1954 Formula One season

1954 FIA Formula One
World Championship season
Drivers' Champion: Juan Manuel Fangio
Previous: 1953 Next: 1955

The 1954 Formula One season was the fifth season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the 1954 World Championship of Drivers[1] and also included a number of non-championship races for Formula One cars. The World Championship of Drivers was contested over a nine race series[1] which commenced on 17 January and ended on 24 October 1954. The championship was won by Juan Manuel Fangio[1] who drove, and won races, for both Maserati and Mercedes-Benz over the course of the series. Argentinean 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 streamlined single seater which Fangio and Karl Kling took to a dominating 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 and 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. Unfortunately for him, 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.[2] Only the best five of nine scores counted towards the championship.[3] 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 Marimon 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.

Rnd Race Circuit Date Pole position Fastest lap Winning driver Constructor Tyre Report
1 Argentina Argentine Grand Prix Buenos Aires 17 January Italy Giuseppe Farina Argentina José Froilán González Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio Italy Maserati P Report
2 United States Indianapolis 500 Indianapolis 31 May United States Jack McGrath United States Jack McGrath United States Bill Vukovich United States Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser F Report
3 Belgium Belgian Grand Prix Spa-Francorchamps 20 June Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio Italy Maserati P Report
4 France French Grand Prix Reims 4 July Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio West Germany Hans Herrmann Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio West Germany Mercedes C Report
5 United Kingdom British Grand Prix Silverstone 17 July Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio Italy Alberto Ascari
France Jean Behra
Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio
Argentina José Froilán González
United Kingdom Mike Hawthorn
Argentina Onofre Marimón
United Kingdom Stirling Moss
Argentina José Froilán González Italy Ferrari P Report
6 West Germany German Grand Prix Nürburgring 1 August Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio West Germany Karl Kling Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio West Germany Mercedes C Report
7 Switzerland Swiss Grand Prix Bremgarten 22 August Argentina José Froilán González Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio West Germany Mercedes C Report
8 Italy Italian Grand Prix Monza 5 September Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio Argentina José Froilán González Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio West Germany Mercedes C Report
9 Spain Spanish Grand Prix Pedralbes 24 October Italy Alberto Ascari Italy Alberto Ascari United Kingdom Mike Hawthorn Italy Ferrari P Report

All championship races were open to cars complying with FIA Formula One regulations[4] with the exception of the Indianapolis 500 which was for cars complying with AAA National Championship regulations.[5] The Dutch Grand Prix was originally supposed to be held at Zandvoort but there was no money for the race to be held, and it was cancelled.[6] 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.

Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio won his 2nd driver's championship of 5, driving for Mercedes (Maserati for the Argentine and Belgian Grands Prix)
Entrant Constructor Chassis Engine Tyre Driver Rounds
Italy Officine Alfieri Maserati Maserati 250F
A6GCM
Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6
Maserati A6 2.0 L6
P Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio 1, 3
Argentina Onofre Marimón 1, 3–6
Italy Luigi Musso 1, 8–9
Thailand Prince Bira 1
Italy Sergio Mantovani 3–4, 6–9
Italy Alberto Ascari 4–5
Italy Luigi Villoresi 4–6, 8
Argentina Roberto Mieres 7–9
United Kingdom Stirling Moss 7, 9
United States Harry Schell 7
France Louis Rosier 8
Spain Paco Godia 9
Italy Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari 625
553
500
Ferrari 625 2.5 L4
Ferrari 554 2.5 L4
Ferrari 500 2.0 L4
P Italy Giuseppe Farina 1, 3
Argentina José Froilán González 1, 3–8
United Kingdom Mike Hawthorn 1, 3–9
Italy Umberto Maglioli 1, 7–8
France Maurice Trintignant 4–9
Italy Piero Taruffi 6
France Robert Manzon 7–8
Italy Alberto Ascari 8
France Equipe Gordini Gordini T16 Gordini 23 2.5 L6 E France Jean Behra 1, 3–9
France Élie Bayol 1
France Roger Loyer 1
Belgium Paul Frère 3–4, 6
Belgium André Pilette 3, 5–6
France Jacques Pollet 4, 9
Argentina Clemar Bucci 5–8
United States Fred Wacker 7–8
France Ecurie Rosier Ferrari
Maserati
500
625
250F
Ferrari 500 2.0 L4
Ferrari 625 2.5 L4
Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6
D
P
France Louis Rosier 1, 4–6, 9
France Maurice Trintignant 1, 3
France Robert Manzon 4–6, 9
United States Harry Schell Maserati A6GCM
250F
Maserati A6 2.0 L6
Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6
P United States Harry Schell 1, 4–6, 9
Switzerland Emmanuel de Graffenried Maserati A6GCM Maserati A6 2.0 L6 P Switzerland Toulo de Graffenried 1, 9
Switzerland Ottorino Volonterio 9
Argentina Roberto Mieres Maserati A6GCM
250F
Maserati A6 2.0 L6
Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6
P Argentina Roberto Mieres 1, 3–6
Argentina Jorge Daponte Maserati A6GCM Maserati A6 2.0 L6 P Argentina Jorge Daponte 1, 8
Argentina Onofre Marimón Maserati A6GCM Maserati A6 2.0 L6 P Argentina Carlos Menditeguy 1
Belgium Ecurie Francorchamps Ferrari 500 Ferrari 500 2.0 L4 E Belgium Jacques Swaters 3, 7, 9
Thailand Prince Bira Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 P Thailand Prince Bira 3–6, 9
D United Kingdom Ron Flockhart 5
United Kingdom Equipe Moss
United Kingdom A.E. Moss
Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 P United Kingdom Stirling Moss 3, 5–6, 8
West Germany Daimler Benz AG Mercedes W196 Mercedes M196 2.5 L8 C Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio 4–9
West Germany Karl Kling 4–9
West Germany Hans Herrmann 4, 6–9
West Germany Hermann Lang 6
Belgium Georges Berger Gordini T16 Gordini 23 2.5 L6 E Belgium Georges Berger 4
United Kingdom HW Motors HWM-Alta 53 Alta GP 2.5 L4 D United Kingdom Lance Macklin 4
United Kingdom Owen Racing Organisation Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 D United Kingdom Ken Wharton 4–7, 9
Italy Guerino Bertocchi 9
United Kingdom Gilby Engineering Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 D United Kingdom Roy Salvadori 4–5
Italy Scuderia Ambrosiana Ferrari 500 Ferrari 500 2.0 L4 A United Kingdom Reg Parnell 5
United Kingdom G.A. Vandervell
United Kingdom Vandervell Products
Vanwall Special Vanwall 254 2.5 L4 P United Kingdom Peter Collins 5, 8–9
United Kingdom Peter Whitehead Cooper-Alta T24 Alta GP 2.5 L4 D United Kingdom Peter Whitehead 5
United Kingdom Bill Whitehouse Connaught-Lea-Francis A Lea-Francis 2.0 L4 D United Kingdom Bill Whitehouse 5
United Kingdom Leslie Marr Connaught-Lea-Francis A Lea-Francis 2.0 L4 D United Kingdom Leslie Marr 5
United Kingdom R.R.C. Walker Racing Team Connaught-Lea-Francis A Lea-Francis 2.0 L4 D United Kingdom John Riseley-Prichard 5
United Kingdom Sir Jeremy Boles Connaught-Lea-Francis A Lea-Francis 2.0 L4 D United Kingdom Don Beauman 5
United Kingdom Ecurie Ecosse Connaught-Lea-Francis A Lea-Francis 2.0 L4 D United Kingdom Leslie Thorne 5
United Kingdom R.J. Chase Cooper-Bristol T23 Bristol BS1 2.0 L6 D United Kingdom Alan Brown 5
United Kingdom Gould's Garage (Bristol) Cooper-Bristol T23 Bristol BS1 2.0 L6 D United Kingdom Horace Gould 5
United Kingdom Bob Gerard Cooper-Bristol T23 Bristol BS1 2.0 L6 D United Kingdom Bob Gerard 5
United Kingdom Ecurie Richmond Cooper-Bristol T23 Bristol BS1 2.0 L6 D United Kingdom Eric Brandon 5
United Kingdom Rodney Nuckey 5
West Germany Hans Klenk Klenk-BMW Meteor BMW 328 2.0 L6 P West Germany Theo Helfrich 6
Italy Giovanni de Riu Maserati A6GCM Maserati A6 2.0 L6 P Italy Giovanni de Riu 8
Italy Scuderia Lancia Lancia D50 Lancia DS50 2.5 V8 P Italy Alberto Ascari 9
Italy Luigi Villoresi 9

