1952 French Grand Prix: Full Weekend Report & Highlights

Ferrari secured a commanding 1-2-3 finish at the 1952 French Grand Prix in Rouen, decisively outpacing the local favourites, Gordini.

Season: 1952 F1 World Championship
Race date: 6 July 1952
Circuit: Rouen-Les-Essarts, Grand-Couronne, France
Laps: 77
Circuit length: 5.100 km (3.169 miles)

Prior to the race, there was optimism that the enigmatic Jean Behra might replicate his winning performance from a non-championship race the previous weekend. However, Ferrari introduced a more powerful engine for its 500s in the world championship race.

Their three factory drivers, Alberto Ascari, Nino Farina, and Piero Taruffi, secured the front row at the start and swept the podium at the finish.

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Qualifying

POS.	NO.	DRIVER	TEAM	TIME
1	8	Alberto Ascari	Ferrari	2:14.800
2	10	Nino Farina	Ferrari	2:16.200
3	12	Piero Taruffi	Ferrari	2:17.100
4	4	Jean Behra	Gordini	2:19.300
5	2	Robert Manzon	Gordini	2:20.400
6	44	Maurice Trintignant	Gordini	2:21.600
8	22	Peter Collins	HWM Alta	2:21.900
9	14	Louis Rosier	Ferrari	2:27.000
10	24	Yves Giraud-Cabantous	HWM Alta	2:27.500
11	18	Harry Schell	Maserati Plate	2:29.000
12	42	Mike Hawthorn	Cooper Bristol	2:32.000
13	16	Toulo de Graffenried	Maserati Plate	2:28.600
14	20	Lance Macklin	HWM Alta	2:30.900
15	6	Prince Bira	Gordini	2:23.000
16	38	Franco Comotti	Ferrari	2:36.000
17	34	Rudi Fischer	Ferrari	2:34.600
18	28	Philippe Etancelin	Maserati	2:33.700
19	40	Piero Carini	Ferrari	2:37.700
20	32	Johnny Claes	Simca-Gordini	2:39.600

1952 French Grand Starting Grid

POS.	NO.	DRIVER	TEAM	TIME
1	8	Alberto Ascari	Ferrari	2:14.800
2	10	Nino Farina	Ferrari	2:16.200
3	12	Piero Taruffi	Ferrari	2:17.100
4	4	Jean Behra	Gordini	2:19.300
5	2	Robert Manzon	Gordini	2:20.400
6	44	Maurice Trintignant	Gordini	2:21.600
8	22	Peter Collins	HWM Alta	2:21.900
9	14	Louis Rosier	Ferrari	2:27.000
10	24	Yves Giraud-Cabantous	HWM Alta	2:27.500
11	18	Harry Schell	Maserati Plate	2:29.000
12	42	Mike Hawthorn	Cooper Bristol	2:32.000
13	16	Toulo de Graffenried	Maserati Plate	2:28.600
14	20	Lance Macklin	HWM Alta	2:30.900
15	6	Prince Bira	Gordini	2:23.000
16	38	Franco Comotti	Ferrari	2:36.000
17	34	Rudi Fischer	Ferrari	2:34.600
18	28	Philippe Etancelin	Maserati	2:33.700
19	40	Piero Carini	Ferrari	2:37.700
20	32	Johnny Claes	Simca-Gordini	2:39.600

1952 French Grand Race Results

Pos	No	Driver	Car	Laps	Time/retired	Pts
1	8	Alberto Ascari	Ferrari	77	3:00:00.000	9
2	10	Nino Farina	Ferrari	76	+1 lap	6
3	12	Piero Taruffi	Ferrari	75	+2 laps	4
4	2	Robert Manzon	Gordini	74	+3 laps	3
5	44	Maurice Trintignant	Gordini	72	+5 laps	2
6	22	Peter Collins	HWM Alta	70	+7 laps	0
7	4	Jean Behra	Gordini	70	+7 laps	0
8	28	Philippe Etancelin	Maserati	70	+7 laps	0
9	20	Lance Macklin	HWM Alta	70	+7 laps	0
10	24	Yves Giraud-Cabantous	HWM Alta	68	+9 laps	0
11	34	Rudi Fischer	Ferrari		SHC	0
11	34	Peter Hirt	Ferrari	66	+11 laps	0
12	38	Franco Comotti	Ferrari	63	+14 laps	0
NC	6	Prince Bira	Gordini	56	DNF	0
NC	42	Mike Hawthorn	Cooper Bristol	51	DNF	0
NC	16	Toulo de Graffenried	Maserati Plate		SHC	0
NC	16	Harry Schell	Maserati Plate	34	DNF	0
NC	26	Peter Whitehead	Alta	26	DNF	0
NC	14	Louis Rosier	Ferrari	17	DNF	0
NC	32	Johnny Claes	Simca-Gordini	15	DNF	0
NC	18	Harry Schell	Maserati Plate	7	DNF	0
NC	40	Piero Carini	Ferrari	2	DNF	0

1952 Post-Race F1 Drivers’ Championship Standings

Pos	Driver	Points
1	Alberto Ascari	18
2	Piero Taruffi	13
3	Nino Farina	12
4	Troy Ruttman	8
5	Robert Manzon	7

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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.