1958 German Grand Prix: F1 Race, Qualifying & Winners

Tony Brooks won the 1958 German Grand Prix after a fierce contest at the Nürburgring, but Peter Collins‘s fatal accident overshadowed the result. The race’s combined Formula One and Formula Two field also produced an unusual points outcome, reflected in the classifications below.

Result	Driver / Time	Team
Pole position	Mike Hawthorn	Ferrari
Pole time	9:14.000
Fastest lap	Stirling Moss	Vanwall
Fastest-lap time	9:09.200 on lap 3
First	Tony Brooks	Vanwall
Second	Roy Salvadori	Cooper
Third	Maurice Trintignant	Cooper

Weekend Schedule

Date	Session	Local Time
31 July 1958	Thursday unofficial practice	Start time unconfirmed
1 August 1958	Friday timed practice	Start time unconfirmed
2 August 1958	Saturday final qualifying	Start time unconfirmed
3 August 1958	Race	Start time unconfirmed

All times are local. The race time is the scheduled start; weather delays and interruptions are described below.

Championship background

Mike Hawthorn arrived at round 8 leading the 1958 F1 World Championship on 30 points, with Stirling Moss on 23.

Race entries

Vanwall entered only Moss and Brooks because engine shortages ruled out a third race car. Ferrari brought its regular Formula One entries and a Formula Two car for Phil Hill. Brabham and McLaren were among the smaller-engined runners, while BRM faced its first Grand Prix appearance at the demanding Eifel circuit.

Thursday unofficial practice

Ferrari arrived early and used the opportunity to acquaint its Dino cars with the Nürburgring. Hawthorn, von Trips and Phil Hill were present, with Collins due the following morning. This was preparatory running rather than a separate modern free-practice session, giving Ferrari time to assess the circuit before the full field assembled.

Friday timed practice

Vanwall‘s suspension work paid off as Moss ended the afternoon ahead of the Ferraris. BRM struggled much more over the bumps, and Behra spun into the undergrowth while trying to improve. Brabham was outstanding among the Formula Two cars, setting a time that challenged several larger-engined entries. A violent storm arrived after practice and disrupted the paddock, though most timed running had taken place in fair conditions.

Saturday final qualifying

Hawthorn answered with a superb 9:14.0 to secure pole, while further suspension changes helped Brooks get within a second. Maserati‘s private entries suffered multiple mechanical problems. Graham Hill damaged both his own Lotus and Allison’s borrowed car in separate incidents, leaving extensive repair work. McLaren improved strongly in Formula Two, but Brabham remained the class’s fastest qualifier.

Qualifying Classification

Formula One and Formula Two cars qualified for a combined race, but Formula Two entries could not score World Championship points. The actual overall finishing order is retained; Allison received no points despite being the fifth Formula One finisher, because he was tenth overall.

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Best Time
1	3	Mike Hawthorn	Ferrari	9:14.000
2	8	Tony Brooks	Vanwall	9:15.0
3	7	Stirling Moss	Vanwall	9:19.9
4	2	Peter Collins	Ferrari	9:21.9
5	4	Wolfgang von Trips	Ferrari	9:24.7
6	10	Roy Salvadori	Cooper	9:35.3
7	11	Maurice Trintignant	Cooper	9:36.9
8	6	Harry Schell	BRM	9:39.6
9	16	Jo Bonnier	Maserati	9:42.7
10	24	Jack Brabham	Cooper	9:43.4
11	12	Cliff Allison	Lotus	9:44.3
12	5	Jean Behra	BRM	9:46.8
13	23	Phil Hill	Ferrari	9:48.9
14	26	Ian Burgess	Cooper	9:55.3
15	20	Bruce McLaren	Cooper	9:56.0
16	21	Edgar Barth	Porsche	9:57.2
17	30	Tony Marsh	Cooper	9:57.5
18	18	Carel Godin de Beaufort	Porsche	10:01.5
19	28	Ivor Bueb	Lotus	10:02.6
20	17	Hans Herrmann	Maserati	10:13.5
21	29	Brian Naylor	Cooper	10:17.9
22	22	Wolfgang Seidel	Cooper	10:21.0
23	19	Dick Gibson	Cooper	10:55.0
24	27	Christian Goethals	Cooper	11:22.9
25	25	Graham Hill	Lotus	18:56.0
NC	14	Troy Ruttman	Maserati	No time

What happened in the 1958 German Grand Prix?

