Hans Stuck, a towering figure of German motorsport in the late 1930s, stood among the elite drivers who helped define an era of automotive dominance for Germany. With nerves of steel and a talent honed on steep mountain climbs, Stuck became a pioneer in the golden age of Grand Prix racing.
| Nationality | German |
|---|---|
| Born | Hans Erich Karl Josef Stuck 27 December 1900 Warsaw, Congress Poland, Russian Empire |
| Died | 9 February 1978 (aged 77) Grainau, West Germany |
His career began humbly in 1923 when he purchased his first car and entered the world of hillclimb racing with Austro-Daimler. His natural skill quickly became evident, and he often dominated the discipline. In 1927, he entered the Eifelrennen at the Nürburgring, finishing a respectable fourth. Over the next few years, he took part in a mix of Grand Prix and Formula Libre events, eventually securing his first major victory in 1931 at Mannheim, driving a Mercedes.
Stuck spent two seasons with Mercedes, where his performances were strong—most notably a second-place finish in Hungary. Seeking greater opportunities, he made a bold switch to Mercedes’ fiercest rival: Auto Union.
The move paid off. In 1934, after placing second at the Eifelrennen, Hans claimed a breakthrough victory at the German Grand Prix at Nürburgring, followed shortly by a win at the Swiss Grand Prix—both behind the wheel of the Auto Union A. These wins solidified his status among the sport’s elite.
In 1935, the International Association of Recognised Automobile Clubs introduced the European Championship. Stuck found himself up against formidable opponents like Bernd Rosemeyer and Rudolf Caracciola. Though he couldn’t secure the championship, he took a prestigious win at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza and ended the season third overall.
The following year saw Stuck continuing to make his mark. He earned three podium finishes and played a support role to his teammate Rosemeyer, who clinched the championship, with Stuck finishing as runner-up. In 1937, he added a second-place finish in Belgium and a third place on home soil at the German Grand Prix to his résumé.
After World War II, Stuck returned to racing in 1947 and immediately found success, winning the Maipokalrennen with a Cisitalia. In 1948, he competed in three events, including a second-place finish in Bern. He then joined forces with Alex von Falkenhausen, focusing primarily on German circuits and Formula 2 races. Stuck secured a third-place finish at both the Grenzlandring in 1949 and the Solitude circuit in 1950.
Victory returned in 1951 at the Grenzlandringrennen. That same year, he attempted Formula 1 with a BRM at the 1951 Italian Grand Prix, but a mechanical issue prevented him from starting. He returned to the World Championship in 1952 at the 1952 Swiss Grand Prix with an AFM but failed to finish the race. A final F1 attempt that season came with a privately entered Ferrari at the 1952 Italian Grand Prix was also cut short. Nevertheless, he tasted success again by winning the Leipzig race in Formula 2.
In 1953, he competed in the 1953 German Grand Prix and 1953 Italian Grand Prix with an AFM-Bristol, though without notable results. Still, he achieved four podiums in F2 that season. Stuck continued racing, mainly with BMW, and remarkably remained active until 1963. By the end of his long career, Hans Stuck had competed in nearly 700 races.
Hans Stuck holds a notable record as the fifth oldest driver ever to start a Formula One race—at 52 years, 327 days old during the 1953 Italian Grand Prix, where he retired from the race.
Formula One History Recommends
His son, Hans-Joachim Stuck, was born in 1951 and also competed in Formula One from 1974 to 1979.
Hans Stuck Formula One World Championship career
| F1 Career | 1951–1953 |
|---|---|
| Teams | BRM, AFM, privateer Ferrari |
| Entries | 5 (3 starts) |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 0 |
| Career points | 0 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| First entry | 1951 Italian Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 1953 Italian Grand Prix |
Hans Stuck Teammates
| 3 drivers | Involvement | First Year | Last Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reg Parnell | 1 | 1951 | |
| Ken Richardson | 1 | 1951 | |
| Rudi Fischer | 1 | 1952 |
