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The 1951 British Grand Prix was the fifth race of the 1951 Formula One Season, set to take place at the Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone, Northamptonshire, England over the weekend of July 14, 1951.

This race was won by José Froilán González of Ferrari.

Background[]

The British Grand Prix was once again hosted at the Silverstone circuit, an old Second World War airbase. It had hosted the first world championship race in 1950 but had been pushed to the fifth grand prix of the season for 1951. The circuit was another long fast sweeping circuit that put demand on the engines, however it would not be as troublesome for the engines as the previous rounds at Spa-Francorchamps and Reims.

Alongside the usual entrants of Giuseppe Farina, Juan Manuel Fangio and Consalvo Sanesi, Alfa Romeo had planned to enter a fourth car for Luigi Fagioli. Fagioli however having been forced to hand his car over to Fangio at Reims had decided to quit the team. Felice Bonetto was then invited to do a race for the Alfa Romeo squad. Bonetto, the former man to head the Milano project would take over Fagioli's contract to run the remaining races of the season for Alfa Romeo as a fourth car. The team were now consistently running four cars as opposed to three, the increased threat from the Ferrari's had forced Alfa Romeo to increase their man power.

Scuderia Ferrari were looking closer than ever to Alfa Romeo, only poor reliability on the 375 chassis had kept Ascari from winning their first grand prix at Reims. Taruffi was still unfit to race due to illness, so José Froilán González now a full-time member of the team took his place. Regular pilots, Alberto Ascari and Luigi Villoresi remained in action alongside Peter Whitehead now driving the private Tony Vandervell Ferrari 375. The dark blue Ferrari had been driven by Reg Parnell in France, however Whitehead defected to Vandervell for his home race. The old Ferrari 125 that Whitehead owned was quickly becoming outdated and he needed some new machinery to compete at the front.

Under immense pressure, the BRM team had finally decided to launch their P15 car for the first time at a grand prix event. The car had competed in non-championship races, however the car had proven unreliable and had not yet rivalled the Alfa Romeo's and Ferrari's as it claimed it would. Nonetheless, the British public demanded that the BRM be presented at Silverstone to defend the home colours. Raymond Mays, team founder and Peter Berthon, the designer reluctantly complied although their previous testing had implied the BRM was not yet ready to compete. Reg Parnell, often regarded as the best British grand prix driver at the time would represent the team alongside Peter Walker, a renowned British sportscar racer.

Simca-Gordini was the third major works manufacturer to represent the grid. The young team was quickly acclimatizing itself to the midfield of Formula One. Its three main drivers Robert Manzon, Maurice Trintignant and André Simon would all represent the team's colours in Britain. There was a significantly reduced Talbot-Lago presence on the field, only the Ecurie Rosier team of Louis Rosier and Louis Chiron, plus the regular privateers of  Philippe Étancelin and Johnny Claes would represent them on track.

The rest of the field was represented by the local British contingent. David Murray represented the Scuderia Ambrosiana team in a Maserati. Whilst also competing in the Maserati's privately was Philip Fotheringham-Parker and John James who would be starting his first race. Bob Gerard and Brian Shawe-Taylor brought their old ERA chassis to compete in the race. Duncan Hamilton would become the lone British driver to enter a French Talbot-Lago whilst Joe Kelly returned for the British Grand Prix racing the nimble little Alta chassis.

Entry List[]

