1954 Formula One season

The 1954 Formula One season was the eighth season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the 1954 World Championship of Drivers[1] and a number of non-championship races. The World Championship of Drivers was contested over a nine race series[1] which commenced on 17 January and ended on 24 October 1954. The championship was won by Juan Manuel Fangio[1] who drove, and won races, for both Maserati and Mercedes-Benz over the course of the series. Argentine drivers gained the first two positions in the championship with José Froilán González placing second to his compatriot Fangio.

1954 Formula One season
Drivers' Champion: Juan Manuel Fangio
Previous: 1953 Next: 1955

Championship summary

With Formula One changing to 2.5 litre unsupercharged engines for 1954, Mercedes re-entered Grand Prix racing for the first time since the Second World War at the French Grand Prix with the Mercedes-Benz W196, a streamlined single seater[2] which Fangio and Karl Kling took to a 1–2 win. Fangio's French success had come after switching from the Maserati team, with whom he had won the first two Grands Prix of the season. Although the streamlined, closed-wheel body proved unsuitable for Silverstone, Mercedes produced a more conventional open-wheel body for the Nürburgring race; Fangio won three of the remaining four races.

Reigning champion Alberto Ascari had a less successful switch of teams, choosing to leave Ferrari for the newly formed Lancia team. Lancia's car, the D50, was not ready until the final World Championship race, meaning he had to sit out most of his title defence.

Championship points were awarded for first five places in each race on an 8, 6, 4, 3, 2 basis with 1 point awarded for the fastest lap.[3] Only the best five of nine scores counted towards the championship.[4] Points for shared drives were divided equally between the drivers, regardless of who had driven more laps unless one of the drivers was deemed to have completed "insufficient distance". Drivers who shared more than one car during a race received points only for their highest finish.

Argentine Onofre Marimón was killed during practice for the German Grand Prix driving a Maserati 250F. It was the first fatality at a championship Formula One race weekend.

Season review

The following races counted towards the 1954 World Championship of Drivers.

Rnd Race Circuit Date Pole position Fastest lap Winning driver Constructor Tyre Report
1 Argentine Grand Prix Buenos Aires 17 January Giuseppe Farina José Froilán González Juan Manuel Fangio Maserati P Report
2 Indianapolis 500 Indianapolis 31 May Jack McGrath Jack McGrath Bill Vukovich Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser F Report
3 Belgian Grand Prix Spa-Francorchamps 20 June Juan Manuel Fangio Juan Manuel Fangio Juan Manuel Fangio Maserati P Report
4 French Grand Prix Reims 4 July Juan Manuel Fangio Hans Herrmann Juan Manuel Fangio Mercedes C Report
5 British Grand Prix Silverstone 17 July Juan Manuel Fangio Alberto Ascari
Jean Behra
Juan Manuel Fangio
José Froilán González
Mike Hawthorn
Onofre Marimón
Stirling Moss
José Froilán González Ferrari P Report
6 German Grand Prix Nürburgring 1 August Juan Manuel Fangio Karl Kling Juan Manuel Fangio Mercedes C Report
7 Swiss Grand Prix Bremgarten 22 August José Froilán González Juan Manuel Fangio Juan Manuel Fangio Mercedes C Report
8 Italian Grand Prix Monza 5 September Juan Manuel Fangio José Froilán González Juan Manuel Fangio Mercedes C Report
9 Spanish Grand Prix Pedralbes 24 October Alberto Ascari Alberto Ascari Mike Hawthorn Ferrari P Report

All championship races were open to cars complying with FIA Formula One regulations[5] with the exception of the Indianapolis 500 which was for cars complying with AAA National Championship regulations,[6] and also counted towards the 1954 AAA Championship.

The Dutch Grand Prix was originally scheduled to be held at Zandvoort but there was no money for the race to be held, and it was cancelled.[7]

The German Grand Prix was given the honorary title of being the European Grand Prix of 1954.

Teams and drivers

The following teams and drivers competed in the 1954 FIA World Championship of Drivers.

Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio won his 2nd Drivers' Championship of 5, driving for Mercedes (Maserati for the Argentine and Belgian Grands Prix)
Entrant Constructor Chassis Engine Tyre Driver Rounds
Officine Alfieri Maserati Maserati 250F
A6GCM
Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6
Maserati A6 2.0 L6
P Juan Manuel Fangio 1, 3
Onofre Marimón 1, 3–6
Luigi Musso 1, 8–9
Birabongse Bhanudej 1
Sergio Mantovani 3–4, 6–9
Alberto Ascari 4–5
Luigi Villoresi 4–6, 8
Roberto Mieres 7–9
Stirling Moss 7–9
Harry Schell 7
Louis Rosier 8
Paco Godia 9
Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari 625
553
500
Ferrari 625 2.5 L4
Ferrari 554 2.5 L4
Ferrari 500 2.0 L4
P Giuseppe Farina 1, 3
José Froilán González 1, 3–8
Mike Hawthorn 1, 3–9
Umberto Maglioli 1, 7–8
Maurice Trintignant 3–9
Piero Taruffi 6
Robert Manzon 7
Alberto Ascari 8
Equipe Gordini Gordini T16 Gordini 23 2.5 L6 E Jean Behra 1, 3–9
Élie Bayol 1
Roger Loyer 1
Paul Frère 3–4, 6
André Pilette 3, 5–6
Jacques Pollet 4, 9
Clemar Bucci 5–8
Fred Wacker 7–8
Ecurie Rosier Ferrari
Maserati
500
625
250F
Ferrari 500 2.0 L4
Ferrari 625 2.5 L4
Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6
D
P
Louis Rosier 1, 4–6, 9
Maurice Trintignant 1
Robert Manzon 4–6, 8–9
Harry Schell Maserati A6GCM
250F
Maserati A6 2.0 L6
Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6
P Harry Schell 1, 4–6, 9
Emmanuel de Graffenried Maserati A6GCM Maserati A6 2.0 L6 P Toulo de Graffenried 1, 9
Ottorino Volonterio 9
Roberto Mieres Maserati A6GCM
250F
Maserati A6 2.0 L6
Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6
P Roberto Mieres 1, 3–6
Jorge Daponte Maserati A6GCM Maserati A6 2.0 L6 P Jorge Daponte 1, 8
Onofre Marimón Maserati A6GCM Maserati A6 2.0 L6 P Carlos Menditeguy 1
Ecurie Francorchamps Ferrari 500 Ferrari 500 2.0 L4 E Jacques Swaters 3, 7, 9
Birabongse Bhanudej Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 P Birabongse Bhanudej 3–6, 9
Ron Flockhart 5
Equipe Moss
A.E. Moss
Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 P Stirling Moss 3, 5–6
Daimler Benz AG Mercedes W196 Mercedes M196 2.5 L8 C Juan Manuel Fangio 4–9
Karl Kling 4–9
Hans Herrmann 4, 6–9
Hermann Lang 6
Georges Berger Gordini T16 Gordini 23 2.5 L6 E Georges Berger 4
HW Motors HWM-Alta 53 Alta GP 2.5 L4 D Lance Macklin 4
Owen Racing Organisation Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 D Ken Wharton 4–7, 9
Guerino Bertocchi 9
Gilby Engineering Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 D Roy Salvadori 4–5
Scuderia Ambrosiana Ferrari 500 Ferrari 500 2.0 L4 A Reg Parnell 5
G.A. Vandervell
Vandervell Products
Vanwall Special Vanwall 254 2.5 L4 P Peter Collins 5, 8–9
Peter Whitehead Cooper-Alta T24 Alta GP 2.5 L4 D Peter Whitehead 5
Bill Whitehouse Connaught-Lea-Francis A Lea-Francis 2.0 L4 D Bill Whitehouse 5
Leslie Marr Connaught-Lea-Francis A Lea-Francis 2.0 L4 D Leslie Marr 5
R.R.C. Walker Racing Team Connaught-Lea-Francis A Lea-Francis 2.0 L4 D John Riseley-Prichard 5
Sir Jeremy Boles Connaught-Lea-Francis A Lea-Francis 2.0 L4 D Don Beauman 5
Ecurie Ecosse Connaught-Lea-Francis A Lea-Francis 2.0 L4 D Leslie Thorne 5
R.J. Chase Cooper-Bristol T23 Bristol BS1 2.0 L6 D Alan Brown 5
Gould's Garage (Bristol) Cooper-Bristol T23 Bristol BS1 2.0 L6 D Horace Gould 5
Bob Gerard Cooper-Bristol T23 Bristol BS1 2.0 L6 D Bob Gerard 5
Ecurie Richmond Cooper-Bristol T23 Bristol BS1 2.0 L6 D Eric Brandon 5
Rodney Nuckey 5
Hans Klenk Klenk-BMW Meteor BMW 328 2.0 L6 P Theo Helfrich 6
Giovanni de Riu Maserati A6GCM Maserati A6 2.0 L6 P Giovanni de Riu 8
Scuderia Lancia Lancia D50 Lancia DS50 2.5 V8 P Alberto Ascari 9
Luigi Villoresi 9

