1956 Formula One season

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The 1956 Formula One season was the tenth season of FIA's Formula One motor racing. It featured the seventh World Championship of Drivers,[1] and numerous non-championship races. The championship series commenced on 22 January 1956 and ended on 2 September 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 championship race.

Teams and drivers[edit]

Juan Manuel Fangio (pictured in 1957) won his fourth Drivers' Championship, driving for Ferrari
Pat Flaherty won the Indianapolis 500 driving the John Zink Special and placed fifth in the championship

The following teams and drivers competed in the 1956 FIA World Championship.

Entrant Constructor Chassis Engine Tyre Driver Rounds
Italy Officine Alfieri Maserati Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 P United Kingdom Stirling Moss 1–2, 4–8
France Jean Behra 1–2, 4–8
Argentina Carlos Menditeguy 1
Italy Luigi Piotti 1
Brazil Chico Landi 1
Italy Gerino Gerini 1
Argentina José Froilán González 1
Italy Cesare Perdisa 2, 4–7
Spain Paco Godia 4–8
United Kingdom Mike Hawthorn 4
Italy Piero Taruffi 5
Italy Umberto Maglioli 7–8
Italy Luigi Villoresi 8
Sweden Jo Bonnier 8
United Kingdom Owen Racing Organisation Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 P
D
United Kingdom Mike Hawthorn 1
BRM P25 BRM P25 2.5 L4 2, 6
United Kingdom Tony Brooks 2, 6
United Kingdom Ron Flockhart 6
Uruguay Alberto Uria Maserati A6GCM Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 P Uruguay Alberto Uria 1
Uruguay Óscar González 1
Italy Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari D50
555
Ferrari DS50 2.5 V8
Ferrari 555 2.5 L4
E
P
Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio 1–2, 4–8
Italy Eugenio Castellotti 1–2, 4–8
Italy Luigi Musso 1–2, 7–8
United Kingdom Peter Collins 1–2, 4–8
Belgium Olivier Gendebien 1, 5
Belgium Paul Frère 4
Belgium André Pilette 4
Spain Alfonso de Portago 5–8
West Germany Wolfgang von Trips 8
France Equipe Gordini Gordini T16
T32
Gordini 23 2.5 L6
Gordini 25 2.5 L8
E France Robert Manzon 2, 5–8
France Élie Bayol 2
Belgium André Pilette 2, 5, 7
Brazil Hermano da Silva Ramos 2, 5–6, 8
Belgium André Milhoux 7
France André Simon 8
France Ecurie Rosier Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 P France Louis Rosier 2, 4–7
United Kingdom Vandervell Products Vanwall VW 2 Vanwall 254 2.5 L4 P France Maurice Trintignant 2, 4, 6, 8
United States Harry Schell 2, 4–6, 8
United Kingdom Mike Hawthorn 5
United Kingdom Colin Chapman 5
Argentina José Froilán González 6
Italy Piero Taruffi 8
United Kingdom Gould's Garage (Bristol)
United Kingdom H.H. Gould
Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 D United Kingdom Horace Gould 2, 4, 6–7
Italy Giorgio Scarlatti Ferrari 500 Ferrari 500 2.0 L4 P Italy Giorgio Scarlatti 2
Italy Scuderia Centro Sud Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 P Monaco Louis Chiron 2
Italy Luigi Villoresi 4
United States Harry Schell 7
Switzerland Toulo de Graffenried 8
Ferrari 500 Ferrari 500 2.0 L4 Italy Giorgio Scarlatti 7
Italy Piero Scotti Connaught-Alta B Alta GP 2.5 L4 P Italy Piero Scotti 4
France Automobiles Bugatti Bugatti T251 Bugatti 2.5 L8 E France Maurice Trintignant 5
Italy Luigi Piotti Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 P Italy Luigi Villoresi 5–7
Italy Luigi Piotti 7–8
France André Simon Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 P France André Simon 5
Italy Scuderia Guastalla Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 P Italy Umberto Maglioli 6
Italy Gerino Gerini 8
United Kingdom Connaught Engineering Connaught-Alta B Alta GP 2.5 L4 P
A
United Kingdom Archie Scott-Brown 6, 8
United Kingdom Desmond Titterington 6
United Kingdom Jack Fairman 6, 8
United Kingdom Les Leston 8
United Kingdom Ron Flockhart 8
United Kingdom Bob Gerard Cooper-Bristol T23 Bristol BS1 2.0 L6 D United Kingdom Bob Gerard 6
United Kingdom Gilby Engineering Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 D United Kingdom Roy Salvadori 6–8
United Kingdom Bruce Halford Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 D United Kingdom Bruce Halford 6–8
Australia Jack Brabham Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 D Australia Jack Brabham 6
United Kingdom Emeryson Cars Emeryson-Alta 56 Alta GP 2.5 L4 D United Kingdom Paul Emery 6
Switzerland Ottorino Volonterio Maserati A6GCM Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 P Switzerland Ottorino Volonterio 7

The above list does not include competitors in the 1956 Indianapolis 500.

