1961 F1 World Championship

The 1961 FIA Formula One World Championship began on 14 May and concluded on 8 October, over 8 Grand Prix, alongside numerous non-championship races open to Formula One cars.

Season

The World Drivers’ Championship was won by Phil Hill, driving for Ferrari, securing the only title of his career. Hill’s triumph came under tragic circumstances, as his teammate and main rival, Wolfgang von Trips, was killed during the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, the penultimate race of the season. With von Trips’ death, Hill became champion and also made history as the first American-born Formula One World Champion—a distinction he still uniquely holds, as later champion Mario Andretti was born in Italy.

Ferrari also secured the Manufacturers’ Championship, marking their first Constructors’ title in Formula One. Their dominance was largely due to the introduction of the iconic Ferrari 156 “Sharknose”, the team’s first successful mid-engined car, which helped them win five of the eight races that season.

The 1961 season also saw a major regulatory shift, as new rules mandated naturally aspirated engines with a maximum capacity of 1.5 litres, effectively aligning Formula One with the Formula Two engine regulations used in previous years. The sudden introduction of these rules initially led to strong opposition from British teams, who even threatened a boycott, but the protests eventually subsided.

Tragically, the season was marked by multiple fatalities. In addition to Wolfgang von Trips, two other drivers lost their lives: Giulio Cabianca, who died during a test at the Aerautodromo di Modena, and Shane Summers, who was killed in the non-championship Silver City Trophy. These incidents highlighted the significant dangers of Formula One during this era.

1961 Formula 1 Race Calendar

Round	Grand Prix	Circuit	Date
1	1961 Monaco Grand Prix	Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo	14 May
2	1961 Dutch Grand Prix	Circuit Zandvoort, Zandvoort	22 May
3	1961 Belgian Grand Prix	Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot	18 June
4	1961 French Grand Prix	Reims-Gueux, Gueux	2 July
5	1961 British Grand Prix	Aintree Motor Racing Circuit, Merseyside	15 July
6	1961 German Grand Prix	Nürburgring, Nürburg	6 August
7	1961 Italian Grand Prix	Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza	10 September
8	1961 United States Grand Prix	Watkins Glen International, New York	8 October

1961 Formula 1 Race Results

Grands Prix

Round	Grand Prix	Pole position	Fastest lap	Winning driver	Winning constructor	Tyre	Report
1	1961 Monaco Grand Prix	Stirling Moss	Richie Ginther	Stirling Moss	Lotus-Climax	D	Report
2	1961 Dutch Grand Prix	Phil Hill	Jim Clark	Wolfgang von Trips	Ferrari	D	Report
3	1961 Belgian Grand Prix	Phil Hill	Richie Ginther	Phil Hill	Ferrari	D	Report
4	1961 French Grand Prix	Phil Hill	Phil Hill	Giancarlo Baghetti	Ferrari	D	Report
5	1961 British Grand Prix	Phil Hill	Tony Brooks	Wolfgang von Trips	Ferrari	D	Report
6	1961 German Grand Prix	Phil Hill	Phil Hill	Stirling Moss	Lotus-Climax	D	Report
7	1961 Italian Grand Prix	Wolfgang von Trips	Giancarlo Baghetti	Phil Hill	Ferrari	D	Report
8	1961 United States Grand Prix	Jack Brabham	Jack Brabham	Innes Ireland	Lotus-Climax	D	Report

1961 Formula 1 Standings

Driver standings

Team standings