1954 Drivers Championship final standings

Pos. Driver ARG
Argentina
500
United States
BEL
Belgium
FRA
France
GBR
United Kingdom
GER
West Germany
SUI
Switzerland
ITA
Italy
ESP
Spain
Pts.
1 Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio 1 1 1 (4) 1 1 (1) (3) 42 (57 17)
2 Argentina José Froilán González 3 (4)† Ret 1 2† 2 3† / Ret 25 17 (26 914)
3 United Kingdom Mike Hawthorn DSQ 4† Ret 2 2† Ret 2 1 24 914
4 France Maurice Trintignant 4 2 Ret 5 3 Ret 5 Ret 17
5 West Germany Karl Kling 2 7 4 Ret Ret 5 12
6 United States Bill Vukovich 1 8
7 West Germany Hans Herrmann Ret Ret 3 4 Ret 8
8 Italy Luigi Musso DNS Ret 2 6
9 Italy Nino Farina 2 Ret 6
10 United States Jimmy Bryan 2 6
11 Argentina Roberto Mieres Ret Ret Ret 6 Ret 4 Ret 4 6
12 United States Jack McGrath 3 5
13 United Kingdom Stirling Moss 3 Ret Ret Ret 10 Ret 4 17
14 Argentina Onofre Marimón Ret Ret Ret 3 4 17
15 France Robert Manzon 3 Ret 9 Ret Ret 4
16 Italy Sergio Mantovani 7 5 5 9 Ret 4
17 Thailand Prince Bira 7 6 4 Ret† Ret 9 3
18 Italy Umberto Maglioli 9 7 3† 2
19 Belgium André Pilette 5 9 Ret 2
20 Italy Luigi Villoresi 5 Ret† Ret Ret 2
21 France Élie Bayol 5 2
22 United States Mike Nazaruk 5 2
23 United States Troy Ruttman 4† 1 12
24 United States Duane Carter 4† / 15† 1 12
25 Italy Alberto Ascari Ret Ret / Ret† Ret Ret 1 17
26 France Jean Behra DSQ Ret 6 Ret 10 Ret Ret Ret 17
United States Harry Schell 6 Ret 12 7 Ret Ret 0
United Kingdom Ken Wharton Ret 8 6 8 0
United States Fred Wacker Ret 6 0
United States Fred Agabashian 6 0
Italy Piero Taruffi 6 0
Spain Paco Godia 6 0
France Louis Rosier Ret Ret Ret 8 8 7 0
United Kingdom Peter Collins Ret 7 0
United States Don Freeland 7 0
Belgium Jacques Swaters Ret 8 Ret 0
Switzerland Toulo de Graffenried 8 Ret† 0
United States Paul Russo 8 0
United States Larry Crockett 9 0
United States Cal Niday 10 0
United Kingdom Bob Gerard 10 0
Argentina Jorge Daponte Ret 11 0
United States Art Cross 11 0
United Kingdom Don Beauman 11 0
United States Chuck Stevenson 12 0
United States Manny Ayulo 13 0
United Kingdom Leslie Marr 13 0
United States Bob Sweikert 14 0
United Kingdom Leslie Thorne 14 0
United Kingdom Horace Gould 15 0
United States Jimmy Jackson 15† 0
United States Ernie McCoy 16 0
United States Jimmy Reece 17 0
United States Ed Elisian 18 0
United States Frank Armi 19 0
Argentina Clemar Bucci Ret Ret Ret Ret 0
Belgium Paul Frère Ret Ret Ret 0
United Kingdom Roy Salvadori Ret Ret 0
France Jacques Pollet Ret Ret 0
France Roger Loyer Ret 0
United States Sam Hanks Ret 0
United States Pat O'Connor Ret 0
United States Rodger Ward Ret 0
United States Gene Hartley Ret 0
United States Andy Linden Ret 0
United States Johnny Thomson Ret 0
United States Jerry Hoyt Ret 0
United States Jimmy Daywalt Ret 0
United States Tony Bettenhausen Ret 0
United States Spider Webb Ret 0
United States Bill Homeier Ret 0
United States Johnnie Parsons Ret 0
United States Len Duncan Ret 0
United States Pat Flaherty Ret† 0
United States Jim Rathmann Ret† 0
United Kingdom Lance Macklin Ret 0
Belgium Georges Berger Ret 0
United Kingdom Bill Whitehouse Ret 0
United Kingdom John Riseley-Prichard Ret 0
United Kingdom Reg Parnell Ret 0
United Kingdom Peter Whitehead Ret 0
United Kingdom Eric Brandon Ret 0
United Kingdom Ron Flockhart Ret† 0
West Germany Hermann Lang Ret 0
West Germany Theo Helfrich Ret 0
Switzerland Ottorino Volonterio Ret† 0
United Kingdom Alan Brown DNS 0
United Kingdom Rodney Nuckey DNS 0
Pos. Driver ARG
Argentina
500
United States
BEL
Belgium
FRA
France
GBR
United Kingdom
GER
West Germany
SUI
Switzerland
ITA
Italy
ESP
Spain
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)

