1953 Dutch Grand Prix: Full Weekend Report & Highlights

Alberto Ascari clinched victory at the 1953 Dutch Grand Prix from pole position. Despite the circuit being resurfaced and experiencing significant degradation, anticipation was high due to the close practice times of the leading six drivers. However, the race unfolded differently than anticipated.

Season: 1953 F1 World Championship
Race date: 7 June 1953
Circuit: Circuit Zandvoort
Laps: 90
Circuit length: 4.193 km (2.605 miles)

Ascari, starting from pole, seized the lead and maintained it throughout, securing a commanding win. Luigi Villoresi briefly held second place early in the race but later exchanged positions with Nino Farina multiple times before retiring three-quarters of the way through due to a throttle issue, with Farina claiming second for a Ferrari 1-2 finish.

Jose Froilan Gonzalez showed promise but was forced to retire due to suspension troubles, only to take over Felice Bonetto’s car and stage a remarkable comeback to secure a joint third place ahead of Mike Hawthorn.

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Qualifying

POS.	NO.	DRIVER	TEAM	TIME
1	2	Alberto Ascari	Ferrari	1:51.100
2	12	Juan Manuel Fangio	Maserati	1:52.700
3	6	Nino Farina	Ferrari	1:53.000
4	4	Luigi Villoresi	Ferrari	1:53.700
5	14	Jose Froilan Gonzalez	Maserati	1:54.100
6	8	Mike Hawthorn	Ferrari	1:54.900
7	18	Toulo de Graffenried	Maserati	1:58.700
8	10	Louis Rosier	Ferrari	1:59.500
9	34	Stirling Moss	Connaught Lea Francis	2:00.000
10	20	Harry Schell	Gordini	2:00.100
11	26	Roy Salvadori	Connaught Lea Francis	2:00.500
12	24	Maurice Trintignant	Gordini	2:01.200
13	16	Felice Bonetto	Maserati	2:01.500
14	28	Kenneth McAlpine	Connaught Lea Francis	2:01.900
15	38	Lance Macklin	HWM Alta	2:02.400
16	36	Peter Collins	HWM Alta	2:03.100
17	30	Johnny Claes	Connaught Lea Francis	2:03.900
18	32	Ken Wharton	Cooper Bristol	2:06.400
19	22	Roberto Mieres	Gordini	2:08.500

1953 Dutch Grand Starting Grid

POS.	NO.	DRIVER	TEAM	TIME
1	2	Alberto Ascari	Ferrari	1:51.100
2	12	Juan Manuel Fangio	Maserati	1:52.700
3	6	Nino Farina	Ferrari	1:53.000
4	4	Luigi Villoresi	Ferrari	1:53.700
5	14	Jose Froilan Gonzalez	Maserati	1:54.100
6	8	Mike Hawthorn	Ferrari	1:54.900
7	18	Toulo de Graffenried	Maserati	1:58.700
8	10	Louis Rosier	Ferrari	1:59.500
9	34	Stirling Moss	Connaught Lea Francis	2:00.000
10	20	Harry Schell	Gordini	2:00.100
11	26	Roy Salvadori	Connaught Lea Francis	2:00.500
12	24	Maurice Trintignant	Gordini	2:01.200
13	16	Felice Bonetto	Maserati	2:01.500
14	28	Kenneth McAlpine	Connaught Lea Francis	2:01.900
15	38	Lance Macklin	HWM Alta	2:02.400
16	36	Peter Collins	HWM Alta	2:03.100
17	30	Johnny Claes	Connaught Lea Francis	2:03.900
18	32	Ken Wharton	Cooper Bristol	2:06.400
19	22	Roberto Mieres	Gordini	2:08.500

1953 Dutch Grand Race Results

Pos	No	Driver	Car	Laps	Time/retired	Pts
1	2	Alberto Ascari	Ferrari	90	2:53:35.800	8
2	6	Nino Farina	Ferrari	90	+10.400s	6
3	16	Felice Bonetto	Maserati		SHC	2
3	16	Jose Froilan Gonzalez	Maserati	89	+1 lap	2
4	8	Mike Hawthorn	Ferrari	89	+1 lap	3
5	18	Toulo de Graffenried	Maserati	88	+2 laps	2
6	24	Maurice Trintignant	Gordini	87	+3 laps	0
7	10	Louis Rosier	Ferrari	86	+4 laps	0
8	36	Peter Collins	HWM Alta	84	+6 laps	0
9	34	Stirling Moss	Connaught Lea Francis	83	+7 laps	0
NC	4	Luigi Villoresi	Ferrari	67	DNF	1
NC	28	Kenneth McAlpine	Connaught Lea Francis	63	DNF	0
NC	20	Harry Schell	Gordini	59	DNF	0
NC	30	Johnny Claes	Connaught Lea Francis	52	DNC	0
NC	12	Juan Manuel Fangio	Maserati	36	DNF	0
NC	22	Roberto Mieres	Gordini	28	DNF	0
NC	14	Jose Froilan Gonzalez	Maserati	22	DNF	0
NC	32	Ken Wharton	Cooper Bristol	19	DNF	0
NC	26	Roy Salvadori	Connaught Lea Francis	14	DNF	0
NC	38	Lance Macklin	HWM Alta	7	DNF	0

1953 Post-Race F1 Drivers’ Championship Standings

Pos	Driver	Points
1	Alberto Ascari	17
2	Bill Vukovich	9
3	Luigi Villoresi	7
4	Nino Farina	6
5	Art Cross	6

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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.