Robert Manzon


Robert Manzon was a French racing driver. He participated in 29 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 21 May 1950. He achieved two podiums, and scored a total of 16 championship points. At the time of his death, Manzon was the last surviving driver to have taken part in the first Formula One World Championship in 1950.

Career

Manzon began his career as a mechanic and after World War II he started racing, initially with a Cisitalia D46. Earning a contract with the Gordini team for 1948, Manzon won some minor races although his machinery was not always reliable.
He continued with Gordini into the new Formula One era, scoring points at the 1950 French Grand Prix, and finishing sixth in the World Drivers' Championship in 1952, taking third place in the 1952 Belgian Grand Prix. He left Gordini in 1953 and joined Louis Rosier's team, which was campaigning Ferraris. He subsequently achieved his second podium at the 1954 French Grand Prix at the wheel of a Ferrari 625.
Manzon then returned to the Gordini team, but found little success in World Championship events. Outside the Championship, he won the 1956 Naples Grand Prix and a sports car race at Pescara.
After racing, he later operated his own diesel equipment distribution business.
Manzon died at his home in the south of France on 19 January 2015 aged 97. He was the last surviving entrant of the 1950 Formula One season.

Complete Formula One World Championship results

YearEntrantChassisEngine123456789WDCPoints
1950Equipe Simca GordiniSimca Gordini Type 15Gordini Straight-4GBRMON
Ret		500SUIBELFRA
4		ITA
Ret		14th3
1951Equipe Simca GordiniSimca Gordini Type 15Gordini Straight-4SUI500BELFRA
Ret		GBRGER
7		ITA
Ret		ESP
9		NC0
1952Equipe GordiniGordini Type 16Gordini Straight-6SUI
Ret		500BEL
3		FRA
4		GBR
Ret		GER
Ret		NED
5		ITA
14		6th9
1953Equipe GordiniGordini Type 16Gordini Straight-6ARG
Ret		500NEDBELFRAGBRGERSUIITANC0
1954Equipe RosierFerrari 625Ferrari Straight-4ARG500BELFRA
3		GBR
Ret		GER
9		ITA
Ret		ESP
Ret		15th4
1954Scuderia FerrariFerrari 553Ferrari Straight-4SUI
DNS		15th4
1955Equipe GordiniGordini Type 16Gordini Straight-6ARGMON
Ret		500BELNED
Ret		GBR
Ret		ITANC0
1956Equipe GordiniGordini Type 16Gordini Straight-6ARG
DNA		MON
Ret		500BELNC0
1956Equipe GordiniGordini Type 32Gordini Straight-8FRA
9		GBR
9		GER
Ret		ITA
Ret		NC0