Moss led early and set fastest lap before his Vanwall retired. Collins and Hawthorn then carried Ferrari‘s challenge against Brooks, with the leading cars closely matched around the long circuit. Brooks increased his pressure and moved ahead.

Collins crashed at Pflanzgarten while pursuing the Vanwall, suffering fatal injuries. Hawthorn subsequently retired with clutch trouble, leaving Brooks clear at the front. What had begun as an intense sporting contest became another deeply sombre day for Ferrari.

Brooks won ahead of Salvadori and Trintignant. Von Trips finished fourth, with McLaren fifth overall and first in Formula Two after Brabham retired. Only four cars earned finishing points; the Formula Two runners were ineligible, and Allison’s tenth place did not become a points-paying fifth. Moss retained the fastest-lap point despite retiring.

After the race, Mike Hawthorn headed the drivers’ standings with 30 points, followed by Stirling Moss on 24.

1958 German Grand Prix race results

The 1958 German Grand Prix was held on 3 August 1958.

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time / Retired	Pts.
1	8	Tony Brooks	Vanwall	15	2:21:15.0	8
2	10	Roy Salvadori	Cooper	15	+3:29.7	6
3	11	Maurice Trintignant	Cooper	15	+5:11.2	4
4	4	Wolfgang von Trips	Ferrari	15	+6:16.3	3
5	20	Bruce McLaren	Cooper	15	+6:26.3	0
6	21	Edgar Barth	Porsche	15	+6:32.4	0
7	26	Ian Burgess	Cooper	15	+6:59.3	0
8	30	Tony Marsh	Cooper	15	+7:09.9	0
9	23	Phil Hill	Ferrari	15	+7:45.5	0
10	12	Cliff Allison	Lotus	13	+2 laps	0
11	28	Ivor Bueb	Lotus	13	+2 laps	0
Ret	3	Mike Hawthorn	Ferrari	11	Clutch	0
Ret	2	Peter Collins	Ferrari	10	Fatal accident	0
Ret	22	Wolfgang Seidel	Cooper	9	Suspension	0
Ret	6	Harry Schell	BRM	9	Brakes	0
Ret	27	Christian Goethals	Cooper	4	Fuel pump	0
Ret	25	Graham Hill	Lotus	4	Oil pipe	0
Ret	5	Jean Behra	BRM	4	Suspension	0
Ret	18	Carel Godin de Beaufort	Porsche	3	Engine	0
Ret	17	Hans Herrmann	Maserati	3	Engine	0
Ret	7	Stirling Moss	Vanwall	3	Magneto	1
Ret	19	Dick Gibson	Cooper	2	Engine	0
Ret	29	Brian Naylor	Cooper	1	Fuel pump	0
Ret	24	Jack Brabham	Cooper	1	Collision	0
Ret	16	Jo Bonnier	Maserati	1	Accident	0
DNS	14	Troy Ruttman	Maserati		Engine	0

Despite being the fifth-placed Formula One car, Allison scored no points because he finished tenth on the road behind five Formula Two cars

1 point for fastest lap

1958 German Grand Prix Fastest Laps

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Lap	Time
1	7	Stirling Moss	Vanwall	3	9:09.200

Only drivers with a recorded lap time appear. One championship point was awarded for fastest lap, divided equally when shared.

1958 Post-Race F1 Championship Standings

Championship standings after the 1958 German Grand Prix.

