1956 Formula One season

The 1956 Formula One season was the tenth season of FIA's Formula One motor racing. It featured the seventh World Championship of Drivers [1] as well as numerous non-championship races. The championship series commenced on 22 January 1956 and ended on 2 September after eight races. Juan Manuel Fangio won his third consecutive title, the fourth of his career. Until the 2006 season this was the last season during which no British constructor won any championship race.

1956 Formula One season
Drivers' Champion: Juan Manuel Fangio
Previous: 1955 Next: 1957

Season summary

Fangio joined Ferrari after Mercedes-Benz, with whom he had won the 1954 and 1955 titles, withdrew from the sport. Ferrari acquired the folded Lancia team's D50 cars and put together a strong team containing Fangio, Eugenio Castellotti, Luigi Musso and Peter Collins. Fangio won the opening race after commandeering Musso's car after his own car had broken down. Collins and Fangio's teammate at Mercedes, Stirling Moss – now driving for Maserati provided the biggest challenge to his title defence, each winning two races. In an open season the British Connaughts, Vanwalls and BRMs also showed some signs of promise.

Going into the final race of the season, Fangio had an eight-point lead over Collins and the consistent Jean Behra, driving for Maserati. The only way he could lose the title would be to score no points with Collins winning and setting fastest lap. (Because a driver could only count their best 5 scores, Behra could not win the title.) Fangio retired, and with Musso unwilling to share his car with Fangio, Collins had a great chance of winning his first title. Collins, in a remarkable act of sportsmanship, instead chose to hand his car over to Fangio to allow the Argentine to finish second in the race and win his third title in a row.

Season review

The following races counted towards the 1956 World Championship of Drivers:

Rnd Race Circuit Date Pole position Fastest lap Winning driver Constructor Tyre Report
1 Argentine Grand Prix Buenos Aires 22 January Juan Manuel Fangio Juan Manuel Fangio Luigi Musso
Juan Manuel Fangio
Ferrari E Report
2 Monaco Grand Prix Monaco 13 May Juan Manuel Fangio Juan Manuel Fangio Stirling Moss Maserati P Report
3 Indianapolis 500 Indianapolis 30 May Pat Flaherty Paul Russo Pat Flaherty Watson-Offenhauser F Report
4 Belgian Grand Prix Spa-Francorchamps 3 June Juan Manuel Fangio Stirling Moss Peter Collins Ferrari E Report
5 French Grand Prix Reims 1 July Juan Manuel Fangio Juan Manuel Fangio Peter Collins Ferrari E Report
6 British Grand Prix Silverstone 14 July Stirling Moss Stirling Moss Juan Manuel Fangio Ferrari E Report
7 German Grand Prix Nürburgring 5 August Juan Manuel Fangio Juan Manuel Fangio Juan Manuel Fangio Ferrari E Report
8 Italian Grand Prix Monza 2 September Juan Manuel Fangio Stirling Moss Stirling Moss Maserati P Report

The Suez crisis was a contributing factor in Formula One in 1956. The Dutch and Spanish Grands Prix were affected by this crisis, and the oil prices were too high for the teams and drivers, so the two races that were originally supposed to be held at Zandvoort and Pedralbes were cancelled.[2] The Indianapolis 500 was USAC-sanctioned so not run to Formula One specifications, and also counted towards the 1956 USAC Championship title.

Teams and drivers

Juan Manuel Fangio (pictured in 1957) won his fourth Drivers' Championship, driving for Ferrari
Pat Flaherty won the Indianapolis 500 driving the John Zink Special and placed fifth in the championship

The following teams and drivers competed in the 1956 FIA World Championship.

