1958 Formula One season

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The 1958 Formula One season was the 12th season of Formula One motor racing. It featured the 1958 World Championship of Drivers,[1] which commenced on 19 January 1958 and ended on 19 October after eleven races. This was the first Formula One season in which a manufacturers title was awarded, the International Cup for F1 Manufacturers[2] being contested concurrently with the World Championship of Drivers except the Indianapolis 500 which did not count towards the Cup. Englishman Mike Hawthorn won the Drivers' title after a close battle with compatriot Stirling Moss and Vanwall won the inaugural Manufacturers award from Ferrari. Hawthorn retired from racing at the end of the season, only to die three months later after a road car accident. It was the first of only two occasions in Formula One history where a driver won the championship, having won only one race in the season, the other being Keke Rosberg in 1982.[3]

The season was one of the most important and tragic seasons in Formula One's history. Four drivers died in four different races during this season. Italian Luigi Musso in his works Ferrari during the French Grand Prix at Reims; Musso's teammate, Englishman Peter Collins during the German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring, Englishman Stuart Lewis-Evans in his Vanwall at the Moroccan Grand Prix in Casablanca, and in a non-Formula One race, American Pat O'Connor at the Indianapolis 500. Hawthorn retired from motor racing after his success but was killed in a road accident only a few months later. This season was also effectively the last year of Grand Prix racing where the field was dominated by front-engined cars; this had been the case since the early 1900s when car racing was happening in informal events across Europe and the United States. The 1959 and 1960 seasons would be transitional years, where grids at Grand Prix events would feature more and more mid-engined cars and fewer front-engined cars. The mid-engined cars, with their better road holding, increased driving comfort, lighter weight, and ease on tires and mechanical components (particularly brakes), were the way to go. Even an old-fashioned traditionalist like Enzo Ferrari had to concede that mid-engined cars were what his team needed to be competitive, and Ferrari did not have a race-ready mid-engined car until 1961.

Teams and drivers[edit]

The following teams and drivers competed in the 1958 FIA World Championship.