No. Driver Entrant Constructor Chassis Engine Model Tyre
1 Italy Giuseppe Farina Italy  Alfa Romeo SpA Alfa Romeo 159B Alfa Romeo 159 LBC 1.5 L8s D
2 Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio Italy  Alfa Romeo SpA Alfa Romeo 159B Alfa Romeo 159 LBC 1.5 L8s D
3 Italy Consalvo Sanesi Italy  Alfa Romeo SpA Alfa Romeo 159B Alfa Romeo 159 LBC 1.5 L8s D
4 Italy Felice Bonetto Italy  Alfa Romeo SpA Alfa Romeo 159A Alfa Romeo 159 LBC 1.5 L8s D
5 Ireland Joe Kelly Ireland Joe Kelly Alta GP Alta 1.5 L4s D
6 United Kingdom Reg Parnell United Kingdom BRM Ltd. BRM P15 BRM 15 1.5 V16s D
7 United Kingdom Peter Walker United Kingdom BRM Ltd. BRM P15 BRM 15 1.5 V16s D
8 United Kingdom Bob Gerard United Kingdom Bob Gerard ERA B ERA 1.5 L6s D
9 United Kingdom Brian Shawe-Taylor United Kingdom Brian Shawe-Taylor ERA B ERA 1.5 L6s D
10 Italy Luigi Villoresi ItalyScuderia Ferrari Ferrari 375 Ferrari 375 F1 4.5 V12 P
11 Italy Alberto Ascari Italy Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari 375 Ferrari 375 F1 4.5 V12 P
12 Argentina José Froilán González Italy Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari 375 Ferrari 375 F1 4.5 V12 P
14 United Kingdom Peter Whitehead United Kingdom G.A Vandervell Ferrari 375 Ferrari 375 F1 4.5 V12 P
15 United Kingdom David Murray Italy Scuderia Ambrosiana Maserati 4CLT/48 Maserati 4CL 1.5 L4s D
16 United Kingdom John James United Kingdom John James Maserati 4CLT/48 Maserati 4CL 1.5 L4s D
17 United Kingdom Philip Fotheringham-Parker United Kingdom Philip Fotheringham-Parker Maserati 4CL Maserati 4CL 1.5 L4s D
18 United Kingdom Duncan Hamilton United Kingdom Duncan Hamilton Talbot-Lago T26C Talbot-Lago 23CV 4.5 L6 D
19 France Maurice Trintignant France Equipe Gordini Simca-Gordini T15 Simca-Gordini 15C 1.5 L4s  E
20 France Robert Manzon France Equipe Gordini Simca-Gordini T15 Simca-Gordini 15C 1.5 L4s  E
21 France André Simon France Equipe Gordini Simca-Gordini T15 Simca-Gordini 15C 1.5 L4s  E
22 France Louis Rosier France Ecurie Rosier Talbot-Lago T26C-DA Talbot-Lago 23CV 4.5 L6 D
23 Monaco Louis Chiron France Ecurie Rosier Talbot-Lago T26C Talbot-Lago 23CV 4.5 L6 D
24 France Philippe Étancelin France Philippe Étancelin Talbot-Lago T26C-DA Talbot-Lago 23CV 4.5 L6 D
25 Belgium Johnny Claes Belgium Ecurie Belge Talbot-Lago T26C-DA Talbot-Lago 23CV 4.5 L6 D
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Qualifying[]

Report[]

None of the Simca-Gordini's arrived for practice, their entries being withdrawn from the race. Likewise to not arrive at the circuit was Philippe Étancelin in his private Talbot-Lago. The British crowd were also dismayed to see that the BRM's had not yet decided to attend practice. Raymond Mays and Peter Berthon late to decide whether to commit to the grand prix.

The Ferrari's had proved to be ever improving, for the first time in the World Championship's history, the Alfa Romeo's would not be starting on pole position. Instead it was González, the stand in man at Ferrari for Taruffi, who went on to take pole position. González was proud to be a full second faster than his mentor, compatriot and friend, Juan Manuel Fangio in the Alfa Romeo.

Farina took the third place for Alfa Romeo whilst Ascari and Villoresi were left bewildered by González pace, sitting two seconds adrift of his time. Sanesi struggled in his Alfa Romeo, managing only sixth on the grid ahead of Bonetto starting his first race for the Alfa squad. Whitehead in his first race in a 375 could only manage a best of eighth, yet still remained the fastest British driver during qualifying.

Rosier was then ninth fastest in the Talbot-Lago whilst Gerard did an excellent job to put his old ERA into tenth position. Hamilton, the Britain in the Talbot-Lago sat in eleventh ahead of the second ERA of Shawe-Taylor. Chiron and Claes were still off the pace in their Talbot-Lago's to line up in thirteenth and fourteenth. The three Maserati's of Murray, Fotheringham-Parker and James were the next cars to line-up on the grid, whilst Kelly the slowest car in his little under powered Alta was last in the standings.