Entrant Constructor Chassis Engine Tyre Driver Rounds
Officine Alfieri Maserati Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 P Stirling Moss 1–2, 4–8
Jean Behra 1–2, 4–8
Carlos Menditeguy 1
Luigi Piotti 1
Chico Landi 1
Gerino Gerini 1
José Froilán González 1
Cesare Perdisa 2, 4–7
Paco Godia 4–8
Mike Hawthorn 4
Piero Taruffi 5
Umberto Maglioli 7–8
Luigi Villoresi 8
Jo Bonnier 8
Owen Racing Organisation Maserati
BRM
250F
P25
Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6
BRM P25 2.5 L4
P
D
Mike Hawthorn 1–2, 6
Tony Brooks 2, 6
Ron Flockhart 6
Alberto Uria Maserati A6GCM Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 P Alberto Uria 1
Óscar González 1
Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari D50
555
Ferrari DS50 2.5 V8
Ferrari 555 2.5 L4
E
P
Juan Manuel Fangio 1–2, 4–8
Eugenio Castellotti 1–2, 4–8
Luigi Musso 1–2, 7–8
Peter Collins 1–2, 4–8
Olivier Gendebien 1, 5
Paul Frère 4
André Pilette 4
Alfonso de Portago 5–8
Wolfgang von Trips 8
Equipe Gordini Gordini T16
T32
Gordini 23 2.5 L6
Gordini 25 2.5 L8
E Robert Manzon 2, 5–8
Élie Bayol 2
André Pilette 2, 5, 7
Hermano da Silva Ramos 2, 5–6, 8
André Milhoux 7
André Simon 8
Ecurie Rosier Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 P Louis Rosier 2, 4–7
Vandervell Products Vanwall VW 2 Vanwall 254 2.5 L4 P Maurice Trintignant 2, 4, 6, 8
Harry Schell 2, 4–6, 8
Mike Hawthorn 5
Colin Chapman 5
José Froilán González 6
Piero Taruffi 8
Gould's Garage (Bristol)
H.H. Gould
Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 D Horace Gould 2, 4, 6–7
Giorgio Scarlatti Ferrari 500 Ferrari 500 2.0 L4 P Giorgio Scarlatti 2
Scuderia Centro Sud Maserati
Ferrari
250F
500
Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6
Ferrari 500 2.0 L4
P Louis Chiron 2
Luigi Villoresi 4
Harry Schell 7
Giorgio Scarlatti 7
Toulo de Graffenried 8
Piero Scotti Connaught-Alta B Alta GP 2.5 L4 P Piero Scotti 4
Automobiles Bugatti Bugatti T251 Bugatti 2.5 L8 E Maurice Trintignant 5
Luigi Piotti Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 P Luigi Villoresi 5–7
Luigi Piotti 7–8
André Simon Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 P André Simon 5
Scuderia Guastalla Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 P Umberto Maglioli 6
Gerino Gerini 8
Connaught Engineering Connaught-Alta B Alta GP 2.5 L4 P
A
Archie Scott-Brown 6, 8
Desmond Titterington 6
Jack Fairman 6, 8
Les Leston 8
Ron Flockhart 8
Bob Gerard Cooper-Bristol T23 Bristol BS1 2.0 L6 D Bob Gerard 6
Gilby Engineering Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 D Roy Salvadori 6–8
Bruce Halford Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 D Bruce Halford 6–8
Jack Brabham Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 D Jack Brabham 6
Emeryson Cars Emeryson-Alta 56 Alta GP 2.5 L4 D Paul Emery 6
Ottorino Volonterio Maserati A6GCM Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 P Ottorino Volonterio 7

The above list does not include competitors in the 1956 Indianapolis 500.

1956 Drivers' Championship – final standings

Championship points were awarded at each race on an 8–6–4–3–2 basis to the first five finishers, with an additional point awarded to the driver setting the fastest lap of the race. Points for shared drives were divided equally between the drivers, regardless of who had driven more laps. Only the best five round results were counted.

