1954 Formula One season


The 1954 Formula One season was eighth season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the 1954 World Championship of Drivers and a number of non-championship races. The World Championship of Drivers was contested over a nine race series which commenced on 17 January and ended on 24 October 1954. The championship was won by Juan Manuel Fangio 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.

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 a 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. Only the best five of nine scores counted towards the championship. 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.
RndRaceCircuitDatePole positionFastest lapWinning driverConstructorTyreReport
1 Argentine Grand PrixBuenos Aires17 January Giuseppe Farina José Froilán González Juan Manuel Fangio MaseratiReport
2 Indianapolis 500Indianapolis31 May Jack McGrath Jack McGrath Bill Vukovich Kurtis Kraft-OffenhauserReport
3 Belgian Grand PrixSpa-Francorchamps20 June Juan Manuel Fangio Juan Manuel Fangio Juan Manuel Fangio MaseratiReport
4 French Grand PrixReims4 July Juan Manuel Fangio Hans Herrmann Juan Manuel Fangio MercedesReport
5 British Grand PrixSilverstone17 July Juan Manuel Fangio Alberto Ascari
Jean Behra
Juan Manuel Fangio
José Froilán González
Mike Hawthorn
Onofre Marimón
Stirling Moss
José Froilán González FerrariReport
6 German Grand PrixNürburgring1 August Juan Manuel Fangio Karl Kling Juan Manuel Fangio MercedesReport
7 Swiss Grand PrixBremgarten22 August José Froilán González Juan Manuel Fangio Juan Manuel Fangio MercedesReport
8 Italian Grand PrixMonza5 September Juan Manuel Fangio José Froilán González Juan Manuel Fangio MercedesReport
9 Spanish Grand PrixPedralbes24 October Alberto Ascari Alberto Ascari Mike Hawthorn FerrariReport

All championship races were open to cars complying with FIA Formula One regulations with the exception of the Indianapolis 500 which was for cars complying with AAA National Championship regulations, 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.
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.
EntrantConstructorChassisEngineTyreDriverRounds
Officine Alfieri MaseratiMaserati250F
A6GCM
Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6
Maserati A6 2.0 L6
Juan Manuel Fangio1, 3
Officine Alfieri MaseratiMaserati250F
A6GCM
Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6
Maserati A6 2.0 L6
Onofre Marimón1, 3–6
Officine Alfieri MaseratiMaserati250F
A6GCM
Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6
Maserati A6 2.0 L6
Luigi Musso1, 8–9
Officine Alfieri MaseratiMaserati250F
A6GCM
Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6
Maserati A6 2.0 L6
Birabongse Bhanudej1
Officine Alfieri MaseratiMaserati250F
A6GCM
Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6
Maserati A6 2.0 L6
Sergio Mantovani3–4, 6–9
Officine Alfieri MaseratiMaserati250F
A6GCM
Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6
Maserati A6 2.0 L6
Alberto Ascari4–5
Officine Alfieri MaseratiMaserati250F
A6GCM
Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6
Maserati A6 2.0 L6
Luigi Villoresi4–6, 8
Officine Alfieri MaseratiMaserati250F
A6GCM
Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6
Maserati A6 2.0 L6
Roberto Mieres7–9
Officine Alfieri MaseratiMaserati250F
A6GCM
Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6
Maserati A6 2.0 L6
Stirling Moss7–9
Officine Alfieri MaseratiMaserati250F
A6GCM
Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6
Maserati A6 2.0 L6
Harry Schell7
Officine Alfieri MaseratiMaserati250F
A6GCM
Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6
Maserati A6 2.0 L6
Louis Rosier8
Officine Alfieri MaseratiMaserati250F
A6GCM
Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6
Maserati A6 2.0 L6
Paco Godia9
Scuderia FerrariFerrari625
553
500
Ferrari 625 2.5 L4
Ferrari 554 2.5 L4
Ferrari 500 2.0 L4
Giuseppe Farina1, 3
Scuderia FerrariFerrari625
553
500
Ferrari 625 2.5 L4
Ferrari 554 2.5 L4
Ferrari 500 2.0 L4
José Froilán González1, 3–8
Scuderia FerrariFerrari625
553
500
Ferrari 625 2.5 L4
Ferrari 554 2.5 L4
Ferrari 500 2.0 L4
Mike Hawthorn1, 3–9
Scuderia FerrariFerrari625
553
500
Ferrari 625 2.5 L4
Ferrari 554 2.5 L4
Ferrari 500 2.0 L4
Umberto Maglioli1, 7–8
Scuderia FerrariFerrari625
553
500
Ferrari 625 2.5 L4
Ferrari 554 2.5 L4
Ferrari 500 2.0 L4
Maurice Trintignant3–9
Scuderia FerrariFerrari625
553
500
Ferrari 625 2.5 L4
Ferrari 554 2.5 L4
Ferrari 500 2.0 L4
Piero Taruffi6
Scuderia FerrariFerrari625
553
500
Ferrari 625 2.5 L4
Ferrari 554 2.5 L4
Ferrari 500 2.0 L4
Robert Manzon7
Scuderia FerrariFerrari625
553
500
Ferrari 625 2.5 L4
Ferrari 554 2.5 L4
Ferrari 500 2.0 L4
Alberto Ascari8
Equipe GordiniGordiniT16Gordini 23 2.5 L6 Jean Behra1, 3–9
Equipe GordiniGordiniT16Gordini 23 2.5 L6 Élie Bayol1
Equipe GordiniGordiniT16Gordini 23 2.5 L6 Roger Loyer1
Equipe GordiniGordiniT16Gordini 23 2.5 L6 Paul Frère3–4, 6
Equipe GordiniGordiniT16Gordini 23 2.5 L6 André Pilette3, 5–6
Equipe GordiniGordiniT16Gordini 23 2.5 L6 Jacques Pollet4, 9
Equipe GordiniGordiniT16Gordini 23 2.5 L6 Clemar Bucci5–8
Equipe GordiniGordiniT16Gordini 23 2.5 L6 Fred Wacker7–8
Ecurie RosierFerrari
Maserati
500
625
250F
Ferrari 500 2.0 L4
Ferrari 625 2.5 L4
Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6

