The 1955 F1 season was the sixth year of the World Championship of Drivers. It included seven races from 16 January to 11 September 1955 and included 16 non-championship events.
Season
Juan Manuel Fangio clinched his second consecutive World Championship, marking his third overall. This title was the last for a Mercedes driver until 2014 when Lewis Hamilton secured the title for the team.
Multiple tragedies marred the 1955 season. At the Indianapolis 500, two drivers, Manny Ayulo and Bill Vukovich—who had won the event the two preceding years—lost their lives. Also, Mario Alborghetti perished at the 1955 Pau Grand Prix, a non-championship event. Tragedy also struck former World Champions, as Alberto Ascari, who won in 1952 and 1953, died during a test session at Monza in a Ferrari 750 Monza. While former Formula One driver Pierre Levegh and 83 spectators died in the catastrophic 1955 Le Mans disaster, which resulted in the cancellation of four F1 Grands Prix and Mercedes’s withdrawal from motorsports.
1955 F1 Entries drivers and teams
The following teams and drivers participated in the 1955 FIA World Championship of Drivers, excluding those who competed solely in the Indianapolis 500.
Entrant | Constructor | Chassis | Engine | Tyre | Driver | Rounds |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Daimler Benz AG | Mercedes | W196 | Mercedes M196 2.5 L8 | C | Juan Manuel Fangio | 1–2, 4–7 |
Karl Kling | 1, 4–7 | |||||
Stirling Moss | 1–2, 4–7 | |||||
Hans Herrmann | 1–2 | |||||
André Simon | 2 | |||||
Piero Taruffi | 6–7 | |||||
Scuderia Ferrari | Ferrari | 625 555 | Ferrari 555 2.5 L4 | E | Umberto Maglioli | 1, 7 |
José Froilán González | 1 | |||||
Maurice Trintignant | 1–2, 4–7 | |||||
Harry Schell | 2, 4 | |||||
Piero Taruffi | 2, 4 | |||||
Paul Frère | 2, 4 | |||||
Mike Hawthorn | 5–7 | |||||
Eugenio Castellotti | 5–7 | |||||
Giuseppe Farina | 1–2, 4 | |||||
Scuderia Ferrari | Italy Giuseppe Farina | Lancia | D50 | E | Lancia DS50 2.5 V8 | 7 |
Officine Alfieri Maserati | Maserati | 250F | Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 | P | Jean Behra | 1–2, 4–7 |
Roberto Mieres | 1–2, 4–7 | |||||
Sergio Mantovani | 1 | |||||
Luigi Musso | 1–2, 4–7 | |||||
Carlos Menditeguy | 1, 7 | |||||
Clemar Bucci | 1 | |||||
Harry Schell | 1 | |||||
Cesare Perdisa | 2, 4 | |||||
André Simon | 6 | |||||
Peter Collins | 7 | |||||
Horace Gould | 7 | |||||
Alberto Uría | Maserati | A6GCM | Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 | P | Alberto Uría | 1 |
Scuderia Lancia | Lancia | D50 | Lancia DS50 2.5 V8 | P | Alberto Ascari | 1–2 |
Luigi Villoresi | 1–2, 7 | |||||
Eugenio Castellotti | 1–2, 4 | |||||
Louis Chiron | 2 | |||||
Equipe Gordini | Gordini | T16 | Gordini 23 2.5 L6 | E | Élie Bayol | 1–2 |
Pablo Birger | 1 | |||||
Jesús Iglesias | 1 | |||||
Robert Manzon | 2, 5–6 | |||||
Jacques Pollet | 2, 5, 2007 | |||||
Hermano da Silva Ramos | 5–7 | |||||
Mike Sparken | 6 | |||||
Jean Lucas | 7 | |||||
Ecurie Rosier | Maserati | 250F | Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 | P | Louis Rosier | 2, 4–5 |
Vandervell Products | Vanwall | VW 55 | Vanwall 254 2.5 L4 | P | Mike Hawthorn | 2, 4 |
Ken Wharton | 6–7 | |||||
Harry Schell | 6–7 | |||||
Stirling Moss Ltd | Maserati | 250F | Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 | D | Lance Macklin | 2, 6 |
