Baron Emmanuel Leo Ludwig “Toulo” de Graffenried was a Swiss racing driver who competed in the early years of Formula One. He was born in Paris, the son of Swiss Baron Leo de Graffenried and his American mother Irma Stern.
Driver Bio
| Nationality | Swiss |
| Birthplace | Paris, France |
| Born | 18 May 1914 |
| Died | 22 January 2007 |
| First Grand Prix | 1950 British Grand Prix |
| Last Grand Prix | 1956 Italian Grand Prix |
| Years Active | 1950–1954, 1956 |
| Current/Last Team | Privateer: Maserati |
De Graffenried began racing in 1936, driving his own Maserati voiturette. He quickly established himself as a capable driver, particularly at the demanding Bremgarten Circuit, a fast and dangerous track known for its cobbled surface and tree-lined layout.
Pre-Formula One success
One of his greatest achievements came in 1949, when he won the British Grand Prix—a year before the official Formula One World Championship was established. This victory secured his place among the leading drivers of the immediate post-war era.
Formula One career
De Graffenried competed in 23 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting at the inaugural F1 championship race, the 1950 British Grand Prix.
Across his Formula One career, he scored 9 championship points and achieved a best finish of 4th place at the Belgian Grand Prix.
He raced primarily as a privateer, often driving Maserati machinery, and was known for competing selectively rather than full-time.
Later career and retirement
After stepping away from competitive racing, de Graffenried returned to Switzerland and ran a car dealership in Lausanne, representing prestigious brands including Alfa Romeo, Rolls-Royce, and Ferrari.
He also had an unusual connection to film, acting as a stunt double for Kirk Douglas during the production of The Racers.
In later decades, he remained closely involved in Formula One as a corporate ambassador for Marlboro, becoming a familiar figure in the paddock throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
Later life
De Graffenried made a symbolic return to the track in 1998, during the 50th-anniversary celebrations at Silverstone Circuit, driving again at the age of 84.
He was also notable as the last surviving driver to have competed in the first Formula One World Championship race in 1950.
Death
Baron de Graffenried died on 22 January 2007 in Lonay at the age of 92.
“Toulo” de Graffenried represented the classic gentleman racer of Formula One’s earliest era—wealthy, independent, and deeply passionate about the sport. His victory in the 1949 British Grand Prix and participation in the inaugural 1950 championship place him firmly among the pioneers of modern Grand Prix racing.
Grand Prix Stats
| Race Entries | 23 |
| Race Starts | 22 |
| Did Not Start | 0 |
| Best Race Start | 5th |
| Best Race Finish | 4th |
| Retirements | 10 |
| First-Lap Retirements | 1 |
| Not Classified | 0 |
| Disqualified | 0 |
| Did Not Qualify | 1 |
Qualifying
| Qualifying Sessions | 23 |
| Reached Q3 | 0 |
| Q2 Eliminations | 0 |
| Q1 Eliminations | 0 |
| Did Not Qualify | 1 |
Points
| Points Scored | 9 |
| Points Finishes | 4 |
| Most Points in a Single Season | 7 |
| Seasons with Points | 2 |
Complete Formula One World Championship results
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | WDC | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | Enrico Platé | Maserati 4CLT/48 | Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4s | GBR Ret | MON Ret | 500 | SUI 6 | BEL | FRA | ITA 6 | NC | 0 | ||
| 1951 | SA Alfa Romeo | Alfa Romeo 159 | Alfa Romeo 158 1.5 L8s | SUI 5 | 500 | BEL | ITA Ret | ESP 6 | 16th | 2 | ||||
| Enrico Platé | Maserati 4CLT/48 | Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4s | FRA Ret | GBR | GER Ret | |||||||||
| 1952 | Enrico Platé | Maserati 4CLT/48 | Platé 2.0 L4 | SUI 6 | 500 | BEL | FRA Ret | GBR 19 | GER | NED | ITA DNQ | NC | 0 | |
| 1953 | Enrico Platé | Maserati A6GCM | Maserati A6 2.0 L6 | ARG | 500 | NED 5 | 8th | 7 | ||||||
| Emmanuel de Graffenried | BEL 4 | FRA 7 | GBR Ret | GER 5 | SUI Ret | ITA Ret | ||||||||
| 1954 | Emmanuel de Graffenried | Maserati A6GCM | Maserati A6 2.0 L6 | ARG 8 | 500 | BEL | FRA | GBR | GER | SUI | ITA | ESP Ret | NC | 0 |
| 1956 | Scuderia Centro Sud | Maserati 250F | Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 | ARG | MON | 500 | BEL | FRA | GBR | GER | ITA 7 | NC | 0 | |
Teammates & Qualifying Head-to-Head
| Teammate | Years | Races | Qualifying H2H |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birabongse Bhanudej | 1950 | 4 | – |
| Consalvo Sanesi | 1951 | 1 | – |
| Giuseppe Farina | 1951 | 3 | – |
| Juan Manuel Fangio | 1951 | 3 | – |
| Harry Schell | 1951, 1952 | 4 | – |
| Felice Bonetto | 1951 | 2 | – |
| Alberto Crespo | 1952 | 1 | – |
| Ottorino Volonterio | 1954 | 1 | – |