Results[]

Pos No. Driver Constructor Time Gap
1 12 Argentina José Froilán González Italy Ferrari 1' 43.4
2 2 Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio Italy Alfa Romeo 1' 44.4 +1.0
3 1 Italy Nino Farina Italy Alfa Romeo 1' 45.0 +1.6
4 11 Italy Alberto Ascari Italy Ferrari 1' 45.4 +2.0
5 10 Italy Luigi Villoresi Italy Ferrari 1' 45.8 +2.4
6 3 Italy Consalvo Sanesi Italy Alfa Romeo 1' 50.2 +6.8
7 4 Italy Felice Bonetto Italy Alfa Romeo 1' 52.0 +8.6
8 14 United Kingdom Peter Whitehead Italy Ferrari 1' 54.6 +11.2
9 22 France Louis Rosier France Talbot-Lago-Talbot 1' 56.0 +12.6
10 8 United Kingdom Bob Gerard United Kingdom ERA 1' 57.0 +13.6
11 18 United Kingdom Duncan Hamilton France Talbot-Lago-Talbot 1' 57.2 +13.8
12 9 United Kingdom Brian Shawe-Taylor United Kingdom ERA 1' 58.2 +14.8
13 23 Monaco Louis Chiron France Talbot-Lago-Talbot 2' 00.2 +16.8
14 25 Belgium Johnny Claes France Talbot-Lago-Talbot 2' 05.8 +22.4
15 15 United Kingdom David Murray Italy Maserati 2' 06.0 +22.6
16 17 United Kingdom Philip Fotheringham-Parker Italy Maserati 2' 13.2 +29.8
17 16 United Kingdom John James Italy Maserati 2' 17.0 +33.6
18 5 Ireland Joe Kelly United Kingdom Alta 2' 18.4 +35.0
19 7 United Kingdom Peter Walker United Kingdom BRM No Time
20 6 United Kingdom Reg Parnell United Kingdom BRM No Time
DNA 19 France Maurice Trintignant France Simca-Gordini
DNA 20 France Robert Manzon France Simca-Gordini
DNA 21 France André Simon France Simca-Gordini
DNA 24 France Philippe Étancelin France Talbot-Lago-Talbot

Grid[]

Race[]

Report[]

The race at Silverstone only attracted a meagre 50 000 crowd, this had been only a third of the attendance to the previous year's race. The lack of significance and the lack of British competitiveness had turned the British away from the sport in the past year. Britain's great publicly funded motorsport hope, the BRM project looked to have failed. The cars were not looking like they were going to compete in the most important British race of the season. However at the last minute, the BRM's of Parnell and Walker arrived at the circuit on Sunday morning. The team had desperately been trying to prepare the cars to the best so they would be at best performance at their home grand prix, even if this meant sacrificing the practice times. Naturally, the British organisers allowed the BRM's to take the race start, albeit they were forced to start from the very back of the grid.

Following the shared victory between Fangio and Fagioli in Reims, the Royal Automobile Club (RAC), the organisers for the British Grand Prix decreed that shared cars would be banned for the race in Silverstone. The race organisers feeling the French result had confused fans too much. The lead drivers would be forced to get only a single chance in the race ahead, they would not be able to depend on their teammates cars if their own failed.

The start of the race brought a surprise when Bonetto who started from seventh on the grid got a tremendous start in his first race for Alfa Romeo to take the lead of the race heading into the first corner. González, the pole-sitting Ferrari followed in second ahead of Farina, Ascari, Fangio and Villoresi. The BRM's had started their race well, the two cars of Parnell and Walker were quickly disposing of the cars at the back and moving their way up the midfield. In the early laps, Walker would have a major spin at Becketts, however the BRM driver would rejoin the track and continue his offensive.