Johnny Claes | 4 | |||||
Peter Walker | 5 | |||||
John Fitch | 7 | |||||
E.N. Whiteaway | HWM – Alta | 53 | Alta GP 2.5 L4 | D | Ted Whiteaway | 2 |
Equipe Nationale Belge | Ferrari | 625 | Ferrari 625 2.5 L4 | E | Johnny Claes | 5 |
Gould’s Garage (Bristol) | Maserati | 250F | Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 | D | Horace Gould | 5–6 |
Connaught Engineering | Connaught – Alta | B | Alta GP 2.5 L4 | D | Kenneth McAlpine | 6 |
Connaught Engineering | Connaught – Alta | B | Alta GP 2.5 L4 | D | Jack Fairman | 6 |
R.R.C. Walker Racing Team | Connaught – Alta | B | Alta GP 2.5 L4 | D | Tony Rolt | 6 |
Peter Walker | 6 | |||||
Leslie Marr | Connaught – Alta | B | Alta GP 2.5 L4 | D | Leslie Marr | 6 |
Cooper Car Company | Cooper – Bristol | T40 | Bristol BS1 2.0 L6 | D | Jack Brabham | 6 |
Owen Racing Organisation | Maserati | 250F | Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 | D | Peter Collins | 6 |
Gilby Engineering | Maserati | 250F | Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 | D | Roy Salvadori | 6 |
Scuderia Volpini | Arzani-Volpini – Maserati | F1 | Maserati 4CLT 2.5 L4 | P | Luigi Piotti | 7 |
1955 Formula 1 Race Calendar
Round | Grand Prix | Circuit | Date |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Argentine Grand Prix | Autódromo Oscar Alfredo Gálvez, Buenos Aires | 16 January |
2 | Monaco Grand Prix | Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo | 22 May |
3 | Indianapolis 500 | Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway | 30 May1 |
4 | Belgian Grand Prix | Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot | 5 June |
5 | Dutch Grand Prix | Circuit Zandvoort, Zandvoort | 19 June |
6 | British Grand Prix | Aintree Motor Racing Circuit, Merseyside | 16 July |
7 | Italian Grand Prix | Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza | 11 September |
The Monaco and Dutch Grand Prix returned to the calendar after last being held in 1952 and 1953, respectively. Meanwhile, the British Grand Prix was relocated from Silverstone to Aintree, continuing the practice of alternating the event between the two circuits.
Cancelled Rounds
Grand Prix | Circuit | Original Date |
---|---|---|
French Grand Prix | Reims-Gueux, Gueux | 3 July |
German Grand Prix | Nürburgring, Nürburg | 31 July |
Swiss Grand Prix | Circuit Bremgarten, Bern | 21 August |
Spanish Grand Prix | Pedralbes Circuit, Barcelona | 23 October |
Following the 1955 Le Mans disaster, the French Grand Prix was initially postponed from July 3 to September 25. Subsequently, it was cancelled, along with the German, Swiss, and Spanish rounds.
The Pedralbes and Bremgarten circuits were permanently retired from racing. In Switzerland, motor racing was prohibited until the 2018 Zürich ePrix marked its return.
1955 Formula 1 Race Reports
Round 1: Argentine Grand Prix
Race date: 16 January 1955
Circuit: Autódromo Oscar Alfredo Gálvez, Buenos Aires
Laps: 96
Circuit length: 3.912 km (2.431 miles)
The fierce heat of Argentina hosted the inaugural round of that year’s F1 championship, the 1955 Argentine Grand Prix, a gruelling race with only seven finishers, won by Mercedes driver Juan Manuel Fangio. It marked the beginning of what would be his fourth consecutive Drivers’ title. He was one of only two drivers (the other was Roberto Mieres) to complete the race without a co-driver.