Louis Rosier1, 4–6, 9
Ecurie RosierFerrari
Maserati
500
625
250F
Ferrari 500 2.0 L4
Ferrari 625 2.5 L4
Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6

Maurice Trintignant1
Ecurie RosierFerrari
Maserati
500
625
250F
Ferrari 500 2.0 L4
Ferrari 625 2.5 L4
Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6

Robert Manzon4–6, 8–9
Harry SchellMaseratiA6GCM
250F
Maserati A6 2.0 L6
Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6
Harry Schell1, 4–6, 9
Emmanuel de GraffenriedMaseratiA6GCMMaserati A6 2.0 L6 Toulo de Graffenried1, 9
Emmanuel de GraffenriedMaseratiA6GCMMaserati A6 2.0 L6 Ottorino Volonterio9
Roberto MieresMaseratiA6GCM
250F
Maserati A6 2.0 L6
Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6
Roberto Mieres1, 3–6
Jorge DaponteMaseratiA6GCMMaserati A6 2.0 L6 Jorge Daponte1, 8
Onofre MarimónMaseratiA6GCMMaserati A6 2.0 L6 Carlos Menditeguy1
Ecurie FrancorchampsFerrari500Ferrari 500 2.0 L4 Jacques Swaters3, 7, 9
Birabongse BhanudejMaserati250FMaserati 250F1 2.5 L6 Birabongse Bhanudej3–6, 9
Birabongse BhanudejMaserati250FMaserati 250F1 2.5 L6 Ron Flockhart5
Equipe Moss
A.E. Moss
Maserati250FMaserati 250F1 2.5 L6 Stirling Moss3, 5–6
Daimler Benz AGMercedesW196Mercedes M196 2.5 L8 Juan Manuel Fangio4–9
Daimler Benz AGMercedesW196Mercedes M196 2.5 L8 Karl Kling4–9
Daimler Benz AGMercedesW196Mercedes M196 2.5 L8 Hans Herrmann4, 6–9
Daimler Benz AGMercedesW196Mercedes M196 2.5 L8 Hermann Lang6
Georges BergerGordiniT16Gordini 23 2.5 L6 Georges Berger4
HW MotorsHWM-Alta53Alta GP 2.5 L4 Lance Macklin4
Owen Racing OrganisationMaserati250FMaserati 250F1 2.5 L6 Ken Wharton4–7, 9
Owen Racing OrganisationMaserati250FMaserati 250F1 2.5 L6 Guerino Bertocchi9
Gilby EngineeringMaserati250FMaserati 250F1 2.5 L6 Roy Salvadori4–5
Scuderia AmbrosianaFerrari500Ferrari 500 2.0 L4 Reg Parnell5
G.A. Vandervell
Vandervell Products
VanwallSpecialVanwall 254 2.5 L4 Peter Collins5, 8–9
Peter WhiteheadCooper-AltaT24Alta GP 2.5 L4 Peter Whitehead5
Bill WhitehouseConnaught-Lea-FrancisALea-Francis 2.0 L4 Bill Whitehouse5
Leslie MarrConnaught-Lea-FrancisALea-Francis 2.0 L4 Leslie Marr5
R.R.C. Walker Racing TeamConnaught-Lea-FrancisALea-Francis 2.0 L4 John Riseley-Prichard5
Sir Jeremy BolesConnaught-Lea-FrancisALea-Francis 2.0 L4 Don Beauman5
Ecurie EcosseConnaught-Lea-FrancisALea-Francis 2.0 L4 Leslie Thorne5
R.J. ChaseCooper-BristolT23Bristol BS1 2.0 L6 Alan Brown5
Gould's Garage Cooper-BristolT23Bristol BS1 2.0 L6 Horace Gould5
Bob GerardCooper-BristolT23Bristol BS1 2.0 L6 Bob Gerard5
Ecurie RichmondCooper-BristolT23Bristol BS1 2.0 L6 Eric Brandon5
Ecurie RichmondCooper-BristolT23Bristol BS1 2.0 L6 Rodney Nuckey5
Hans KlenkKlenk-BMWMeteorBMW 328 2.0 L6 Theo Helfrich6
Giovanni de RiuMaseratiA6GCMMaserati A6 2.0 L6 Giovanni de Riu8
Scuderia LanciaLanciaD50Lancia DS50 2.5 V8 Alberto Ascari9
Scuderia LanciaLanciaD50Lancia DS50 2.5 V8 Luigi Villoresi9

