1956 Formula One season

1956 FIA Formula One World Championship season
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Index: Races by country | Races by season

The 1956 Formula One season featured the seventh FIA World Championship of Drivers [1] as well as numerous non-championship races for Formula One cars. The championship series commenced on January 22, 1956 and ended on September 2 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 race.

Contents

Season summary

Fangio joined Ferrari after Mercedes-Benz, with whom he had won the 1954 title, 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 team-mate 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.

Points were given to top 5 finishers (8, 6, 4, 3, 2). 1 point was given for fastest lap. Only the best five scores counted towards the world championship. Points for shared drives were divided equally between the drivers, regardless of who had driven more laps.

Season review

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

Teams and drivers

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
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
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 Luigi Villoresi 4
Harry Schell 7
Giorgio Scarlatti 7
Toulo de Graffenried 8
Piero Scotti Connaught 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 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 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 56 Alta GP 2.5 L4 D Paul Emery 6
Ottorino Volonterio Maserati A6GCM Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 P Ottorino Volonterio 7

1956 Drivers Championship final standings

Championship points were awarded at each round 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. 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
8 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
12 Mike Hawthorn 3 10† Ret 4
13 Ron Flockhart Ret 3 4
14 Don Freeland 3 4
15 Alfonso de Portago Ret 2† / 10† Ret† Ret 3
16 Cesare Perdisa 7 3† 5† 7 Ret 3
17 Harry Schell Ret 4 10† / Ret Ret Ret Ret 3
18 Johnnie Parsons 4 3
19 Louis Rosier Ret 8 6 Ret 5 2
20 Luigi Villoresi 5 Ret 6 Ret Ret† 2
21 Hernando da Silva Ramos 5 8 Ret Ret 2
22 Horace Gould 8 Ret 5 Ret 2
23 Olivier Gendebien 5 Ret 2
24 Dick Rathmann 5 2
25 Gerino Gerini 4† 10 1.5
26 Chico Landi 4† 1.5
27 Paul Russo Ret 1
— André Pilette 6† 6 11 Ret 0
— Luigi Piotti Ret 6 0
— Bob Sweikert 6 0
— Oscar Gonzalez 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
— 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
— Tony Brooks Ret 0
— Archie Scott-Brown Ret 0
— Paul Emery Ret 0
— Jack Brabham Ret 0
— Andre Milhoux Ret 0
— Les Leston Ret 0
— Ed Elisian Ret† 0
— Eddie Russo Ret† 0
— Joakim Bonnier Ret† 0
— Colin Chapman DNS 0
Pos. Driver ARG
 MON
 500
 BEL
 FRA
 GBR
 GER
 ITA
 Pts.
Key
Colour Result
Gold Winner
Silver 2nd place
Bronze 3rd place
Green Points finish
Blue Non-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple Did not finish (Ret)
Red Did not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
Black Disqualified (DSQ)
White Did not start (DNS)
Race cancelled (C)
Light blue Practiced only (PO)
Friday test driver (TD)
(from 2003 onwards)
Blank Did not practice (DNP)
Excluded (EX)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Withdrew entry before the event (WD)

Non-Championship race results

Other Formula One races also held in 1956, which did not count towards the World Championship.

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

Notes and references

  1. ^ FIA Yearbook, 1974, page 119

External links