Fangio endured severe burns to his leg during the race, as it constantly rubbed against the chassis frame heated by the exhaust. It took him three months to recover from the injury and was left a permanent scar on his leg for the rest of his life.
Ferrari drivers Nino Farina and Maurice Trintignant secured second and third-place finishes in races where they shared driving duties with José Froilán González and Umberto Maglioli, respectively.
Round 2: Monaco Grand Prix
Race date: 22 May 1955
Circuit: Circuit de Monaco
Laps: 100
Circuit length: 3.145 km (1.955 miles)
On May 22, Alberto Ascari crashed his Lancia into the harbour at the 1955 Monaco Grand Prix while battling for the race win. Early race leader Juan Manuel Fangio retired with a bent axle, allowing his Mercedes teammate Stirling Moss to take the lead. However, Moss’s engine blew on lap 81, and Ascari, poised to inherit the lead, became distracted, skidded at the chicane, and plunged through sandbags into the Mediterranean. Remarkably, he emerged with only a broken nose and swam to safety, leaving Maurice Trintignant in the Ferrari to claim the win. Tragically, just four days later, Ascari died testing a Ferrari sports car at Monza. Reflecting on the Monaco crash, Ascari had wondered if his luck was running out. Eugenio Castellotti finished second for the Lancia team and Maserati drivers Jean Behra and Cesare Perdisa came in third.
Round 3: Indianapolis 500
Race date: 30 May 1955
Circuit: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Laps: 200
Circuit length: 4.0225 km (2.499 mi)
Bill Vukovich, a two-time Indy 500 winner, died at the 1955 Indianapolis 500 when his car became airborne and crashed after being hit. His death marked the first fatality in a FIA World Championship event. Bob Sweikert won the race ahead of Tony Bettenhausen and Paul Russo in second as a shared drive, with Jimmy Davies taking third place.
Round 4: Belgian Grand Prix
Race date: 5 June 1955
Circuit: Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
Laps: 36
Circuit length: 14.120 km (8.774 miles)
Mercedes drivers Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss dominated the 1955 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa Francorchamps. Despite Lancia‘s withdrawal from the championship, Eugenio Castellotti convinced the company to let him race a D50. He secured pole position but couldn’t maintain pace with the dominant Mercedes, eventually falling to third before retiring mid-race due to a gearbox problem. Fangio and Moss maintained their lead, finishing 30 seconds ahead of Giuseppe Farina in third.
Round 5: Dutch Grand Prix
Race date: 19 June 1955
Circuit: Circuit Zandvoort
Laps: 100
Circuit length: 4.193 km (2.605 miles)
The 1955 Dutch Grand Prix witnessed a one-two finish for Mercedes with Juan-Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss leading the way, despite challenging conditions and technical issues. Luigi Musso, in a Maserati, claimed third place after a late spin, while Moss struggled to the finish line with his car bellowing smoking. This victory was a sombre moment for Mercedes, coming just a week after the devastating 1955 Le Man’s tragedy.
Round 6: British Grand Prix
Race date: 16 July 1955
Circuit: Silverstone Circuit
Laps: 90
Circuit length: 4.828 km (3.000 miles)
Despite being overshadowed by the previous month’s Le Mans tragedy, which led to the cancellation of the 1955 French Grand Prix, the 1955 British Grand Prix at Aintree was a classic race dominated by Mercedes. A crowd of 150,000 witnessed an epic battle between Stirling Moss and Juan Manuel Fangio, with the lead changing hands multiple times. Moss won by 0.2 seconds, securing his first Formula 1 victory. The Guardian reported that Moss “waved Fangio through” as they approached the finish, but Fangio held back, allowing Moss to cross first. Fangio always denied letting his teammate win. Karl Kling completed the podium for Mercedes in third place.
Round 7: Italian Grand Prix
Race date: 11 September 1955
Circuit: Autodromo Nazionale di Monza
Laps: 50
Circuit length: 10.000 km (6.214 miles)
Juan Manuel Fangio led Piero Taruffi in a Mercedes 1-2 finish at the 1955 Italian Grand Prix, capping off his championship-winning season. Eugenio Castellotti with Ferrari came third.