Entrant Constructor Chassis Engine Tyre Driver Rounds
Argentina Scuderia Sud Americana Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 P Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio 1
Argentina Carlos Menditeguy 1
Australia Ken Kavanagh Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 P France Jean Behra 1
Italy Luigi Taramazzo 2
Australia Ken Kavanagh 2, 5
Sweden Jo Bonnier Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 P United States Harry Schell 1
Sweden Jo Bonnier 2–3, 5, 7, 9
United States Phil Hill 6
Italy Giulio Cabianca 10
West Germany Hans Herrmann 10–11
Spain Francesco Godia Sales Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 P Spain Paco Godia 1–2, 5–6
United Kingdom H.H. Gould Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 D United Kingdom Horace Gould 1–3
United States Masten Gregory 3
United Kingdom R.R.C. Walker Racing Team Cooper-Climax T43
T45
Climax FPF 2.0 L4 C
D
United Kingdom Stirling Moss 1
France Maurice Trintignant 2–3, 7–11
United Kingdom Ron Flockhart 2
T43 Climax FPF 1.5 L4 D France François Picard 11
Italy Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari 246 Ferrari 143 2.4 V6 E Italy Luigi Musso 1–3, 5–6
United Kingdom Peter Collins 1–3, 5–8
United Kingdom Mike Hawthorn 1–3, 5–11
West Germany Wolfgang von Trips 2, 6–10
Belgium Olivier Gendebien 5, 10–11
United States Phil Hill 10–11
156 Ferrari D156 1.5 V6 E United States Phil Hill 8
United Kingdom Owen Racing Organisation BRM P25 BRM P25 2.5 L4 D France Jean Behra 2–3, 5–11
United States Harry Schell 2–3, 5–11
France Maurice Trintignant 6
Sweden Jo Bonnier 10–11
United Kingdom Ron Flockhart 11
United Kingdom Bernie C. Ecclestone Connaught-Alta B Alta GP 2.5 L4 A United Kingdom Bernie Ecclestone 2, 7
United States Bruce Kessler 2
United Kingdom Paul Emery 2
United Kingdom Jack Fairman 7
United Kingdom Ivor Bueb 7
United Kingdom Cooper Car Company Cooper-Climax T45
T44
Climax FPF 2.0 L4 D Australia Jack Brabham 2–3, 5–7, 9–10
United Kingdom Roy Salvadori 2–3, 5–11
United Kingdom Ian Burgess 7
United Kingdom Jack Fairman 11
T45 Climax FPF 1.5 L4 D New Zealand Bruce McLaren 8, 11
Australia Jack Brabham 8, 11
United Kingdom Team Lotus Lotus-Climax 12
16
Climax FPF 2.0 L4
Climax FPF 2.2 L4
D United Kingdom Cliff Allison 2–3, 5–8, 10–11
United Kingdom Graham Hill 2–3, 5–7, 9–11
United Kingdom Alan Stacey 7
16 Climax FPF 1.5 L4 D United Kingdom Graham Hill 8
United Kingdom Vandervell Products Vanwall VW 5 Vanwall 254 2.5 L4 D United Kingdom Stirling Moss 2–3, 5–11
United Kingdom Tony Brooks 2–3, 5–11
United Kingdom Stuart Lewis-Evans 2–3, 5–7, 9–11
Italy Maria Teresa de Filippis Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 P Italy Maria Teresa de Filippis 2, 5, 10
Italy Giorgio Scarlatti Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 P Italy Giorgio Scarlatti 2–3
Sweden Jo Bonnier 6
Italy Scuderia Centro Sud Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 P Italy Gerino Gerini 2, 6–7, 10–11
France Maurice Trintignant 5
United States Masten Gregory 5
West Germany Wolfgang Seidel 5, 11
United States Carroll Shelby 6–7, 10
United States Troy Ruttman 6, 8
Sweden Jo Bonnier 8
West Germany Hans Herrmann 8
United Kingdom Cliff Allison 9
Italy Maria Teresa de Filippis 9
Cooper-Climax T43 Climax FPF 1.5 L4 D West Germany Wolfgang Seidel 8
Italy OSCA Automobili OSCA F2 OSCA 372 1.5 L4 P Italy Giulio Cabianca 2
Italy Luigi Piotti 2
Monaco André Testut Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 P Monaco André Testut 2
Monaco Louis Chiron 2
Netherlands Ecurie Maarsbergen Porsche RSK Porsche 547/3 1.5 F4 D Netherlands Carel Godin de Beaufort 3
RS550 Porsche 547/3 1.5 F4 D Netherlands Carel Godin de Beaufort 8
Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 P Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio 6
United Kingdom Dick Gibson Cooper-Climax T43 Climax FPF 1.5 L4 D United Kingdom Dick Gibson 8
West Germany Dr Ing F. Porsche KG Porsche RSK Porsche 547/3 1.5 F4 ? West Germany Edgar Barth 8
United Kingdom High Efficiency Motors Cooper-Climax T43 Climax FPF 1.5 L4 D United Kingdom Ian Burgess 8
Belgium Ecurie Eperon d'Or Cooper-Climax T43 Climax FPF 1.5 L4 D Belgium Christian Goethals 8
United Kingdom Ecurie Demi Litre Lotus-Climax 12 Climax FPF 1.5 L4 D United Kingdom Ivor Bueb 8
United Kingdom J.B. Naylor Cooper-Climax T45 Climax FPF 1.5 L4 D United Kingdom Brian Naylor 8
United Kingdom Tony Marsh Cooper-Climax T45 Climax FPF 1.5 L4 D United Kingdom Tony Marsh 8
United States Temple Buell Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 D United States Carroll Shelby 9–10
United States Masten Gregory 10–11
France André Guelfi Cooper-Climax T45 Climax FPF 1.5 L4 D France André Guelfi 11
United Kingdom British Racing Partnership Cooper-Climax T45 Climax FPF 1.5 L4 D United Kingdom Tom Bridger 11
Morocco Robert La Caze Cooper-Climax T45 Climax FPF 1.5 L4 D Morocco Robert La Caze 11
  • The above list does not include drivers who only contested the Indianapolis 500.
  • Pink background denotes Formula Two cars at the German and Moroccan Grands Prix

