1951 Formula One season
1952 season >
The Formula 1 season in 1951 was the second FIA Formula 1 World Championship. She was discharged through eight races in the period of 27 May 1951 to 28 October 1951. Juan Manuel Fangio won for the first time the drivers' world championship.
The FIA honorary title of European Grand Prix was awarded in 1951 at the Grand Prix of France.
Background
The 1951 season was only the second year of the new championship, and the young team Scuderia Ferrari won under the leadership of former Alfa Romeo race director Enzo Ferrari with his after the Second World War, newly developed vehicles already the most points. Alfa Romeo withdrew, although her driver Juan Manuel Fangio became world champion, at the end of the year with its modified pre-war cars from Formula 1 back. The departure of Alfa Romeo and for the next season to be expected dominance of Ferrari led the FIA after two years of stability to revise the rules clearly, and took over the technical definitions of the formula 2 from the Formula 1 1952 season in Formula 1
Teams and Drivers
1951, a total of 52 riders, spread across eleven teams in the race for the World Cup in part. Bought many private rented race car driver or also to attend in order to race. The 500-mile race at Indianapolis was not considered.
Race Results
Grand Prix of Switzerland
The Grand Prix of Switzerland was held on 27 May 1951 in Bremgarten. The race went about 305.760 km to 42 rounds.
In the pouring rain Fangio won sovereign, his opponent Alberto Ascari was handicapped by burns that he suffered in a Formula 2 race.
500 miles from Indianapolis
On 30 May 1951, the Indianapolis 500 was once again held in the framework of the formula 1. It 200 rounds have been completed on 804.6 kilometers. Only eight riders arrived at the fail -packed race to the finish. The victory was Lee Wallard decide for themselves.
Grand Prix of Belgium
The Belgian Grand Prix at Spa- Francorchamps on June 17, 1951 was over 36 laps of 508.320 km.
A fumbled tire change with Fangio, who took 14 minutes robbed him of all chance to win. It won last year's world champion Giuseppe Farina.
Grand Prix of France / Europe
On 1 July 1951, the French Grand Prix was held in Reims. The race went about 601.832 km to 77 rounds.
For the first time in World Cup history to share two racers to win. Fagioli and Fangio share the points because by order of the Alfa Romeo team management exchanged the vehicles during their race. Thus both counted as 1 and 11. The arranged exchange led to upset Fagioli and his resignation from the Alfa Romeo team.
Grand Prix of Great Britain
The Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone was held on 14 July 1951. The race was over 90 laps over a distance of a total of 418.410 kilometers.
Ferrari celebrated his first World Cup victory. The victory did not go to the top drivers Ferrari Ascari, but the Argentines González.
The second surprise of the race was the fifth place of Parnell, since the official debut of the young brand BRM represented. His team-mate Peter Walker and he denied, without having participated in the training, the race with a dispensation from the last row. Further success for B.R.M. remained out, however, because the construction of the 16- cylinder engine was too error-prone.
Grand Prix of Germany
At the Grand Prix of Germany at the Nürburgring on July 29, 1951 456.2 km have been completed in 20 rounds.
Here the duel between Ferrari and Alfa Romeo has continued. At the Nürburgring shone Ferrari: Four of the top five ranked racers were on the road with the cars from Maranello. Juan Manuel Fangio was also placed as runner between the Ferraris.
Grand Prix of Italy
The Italian Grand Prix at Monza was held on 16 September 1951. The race was over a distance of 504 km in 80 laps.
Also in Monza Ferrari showed his class. Fangio retired with engine failure, and Farina, who had taken Bonettos car, only third. For this purpose, said the disgruntled Fangio: " Monza was for Alfa Romeo, what was Waterloo for Napoleon. "
Grand Prix of Spain
The Grand Prix of Spain at the Circuito de Pedralbes was discharged through 442.12 km in 70 rounds on 28 October 1951.
In ruling race of the season in 1951 Fangio rated his chances to be low. He could thus decide the race for that Ferrari had chosen to small 16-inch tires and tanks the wrong tactics. Instead of driving nonstop to the contrary victory, Ascari had after 9 rounds insert a safety stop, because dissolved due to the greater load its tires. Thus, the web was free for the first title of the Argentine.
Drivers' championship
For the Drivers' Championship in 1951, the following rules of distribution points were:
- There were only the four best results from the eight races in the championship.
- It was allowed to change the driver. If this was done, each driver got half the score of the achieved with the vehicle space, regardless of how great was his share of the total distance.