1958 Post-Race F1 Drivers' Championship Standings

POS	Driver	Nationality	Car	PTS
1	Mike Hawthorn	British	Ferrari	30
2	Stirling Moss	British	Cooper / Vanwall	24
3	Tony Brooks	British	Vanwall	16
4	Peter Collins	British	Ferrari	14
5	Roy Salvadori	British	Cooper	13
6	Maurice Trintignant	French	Cooper / Maserati / BRM	12
7	Luigi Musso	Italian	Ferrari	12
8	Harry Schell	American	Maserati / BRM	12
9	Jimmy Bryan	American	Epperly	8
10	Wolfgang von Trips	German	Ferrari	7
11	Stuart Lewis-Evans	British	Vanwall	7
12	Juan Manuel Fangio	Argentine	Maserati	7
13	George Amick	American	Epperly	6
14	Jean Behra	French	Maserati / BRM	6
15	Johnny Boyd	American	Kurtis Kraft	4
16	Tony Bettenhausen	American	Epperly	4
17	Jack Brabham	Australian	Cooper	3
18	Cliff Allison	British	Team Lotus	3
19	Jim Rathmann	American	Epperly	2
—	Bruce McLaren	New Zealander	Cooper	0
—	Jimmy Reece	American	Watson	0
—	Olivier Gendebien	Belgian	Ferrari	0
—	Edgar Barth	German	Porsche	0
—	Phil Hill	American	Maserati / Ferrari	0
—	Ian Burgess	British	Cooper	0
—	Carlos Menditeguy	Argentine	Maserati	0
—	Don Freeland	American	Phillips	0
—	Jo Bonnier	Swedish	Maserati	0
—	Paco Godia	Spanish	Maserati	0
—	Jud Larson	American	Watson	0
—	Tony Marsh	British	Cooper	0
—	Gerino Gerini	Italian	Maserati	0
—	Horace Gould	British	Maserati	0
—	Carroll Shelby	American	Maserati	0
—	Eddie Johnson	American	Kurtis Kraft	0
—	Troy Ruttman	American	Maserati	0
—	Bill Cheesbourg	American	Kurtis Kraft	0
—	Maria de Filippis	Italian	Maserati	0
—	Ivor Bueb	British	Connaught / Team Lotus	0
—	Carel Godin de Beaufort	Dutch	Porsche	0
—	Al Keller	American	Kurtis Kraft	0
—	Johnnie Parsons	American	Kurtis Kraft	0
—	Johnnie Tolan	American	Kuzma	0
—	Graham Hill	British	Team Lotus	0
—	Giorgio Scarlatti	Italian	Maserati	0
—	Wolfgang Seidel	German	Maserati / Cooper	0
—	Bob Christie	American	Kurtis Kraft	0
—	Dempsey Wilson	American	Kuzma	0
—	Masten Gregory	American	Maserati	0
—	Anthony Foyt	American	Kuzma	0
—	Christian Goethals	Belgian	Cooper	0
—	Mike Magill	American	Kurtis Kraft	0
—	Paul Russo	American	Kurtis Kraft	0
—	Alan Stacey	British	Team Lotus	0
—	Shorty Templeman	American	Kurtis Kraft	0
—	Rodger Ward	American	Lesovsky	0
—	Jack Fairman	British	Connaught	0
—	Hans Herrmann	German	Maserati	0
—	Billy Garrett	American	Kurtis Kraft	0
—	Eddie Sachs	American	Kuzma	0
—	Dick Gibson	British	Cooper	0
—	Johnny Thomson	American	Kurtis Kraft	0
—	Brian Naylor	British	Cooper	0
—	Chuck Weyant	American	Dunn	0
—	Jack Turner	American	Lesovsky	0
—	Bob Veith	American	Kurtis Kraft	0
—	Dick Rathmann	American	Watson	0
—	Ed Elisian	American	Watson	0
—	Pat O'Connor	American	Kurtis Kraft	0
—	Paul Goldsmith	American	Kurtis Kraft	0
—	Jerry Unser	American	Kurtis Kraft	0
—	Len Sutton	American	Kurtis Kraft	0
—	Art Bisch	American	Kuzma	0

1958 Post-Race F1 Constructors' Championship Standings

POS	Car	PTS
1	Ferrari	37
2	Vanwall	33
3	Cooper	29
4	BRM	12
5	Maserati	6
6	Team Lotus	3
—	Porsche	0
—	Connaught	0

Drivers counted their best 6 results. The first five places earned 8–6–4–3–2 points, with one further point for fastest lap, shared equally when necessary. Shared drives earned no championship points. Constructors also retained their best 6 results, scoring through only their highest-placed eligible car, without fastest-lap points. Indianapolis counted for drivers only.

1958 Formula 1 Race Calendar

Round	Grand Prix	Circuit	Date
1	1958 Argentine Grand Prix	Autódromo Oscar Alfredo Gálvez, Buenos Aires	19 January
2	1958 Monaco Grand Prix	Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo	18 May
3	1958 Dutch Grand Prix	Circuit Zandvoort, Zandvoort	26 May
4	1958 Indianapolis 500	Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway, Indiana	30 May
5	1958 Belgian Grand Prix	Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot	15 June
6	1958 French Grand Prix	Reims-Gueux, Reims	6 July
7	1958 British Grand Prix	Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone	19 July
8	1958 German Grand Prix	Nürburgring, Nürburg	3 August
9	1958 Portuguese Grand Prix	Circuito da Boavista, Porto	24 August
10	1958 Italian Grand Prix	Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza	7 September
11	1958 Moroccan Grand Prix	Ain-Diab Circuit, Casablanca	19 October