The 1951 Formula One season was the second season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the 1951 World Championship of Drivers,[1] which commenced on 27 May 1951 and ended on 28 October after eight races. The season also included 14 races that were open to Formula One cars but did not count towards the championship standings.
Season summary
Ferrari's newer, unsupercharged 4.5 litre cars offered a real challenge to the Alfas, which were nearing the end of their development potential. The Ferraris were able to capitalize on the inefficiency of the Alfa's very thirsty engines, particularly at Silverstone. Although Alfas won four races, with Fangio taking the championship, Ferrari's three victories spelled the end for the Alfas. BRM made their only championship appearance with the V16 at Silverstone, and the old, slow Talbots were increasingly outclassed.
Points were given to top 5 finishers (8, 6, 4, 3, 2). 1 point was given for fastest lap. Only the best four of eight scores counted towards the world championship. Points for shared drives were divided equally between the drivers, regardless of who had driven more laps.
Season review
The World Championship Grand Prix races were open to FIA Formula One cars however the Indianapolis 500 was restricted to American Championship Cars.
Teams and drivers
The following teams and drivers competed in the 1951 FIA World Championship of Drivers
Argentinian
Juan Manuel Fangio won the 1951 World Championship of Drivers, driving for Alfa Romeo
Entrant |
Constructor |
Chassis |
Engine |
Tyre |
Driver |
Rounds |
Ecurie Belge |
Talbot-Lago |
T26C |
Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 |
D |
Johnny Claes |
1, 3–8 |
Philippe Étancelin |
Talbot-Lago |
T26C |
Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 |
D |
Philippe Étancelin |
1, 3–4, 6, 8 |
Yves Giraud-Cabantous |
Talbot-Lago |
T26C |
Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 |
D |
Yves Giraud-Cabantous |
1, 3–4, 6–8 |
Guy Mairesse |
1, 4 |
Ecurie Rosier |
Talbot-Lago |
T26C |
Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 |
D |
Louis Rosier |
1, 3–8 |
Henri Louveau |
1 |
Louis Chiron |
3–8 |
HW Motors |
HWM-Alta |
51 |
Alta 2.0 L4s |
D |
George Abecassis |
1 |
Stirling Moss |
1 |
Scuderia Ferrari |
Ferrari |
375 |
Ferrari 375 4.5 V12 |
P
E
|
Luigi Villoresi |
1, 3–8 |
Alberto Ascari |
1, 3–8 |
Piero Taruffi |
1, 3, 6–8 |
José Froilán González |
4–8 |
Alfa Romeo SpA |
Alfa Romeo |
159 |
Alfa Romeo 158 1.5 L8s |
P |
Giuseppe Farina |
1, 3–8 |
Juan Manuel Fangio |
1, 3–8 |
Toulo de Graffenried |
1, 7–8 |
Consalvo Sanesi |
1, 3–5 |
Luigi Fagioli |
4 |
Felice Bonetto |
5–8 |
Paul Pietsch |
6 |
Enrico Platé |
Maserati |
4CLT/48 |
Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4s |
P |
Louis Chiron |
1 |
Harry Schell |
1, 4 |
Toulo de Graffenried |
4, 6 |
Ecurie Espadon |
Ferrari |
212 |
Ferrari 212 2.6 V12 |
P |
Rudi Fischer |
1, 6–7 |
José Froilán González |
Talbot-Lago |
T26C |
Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 |
D |
José Froilán González |
1 |
Peter Hirt |
Veritas |
Meteor |
Veritas 2.0 L6 |
P |
Peter Hirt |
1 |
Ecurie Belgique |
Talbot-Lago |
T26C |
Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 |
D |
André Pilette |
3 |
Jacques Swaters |
6–7 |
Pierre Levegh |
Talbot-Lago |
T26C |
Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 |
D |
Pierre Levegh |
3, 6–7 |
Graham Whitehead |
Ferrari |
125 |
Ferrari 125 1.5 V12s |
D |
Peter Whitehead |
4 |
GA Vandervell |
Ferrari |
375 tw |
Ferrari 375 4.5 V12 |
P |
Reg Parnell |
4 |
Peter Whitehead |
5 |
Equipe Gordini |
Simca-Gordini |
15
11 |
Gordini 15C 1.5 L4s |
E |
Robert Manzon |
4, 6–8 |
Maurice Trintignant |
4, 6, 8 |
André Simon |
4, 6–8 |
Aldo Gordini |
4 |
Eugène Chaboud |
Talbot-Lago |
T26C |
Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 |
D |
Eugène Chaboud |
4 |
Scuderia Milano |
Maserati-Milano
Maserati |
4CLT/50
4CLT/48 |
Milano 1.5 L4s
Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4s |
P |
Onofre Marimón |
4 |
23x15px Paco Godia |
8 |
23x15px Juan Jover |
8 |
Joe Kelly |
Alta |
GP |
Alta 1.5 L4s |
D |
Joe Kelly |
5 |
BRM Ltd |
BRM |
P15 |
BRM P15 1.5 V16s |
D |
Reg Parnell |
5, 7 |
Peter Walker |
5 |
Ken Richardson |
7 |
Hans Stuck |
7 |
Bob Gerard |
ERA |
B |
ERA 1.5 L6s |
D |
Bob Gerard |
5 |
Brian Shawe-Taylor |
ERA |
B |
ERA 1.5 L6s |
D |
Brian Shawe-Taylor |
5 |
Scuderia Ambrosiana |
Maserati |
4CLT/48 |
Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4s |
D |
David Murray |
5–6 |
John James |
Maserati |
4CLT/48 |
Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4s |
D |
John James |
5 |
Philip Fotheringham-Parker |
Maserati |
4CL |
Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4s |
D |
Philip Fotheringham-Parker |
5 |
Duncan Hamilton |
Talbot-Lago |
T26C |
Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 |
D |
Duncan Hamilton |
5–6 |
Antonio Branca |
Maserati |
4CLT/48 |
Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4s |
P |
Toni Branca |
6 |
23x15px Francisco Landi |
Ferrari |
375 |
Ferrari 375 4.5 V12 |
P |
23x15px Chico Landi |
7 |
Peter Whitehead |
Ferrari |
125 |
Ferrari 125 1.5 V12s |
D |
Peter Whitehead |
1, 7 |
OSCA Automobili |
OSCA |
4500G |
OSCA 4500 4.5 V12 |
P |
Franco Rol |
7 |
Prince Bira |
Maserati-OSCA |
4CLT/48 |
OSCA 4500 4.5 V12 |
P |
B. Bira |
8 |
Georges Grignard |
Talbot-Lago |
T26C |
Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 |
D |
Georges Grignard |
8 |
1951 World Championship of Drivers final standings
|
Key |
Colour |
Result |
Gold |
Winner |
Silver |
2nd place |
Bronze |
3rd place |
Green |
Points finish |
Blue |
Non-points finish |
Non-classified finish (NC) |
Purple |
Did not finish (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) |
|
- Italics indicate fastest lap (1 point awarded)
- Bold indicates pole position
- † Position shared between two or more drivers of the same car
- Only the best 4 results counted towards the Championship. Numbers without parentheses are Championship points; numbers in parentheses are total points scored.
Non-Championship race results
Other Formula One races, which did not count towards the World Championship, also held in 1951.
Notes and references
- ↑ 1974 FIA Yearbook, Grey section, page 118
External links
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