1961 Formula One season
1962 season >
The Formula 1 season 1961 was the 12th FIA Formula 1 World Championship. She was discharged through eight races in the period of 14 May 1961 to 8 October 1961.
The FIA honorary title of European Grand Prix was awarded in 1961 at the Grand Prix of Germany.
Phil Hill won for the first time the drivers' world championship. Ferrari was first Constructors' world champions. Hill was the first American to win the Formula 1 world title.
Changes in 1961
In the season which was adopted in the fall of 1958 re- return to Formula 2 vehicles was implemented, and reduced the allowable engine capacity of 1.3 to 1.5 liters. For commercial premium gasoline was allowed. To limit the lightweight construction, the first time a minimum weight of 450 kg and roll bar was prescribed, but this still today without the usual safety standards and tests.
Teams and Drivers
Race Reports
Grand Prix of Monaco
The Monaco Grand Prix was held on the street circuit of Monte Carlo on May 14. Hazards were 100 laps with a length of 3.145 km. The total distance were thus 314.500 km.
Stirling Moss launched for the last time in Formula 1 from the pole position.
Dutch Grand Prix
The Grand Prix of the Netherlands was held on May 22 at the Circuit Park Zandvoort. The race took 75 laps of 4.193 km, corresponding to a total length of 314.475 km.
Wolfgang Graf Berghe von Trips was the first German a race in Formula 1 The race became the first Grand Prix in history in which all started driver crossed the finish line.
Grand Prix of Belgium
The Circuit de Spa -Francorchamps on 18 June was the venue for the Belgian Grand Prix. The race was over 423 kilometers, which corresponds to 30 rounds per 14.1 kilometers.
Grand Prix of France
The French Grand Prix was held at the 8.302 kilometers long Circuit de Reims - Gueux on July 2. The 52 laps were driven a total distance of 431.704 kilometers.
Giancarlo Baghetti immediately won his first Grand Prix, the only podium finish of his Formula 1 career.
Grand Prix of Great Britain
The Grand Prix of Great Britain was held on 15 July at the Aintree Circuit. The race took 75 laps of 4.828 km, corresponding to a total length of 362.1 kilometers.
Grand Prix of Germany / Europe
The Grand Prix of Germany with the additional designation " European Grand Prix " was on August 6, over 15 laps of the 22.81 km long Nordschleife of the Nürburgring. After 342.15 kilometers Stirling Moss was the last time in his Formula 1 career as a winner on the podium.
Favorites of the race were the Ferrari 156 by Wolfgang Graf Berghe von Trips and Phil Hill, who performed around 30 hp more than the other cars in the starting field of the 26. But already in the first lap of the race overtook Stirling Moss Lotus - Climax the quickest in qualifying, Phil Hill and took the lead after the first located at the front Jack Brabham in the section Hatzenbach - was off the track - little more than two kilometers after the start. Moss won the race after superior in the final stretch as heavy rain.
In the tenth round, Wolfgang von Trips broke through with 8:59,9 minutes as the first 9- minute barrier on the Nurburgring. Seconds later, however, Phil Hill followed with the fastest race lap in 8:57,8 minutes.
Porsche had reported four works cars to home Grand Prix, three of which were with the riders Joakim Bonnier, Hans Herrmann and Dan Gurney at the start in the top six. A good result in the end the team but remained failed. After a collision with Graham Hill Gurney was 3:12,6 minutes behind the winner in seventh; Herrmann fell through a defective clutch back far and Bonnier retired with engine failure.
Grand Prix of Italy
The Italian Grand Prix was held at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza on September 10. Hazards were 43 laps with a length of 10 kilometers. The total distance were thus 430 km.
Wolfgang Graf Berghe von Trips, by then leader, was killed when braking on the Parabolic fatal. In the accident and 15 spectators were killed and 60 others were seriously injured.
United States Grand Prix
The Grand Prix of the United States on October 8 was the last race of the season in 1961. The race distance was 100 laps of 3.701 km, corresponding to a total distance of 370.100 kilometers.
Innes Ireland was driving a his first and only Formula 1 victory. For Stirling Moss, who crashed hard in April 1962 in a national race at Goodwood, the career ended as a racing driver.
Drivers' championship
The first six places were 9, 6, 4, 3, 2, 1 points. Only the best five results of the eight races belonged to the championship.
Constructors' Championship
The best five of the eight individual results counted.