Andre Simon

André Simon was a French racing driver whose career spanned some of motor racing’s most dramatic and formative years. Active at the highest levels of international competition during the 1950s, Simon competed in the Formula One World Championship from 1951 to 1957, with some of F1’s biggest teams, entering 12 races, but scoring no points.

Nationality	French
Born	André Constant Simon 5 January 1920 Paris, France
Died	11 July 2012 (aged 92) Évian-les-Bains, Haute Savoie, France

Simon’s reputation, however, extended well beyond Formula One. His endurance racing credentials made him a valuable asset, particularly to Mercedes-Benz during the 1955 season. That year, alongside its Formula One programme, Mercedes contested the World Sportscar Championship, where regulations typically required two drivers per car. A three-car entry, therefore, demanded at least six capable drivers, and Simon’s background made him an ideal choice.

By 1955, Simon had already built solid experience at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, having competed there since 1949. His most notable result came in 1952, when he finished fifth overall in the classic endurance race—an event won that year by Mercedes. This proven reliability and familiarity with long-distance racing led Mercedes to recruit him primarily as a sportscar driver for their 1955 campaign.

Mercedes began the season as a four-car team, but circumstances soon tested their depth. At the Mille Miglia in May 1955, Karl Kling was injured, forcing him to miss the Monaco Grand Prix. The situation worsened when Hans Herrmann was injured during practice and ruled out for the remainder of the season, leaving the team severely short-handed. Simon was called upon at short notice and stepped seamlessly into the role, taking over the No. 4 Mercedes.

At the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans, Simon partnered with Kling. The pairing was running a strong third overall when Mercedes withdrew its cars following the catastrophic Le Mans disaster. Although the race ended prematurely for the team, Simon’s performance under pressure highlighted his adaptability and professionalism, cementing his place as a trusted and capable driver during one of motorsport’s most challenging chapters.

Andre Simon Formula One World Championship career

F1 Career	1954–1955
Teams	Gordini, Ferrari, Mercedes, Maserati (Incl non-works)
Entries	12 (11)
Championships	0
Wins	0
Podiums	0
Career points	0
Pole positions	0
Fastest laps	0
First entry	1951 French Grand Prix
Last entry	1957 Italian Grand Prix

Andre Simon Teammates

21 drivers	Involvement	First Year	Last Year
Robert Manzon	8	1950	1956
Maurice Trintignant	7	1950	1951
Aldo Gordini	1	1951
Jean Behra	3	1951	1955
Piero Taruffi	2	1952
Giuseppe Farina	2	1952
Luigi Villoresi	1	1952
Alberto Ascari	1	1952
André Pilette	1	1954
Paul Frere	1	1954
Stirling Moss	1	1955
Louis Rosier	1	1955
Hans Herrmann	1	1955
Juan Manuel Fangio	1	1955
Roberto Mieres	1	1955
Luigi Musso	1	1955
João Rezende dos Santos	1	1956
Hermano da Silva Ramos	1	1956
Harry Schell	1	1957
Masten Gregory	1	1957
Ottorino Volonterio	1	1957

Andre Simon Complete Formula One Results

Year	Entrant	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	WDC	Pts
1951	Equipe Gordini	Gordini Type 15	Gordini Straight-4	SUI DNA	500	BEL	FRA Ret	GBR	GER Ret	ITA 6	ESP Ret	NC	0
1952	Scuderia Ferrari	Ferrari 500	Ferrari Straight-4	SUI Ret *	500	BEL	FRA	GBR	GER	NED	ITA 6	NC	0
1955	Daimler Benz AG	Mercedes-Benz W196	Mercedes-Benz Straight-8	ARG	MON Ret	500	BEL	NED				NC	0
	Officine Alfieri Maserati	Maserati 250F	Maserati Straight-6						GBR Ret	ITA		NC	0
1956	André Simon	Maserati 250F	Maserati Straight-6	ARG	MON	500	BEL	FRA Ret	GBR	GER		NC	0
	Equipe Gordini	Gordini Type 16	Gordini Straight-6								ITA 9	NC	0
1957	Scuderia Centro Sud	Maserati 250F	Maserati Straight-6	ARG	MON DNQ	500	FRA	GBR	GER	PES		NC	0
	Ottorino Volonterio	Maserati 250F	Maserati Straight-6								ITA 11 †	NC	0