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The 1951 Formula One season included the 2nd running of the FIA Formula One World Championship, which commenced on May 27, 1951, and ended on October 28 after eight races. There were also 14 races in 1951 that, while run to Formula One rules, did not count towards championship standings.

Season summary[]

Ferrari's newer, unsupercharged 4.5 litre cars offered a real challenge to the Alfas, which were nearing the end of their development potential. Although Alfas won four of the European races, with Fangio taking the championship, Ferrari's three victories spelled the end for the Alfas. BRM made their only championship appearance with the V16 at Silverstone, and the old, slow Talbots were increasingly outclassed.

Points were given to top 5 finishers (8, 6, 4, 3, 2). 1 point was given for fastest lap. Only the best four of eight scores counted towards the world championship. Points for shared drives were divided equally between the drivers, regardless of who had driven more laps.

Results[]

Round Event Report
Grid Result
1 Switzerland Swiss Grand Prix Report
Argentina [[Juan Manuel Fangio]]
Alfa Romeo
1 Argentina [[Juan Manuel Fangio]]
Alfa Romeo
Fastest Lap
Italy [[Nino Farina]]
Alfa Romeo
2 Italy [[Piero Taruffi]]
Ferrari
Argentina [[Juan Manuel Fangio]]
Alfa Romeo
Italy [[Luigi Fagioli]]
Alfa Romeo
3 Italy [[Nino Farina]]
Alfa Romeo
2:51.1 on Lap 33
2 United States Indianapolis 500 Report
United States [[Walt Faulkner]]
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser
1 United States [[Lee Wallard]]
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser
Fastest Lap
United States [[Duke Nalon]]
Kurtis Kraft-Novi
2 United States [[Mike Nazaruk]]
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser
United States [[Lee Wallard]]
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser
United States [[Chet Miller]]
Kurtis Kraft-Novi
3 United States [[Jack McGrath
United States Manny Ayulo]]
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser
1:07.26 on Lap ?
3 Belgium Belgian Grand Prix Report
Argentina [[Juan Manuel Fangio]]
Alfa Romeo
1 Italy [[Nino Farnia]]
Alfa Romeo
Fastest Lap
Italy [[Nino Farnia]]
Alfa Romeo
2 Italy [[Alberto Ascari]]
Ferrari
Argentina [[Juan Manuel Fangio]]
Alfa Romeo
Italy [[Luigi Fagioli]]
Ferrari
3 Italy [[Luigi Fagioli]]
Ferrari
4:22.1 on Lap 10
4 France French Grand Prix Report
Argentina [[Juan Manuel Fangio]]
Alfa Romeo
1 Argentina [[Juan Manuel Fangio
Italy Luigi Fagioli]]
Alfa Romeo
Fastest Lap
Italy [[Nino Farnia]]
Alfa Romeo
2 Italy [[Alberto Ascari
Argentina José Froilán González]]
Ferrari
Argentina [[Juan Manuel Fangio]]
Alfa Romeo
Italy [[Alberto Ascari]]
Ferrari
3 Italy [[Luigi Villoresi]]
Ferrari
2:35.6 on Lap 32
5 United Kingdom British Grand Prix Report
Argentina [[José Froilán González]]
Ferrari
1 Argentina [[José Froilán González]]
Ferrari
Fastest Lap
Argentina [[Juan Manuel Fangio]]
Alfa Romeo
2 Argentina [[Juan Manuel Fangio]]
Alfa Romeo
Italy [[Nino Farina]]
Alfa Romeo
Italy [[Nino Farina]]
Alfa Romeo
3 Italy [[Luigi Fagioli]]
Ferrari
1:44.0 on Lap 38
6 Germany German Grand Prix Report
Italy [[Alberto Ascari]]
Ferrari
1 Italy [[Alberto Ascari]]
Ferrari
Fastest Lap
Argentina [[José Froilán González]]
Ferrari
2 Argentina [[Juan Manuel Fangio]]
Alfa Romeo
Argentina [[Juan Manuel Fangio]]
Alfa Romeo
Argentina [[Juan Manuel Fangio]]
Alfa Romeo
3 Argentina [[José Froilán González]]
Ferrari
9:55.8 on Lap 12
7 Italy Italian Grand Prix Report
Argentina [[Juan Manuel Fangio]]
Alfa Romeo
1 Italy [[Alberto Ascari]]
Ferrari
Fastest Lap
Italy [[Nino Farina]]
Alfa Romeo
2 Argentina [[José Froilán González]]
Ferrari
Italy [[Nino Farnia]]
Alfa Romeo
Italy [[Alberto Ascari]]
Ferrari
3 Italy [[Felice Bonetto
Italy Nino Farina]]
Alfa Romeo
1:56.5 on Lap 64
8 Spain Spainsh Grand Prix Report
Italy [[Alberto Ascari]]
Ferrari
1 Argentina [[Juan Manuel Fangio]]
Alfa Romeo
Fastest Lap
Argentina [[Juan Manuel Fangio]]
Alfa Romeo
2 Argentina [[José Froilán González]]
Ferrari
Argentina [[Juan Manuel Fangio]]
Alfa Romeo
Argentina [[José Froilán González]]
Ferrari
3 Italy [[Nino Farnia]]
Alfa Romeo
2:16.93 on Lap 3