Calendar[edit]

Round Grand Prix Circuit Date
1 Argentina Argentine Grand Prix Autódromo Oscar Alfredo Gálvez, Buenos Aires 22 January
2 Monaco Monaco Grand Prix Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo 13 May
3 United States Indianapolis 500 Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway 30 May[a]
4 Belgium Belgian Grand Prix Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot 3 June
5 France French Grand Prix Reims-Gueux, Gueux 1 July
6 United Kingdom British Grand Prix Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone 14 July
7 West Germany German Grand Prix Nürburgring, Nürburg 5 August
8 Italy Italian Grand Prix Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza 2 September

Calendar changes[edit]

The French Grand Prix and the German Grand Prix returned to the calendar after being cancelled in 1955 due to the 1955 Le Mans disaster at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

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 Swiss Grand Prix was removed from the calendar after the Swiss Government banned motor racing as a result of the 1955 Le Mans disaster at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The Dutch Grand Prix was supposed to have been held on June 17 but was cancelled due to the Suez Crisis.[2]

The Spanish Grand Prix was supposed to return to the calendar after being cancelled in 1955 due to the 1955 Le Mans disaster at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It was supposed to have been held on October 28 but was cancelled due to the Suez Crisis.[3]

Season summary[edit]

Juan Manuel Fangio (circa 1952)

Fangio joined Ferrari after Mercedes-Benz, with whom he had won the 1954 and 1955 titles, 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 broke down. Collins and Fangio's teammate 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 the fastest lap. (Because a driver could only count their best five 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. In a remarkable act of sportsmanship, Collins 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.

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 Italy Luigi Musso
Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio
Italy Ferrari E Report
2 Monaco Monaco Grand Prix Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio United Kingdom Stirling Moss Italy Maserati P Report
3 United States Indianapolis 500 United States Pat Flaherty United States Paul Russo United States Pat Flaherty United States Watson-Offenhauser F Report
4 Belgium Belgian Grand Prix Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio United Kingdom Stirling Moss United Kingdom Peter Collins Italy Ferrari E Report
5 France French Grand Prix Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio United Kingdom Peter Collins Italy Ferrari E Report
6 United Kingdom British Grand Prix United Kingdom Stirling Moss United Kingdom Stirling Moss Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio Italy Ferrari E Report
7 West Germany German Grand Prix Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio Italy Ferrari E Report
8 Italy Italian Grand Prix Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio United Kingdom Stirling Moss United Kingdom Stirling Moss Italy Maserati P Report

World Championship of Drivers standings[edit]

Championship points were awarded at each race 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. Points for shared drives were divided equally between the drivers, regardless of who had driven more laps. Only the best five-round results were counted.