1954 Drivers' Championship – final standings

Points were awarded on an 8-6-4-3-2 basis to the top five finishers at each race with an additional point scored for the fastest lap. Only the best 5 results counted towards the Championship. Numbers without parentheses are Championship points; numbers in parentheses are total points scored.

Pos. Driver ARG
500
BEL
FRA
GBR
GER
SUI
ITA
ESP
Pts.
1 Juan Manuel Fangio 1 1 1 (4) 1 1 (1) (3) 42 (57 17)
2 José Froilán González 3 (4)† Ret 1 2† 2 3† / Ret 25 17 (26 914)
3 Mike Hawthorn DSQ 4† Ret 2 2† Ret 2 1 24 914
4 Maurice Trintignant 4 2 Ret 5 3 Ret 5 Ret 17
5 Karl Kling 2 7 4 Ret Ret 5 12
6 Bill Vukovich 1 8
7 Hans Herrmann Ret Ret 3 4 Ret 8
8 Luigi Musso DNS Ret 2 6
9 Nino Farina 2 Ret 6
10 Jimmy Bryan 2 6
11 Roberto Mieres Ret Ret Ret 6 Ret 4 Ret 4 6
12 Jack McGrath 3 5
13 Stirling Moss 3 Ret Ret Ret 10 Ret 4 17
14 Onofre Marimón Ret Ret Ret 3 DNS 4 17
15 Robert Manzon 3 Ret 9 DNS Ret Ret 4
16 Sergio Mantovani 7 5 5 9 Ret 4
17 Birabongse Bhanudej 7 6 4 Ret† Ret 9 3
18 Umberto Maglioli 9 7 3† 2
19 André Pilette 5 9 Ret 2
20 Luigi Villoresi 5 Ret† DNS Ret Ret 2
21 Élie Bayol 5 2
22 Mike Nazaruk 5 2
23 Troy Ruttman 4† 1 12
24 Duane Carter 4† / 15† 1 12
25 Alberto Ascari Ret Ret / Ret† Ret Ret 1 17
26 Jean Behra DSQ Ret 6 Ret 10 Ret Ret Ret 17
Harry Schell 6 Ret 12 7 Ret Ret 0
Ken Wharton Ret 8 DNS 6 8 0
Fred Wacker Ret 6 0
Fred Agabashian 6 0
Piero Taruffi 6 0
Paco Godia 6 0
Louis Rosier Ret Ret Ret 8 8 7 0
Peter Collins Ret 7 DNS 0
Don Freeland 7 0
Jacques Swaters Ret 8 Ret 0
Toulo de Graffenried 8 Ret† 0
Paul Russo 8 0
Larry Crockett 9 0
Cal Niday 10 0
Bob Gerard 10 0
Jorge Daponte Ret 11 0
Art Cross 11 0
Don Beauman 11 0
Chuck Stevenson 12 0
Manny Ayulo 13 0
Leslie Marr 13 0
Bob Sweikert 14 0
Leslie Thorne 14 0
Horace Gould 15 0
Jimmy Jackson 15† 0
Ernie McCoy 16 0
Jimmy Reece 17 0
Ed Elisian 18 0
Frank Armi 19 0
Clemar Bucci Ret Ret Ret Ret 0
Paul Frère Ret Ret Ret 0
Roy Salvadori Ret Ret 0
Jacques Pollet Ret Ret 0
Roger Loyer Ret 0
Sam Hanks Ret 0
Pat O'Connor Ret 0
Rodger Ward Ret 0
Gene Hartley Ret 0
Andy Linden Ret 0
Johnny Thomson Ret 0
Jerry Hoyt Ret 0
Jimmy Daywalt Ret 0
Tony Bettenhausen Ret 0
Spider Webb Ret 0
Bill Homeier Ret 0
Johnnie Parsons Ret 0
Len Duncan Ret 0
Pat Flaherty Ret† 0
Jim Rathmann Ret† 0
Lance Macklin Ret 0
Georges Berger Ret 0
Bill Whitehouse Ret 0
John Riseley-Prichard Ret 0
Reg Parnell Ret 0
Peter Whitehead Ret 0
Eric Brandon Ret 0
Ron Flockhart Ret† 0
Hermann Lang Ret 0
Theo Helfrich Ret 0
Ottorino Volonterio Ret† 0
Alan Brown DNS 0
Rodney Nuckey DNS 0
Giovanni de Riu DNQ 0
Pos. Driver ARG
500
BEL
FRA
GBR
GER
SUI
ITA
ESP
Pts.
Key
ColourResult
GoldWinner
Silver2nd place
Bronze3rd place
GreenOther points position
Blue Other classified position
Not classified, finished (NC)
PurpleNot classified, retired (Ret)
Red Did not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
BlackDisqualified (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 indicate fastest lap (1 point awarded – point shared equally between drivers sharing fastest lap)
  • Bold indicates pole position
  • † Position shared between multiple drivers of the same car
  • ‡ Several cars were shared in this race. See the race page for details.

