1961 Belgian Grand Prix


The 1961 Belgian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on 18 June 1961 at Spa-Francorchamps. It was race 3 of 8 in both the 1961 World Championship of Drivers and the 1961 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers.
The organizers of the race invited 25 entries, but were only going to pay starting money to 19: sixteen pre-selected cars plus the 3 fastest of the remaining 9. Three of the cars without starting money decided not to race after practicing. A fourth entry was a single car for Cliff Allison and Henry Taylor. The team decided to let the fastest driver in practice compete, but Allison wrecked the car on his first practice lap. The Emeryson cars of Bianchi and Mairesse were also damaged beyond repair in practice, but they competed by using the older Lotus 18s of Marsh and Seidel, who had decided not to race. The race was completely dominated by the Ferrari team, with the four works drivers finishing 1-2-3-4. This was the last time any constructor achieved this score in a F1 race. While Graham Hill took the lead at the start from sixth on the grid, he could not hold off the Italian cars and all had passed him by the end of the first lap. Hill fought with John Surtees for fifth place until he retired with an oil leak on the 24th lap.

Classification

Championship standings after the race

;Drivers' Championship standings
;Constructors' Championship standings