Pos. Driver ARG
Argentina
MON
Monaco
500
United States
BEL
Belgium
FRA
France
GBR
United Kingdom
GER
West Germany
ITA
Italy
Pts.
1 Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio 1† / Ret 2† / 4† Ret 4 1 1 (2)† / 8† 30 (33)
2 United Kingdom Stirling Moss Ret 1 3† / Ret 5† / Ret (Ret) 2 1 27 (28)
3 United Kingdom Peter Collins Ret 2† 1 1 2† / Ret Ret† / Ret 2† 25
4 France Jean Behra 2 3 7 3 3 3 Ret† / Ret 22
5 United States Pat Flaherty 1 8
6 Italy Eugenio Castellotti Ret 4† / Ret Ret 2 10† Ret† / Ret 8† / Ret 7.5
7 United States Sam Hanks 2 6
= Belgium Paul Frère 2 6
9 Spain Paco Godia Ret 7 8 4 4 6
10 United Kingdom Jack Fairman 4 5 5
11 Italy Luigi Musso 1† Ret Ret† Ret 4
= United Kingdom Mike Hawthorn 3 DNS DNS 10† Ret 4
= United Kingdom Ron Flockhart Ret 3 4
= United States Don Freeland 3 4
15 Spain Alfonso de Portago Ret 2† / 10† Ret† Ret 3
= Italy Cesare Perdisa 7 3† 5† 7 DNS 3
= United States Harry Schell Ret 4 10† / Ret Ret Ret Ret 3
= United States Johnnie Parsons 4 3
19 France Louis Rosier Ret 8 6 Ret 5 2
= Italy Luigi Villoresi 5 Ret 6 Ret Ret† 2
= Brazil Hermano da Silva Ramos 5 8 Ret Ret 2
= United Kingdom Horace Gould 8 Ret 5 Ret 2
= Belgium Olivier Gendebien 5 Ret 2
= United States Dick Rathmann 5 2
25 Italy Gerino Gerini 4† 10 1.5
= Brazil Chico Landi 4† 1.5
27 United States Paul Russo Ret 1
Belgium André Pilette 6† 6 11 DNS 0
Italy Luigi Piotti Ret DNS 6 0
United States Bob Sweikert 6 0
Uruguay Óscar González 6† 0
Uruguay Alberto Uria 6† 0
France Élie Bayol 6† 0
United States Bob Veith 7 0
Switzerland Toulo de Graffenried 7 0
United States Rodger Ward 8 0
France Robert Manzon Ret 9 9 Ret Ret 0
France André Simon Ret 9 0
United States Jimmy Reece 9 0
United States Cliff Griffith 10 0
United Kingdom Roy Salvadori Ret Ret 11 0
United States Gene Hartley 11 0
United Kingdom Bob Gerard 11 0
United States Fred Agabashian 12 0
United States Bob Christie 13 0
United States Al Keller 14 0
United States Eddie Johnson 15 0
United States Billy Garrett 16 0
United States Duke Dinsmore 17 0
United States Pat O'Connor 18 0
United States Jimmy Bryan 19 0
Switzerland Ottorino Volonterio NC 0
France Maurice Trintignant Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 0
Italy Umberto Maglioli Ret Ret Ret† 0
United Kingdom Bruce Halford Ret DSQ Ret 0
Argentina José Froilán González Ret Ret 0
Italy Piero Taruffi Ret Ret 0
United Kingdom Tony Brooks DNS Ret 0
Italy Giorgio Scarlatti DNQ Ret 0
Argentina Carlos Menditeguy Ret 0
United States Jim Rathmann Ret 0
United States Johnnie Tolan Ret 0
United States Tony Bettenhausen Ret 0
United States Jimmy Daywalt Ret 0
United States Jack Turner Ret 0
United States Keith Andrews Ret 0
United States Andy Linden Ret 0
United States Al Herman Ret 0
United States Ray Crawford Ret 0
United States Johnny Boyd Ret 0
United States Troy Ruttman Ret 0
United States Johnny Thomson Ret 0
Italy Piero Scotti Ret 0
United Kingdom Desmond Titterington Ret 0
United Kingdom Archie Scott-Brown Ret 0
United Kingdom Paul Emery Ret 0
Australia Jack Brabham Ret 0
Belgium André Milhoux Ret 0
United States Les Leston Ret 0
United States Ed Elisian Ret† 0
United States Eddie Russo Ret† 0
Sweden Jo Bonnier Ret† 0
Monaco Louis Chiron DNS 0
United Kingdom Colin Chapman DNS 0
West Germany Wolfgang von Trips DNS 0
Pos. Driver ARG
Argentina
MON
Monaco
500
United States
BEL
Belgium
FRA
France
GBR
United Kingdom
GER
West Germany
ITA
Italy
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 indicate the fastest lap (One point awarded – point shared equally between drivers sharing fastest lap)
  • Bold indicates pole position
  • † Position shared between more drivers of the same car
  • Only the best five results counted towards the championship. Numbers without parentheses are championship points; numbers in parentheses are total points scored.

Non-championship races[edit]

The following non-championship races for Formula One cars were also held in 1956:

Race name Circuit Date Winning driver Constructor Report
United Kingdom IV Glover Trophy Goodwood 2 April United Kingdom Stirling Moss Italy Maserati Report
Italy VI Gran Premio di Siracusa Syracuse 15 April Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio Italy Lancia-Ferrari Report
United Kingdom XI BARC Aintree 200 Aintree 21 April United Kingdom Stirling Moss Italy Maserati Report
United Kingdom VIII BRDC International Trophy Silverstone 5 May United Kingdom Stirling Moss United Kingdom Vanwall Report
Italy IX Gran Premio di Napoli Posillipo 6 May France Robert Manzon France Gordini Report
United Kingdom I Aintree 100 Aintree 24 June United Kingdom Horace Gould Italy Maserati Report
United Kingdom I Vanwall Trophy Snetterton 22 July United Kingdom Roy Salvadori Italy Maserati Report
France IV Grand Prix de Caen Caen 26 August United States Harry Schell Italy Maserati Report
United Kingdom I BRSCC Formula 1 Race Brands Hatch 14 October United Kingdom Archie Scott Brown United Kingdom Connaught-Alta Report

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ The Indianapolis 500 also counted towards the 1956 USAC Championship Car season, and was run for USAC Championship cars, but was not run to Formula One regulations.

References[edit]

  1. ^ FIA Yearbook, 1974, page 119
  2. ^ "Grand Prix Cancelled". Autosport. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  3. ^ "Grand Prix Cancelled". Autosport. Retrieved 23 January 2016.

External links[edit]