Teams and Drivers[]

The following teams and drivers competed in the 1951 FIA Formula One World Championship.

1951 Driver line-ups[]

Entrant Constructor Chassis Engine Tyre Driver(s)
Italy Alfa Romeo SpA Alfa Romeo 159 Alfa Romeo 1.5 L8 Supercharged P Italy Giuseppe Farina
Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio
Italy Consalvo Sanesi
Switzerland Toulo de Graffenried
Italy Luigi Fagioli
Italy Felice Bonetto
Germany Paul Pietsch
Italy Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari 375 Ferrari 4.5 V12 P Italy Alberto Ascari
Italy Luigi Villoresi
Italy Piero Taruffi
Argentina José Froilán González
Brazil Chico Landi
France Ecurie Rosier Talbot-Lago T26C Talbot-Lago 4.5 L6 D France Louis Rosier
France Henri Louveau
Monaco Louis Chiron
France Equipe Simca-Gordini Simca-Gordini 15
11
Gordini 1.5 L4 Supercharged E France Maurice Trintignant
France Robert Manzon
France André Simon
France Aldo Gordini
Belgium Ecurie Belge Talbot-Lago T26C Talbot-Lago 4.5 L6 D Belgium Johnny Claes
France Yves Giraud-Cabantous Talbot-Lago T26C Talbot-Lago 4.5 L6 D France Yves Giraud-Cabantous
France Philippe Étancelin Talbot-Lago T26C Talbot-Lago 4.5 L6 D France Philippe Étancelin
Switzerland Enrico Platé Maserati 4CLT/48 Maserati 1.5 L4 Supercharged P United States Harry Schell
Monaco Louis Chiron
Switzerland Toulo de Graffenried
Belgium Ecurie Belgique Talbot-Lago T26C Talbot-Lago 4.5 L6 D France Guy Mairesse
Belgium André Pilette
Belgium Jacques Swaters
France Pierre Levegh Talbot-Lago Talbot-Lago T26C Talbot-Lago 4.5 L6 D France Pierre Levegh
Switzerland Ecurie Espadon Ferrari 212 Ferrari 2.5 V12 P Switzerland Rudi Fischer
Veritas Meteor Veritas 2.0 L6 P Switzerland Peter Hirt
United Kingdom British Racing Motors BRM P15 BRM 1.5 V16 Supercharged D United Kingdom Reg Parnell
United Kingdom Peter Walker
United Kingdom Hersham & Walton Motors HWM 51 Alta 2.0 L4 D United Kingdom George Abecassis
United Kingdom Stirling Moss
United Kingdom Vandervell Products Ferrari 375 tw Ferrari 4.5 V12 P United Kingdom Reg Parnell
United Kingdom Peter Whitehead
United Kingdom Graham Whitehead Ferrari 125 Ferrari 1.5 V12 Supercharged D United Kingdom Peter Whitehead
United Kingdom Duncan Hamilton Talbot-Lago T26C Talbot-Lago 4.5 L6 D United Kingdom Duncan Hamilton
Italy Scuderia Milano Maserati 4CLT/50
4CLT/48
Maserati 1.5 L4 Supercharged P Argentina Onofre Marimón
Spain Paco Godia
Ireland Joe Kelly Alta GP Alta 1.5 L4 Supercharged D Ireland Joe Kelly
United Kingdom FR Gerard ERA B-Type ERA 1.5 L6 Supercharged D United Kingdom Bob Gerard
United Kingdom Brian Shawe-Taylor ERA B-Type ERA 1.5 L6 Supercharged D United Kingdom Brian Shawe-Taylor
Italy Scuderia Ambrosiana Maserati 4CLT/48 Maserati 1.5 L4 Supercharged D United Kingdom David Murray
United Kingdom Peter Whitehead Ferrari 125 Ferrari 1.5 V12 Supercharged D United Kingdom Peter Whitehead
United Kingdom John James Maserati 4CLT/48 Maserati 1.5 L4 Supercharged D United Kingdom John James
United Kingdom Philip Fotheringham-Parker Maserati 4CL Maserati 1.5 L4 Supercharged D United Kingdom Philip Fotheringham-Parker
Thailand Ecurie Siam Maserati 4CLT/48 OSCA 4.5 V12 P Thailand B. Bira
France Ecurie France Talbot-Lago T26C Talbot-Lago 4.5 L6 D Monaco Louis Chiron
France Georges Grignard Talbot-Lago T26C Talbot-Lago 4.5 L6 D France Georges Grignard
Argentina José Froilán González Talbot-Lago T26CC Talbot-Lago 4.5 L6 D Argentina José Froilán González
France Eugène Chaboud Talbot-Lago T26C Talbot-Lago 4.5 L6 D France Eugène Chaboud
Italy O.S.C.A. OSCA 4500G OSCA 4.5 V12 P Italy Franco Rol
Switzerland Antonio Branca Maserati 4CLT/48 Maserati 1.5 L4 Supercharged P Switzerland Toni Branca