Calendar[edit]

Round Grand Prix Circuit Date
1 Argentina Argentine Grand Prix Autódromo Oscar Alfredo Gálvez, Buenos Aires 19 January
2 Monaco Monaco Grand Prix Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo 18 May
3 Netherlands Dutch Grand Prix Circuit Zandvoort, Zandvoort 26 May
4 United States Indianapolis 500 Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway 30 May[a]
5 Belgium Belgian Grand Prix Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot 15 June
6 France French Grand Prix Reims-Gueux, Gueux 6 July
7 United Kingdom British Grand Prix Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone 19 July
8 West Germany German Grand Prix Nürburgring, Nürburg 3 August
9 Portugal Portuguese Grand Prix Circuito da Boavista, Porto 24 August
10 Italy Italian Grand Prix Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza 7 September
11 Morocco Moroccan Grand Prix Ain-Diab Circuit, Casablanca 19 October

Calendar changes[edit]

The Dutch Grand Prix returned to the calendar after being cancelled in 1956 and 1957 due to the Suez Crisis.

The Belgian Grand Prix returned to the calendar after being cancelled in 1957 due to the Suez Crisis.

The French Grand Prix was moved from Rouen-Les-Essarts to Reims-Gueux for a year.

The British Grand Prix was moved from Aintree Motor Racing Circuit to Silverstone Circuit, in keeping with the event-sharing arrangement between the two circuits.

The Portuguese Grand Prix hosted its first World Championship Grand Prix in 1958, the race was held at the Circuito da Boavista on 24 August.

The Moroccan Grand Prix hosted its first World Championship Grand Prix in 1958, the race was held at the Ain-Diab Circuit on 19 October.

The Pescara Grand Prix was dropped from the calendar, it was added as a replacement race in 1957 as the Belgian, Dutch and Spanish Grands Prix were cancelled due to the Suez Crisis.

Season summary[edit]

Mike Hawthorn won the 1958 World Championship of Drivers, driving a Ferrari 246 F1
Stirling Moss, driving for Vanwall finished runner up by a single point behind Hawthorn
Vanwall won the International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers
Ferrari placed second with the Ferrari 246 F1

Although the engine formula remained the same, minimum race lengths were reduced to 300 kilometres (190 mi) or two hours (whichever came first), and the use of commercial petrol became compulsory in place of specialized alcohol-based racing fuels.[4] The International Cup for F1 Manufacturers was awarded for the first time, but Ferrari's Mike Hawthorn won the Drivers' Championship from Stirling Moss, despite the latter having won four of the ten grand prix to Hawthorn's one.

Rear-engined Cooper-Climaxes, entered by the private owner Rob Walker, won two early-season races through Moss and Maurice Trintignant.

Following the Portuguese Grand Prix, Hawthorn faced a penalty, but Moss sportingly spoke up for him, and the points that Hawthorn was able to keep subsequently enabled him to edge ahead of Moss for the title.[5]

Moss's teammate at Vanwall, Tony Brooks, also won three races. His success in the Italian race, overtaking Hawthorn after Moss had retired, ensured the title went to the final round in Morocco. Moss needed to win, with a fastest lap and Hawthorn third or lower to win the title. With Moss leading, Brooks and teammate Stuart Lewis-Evans attempted to hold Hawthorn in third. However, both their engines failed – Lewis-Evans's tragically resulting in severe burns from which he did not recover. Hawthorn finished second to win his first title by a single point. Vanwall won the inaugural Constructors' competition.

Hawthorn's death early in 1959 compounded a tragic season for Formula One, with four drivers killed or fatally injured on the track. Luigi Musso died in the French Grand Prix, Peter Collins a month later in the German Grand Prix – just two weeks after winning his home race, Lewis-Evans died in hospital following his fire in Morocco, and Pat O'Connor died at the Indianapolis 500 (which, at the time, was a round of the World Championship).