Bonetto held onto the lead for the first lap, however González would quickly reclaim the lead on the second. Fangio then went on to overtake both Ascari and Farina on the same lap to move into third on lap four. After his magnificent start, Bonetto had begun to fall back down the field. He was first overtaken by Fangio and then Ascari and Farina followed their way past him. Bonetto fell to fifth and was now on the defensive to Villoresi's Ferrari.

Fangio was putting in another of his storming runs and had quickly taken the lead from his friend González on lap 10. Nonetheless, he failed to pull away as the younger Argentine stuck to Fangio's rear in his Ferrari. The battle for fifth meanwhile between Bonetto and Villoresi was beginning to intensify. On lap 15, Villoresi failed a manoeuvere on Bonetto at Copse and spun. By the time Villoresi rejoined, the final Alfa Romeo of Sanesi had taken sixth place.

Fangio was desperately pushing hard to maintain his lead, the Alfa Romeo clipping straw bales and marker drums as he fought to get the tightest line through every corner. González was nearly thrown off the chase when he went very deep into Stowe and ran off the circuit. However soon enough the Ferrari had caught Fangio and on lap 38 moved past and González took the lead of the race.

Fifty seconds behind this pair, Farina and Ascari were having an equally intense battle for third place. The Alfa Romeo's being outpaced by the Ferrari's for the first time in 1951. Ascari managing to set the fastest lap of the race in his pursuit of Farina, however the Italian champion was proving resolute in his defense. Bonetto was beginning to fade and both Sanesi and Villoresi had managed to make it past him. Now in eighth place, Parnell was sitting the best of the rest in his BRM, the local crowd enjoying the fact that he had managed to bring the new BRM into the top ten after starting at the back. Walker, too was looking to get a top ten finish, now recovering from his early race spin.

The early retirements of the race had seen the debutant Maserati of James retire on lap twenty three with radiator problems, Chiron then went out with brake problems and the Maserati's of Murray and Fotheringham-Parker retired on lap 45 and 46.

Half way through the race, the Alfa Romeo's were forced into the pits for fuel. Meanwhile the more fuel conservative Ferrari's were able to continue without delay. Following Fangio's pit-stop, González was left with a lead a full minute clear of Fangio. Ascari had also taken Farina's third spot when he had pitted. Sanesi's stop was more chaotic, a wheel was stuck to his car which had meant Bonetto and the BRM of Parnell were able to move ahead of him. Parnell was now remarkably only one position off the points placings, although he still sat several laps behind the leaders.

The Ferrari's were due in for their pit-stops approximately ten laps after the Alfa Romeo's. Ascari was the first Ferrari in, however during his pit-stop he broke his gearbox in the process. González during his own stop offered to give his car up, however Ascari refused allowing his younger teammate the opportunity to take Ferrari's first win.

González exited the pits, having lost only 23 seconds to Fangio who remained in second. In the final stages, Farina broke down with clutch failure allowing Villoresi to move into fourth position. Now up to fifth and looking to score points in its first race was the BRM of Parnell. However it was González, the man who had been on top all weekend who went on to take a dominant first race win for both himself and the Ferrari team. Enzo Ferrari had finally seen his team take the rostrum as a race winner in the Grand Prix World Championship. Fangio took second, the older Argentine proud of his young compatriot's success. Fangio had managed to increase his championship lead to six points following Farina's non-finish.

Farina still held second in the championship, however Villoresi who finished third in the race was only two points adrift. The race winner, González had risen to fourth in the standings following his British success. Ascari had fallen in the standings, his sportsmanship in failing to take González's car had meant he had fallen out of championship play.

After his blistering start, Bonetto led a quiet race to take fourth position ahead of an ecstatic Reg Parnell of BRM. At the car's home grand prix and debut race, the BRM had finished in the points. The team proving that even an underdeveloped model could still be competitive. The result putting success on what had been so far a troubling racing project.