1951 Drivers Championship final standings[]

Pos. Driver Flag of Switzerland 48-star U S flag Flag of Belgium Flag of France Flag of the United Kingdom Flag of Germany Flag of Italy Flag of Spain 1945 1977 Pts.
1st Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio 1stP 9thP 1st
11thP
2nd 2nd RetP 1st 31 (37)
2nd Italy Alberto Ascari 6th 2nd 2nd Ret 1stP 1st 4thP 25 (28)
3rd Argentina José Froilán González Ret 2nd 1stP 3rd 2nd 2nd 24 (27)
4th Italy Nino Farina 3rd 1st 5th Ret Ret 3rd
Ret
3rd 19 (22)
5th Italy Luigi Villoresi Ret 3rd 3rd 3rd 4th 4th Ret 15 (18)
6th Italy Piero Taruffi 2nd Ret 5th 5th Ret 10
7th United States Lee Wallard 1st 9
8th Italy Felice Bonetto 4th Ret 3rd 5th 7
9th United States Mike Nazaruk 2nd 6
10th United Kingdom Reg Parnell 4th 5th DNS 5
11th Italy Luigi Fagioli 1st
11th
4
12th Italy Consalvo Sanesi 4th Ret 10th 6th 3
13th France Louis Rosier 9th 4th Ret 10th 8th 7th 7th 3
14th United States Andy Linden 4th 3
15th United States Manny Ayulo 3rd 2
16th United States Jack McGrath 3rd 2
17th Switzerland Toulo de Graffenried 5th Ret Ret Ret 6th 2
18th France Yves Giraud-Cabantous Ret 5th 7th Ret 8th Ret 2
19th United States Bobby Ball 5th 2
20th Monaco Louis Chiron 7th Ret 6th Ret Ret Ret Ret 0
21st Switzerland Rudi Fischer 11th 6th 0
22nd France André Simon Ret Ret 6th Ret 0
23rd United States Henry Banks 6th 0
24th Belgium André Pilette 6th 0
25th France Robert Manzon Ret 7th Ret 9th 0
26th Belgium Johnny Claes 13th 7th Ret 13th 11th Ret Ret 0
27th United States Carl Forberg 7th 0
28th United Kingdom Peter Walker 7th 0
29th France Pierre Levegh 8th 9th Ret 0
30th France Philippe Étancelin 10th Ret Ret Ret 8th 0
31st United Kingdom Stirling Moss 8th 0
32nd United States Duane Carter 8th 0
33rd France Eugène Chaboud 8th 0
34th United Kingdom Brian Shawe Taylor 8th 0
35th France Guy Mairesse 14th 9th 0
36th United Kingdom Peter Whitehead Ret Ret 9th Ret 0
37th Italy Franco Rol 9th 0
38th Belgium Jacques Swaters 10th Ret 0
39th Spain Paco Godia 10th 0
40th United Kingdom Bob Gerard 11th 0
41st United States Harry Schell 12th Ret 0
42nd United Kingdom Duncan Hamilton 12th Ret 0
France Maurice Trintignant Ret Ret Ret Ret 0
France Henri Louveau Ret 0
United Kingdom George Abecassis Ret 0
Switzerland Peter Hirt Ret 0
United States Tony Bettenhausen Ret 0
United States Duke Nalon RetP 0
United States Gene Force Ret 0
United States Sam Hanks Ret 0
United States Bill Schindler Ret 0
United States Mauri Rose Ret 0
United States Walt Faulkner Ret 0
United States Jimmy Davies Ret 0
United States Fred Agabashian Ret 0
United States Carl Scarborough Ret 0
United States Bill Mackey Ret 0
United States Chuck Stevenson Ret 0
United States Johnnie Parsons Ret 0
United States Cecil Green Ret 0
United States Troy Ruttman Ret 0
United States Duke Dinsmore Ret 0
United States Chet Miller Ret 0
United States Walt Brown Ret 0
United States Rodger Ward Ret 0
United States Cliff Griffith Ret 0
United States Bill Vukovich Ret 0
United States George Connor Ret 0
United States Mack Hellings Ret 0
United States Joe James Ret 0
United States Johnny McDowell Ret 0
France Aldo Gordini Ret 0
Argentina Onofre Marimón Ret 0
Ireland Joe Kelly Ret 0
United Kingdom Philip Fotheringham-Parker Ret 0
United Kingdom David Murray Ret 0
United Kingdom John James Ret 0
Germany Paul Pietsch Ret 0
Switzerland Toni Branca Ret 0
Brazil Chico Landi Ret 0
France Georges Grignard Ret 0
Thailand Prince Bira Ret 0
United Kingdom Ken Richardson DNS 0
Key
Symbol Meaning Symbol Meaning
1st Winner Ret Retired
2nd Podium finish DSQ Disqualified
3rd DNQ Did not qualify
5th Points finish DNPQ Did not pre-qualify
14th Non-points finish TD Test driver
Italics Scored point(s) for Fastest Lap DNS Did not start
18th Classified finish (retired with >90% race distance) NC Non-classified finish (<90% race distance)
4thP Qualified for pole position [+] More Symbols
  • Position shared between multiple drivers of the same car
  • Fastest lap earns 1 point
  • Only the best 4 results counted towards the Championship. Numbers without parentheses are Championship points; numbers in parentheses are total points scored.