Maria Teresa de Filippis became the first woman to drive in a race counting towards the World Championship of Drivers. Reigning five-time World Champion Juan Manuel Fangio, the dominant driver of the 1950s and one of the greatest of all time, competed in only two races as a privateer, retiring after the French Grand Prix.

Results and standings[edit]

Grands Prix[edit]

Round Grand Prix Pole position Fastest lap Winning driver Winning constructor Tyre Report
1 Argentina Argentine Grand Prix Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio United Kingdom Stirling Moss United Kingdom Cooper-Climax C Report
2 Monaco Monaco Grand Prix United Kingdom Tony Brooks United Kingdom Mike Hawthorn France Maurice Trintignant United Kingdom Cooper-Climax D Report
3 Netherlands Dutch Grand Prix United Kingdom Stuart Lewis-Evans United Kingdom Stirling Moss United Kingdom Stirling Moss United Kingdom Vanwall D Report
4 United States Indianapolis 500 United States Dick Rathmann United States Tony Bettenhausen United States Jimmy Bryan United States Epperly-Offenhauser F Report
5 Belgium Belgian Grand Prix United Kingdom Mike Hawthorn United Kingdom Mike Hawthorn United Kingdom Tony Brooks United Kingdom Vanwall D Report
6 France French Grand Prix United Kingdom Mike Hawthorn United Kingdom Mike Hawthorn United Kingdom Mike Hawthorn Italy Ferrari E Report
7 United Kingdom British Grand Prix United Kingdom Stirling Moss United Kingdom Mike Hawthorn United Kingdom Peter Collins Italy Ferrari E Report
8 West Germany German Grand Prix United Kingdom Mike Hawthorn United Kingdom Stirling Moss United Kingdom Tony Brooks United Kingdom Vanwall D Report
9 Portugal Portuguese Grand Prix United Kingdom Stirling Moss United Kingdom Mike Hawthorn United Kingdom Stirling Moss United Kingdom Vanwall D Report
10 Italy Italian Grand Prix United Kingdom Stirling Moss United States Phil Hill United Kingdom Tony Brooks United Kingdom Vanwall D Report
11 Morocco Moroccan Grand Prix United Kingdom Mike Hawthorn United Kingdom Stirling Moss United Kingdom Stirling Moss United Kingdom Vanwall D Report

World Drivers' Championship standings[edit]

Points were awarded to the first five finishers at each race on an 8–6–4–3–2 basis. An additional point was awarded to the driver setting the fastest race lap. The best six results from the eleven races were retained.

