1958 Formula One season

Season 1959 >

The Formula 1 season in 1958 was the ninth FIA Formula 1 World Championship. She was discharged through eleven races in the period of 19 January 1958 to 19 October 1958.

The FIA honorary title of European Grand Prix was awarded to the Belgian Grand Prix in 1958.

Mike Hawthorn won for the first and only time the drivers' world championship. Vanwall became the first and only time Constructors' world champions. Since it has been awarded this season for the first time the constructors title, Vanwall is the first Formula 1 Constructors' world champion in Formula 1 history.

Drive Risch, the year the resignation of the five -time world champion Juan Manuel Fangio, and the teams Ferrari and Vanwall quarreled over his succession. Although it was Vanwall driver Stirling Moss won four races, but out of his victories he had hardly objective arrivals badge. His rival Mike Hawthorn in Ferrari managed just one victory, but five second places at the end ensured that he became world champion by one point. In addition, there was a sad year for Formula 1: Pat O'Connor, Luigi Musso, Peter Collins and Stuart Lewis -Evans were four pilots their lives, and also world champion Hawthorn, who stepped down to end of the season, survived his title only few months.

Changes in 1958

The season 1958 brought some new rules. Thus, the minimum distance of a race from three was shortened to two hours, the use of commercially available fuel instead of the previously used special mixtures was provision for shared spaces, there were no points and the first time the Constructors' Championship was held. Already in the autumn of 1958 another change to Formula 2 vehicles was decided, but this only converted Formula 1 season 1961, in the World Championship.

The World Championship races

GP Argentina - Buenos Aires (19 January 1958)

Only ten drivers took part in the season opener in Argentina, for some teams, including Vanwall, the rule changes came just too early. Moss could therefore start in Rob Walker's private team, with a Cooper, which was in contrast to the conventional vehicles equipped with a mid-engine. In order to lose no time in changing tires, Moss put everything on one card and finished the race by nonstop. So he could be the more powerful Ferraris just behind. His victory marked the first victory of a mid-engine car in the Formula 1 World Championship.

GP Monaco - Monte Carlo (May 18, 1958)

Successively led Behra in BRM, Vanwall Moss and Hawthorn in Ferrari, but resigned from all three. So celebrated his second victory in a row at the end of the mid-engined Cooper. For Maurice Trintignant it was the last victory. The race brought the debut of Lotus. The later world champion Graham Hill was not yet competitive Lotus T12 69 laps keep in the race, before it failed with a broken half- shaft. The later Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone tried unsuccessfully to qualify in a Connaught. Luigi Musso took over with another second place the lead in the overall standings without a race to have won, it was not until 2007 again a driver, Lewis Hamilton.

GP Netherlands - Zandvoort (26 May 1958)

After a year's break was once again on the GP of the Netherlands in Zandvoort on the program. In stormy weather, Stirling Moss celebrated an impressive victory. British team took places one through four and left the competition from Italy look old.

500 miles of Indianapolis - Indianapolis (30 May 1958)

Even the timing - the race took place only four days after the GP of the Netherlands - showed how little regard the Formula 1 and the Indianapolis 500 took another, and so does not Europeans at the start were. 14 of 33 vehicles were involved in a collision at the start, at the Pat O'Connor was fatally injured. After a race with many lead changes, Jimmy Bryan won against George Amick.

Belgian GP / GP Europe - Spa -Francorchamps (15 June 1958)

The Vanwall Moss was already at the start are, and so was his team-mate Tony Brooks retract a safe victory. Dramatically, it was only at the end of the race: Brooks ' gear went into the last corner broken and his race car rolled powerless over the finish line. With Maria Teresa de Filippis Maserati for the first time took part in a woman at a World Championship race, she finished the race in tenth.

GP France - Reims (July 6, 1958)

On the high -speed track in Reims Ferrari could exploit the benefits of this powerful engine clear, Hawthorn, and Musso drove up and away. In the duel between the two, it came to tragedy, as Musso coming off the track and had a fatal accident. For Juan Manuel Fangio was the last race, after his fourth place he announced his retirement from racing.

British GP - Silverstone (19 July 1958)

Since Moss retired with engine failure, the race was a clear matter for Ferrari, Collins and Hawthorn celebrated a double victory. For astonishment saw the third place of the weaker assessed Roy Salvadori in the mid-engined Cooper.

GP Germany - Nürburgring (3 August 1958)

Two weeks after his victory at Silverstone, Peter Collins again a GP, when he comes off in the tenth round at the section Pflanzgarten of the track and is thrown against a tree - in the evening he died in a hospital in Bonn. Since Moss and Hawthorn retire, the victory of Tony Brooks is not compromised, and again demonstrate the Coopers with ranks two and three top places.

GP Portugal - Porto (24 August 1958)

For the first time a world championship race was held in the Portuguese city of Porto, the route included some walking on cobblestones and tram tracks. Moss was leading the race when viewed Hawthorn turned in the final phase. He let his Ferrari roll it against the direction of travel and was finally second. For this maneuver Hawthorn should be disqualified, but Moss is committed to him, so that he remains in the standings. It is the race of the legendary reading error of Moss, which might cost him the title: Hawthorn had the fastest lap lying down ( for at that time there was an extra point ), and his box signaled Moss Hawthorn Rec ( = record ); However, Moss las Hawthorn Reg ( = regular) and no longer forced towards the end. Thus passed the point for the fastest lap at Hawthorn, and in the end he was one point ahead of World Champion.

Italian GP - Monza (September 7, 1958)

The duel against Hawthorn Moss went on, however, Moss was forced to retire with gearbox failure. For overtook his team-mate Tony Brooks chestnuts out of the fire and directed the Ferrari driver on the courts. For the fourth-placed Gregory and Shelby were in accordance with the new regulations, which forbade driver swap, no more points.

GP Morocco - Ain Diab (19 October 1958)

The only time a World Championship race was held in Morocco, the 7.7 km long route ran in Ain Diab, a suburb of Casablanca. The situation was clear: Siegt Moss, Hawthorn must finish second, otherwise the Vanwall driver is world champion. Moss led from the start and Hawthorn was only in fourth place, as the difference Brooks lying before him. Hawthorn was now third, as the Ferrari team orders came into force: the second-placed Phil Hill was Hawthorn overtake and thus secured his teammate for the title. Again, there was a skull to complain: the young Vanwall driver Stuart Lewis -Evans turned to a puddle of oil and his car caught fire. Six days later he succumbed to his burn injuries.

For Vanwall was after all, the first held in the Constructors' Championship, but withdrew the team, just like world champion Hawthorn, end of the season back.

Drivers' championship

The first five of each race were 8, 6, 4, 3 and 2 points, one more point there was for the fastest race lap. The best six results of the 11 races counted.

† During the season, Peter Collins, Pat O'Connor and Luigi Musso died. Stuart Lewis -Evans died after the last race.

Constructors' Championship

The first five of each race were 8, 6, 4, 3 and 2 points, one more point there was for the fastest race lap. The best six results counted. Points were awarded only for the highest-ranked riders from each team.