1953 Swiss Grand Prix: Full Weekend Report & Highlights

Alberto Ascari defied team orders to lead a Ferrari 1-2-3 finish at the 1953 Swiss Grand Prix and clinch his second Drivers’ World Championship.

Season: 1953 F1 World Championship
Race date: 23 August 1953
Circuit: Bremgarten, Bern, Switzerland
Laps: 65
Circuit length: 7.28 km (4.524 miles)

Despite battling a gearbox issue with Maserati driver and rival Juan Manuel Fangio, Ascari encountered engine problems and had to pit. Rejoining the race behind teammates Giuseppe Farina and Mike Hawthorn, Ascari ignored instructions to hold position and overtook both to secure the victory. It was the last race win and finish of his F1 career.

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Qualifying

POS.	NO.	DRIVER	TEAM	TIME
1	32	Juan Manuel Fangio	Maserati	2:40.100
2	46	Alberto Ascari	Ferrari	2:40.700
3	24	Nino Farina	Ferrari	2:42.600
4	8	Maurice Trintignant	Gordini	2:43.800
5	36	Onofre Marimon	Maserati	2:44.500
6	28	Luigi Villoresi	Ferrari	2:44.600
7	26	Mike Hawthorn	Ferrari	2:48.100
8	42	Toulo de Graffenried	Maserati	2:49.900
9	20	Ken Wharton	Cooper Bristol	2:51.500
10	30	Felice Bonetto	Maserati	2:52.000
11	34	Hermann Lang	Maserati	2:54.800
12	6	Jean Behra	Gordini	2:55.000
13	2	Jacques Swaters	Ferrari	2:55.100
14	10	Louis Rosier	Ferrari	2:55.400
15	16	Lance Macklin	HWM Alta	2:57.100
16	14	Paul Frere	HWM Alta	2:57.900
17	38	Peter Hirt	Ferrari	3:01.500
18	18	Albert Scherrer	HWM Alta	3:07.400
19	40	Max de Terra	Ferrari	3:21.100
20	4	Chico Landi	Maserati	3:29.700

1953 Swiss Grand Starting Grid

POS.	NO.	DRIVER	TEAM	TIME
1	32	Juan Manuel Fangio	Maserati	2:40.100
2	46	Alberto Ascari	Ferrari	2:40.700
3	24	Nino Farina	Ferrari	2:42.600
4	8	Maurice Trintignant	Gordini	2:43.800
5	36	Onofre Marimon	Maserati	2:44.500
6	28	Luigi Villoresi	Ferrari	2:44.600
7	26	Mike Hawthorn	Ferrari	2:48.100
8	42	Toulo de Graffenried	Maserati	2:49.900
9	20	Ken Wharton	Cooper Bristol	2:51.500
10	30	Felice Bonetto	Maserati	2:52.000
11	34	Hermann Lang	Maserati	2:54.800
12	6	Jean Behra	Gordini	2:55.000
13	2	Jacques Swaters	Ferrari	2:55.100
14	10	Louis Rosier	Ferrari	2:55.400
15	16	Lance Macklin	HWM Alta	2:57.100
16	14	Paul Frere	HWM Alta	2:57.900
17	38	Peter Hirt	Ferrari	3:01.500
18	18	Albert Scherrer	HWM Alta	3:07.400
19	40	Max de Terra	Ferrari	3:21.100
20	4	Chico Landi	Maserati	3:29.700

1953 Swiss Grand Race Results

Pos	No	Driver	Car	Laps	Time/retired	Pts
1	46	Alberto Ascari	Ferrari	65	3:01:34.400	9
2	24	Nino Farina	Ferrari	65	+72.930s	6
3	26	Mike Hawthorn	Ferrari	65	+95.960s	4
4	32	Juan Manuel Fangio	Maserati		SHC	1.5
4	32	Felice Bonetto	Maserati	64	+1 lap	1.5
5	34	Hermann Lang	Maserati	62	+3 laps	2
6	28	Luigi Villoresi	Ferrari	62	+3 laps	0
7	20	Ken Wharton	Cooper Bristol	62	+3 laps	0
NC	4	Chico Landi	Maserati	54	DNF	0
8	40	Max de Terra	Ferrari	51	+14 laps	0
9	18	Albert Scherrer	HWM Alta	49	+16 laps	0
NC	42	Toulo de Graffenried	Maserati	48	DNF	0
NC	36	Onofre Marimon	Maserati	46	DNF	0
NC	8	Maurice Trintignant	Gordini	43	DNF	0
NC	6	Jean Behra	Gordini	37	DNF	0
NC	30	Felice Bonetto	Maserati		SHC	0
NC	30	Juan Manuel Fangio	Maserati	29	DNF	0
NC	16	Lance Macklin	HWM Alta	29	DNF	0
NC	38	Peter Hirt	Ferrari	17	DNF	0
NC	14	Paul Frere	HWM Alta	1	DNF	0
NC	10	Louis Rosier	Ferrari	0	DNF	0
NC	2	Jacques Swaters	Ferrari	0	DNF	0

1953 Post-Race F1 Drivers’ Championship Standings

Pos	Driver	Points
1	Alberto Ascari	34.5 (45.5)
2	Giuseppe Farina	24 (26)
3	Juan Manuel Fangio	20.5
4	Mike Hawthorn	19 (24)
5	Jose Froilan Gonzalez	13.5 (14.5)

Only the top five positions are included. Only the best 4 results counted towards the Championship. Numbers without parentheses are Championship points; numbers in parentheses are total points scored.

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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.