Pos. Driver ARG
Argentina
MON
Monaco
NED
Netherlands
500
United States
BEL
Belgium
FRA
France
GBR
United Kingdom
GER
West Germany
POR
Portugal
ITA
Italy
MOR
Morocco
Pts.[6]
1 United Kingdom Mike Hawthorn (3) (Ret) (5) 2 1 2 Ret 2 2 2 42 (49)
2 United Kingdom Stirling Moss 1 Ret 1 Ret 2 Ret Ret 1 Ret 1 41
3 United Kingdom Tony Brooks Ret Ret 1 Ret 7 1 Ret 1 Ret 24
4 United Kingdom Roy Salvadori Ret 4 8 11 3 2 9 5 7 15
5 United Kingdom Peter Collins Ret 3 Ret Ret 5 1 Ret 14
= United States Harry Schell 6 5 2 5 Ret 5 Ret 6 Ret 5 14
7 France Maurice Trintignant 1 9 7 Ret 8 3 8 Ret Ret 12
= Italy Luigi Musso 2 2 7 Ret Ret 12
9 United Kingdom Stuart Lewis-Evans Ret Ret 3 Ret 4 3 Ret Ret 11
10 United States Phil Hill 7 91 3 3 9
= France Jean Behra 5 Ret 3 Ret Ret Ret Ret 4 Ret Ret 9
= West Germany Wolfgang von Trips Ret 3 Ret 4 5 Ret 9
13 United States Jimmy Bryan 1 8
14 Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio 4 DNQ 4 7
15 United States George Amick 2 6
16 United States Johnny Boyd 3 4
= United States Tony Bettenhausen 4 4
18 Australia Jack Brabham 4 8 Ret 6 6 Ret1 7 Ret 111 3
= United Kingdom Cliff Allison 6 6 4 Ret Ret 10 Ret 7 10 3
= Sweden Jo Bonnier Ret 10 9 8 Ret Ret Ret Ret 4 3
21 United States Jim Rathmann 5 2
United States Masten Gregory Ret Ret 4~ 6 0
United States Carroll Shelby Ret 9 Ret 4~ /
Ret
0
United Kingdom Graham Hill Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret1 Ret 6 16 0
Belgium Olivier Gendebien 6 Ret Ret 0
United States Jimmy Reece 6 0
Argentina Carlos Menditeguy 7 0
United States Don Freeland 7 0
Spain Paco Godia 8 DNQ Ret Ret 0
United Kingdom Jack Fairman Ret 8 0
United States Jud Larson 8 0
Italy Gerino Gerini DNQ 9 Ret Ret 12 0
West Germany Hans Herrmann Ret Ret 9 0
United Kingdom Horace Gould 9 DNQ DNS 0
United States Eddie Johnson 9 0
Italy Maria Teresa de Filippis DNQ 10 Ret Ret 0
United States Troy Ruttman DNQ 10 DNS 0
United States Bill Cheesbourg 10 0
Netherlands Carel Godin de Beaufort 11 Ret1 0
United States Al Keller 11 0
United States Johnnie Parsons 12 0
United States Johnnie Tolan 13 0
United Kingdom Ian Burgess Ret 71 0
United Kingdom Ivor Bueb Ret 111 0
West Germany Wolfgang Seidel Ret Ret1 Ret 0
Italy Giorgio Scarlatti Ret Ret 0
Italy Giulio Cabianca DNQ Ret 0
United Kingdom Ron Flockhart DNQ Ret 0
United States Bob Christie Ret 0
United States Dempsey Wilson Ret 0
United States A. J. Foyt Ret 0
United States Paul Russo Ret 0
United States Shorty Templeman Ret 0
United States Rodger Ward Ret 0
United States Billy Garrett Ret 0
United States Eddie Sachs Ret 0
United States Johnny Thomson Ret 0
United States Chuck Weyant Ret 0
United States Jack Turner Ret 0
United States Bob Veith Ret 0
United States Dick Rathmann Ret 0
United States Ed Elisian Ret 0
United States Pat O'Connor Ret 0
United States Paul Goldsmith Ret 0
United States Jerry Unser Ret 0
United States Len Sutton Ret 0
United States Art Bisch Ret 0
United Kingdom Alan Stacey Ret 0
United States Mike Magill DSQ 0
Australia Ken Kavanagh DNQ DNS 0
United States Bruce Kessler DNQ 0
United Kingdom Paul Emery DNQ 0
Monaco André Testut DNQ 0
Italy Luigi Piotti DNQ 0
United Kingdom Bernie Ecclestone DNQ DNP 0
Italy Luigi Taramazzo DNQ 0
Monaco Louis Chiron DNQ 0
Drivers ineligible for Formula One points because they drove with Formula Two cars
New Zealand Bruce McLaren 5 13
West Germany Edgar Barth 6
United Kingdom Tony Marsh 8
Morocco Robert La Caze 14
France André Guelfi 15
Belgium Christian Goethals Ret
United Kingdom Dick Gibson Ret
United Kingdom Brian Naylor Ret
France François Picard Ret
United Kingdom Tom Bridger Ret
Pos. Driver ARG
Argentina
MON
Monaco
NED
Netherlands
500
United States
BEL
Belgium
FRA
France
GBR
United Kingdom
GER
West Germany
POR
Portugal
ITA
Italy
MOR
Morocco
Pts.
Key
Colour Result
Gold Winner
Silver Second place
Bronze Third place
Green Other points position
Blue Other classified position
Not classified, finished (NC)
Purple Not classified, retired (Ret)
Red Did not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
Black Disqualified (DSQ)
White Did not start (DNS)
Race cancelled (C)
Blank Did not practice (DNP)
Excluded (EX)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Withdrawn (WD)
Did not enter (cell empty)
Text formatting Meaning
Bold Pole position
Italics Fastest lap
  • Italics indicates the fastest lap (One point awarded – point shared equally between drivers sharing fastest lap)
  • Bold indicates pole position
  • ~ No points awarded for shared drive
  • 1 – Ineligible for Formula One points, because he drove with a Formula Two car.