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.

  • Italics indicate 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 race results

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 NameCircuitDateWinning driverConstructorReport
IV Gran Premio di SiracusaSyracuse11 April Nino Farina FerrariReport
XV Pau Grand PrixPau19 April Jean Behra GordiniReport
VI Lavant CupGoodwood19 April Reg Parnell FerrariReport
III Grand Prix de BordeauxBordeaux9 May José Froilán González FerrariReport
IV BRDC International TrophySilverstone15 May José Froilán González FerrariReport
VII Gran Premio di BariBari22 May José Froilán González FerrariReport
II Curtis TrophySnetterton5 June Roy Salvadori MaseratiReport
XIII Gran Premio di RomaCastelfusano6 June Onofre Marimón MaseratiReport
XXIV Grand Prix des FrontièresChimay6 June Birabongse Bhanudej MaseratiReport
I Cornwall MRC Formula 1 RaceDavidstow7 June John Riseley-Prichard Connaught-FrancisReport
I BARC Formula 1 RaceGoodwood7 June Reg Parnell FerrariReport
II Crystal Palace TrophyCrystal Palace19 June Reg Parnell FerrariReport
IV Grand Prix de Rouen-les-EssartsRouen11 July Maurice Trintignant FerrariReport
III Grand Prix de CaenCaen25 July Maurice Trintignant FerrariReport
I August CupCrystal Palace2 August Reg Parnell FerrariReport
II Cornwall MRC Formula 1 RaceDavidstow2 August John Coombs Lotus-ConnaughtReport
I International Gold CupOulton Park7 August Stirling Moss MaseratiReport
RedeX TrophySnetterton14 August Reg Parnell FerrariReport
XXIII Circuito di PescaraPescara15 August Luigi Musso MaseratiReport
V Sachsenring-RennenSachsenring15 August Paul Thiel EMWReport
III Joe Fry Memorial TrophyCastle Combe28 August Horace Gould Cooper-BristolReport
V Circuit de CadoursCadours12 September Jean Behra GordiniReport
I Grosser Preis von BerlinAVUS19 September Karl Kling MercedesReport
VII Goodwood TrophyGoodwood25 September Stirling Moss MaseratiReport
I Daily Telegraph TrophyAintree2 October Stirling Moss MaseratiReport

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