Results[]

Pos. No. Driver Manufacturer Laps Time/Retired Grid Pts.
1 12 Argentina José Froilán González Italy Ferrari 90 2" 42' 18.2 1 8
2 2 Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio Italy Alfa Romeo 90 + 51.0 2 6
3 10 Italy Luigi Villoresi Italy Ferrari 88 + 2 Laps 5 4
4 4 Italy Felice Bonetto Italy Alfa Romeo 87 + 3 Laps 7 3
5 6 United Kingdom Reg Parnell United Kingdom BRM 85 + 5 Laps 20 2
6 3 Italy Consalvo Sanesi Italy Alfa Romeo 84 + 6 Laps 6
7 7 United Kingdom Peter Walker United Kingdom BRM 84 + 6 Laps 19
8 9 United Kingdom Brian Shawe-Taylor United Kingdom ERA 84 + 6 Laps 12
9 14 United Kingdom Peter Whitehead Italy Ferrari 83 + 7 Laps 8
10 22 France Louis Rosier France Talbot-Lago-Talbot 83 + 7 Laps 9
11 8 United Kingdom Bob Gerard United Kingdom ERA 82 + 8 Laps 10
12 18 United Kingdom Duncan Hamilton France Talbot-Lago-Talbot 81 + 9 Laps 11
13 25 Belgium Johnny Claes France Talbot-Lago-Talbot 80 + 10 Laps 14
Ret 1 Italy Nino Farina Italy Alfa Romeo 75 Clutch 3 1
NC 5 Ireland Joe Kelly United Kingdom Alta 75 Not Classified 18
Ret 11 Italy Alberto Ascari Italy Ferrari 56 Gearbox 4
Ret 17 United Kingdom Philip Fotheringham-Parker Italy Maserati 46 Oil Leak 16
Ret 15 United Kingdom David Murray Italy Maserati 45 Engine 15
Ret 23 Monaco Louis Chiron France Talbot-Lago-Talbot 41 Brakes 13
Ret 16 United Kingdom John James Italy Maserati 23 Radiator 17

Milestones[]

Standings after race[]

Pos. Driver Pts
1 Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio 21
2 Italy Nino Farina 15
3 Italy Luigi Villoresi 12
4 Argentina José Froilán González 11
5 United States Lee Wallard 9

Only the top five are displayed


V T E United Kingdom British Grand Prix
Circuits Brooklands (1926 - 1927), Silverstone (1948 - Present), Aintree (1955 - 1962), Brands Hatch (1963 - 1986)
SilverstoneArena2010
Races 19501951195219531954195519561957195819591960196119621963196419651966196719681969197019711972197319741975197619771978197919801981198219831984198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023
Non-Championship Races 1926192719481949
V T E 1951 Formula One Season
Constructors Alfa Romeo • Alta • BRM • ERA • Ferrari • Gordini • HWM • Maserati • OSCA • Talbot-Lago • Veritas
Engines Alfa Romeo • Alta • BRM • ERA • Ferrari • Gordini • Maserati • OSCA • Talbot • Veritas
Drivers Abecassis • Ascari • Bira • Bonetto • Branca • Chaboud • Chiron • Claes • Étancelin • Fagioli • Juan Manuel Fangio • Farina • R. Fischer • Fotheringham-Parker • Gordini • Giraud-Cabantous • Gerard • Godia-Sales • J. F. González • de Graffenried • Grignard • Hamilton • Hirt • James • Jover • Kelly • Landi • Levegh • Louveau • Mairesse • Marimón • Manzon • S. Moss • Murray • Parnell • Pietsch • Pilette • Richardson • Rol • Rosier • Sanesi • Schell • Shawe-Taylor • Simon • Stuck • Swaters • Taruffi • Trintignant • Villoresi • Walker • P. Whitehead
Cars Alfa Romeo 159 • Alta GP • BRM P15 • ERA B • Ferrari 125 • Ferrari 212 • Ferrari 375 • HWM 51 • Maserati 4CL • Maserati 4CLT/48 • OSCA 4500G • Simca-Gordini T11 • Simca-Gordini T15 • Talbot-Lago 26C • Veritas Meteor
Tyres Dunlop • Englebert • Pirelli
Races Switzerland • Indianapolis • Belgium • France • Britain • Germany • Italy • Spain
See also 1950 Formula One Season • 1952 Formula One Season • Category
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