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 Name Circuit Date Winning driver Constructor Report
Italy IV Gran Premio di Siracusa Syracuse 11 April Italy Nino Farina Italy Ferrari Report
France XV Pau Grand Prix Pau 19 April France Jean Behra France Gordini Report
United Kingdom VI Lavant Cup Goodwood 19 April United Kingdom Reg Parnell Italy Ferrari Report
France III Grand Prix de Bordeaux Bordeaux 9 May Argentina José Froilán González Italy Ferrari Report
United Kingdom IV BRDC International Trophy Silverstone 15 May Argentina José Froilán González Italy Ferrari Report
Italy VII Gran Premio di Bari Bari 22 May Argentina José Froilán González Italy Ferrari Report
United Kingdom II Curtis Trophy Snetterton 5 June United Kingdom Roy Salvadori Italy Maserati Report
Italy XIII Gran Premio di Roma Castelfusano 6 June Argentina Onofre Marimón Italy Maserati Report
Belgium XXIV Grand Prix des Frontières Chimay 6 June Thailand B Bira Italy Maserati Report
United Kingdom I Cornwall MRC Formula 1 Race Davidstow 7 June United Kingdom John Riseley-Prichard United Kingdom Connaught-Francis Report
United Kingdom I BARC Formula 1 Race Goodwood 7 June United Kingdom Reg Parnell Italy Ferrari Report
United Kingdom II Crystal Palace Trophy Crystal Palace 19 June United Kingdom Reg Parnell Italy Ferrari Report
France IV Grand Prix de Rouen-les-Essarts Rouen 11 July France Maurice Trintignant Italy Ferrari Report
France III Grand Prix de Caen Caen 25 July France Maurice Trintignant Italy Ferrari Report
United Kingdom I August Cup Crystal Palace 2 August United Kingdom Reg Parnell Italy Ferrari Report
United Kingdom II Cornwall MRC Formula 1 Race Davidstow 2 August United Kingdom John Coombs United Kingdom Lotus-Connaught Report
United Kingdom I International Gold Cup Oulton Park 7 August United Kingdom Stirling Moss Italy Maserati Report
United Kingdom RedeX Trophy Snetterton 14 August United Kingdom Reg Parnell Italy Ferrari Report
Italy XXIII Circuito di Pescara Pescara 15 August Italy Luigi Musso Italy Maserati Report
East Germany V Sachsenring-Rennen Sachsenring 15 August East Germany Paul Thiel East Germany EMW Report
United Kingdom III Joe Fry Memorial Trophy Castle Combe 28 August United Kingdom Horace Gould United Kingdom Cooper-Bristol Report
France V Circuit de Cadours Cadours 12 September France Jean Behra France Gordini Report
West Germany I Grosser Preis von Berlin AVUS 19 September West Germany Karl Kling West Germany Mercedes Report
United Kingdom VII Goodwood Trophy Goodwood 25 September United Kingdom Stirling Moss Italy Maserati Report
United Kingdom I Daily Telegraph Trophy Aintree 2 October United Kingdom Stirling Moss Italy Maserati Report

Notes and references

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 World Championship of Drivers, 1974 FIA Yearbook, Grey section, pages 118 & 119
  2. Mike Lang, Grand Prix!, Volume 1 1950 to 1965, Haynes Publishing Group, 1981, page 7
  3. Mike Lang, Grand Prix!, Volume 1 1950 to 1965, Haynes Publishing Group, 1981, page 80
  4. Peter Higham, The Guinness Guide to International Motor Racing, 1995, page 6
  5. Peter Higham, The Guinness Guide to International Motor Racing, 1995, page 318
  6. forums.autosport.com/topic/63822-grand-prix-cancelled/