Non-Championship race results[]

Other Formula One races, which did not count towards the World Championship, also held in 1951.

Race Name Circuit Date Winning driver Constructor Report
Italy I Gran Premio di Siracusa Syracuse March 11 Italy Luigi Villoresi Italy Ferrari Report
France XII Grand Prix de Pau Pau March 26 Italy Luigi Villoresi Italy Ferrari Report
United Kingdom III Richmond Trophy Goodwood March 26 Thailand B. Bira Italy Maserati Report
Italy VI Gran Premio di Sanremo Ospedaletti April 22 Italy Alberto Ascari Italy Ferrari Report
France I Grand Prix de Bordeaux Bordeaux April 29 France Louis Rosier France Talbot-Lago Report
United Kingdom III BRDC International Trophy Silverstone May 5 United Kingdom Reg Parnell Italy Ferrari Report
France V Grand Prix de Paris Bois de Boulogne May 20 Italy Giuseppe Farina Italy Maserati Report
United Kingdom V Ulster Trophy Dundrod June 2 Italy Giuseppe Farina Italy Alfa Romeo Report
United Kingdom I Scottish Grand Prix Winfield July 21 United Kingdom Philip Fotheringham-Parker Italy Maserati Report
Netherlands II Grote Prijs van Nederland Zandvoort July 22 France Louis Rosier France Talbot-Lago Report
France XIII Grand Prix de l'Albigeois Albi August 5 France Maurice Trintignant France Simca-Gordini Report
Italy XX Circuito di Pescara Pescara August 15 Argentina José Froilán González Italy Ferrari Report
Italy V Gran Premio di Bari Bari September 2 Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio Italy Alfa Romeo Report
United Kingdom IV Goodwood Trophy Goodwood September 29 Italy Giuseppe Farina Italy Alfa Romeo Report

Notes[]

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
V T E Formula One Seasons
195019511952195319541955195619571958195919601961196219631964196519661967196819691970197119721973197419751976197719781979198019811982198319841985198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
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