Pos. Driver ARG
MON
500
BEL
FRA
GBR
GER
ITA
Pts.
1 Juan Manuel Fangio 1 / Ret 2 / 4† Ret 4 1 1 (2)† / 8† 30 (33)
2 Stirling Moss Ret 1 3 / Ret 5† / Ret (Ret) 2 1 27 (28)
3 Peter Collins Ret 2† 1 1 2† / Ret Ret† / Ret 2† 25
4 Jean Behra 2 3 7 3 3 3 Ret† / Ret 22
5 Pat Flaherty 1 8
6 Eugenio Castellotti Ret 4† / Ret Ret 2 10† Ret† / Ret 8† / Ret 7.5
7 Sam Hanks 2 6
= Paul Frère 2 6
9 Paco Godia Ret 7 8 4 4 6
10 Jack Fairman 4 5 5
11 Luigi Musso 1† Ret Ret† Ret 4
= Mike Hawthorn 3 DNS DNS 10† Ret 4
= Ron Flockhart Ret 3 4
= Don Freeland 3 4
15 Alfonso de Portago Ret 2† / 10† Ret† Ret 3
= Cesare Perdisa 7 3† 5† 7 DNS 3
= Harry Schell Ret 4 10† / Ret Ret Ret Ret 3
= Johnnie Parsons 4 3
19 Louis Rosier Ret 8 6 Ret 5 2
= Luigi Villoresi 5 Ret 6 Ret Ret† 2
= Hermano da Silva Ramos 5 8 Ret Ret 2
= Horace Gould 8 Ret 5 Ret 2
= Olivier Gendebien 5 Ret 2
= Dick Rathmann 5 2
25 Gerino Gerini 4† 10 1.5
= Chico Landi 4† 1.5
27 Paul Russo Ret 1
André Pilette 6† 6 11 DNS 0
Luigi Piotti Ret DNS 6 0
Bob Sweikert 6 0
Óscar González 6† 0
Alberto Uria 6† 0
Élie Bayol 6† 0
Bob Veith 7 0
Toulo de Graffenried 7 0
Rodger Ward 8 0
Robert Manzon Ret 9 9 Ret Ret 0
André Simon Ret 9 0
Jimmy Reece 9 0
Cliff Griffith 10 0
Roy Salvadori Ret Ret 11 0
Gene Hartley 11 0
Bob Gerard 11 0
Fred Agabashian 12 0
Bob Christie 13 0
Al Keller 14 0
Eddie Johnson 15 0
Billy Garrett 16 0
Duke Dinsmore 17 0
Pat O'Connor 18 0
Jimmy Bryan 19 0
Ottorino Volonterio NC 0
Maurice Trintignant Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 0
Umberto Maglioli Ret Ret Ret† 0
Bruce Halford Ret DSQ Ret 0
José Froilán González Ret Ret 0
Piero Taruffi Ret Ret 0
Tony Brooks DNS Ret 0
Giorgio Scarlatti DNQ Ret 0
Carlos Menditeguy Ret 0
Jim Rathmann Ret 0
Johnnie Tolan Ret 0
Tony Bettenhausen Ret 0
Jimmy Daywalt Ret 0
Jack Turner Ret 0
Keith Andrews Ret 0
Andy Linden Ret 0
Al Herman Ret 0
Ray Crawford Ret 0
Johnny Boyd Ret 0
Troy Ruttman Ret 0
Johnny Thomson Ret 0
Piero Scotti Ret 0
Desmond Titterington Ret 0
Archie Scott-Brown Ret 0
Paul Emery Ret 0
Jack Brabham Ret 0
André Milhoux Ret 0
Les Leston Ret 0
Ed Elisian Ret† 0
Eddie Russo Ret† 0
Jo Bonnier Ret† 0
Louis Chiron DNS 0
Colin Chapman DNS 0
Wolfgang von Trips DNS 0
Pos. Driver ARG
MON
500
BEL
FRA
GBR
GER
ITA
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 more drivers of the same car
  • Only the best 5 results counted towards the Championship. Numbers without parentheses are Championship points; numbers in parentheses are total points scored.

Non-championship races

The following non-championship races for Formula One cars were also held in 1956:

Race name Circuit Date Winning driver Constructor Report
IV Glover Trophy Goodwood 2 April Stirling Moss Maserati Report
VI Gran Premio di Siracusa Syracuse 15 April Juan Manuel Fangio Lancia-Ferrari Report
XI BARC Aintree 200 Aintree 21 April Stirling Moss Maserati Report
VIII BRDC International Trophy Silverstone 5 May Stirling Moss Vanwall Report
IX Gran Premio di Napoli Posillipo 6 May Robert Manzon Gordini Report
I Aintree 100 Aintree 24 June Horace Gould Maserati Report
I Vanwall Trophy Snetterton 22 July Roy Salvadori Maserati Report
IV Grand Prix de Caen Caen 26 August Harry Schell Maserati Report
II Sussex Trophy Goodwood 8 September Roy Salvadori Cooper-Climax Report
I BRSCC Formula 1 Race Brands Hatch 14 October Archie Scott Brown Connaught-Alta Report

Notes and references

  1. FIA Yearbook, 1974, page 119
  2. "Grand Prix Cancelled". Autosport. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
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