1956 Argentine Grand Prix
The Grand Prix of Argentina in 1956 took place on January 22, 1956 held at the Autódromo Municipal Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, and was the first race of the Formula 1 season 1956.
- 3.1 Start -up
- 3.2 race
- 4.1 Drivers' Championship
Reports
Background
After Mercedes had retired after the 1955 season of Formula 1, went in the season opener, the Grand Prix of Argentina, only Italian cars at the start. Ferrari and Maserati took the only factory team part in the race, two other teams with private Maserati vehicles.
Ferrari continued in this race a car for five riders, the majority of which were the new Ferrari D50, which was based on the Lancia D50, whose team his car in 1955 sold at Ferrari. The reigning world champion Juan Manuel Fangio moved to Ferrari. In addition, Ferrari reinforced with Luigi Musso, Peter Collins and Formula 1 debutant Olivier Gendebien. From the previous drivers kept Ferrari only Eugenio Castellotti.
Maserati sat in this Grand Prix a seven cars. Stirling Moss joined the team. Also, drove for Maserati as last year Carlos Menditeguy and Jean Behra. The Italians Luigi Piotti and Gerino Gerini drove her Maserati Formula 1 debut, the Brazilian Chico Landi played his last Grand Prix.
Mike Hawthorn went for the Owen Racing Organisation in a private Maserati at the start. This team was initially of the season with this car in the race, developed later in the season to own a car, which celebrated under the name of BRM especially in the 60's success.
Also a private Maserati shared Óscar González and Alberto Uria. For both it was the last Formula 1 race of their careers, also the only one for González.
For the race, only 13 vehicles were registered, of which turned out in the race seven and only six cars crossed the finish line.
Training
In training, the superiority of the Ferrari D50 showed. Fangio secured the pole position with over two seconds ahead of second-placed Castellotti. Musso in the third Ferrari D50 qualified in third place. Ferrari secured himself after a year 's pole position after the last time in 1955 went with José González Froilán the Grand Prix of Argentina a Ferrari from first place in the race.
Behind the Ferrari Maserati launched five, four of the works teams with drivers Behra, González, Menditeguy and Moss and the Maserati private Hawthorn. The Ferrari 555 was not competitive compared to the D50, which Collins and Gendebein with more than five seconds behind Fangio only on position nine and ten qualified.
Uriah achieved in training no time, however, took account of the low number of participating teams and wagons, still part in the race.
Race
The superiority of the Ferrari in training was not initially confirmed in the race. The Maserati Moss and Menditeguy good start, overtook the Ferrari and took the lead. Menditeguy secured in the team-internal duel against Moss first place and resulted in the first laps in his home race.
For the winner of the last two Grand Prix Argentina, Fangio, the race was ended early on lap 22, his car had problems with the fuel pump. The team then decided that Musso has to give his car to Fangio, so Fangio was able to continue the race. At the Grand Prix of Italy 1956 later in the season Musso was in the lead and has also been asked to hand over his car to Fangio. In this race, he then refused, however, and retired shortly before the race ended.
Fangio took over Musso's car on lap 30 and then worked his way closer to the front seats. He passed Behra, then made a mistake and spun into the trackside. Fangio was stuck and was unable to free themselves from the situation. Marshals pushed at him and Fangio put the race behind Behra continue lying. After the race, Maserati entered a formal protest and called for a disqualification because of Fangio pushing,. The protest was rejected by the race stewards and the FIA.
Fangio fought after his spin again to zoom Behra and overtook him as 40 technical problems got in front of him several drivers from the round with her car. Only Castellotti fell to third place lying down with a gearbox failure, then broke two laps later, the half-wave of the leading Menditeguy, who was 42 laps of the race the first place. Then Moss took over this position in front of Fangio and Behra, and with him smoke rose from the engine. He sat the race for several laps continued, but lost speed and was overtaken by Fangio and Behra. In midfield, Piotti several positions worked forward until he stood just behind the leading group. In an overtaking maneuver against Collins a misunderstanding between the two caused an accident that resulted in the resignation of both drivers.
Moss abandoned the race due to the engine failure of its Maseratis in the 81st round, so Fangio and Behra be dueled for the win. Here, Behra made like Fangio before a driving mistake and turned. Thus Fangio drove unchallenged victory to the finish, while Behra took second place. Only the two drivers were on the lead lap, Hawthorn in third place already had two laps down. At position four Gerini reached the goal of the car with Landi divided, in fifth place achieved Gendebein his first points.
Since Fangio to the car with Musso told both drivers won the race. For Musso it was the only victory of his Formula 1 career. Fangio won the third of four races in a row at his home race in Argentina, for Ferrari was the second of three wins at the Grand Prix of Argentina.
Fangio and Musso shared the points awarded for victory, Fangio was an extra for the fastest race lap. For this reason, Behra was the first time in his career in the drivers' championship lead as he received six points for second place.
Message list
Comments
Classifications
Line-up
Race
Standings after the race
The first five of the race were 8, 6, 4, 3, 2 points. The driver with the fastest lap of the race also received 1 point. It included only the five best results from seven races.