This race marked the final appearance of the victorious Mercedes-Benz team as a constructor in Formula 1 until their return in 2010 following the takeover of Brawn GP. It was also the last Grand Prix for drivers Karl Kling, Roberto Mieres, and 1950 champion Nino Farina, the first-ever F1 World Champion.
1955 Formula 1 Race Results
Round | Grand Prix | Pole Position | Fastest Lap | Winning Driver | Winning Constructor | Report |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Argentine Grand Prix | Jose Froilan Gonzalez | Juan Manuel Fangio | Juan Manuel Fangio | Mercedes | Report |
2 | Monaco Grand Prix | Juan Manuel Fangio | Juan Manuel Fangio | Maurice Trintignant | Ferrari | Report |
3 | Indianapolis 500 | Jerry Hoyt | Bill Vukovich | Bob Sweikert | Kurtis Kraft – Offenhauser | Report |
4 | Belgian Grand Prix | Eugenio Castellotti | Juan Manuel Fangio | Juan Manuel Fangio | Mercedes | Report |
5 | Dutch Grand Prix | Juan Manuel Fangio | Roberto Mieres | Juan Manuel Fangio | Mercedes | Report |
6 | British Grand Prix | Stirling Moss | Stirling Moss | Stirling Moss | Mercedes | Report |
7 | Italian Grand Prix | Juan Manuel Fangio | Stirling Moss | Juan Manuel Fangio | Mercedes | Report |
1955 Formula 1 Standings
Points were awarded to the top five finishers, with an additional point for the fastest lap, regardless of the driver’s finishing position or classification. Only a driver’s four best results contributed to their final championship standings. In cases where drivers shared a car and finished in a points position, they each received half the points for that position. If multiple drivers set identical fastest lap times, the fastest lap point was equally divided among them.
Position | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | Fastest Lap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Race | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
1955 Driver standings
Pos | Driver | Nationality | Car | PTS |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Juan Manuel Fangio | ARG | Mercedes | 40 |
2 | Stirling Moss | GBR | Mercedes | 23 |
3 | Eugenio Castellotti | ITA | Ferrari | 12 |
4 | Maurice Trintignant | FRA | Ferrari | 11.3 |
5 | Giuseppe Farina | ITA | Ferrari | 10.3 |
6 | Piero Taruffi | ITA | Mercedes | 9 |
7 | Bob Sweikert | USA | Kurtis Kraft Offenhauser | 8 |
8 | Roberto Mieres | ARG | Maserati | 7 |
9 | Luigi Musso | ITA | Maserati | 6 |
9 | Jean Behra | FRA | Maserati | 6 |
11 | Karl Kling | GER | Mercedes | 5 |
12 | Jimmy Davies | USA | Kurtis Kraft Offenhauser | 4 |
13 | Paul Russo | USA | Kurtis Kraft Offenhauser | 3 |
13 | Tony Bettenhausen | USA | Kurtis Kraft Offenhauser | 3 |
13 | Johnny Thomson | USA | Kuzma Offenhauser | 3 |
13 | Paul Frere | BEL | Ferrari | 3 |
17 | Jose Froilan Gonzalez | ARG | Ferrari | 2 |
17 | Cesare Perdisa | ITA | Maserati | 2 |
17 | Luigi Villoresi | ITA | Scuderia Lancia | 2 |
17 | Carlos Menditeguy | ARG | Maserati | 2 |
21 | Umberto Maglioli | ITA | Ferrari | 1.3 |
22 | Hans Herrmann | GER | Mercedes | 1 |
22 | Walt Faulkner | USA | Kurtis Kraft Offenhauser | 1 |
22 | Bill Homeier | USA | Kurtis Kraft Offenhauser | 1 |
22 | Bill Vukovich | USA | Kurtis Kraft Offenhauser | 1 |