1951 Spanish Grand Prix: Full Weekend Report & Highlights

Juan Manuel Fangio clinched his first of five world championships with a controlled victory at the 1951 Spanish Grand Prix. His team, Alfa Romeo, employed clever tactics, installing dummy fuel tanks to mislead Ferrari into altering their pit-stop strategy.

While Fangio’s win was celebrated, his joy was short-lived—later that evening, he learned that Alfa Romeo faced financial troubles and was withdrawing from racing, forcing Fangio to end his partnership with the team.

Argentinian Jose Froilan Gonzalez took second for Ferrari in the race, with Nino Farina, Fangio’s teammate, completing the podium in third place.

Qualifying

Pos	No	Driver	Car	Time
1	2	Alberto Ascari	Ferrari	2:10.590
2	22	Juan Manuel Fangio	Alfa Romeo	2:12.270
3	6	Jose Froilan Gonzalez	Talbot-Lago	2:14.010
4	20	Nino Farina	Alfa Romeo	2:14.940
5	4	Luigi Villoresi	Ferrari	2:16.380
6	26	Toulo de Graffenried	Alfa Romeo	2:16.400
7	8	Piero Taruffi	Ferrari	2:16.800
8	24	Felice Bonetto	Alfa Romeo	2:21.800
9	14	Robert Manzon	Simca-Gordini	2:23.810
10	16	Andre Simon	Simca-Gordini	2:24.600
11	12	Maurice Trintignant	Simca-Gordini	2:25.250
12	30	Louis Chiron	Maserati	2:30.320
13	34	Philippe Etancelin	Talbot-Lago	2:31.000
14	32	Yves Giraud-Cabantous	Talbot-Lago	2:32.180
15	36	Johnny Claes	Talbot-Lago	2:34.460
16	38	Georges Grignard	Talbot-Lago	2:36.580
17	44	Paco Godia	Maserati	2:37.450
18	46	Juan Jover	Maserati	2:41.990
19	18	Prince Bira	Maserati OSCA	2:45.990
20	28	Louis Rosier	Talbot-Lago	2:46.780

1951 Spanish Grand Starting Grid

Pos	No	Driver	Car	Time
1	2	Alberto Ascari	Ferrari	2:10.590
2	22	Juan Manuel Fangio	Alfa Romeo	2:12.270
3	6	Jose Froilan Gonzalez	Talbot-Lago	2:14.010
4	20	Nino Farina	Alfa Romeo	2:14.940
5	4	Luigi Villoresi	Ferrari	2:16.380
6	26	Toulo de Graffenried	Alfa Romeo	2:16.400
7	8	Piero Taruffi	Ferrari	2:16.800
8	24	Felice Bonetto	Alfa Romeo	2:21.800
9	14	Robert Manzon	Simca-Gordini	2:23.810
10	16	Andre Simon	Simca-Gordini	2:24.600
11	12	Maurice Trintignant	Simca-Gordini	2:25.250
12	30	Louis Chiron	Maserati	2:30.320
13	34	Philippe Etancelin	Talbot-Lago	2:31.000
14	32	Yves Giraud-Cabantous	Talbot-Lago	2:32.180
15	36	Johnny Claes	Talbot-Lago	2:34.460
16	38	Georges Grignard	Talbot-Lago	2:36.580
17	44	Paco Godia	Maserati	2:37.450
18	46	Juan Jover	Maserati	2:41.990
19	18	Prince Bira	Maserati OSCA	2:45.990
20	28	Louis Rosier	Talbot-Lago	2:46.780

1951 Spanish Grand Race Results

Pos	No	Driver	Car	Laps	Time/retired	Pts
1	22	Juan Manuel Fangio	Alfa Romeo	70	2:46:54.100	9
2	6	Jose Froilan Gonzalez	Ferrari	70	+54.280s	6
3	20	Nino Farina	Alfa Romeo	70	+105.540s	4
4	2	Alberto Ascari	Ferrari	68	+2 laps	3
5	24	Felice Bonetto	Alfa Romeo	68	+2 laps	2
6	26	Toulo de Graffenried	Alfa Romeo	66	+4 laps	0
7	28	Louis Rosier	Talbot-Lago	64	+6 laps	0
8	34	Philippe Etancelin	Talbot-Lago	63	+7 laps	0
9	14	Robert Manzon	Simca-Gordini	63	+7 laps	0
10	44	Paco Godia	Maserati Milano	60	+10 laps	0
NC	4	Luigi Villoresi	Ferrari	48	DNF	0
NC	16	Andre Simon	Simca-Gordini	48	DNF	0
NC	36	Johnny Claes	Talbot-Lago	37	DNF	0
NC	8	Piero Taruffi	Ferrari	30	DNF	0
NC	12	Maurice Trintignant	Simca-Gordini	25	DNF	0
NC	38	Georges Grignard	Talbot-Lago	23	DNF	0
NC	32	Yves Giraud-Cabantous	Talbot-Lago	7	DNF	0
NC	30	Louis Chiron	Talbot-Lago	4	DNF	0
NC	18	Prince Bira	Maserati OSCA	1	DNF	0

1951 Post-Race F1 Drivers’ Championship Standings

Pos	Driver	Nationality	Car	PTS
1	Juan Manuel Fangio	ARG	Alfa Romeo	31
2	Alberto Ascari	ITA	Ferrari	25
3	Jose Froilan Gonzalez	ARG	Ferrari	24
4	Giuseppe Farina	ITA	Alfa Romeo	19
5	Luigi Villoresi	ITA	Ferrari	15
6	Piero Taruffi	ITA	Ferrari	10
7	Lee Wallard	USA	Kurtis Kraft Offenhauser	9
8	Felice Bonetto	ITA	Alfa Romeo	7
9	Mike Nazaruk	USA	Kurtis Kraft Offenhauser	6
10	Reg Parnell	GBR	BRM	5
11	Luigi Fagioli	ITA	Alfa Romeo	4
12	Consalvo Sanesi	ITA	Alfa Romeo	3
12	Andy Linden	USA	Sherman Offenhauser	3
12	Louis Rosier	FRA		3
15	Toulo de Graffenried	SUI	Alfa Romeo	2
15	Manny Ayulo	USA	Kurtis Kraft Offenhauser	2
15	Bobby Ball	USA	Schroeder Offenhauser	2
15	Jack McGrath	USA	Kurtis Kraft Offenhauser	2
15	Yves Giraud Cabantous	FRA	Talbot-Lago	2

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Ben is a staff writer specialising in F1 from the 1990s to the modern era. Ben has been following Formula 1 since 1986 and is an avid researcher who loves understanding the technology that makes it one of the most exciting motorsport on the planet. He listens to podcasts about F1 on a daily basis, and enjoys reading books from the inspirational Adrian Newey to former F1 drivers.