International Cup for F1 Manufacturers standings[edit]

The 1958 International Cup for F1 Manufacturers was contested over the same series of races as the World Championship of Drivers, except the Indianapolis 500, which counted only towards the Drivers' title. Points were awarded to the first five finishers at each race on an 8–6–4–3–2 basis. However, a manufacturer only received points for its highest-placed car, and only the best six results from the ten races were retained.

Pos. Manufacturer ARG
Argentina
MON
Monaco
NED
Netherlands
BEL
Belgium
FRA
France
GBR
United Kingdom
GER
West Germany
POR
Portugal
ITA
Italy
MOR
Morocco
Pts.[6]
1 United Kingdom Vanwall Ret 1 1 (2) (4) 1 1 1 1 48 (57)
2 Italy Ferrari 2 2 (5) 2 1 1 (4) 2 (2) (2) 40 (57)
3 United Kingdom Cooper-Climax 1 1 4 8 6 3 2 7 5 7 31
4 United Kingdom BRM 5 2 5 Ret 5 Ret 4 Ret 4 18
5 Italy Maserati 4 Ret 10 7 4 9 Ret Ret 4† 6 6
6 United Kingdom Lotus-Climax 6 6 4 Ret Ret 10 Ret 6 10 3
West Germany Porsche 11 0
United Kingdom Connaught-Alta DNQ Ret 0
Italy OSCA WD DNQ 0
Pos. Manufacturer ARG
Argentina
MON
Monaco
NED
Netherlands
BEL
Belgium
FRA
France
GBR
United Kingdom
GER
West Germany
POR
Portugal
ITA
Italy
MOR
Morocco
Pts.
  • Bold results counted to championship totals.

† No points were awarded for a shared drive.

Non-championship races[edit]

The following races were contested by Formula One cars but did not count towards the World Championship of Drivers or the International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers.

Race name Circuit Date Winning driver Constructor Report
United Kingdom VI Glover Trophy Goodwood 7 April United Kingdom Mike Hawthorn Italy Ferrari Report
Italy VIII Gran Premio di Siracusa Syracuse 13 April Italy Luigi Musso Italy Ferrari Report
United Kingdom XIII BARC Aintree 200 Aintree 19 April United Kingdom Stirling Moss United Kingdom Cooper-Climax Report
United Kingdom X BRDC International Trophy Silverstone 3 May United Kingdom Peter Collins Italy Ferrari Report
France VI Grand Prix de Caen Caen 20 July United Kingdom Stirling Moss United Kingdom Cooper-Climax Report

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ The Indianapolis 500 also counted towards the 1958 USAC Championship Car season, and was run for USAC Championship cars, but did not count towards the International Cup for F1 Manufacturers.

References[edit]

  1. ^ FIA Yearbook, 1974, Grey section, page 118
  2. ^ FIA Yearbook, 1974, Grey section, page 120
  3. ^ "Stats F1- World Championship Titles-Wins". www.statsf1.com. Stats F1. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  4. ^ Lang, Mike (1981). Grand Prix! Vol 1. Haynes Publishing Group. p. 123. ISBN 0-85429-276-4.
  5. ^ "DRIVERS: SIR STIRLING MOSS". grandprix.com. Inside F1. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
  6. ^ a b Only the best 6 results counted towards the championship. Numbers without parentheses are championship points; numbers in parentheses are total points scored.

External links[edit]