Non-championship races

The following is a summary of the races for Formula One cars staged during the 1954 season that did not count towards the 1954 World Championship of Drivers.

Race name Circuit Date Winning driver Constructor Report
IV Gran Premio di Siracusa Syracuse 11 April Nino Farina Ferrari Report
XV Pau Grand Prix Pau 19 April Jean Behra Gordini Report
VI Lavant Cup Goodwood 19 April Reg Parnell Ferrari Report
III Grand Prix de Bordeaux Bordeaux 9 May José Froilán González Ferrari Report
IV BRDC International Trophy Silverstone 15 May José Froilán González Ferrari Report
VII Gran Premio di Bari Bari 22 May José Froilán González Ferrari Report
II Curtis Trophy Snetterton 5 June Roy Salvadori Maserati Report
XIII Gran Premio di Roma Castelfusano 6 June Onofre Marimón Maserati Report
XXIV Grand Prix des Frontières Chimay 6 June Birabongse Bhanudej Maserati Report
I Cornwall MRC Formula 1 Race Davidstow 7 June John Riseley-Prichard Connaught-Francis Report
I BARC Formula 1 Race Goodwood 7 June Reg Parnell Ferrari Report
II Crystal Palace Trophy Crystal Palace 19 June Reg Parnell Ferrari Report
IV Grand Prix de Rouen-les-Essarts Rouen 11 July Maurice Trintignant Ferrari Report
III Grand Prix de Caen Caen 25 July Maurice Trintignant Ferrari Report
I August Cup Crystal Palace 2 August Reg Parnell Ferrari Report
II Cornwall MRC Formula 1 Race Davidstow 2 August John Coombs Lotus-Connaught Report
I International Gold Cup Oulton Park 7 August Stirling Moss Maserati Report
RedeX Trophy Snetterton 14 August Reg Parnell Ferrari Report
XXIII Circuito di Pescara Pescara 15 August Luigi Musso Maserati Report
V Sachsenring-Rennen Sachsenring 15 August Paul Thiel EMW Report
III Joe Fry Memorial Trophy Castle Combe 28 August Horace Gould Cooper-Bristol Report
V Circuit de Cadours Cadours 12 September Jean Behra Gordini Report
I Grosser Preis von Berlin AVUS 19 September Karl Kling Mercedes Report
VII Goodwood Trophy Goodwood 25 September Stirling Moss Maserati Report
I Daily Telegraph Trophy Aintree 2 October Stirling Moss Maserati Report

Notes and references

  1. World Championship of Drivers, 1974 FIA Yearbook, Grey section, pages 118 & 119
  2. Danielson, C. (2008-07-29). "eMercedesBenz Feature: "Win First, Refuel Later" - Mercedes Silver Arrows Return To Formula One In 1954". emercedesbenz.com. Archived from the original on 2012-08-25.
  3. Mike Lang, '"Grand Prix!, Volume 1 1950 to 1965, Haynes Publishing Group, 1981, page 7
  4. Mike Lang, Grand Prix!, Volume 1 1950 to 1965, Haynes Publishing Group, 1981, page 80
  5. Peter Higham, The Guinness Guide to International Motor Racing, 1995, page 6
  6. Peter Higham, The Guinness Guide to International Motor Racing, 1995, page 318
  7. "Grand Prix Cancelled". Autosport. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
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