jean Behra 5 Ret 3 Ret Ret Ret Ret 4 Ret Ret 9
=   Wolfgang von Trips Ret 3 Ret 4 5 Ret 9
13   Jimmy Bryan 1 8
14   Juan Manuel Fangio 4 DNQ 4 7
15   George Amick 2 6
16   Johnny Boyd 3 4
=   Tony Bettenhausen 4 4
18   Jack Brabham 4 8 Ret 6 6 Ret1 7 Ret 111 3
=   Cliff Allison 6 6 4 Ret Ret 10 Ret 7 10 3
=   Jo Bonnier Ret 10 9 8 Ret Ret Ret Ret 4 3
21   Jim Rathmann 5 2
  Masten Gregory Ret Ret 4~ 6 0
  Carroll Shelby Ret 9 Ret 4~ /
Ret
0
  Graham Hill Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret1 Ret 6 16 0
  Olivier Gendebien 6 Ret Ret 0
  Jimmy Reece 6 0
  Carlos Menditeguy 7 0
  Don Freeland 7 0
  Paco Godia 8 DNQ Ret Ret 0
  Jack Fairman Ret 8 0
  Jud Larson 8 0
  Gerino Gerini DNQ 9 Ret Ret 12 0
  Hans Herrmann Ret Ret 9 0
  Horace Gould 9 DNQ DNS 0
  Eddie Johnson 9 0
  Maria Teresa de Filippis DNQ 10 Ret Ret 0
  Troy Ruttman DNQ 10 DNS 0
  Bill Cheesbourg 10 0
  Carel Godin de Beaufort 11 Ret1 0
  Al Keller 11 0
  Johnnie Parsons 12 0
  Johnnie Tolan 13 0
  Ian Burgess Ret 71 0
  Ivor Bueb Ret 111 0
  Wolfgang Seidel Ret Ret1 Ret 0
  Giorgio Scarlatti Ret Ret 0
  Giulio Cabianca DNQ Ret 0
  Ron Flockhart DNQ Ret 0
  Bob Christie Ret 0
  Dempsey Wilson Ret 0
  A. J. Foyt Ret 0
  Paul Russo Ret 0
  Shorty Templeman Ret 0
  Rodger Ward Ret 0
  Billy Garrett Ret 0
  Eddie Sachs Ret 0
  Johnny Thomson Ret 0
  Chuck Weyant Ret 0
  Jack Turner Ret 0
  Bob Veith Ret 0
  Dick Rathmann Ret 0
  Ed Elisian Ret 0
  Pat O'Connor Ret 0
  Paul Goldsmith Ret 0
  Jerry Unser Ret 0
  Len Sutton Ret 0
  Art Bisch Ret 0
  Alan Stacey Ret 0
  Mike Magill DSQ 0
  Ken Kavanagh DNQ DNS 0
  Bruce Kessler DNQ 0
  Paul Emery DNQ 0
  André Testut DNQ 0
  Luigi Piotti DNQ 0
  Bernie Ecclestone DNQ DNP 0
  Luigi Taramazzo DNQ 0
  Louis Chiron DNQ 0
Drivers ineligible for Formula One points because they drove with Formula Two cars
  Bruce McLaren 5 13
  Edgar Barth 6
  Tony Marsh 8
  Robert La Caze 14
  André Guelfi 15
  Christian Goethals Ret
  Dick Gibson Ret
  Brian Naylor Ret
  François Picard Ret
  Tom Bridger Ret
Pos. Driver ARG
 
MON
 
NED
 
500
 
BEL
 
FRA
 
GBR
 
GER
 
POR
 
ITA
 
MOR
 
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 (One point awarded – point shared equally between drivers sharing fastest lap)
  • Bold indicates pole position
  • ~ No points awarded for shared drive
  • 1 – Ineligible for Formula One points, because he drove with a Formula Two car.

International Cup for F1 Manufacturers standings edit

The 1958 International Cup for F1 Manufacturers was contested over the same series of races as the World Championship of Drivers, except the Indianapolis 500, which counted only towards the Drivers' title. Points were awarded to the first five finishers at each race on an 8–6–4–3–2 basis. However, a manufacturer only received points for its highest-placed car, and only the best six results from the ten races were retained.

Pos. Manufacturer ARG
 
MON
 
NED
 
BEL
 
FRA
 
GBR
 
GER
 
POR
 
ITA
 
MOR
 
Pts.[6]
1   Vanwall Ret 1 1 (2) (4) 1 1 1 1 48 (57)
2   Ferrari 2 2 (5) 2 1 1 (4) 2 (2) (2) 40 (57)
3   Cooper-Climax 1 1 4 8 6 3 2 7 5 7 31
4   BRM 5 2 5 Ret 5 Ret 4 Ret 4 18
5   Maserati 4 Ret 10 7 4 9 Ret Ret 4† 6 6
6   Lotus-Climax 6 6 4 Ret Ret 10 Ret 6 10 3
  Porsche 11 0
  Connaught-Alta DNQ Ret 0
  OSCA WD DNQ 0
Pos. Manufacturer ARG
 
MON
 
NED
 
BEL
 
FRA
 
GBR
 
GER
 
POR
 
ITA
 
MOR
 
Pts.
  • Bold results counted to championship totals.

† No points were awarded for a shared drive.

Non-championship races edit

The following races were contested by Formula One cars but did not count towards the World Championship of Drivers or the International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers.

Race name Circuit Date Winning driver Constructor Report
  VI Glover Trophy Goodwood 7 April   Mike Hawthorn   Ferrari Report
  VIII Gran Premio di Siracusa Syracuse 13 April   Luigi Musso   Ferrari Report
  XIII BARC Aintree 200 Aintree 19 April   Stirling Moss   Cooper-Climax Report
  X BRDC International Trophy Silverstone 3 May   Peter Collins   Ferrari Report
  VI Grand Prix de Caen Caen 20 July   Stirling Moss   Cooper-Climax Report

Notes edit

  1. ^ The Indianapolis 500 also counted towards the 1958 USAC Championship Car season, and was run for USAC Championship cars, but did not count towards the International Cup for F1 Manufacturers.

References edit

  1. ^ FIA Yearbook, 1974, Grey section, page 118
  2. ^ FIA Yearbook, 1974, Grey section, page 120
  3. ^ "Stats F1- World Championship Titles-Wins". www.statsf1.com. Stats F1. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  4. ^ Lang, Mike (1981). Grand Prix! Vol 1. Haynes Publishing Group. p. 123. ISBN 0-85429-276-4.
  5. ^ "DRIVERS: SIR STIRLING MOSS". grandprix.com. Inside F1. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
  6. ^ a b Only the best 6 results counted towards the championship. Numbers without parentheses are championship points; numbers in parentheses are total points scored.

External links edit

  • Race results and images from the 1958 World Championship of Drivers at f1-facts.com