1952 Formula One Season

1952 Formula One season
Previous	1951
Next	1953
Alberto Ascari, who won his first of two World Drivers' titles in 1952.
Season Information
Number of races	8
First race	Swiss Grand Prix May 18
Last race	Italian Grand Prix September 7
Engine suppliers	Küchen, Veritas, Gordini, Ferrari, Alta, Bristol, Maserati, Butterworth, Lea-Francis, BMW, OSCA, BPM
Tyre suppliers	D, P, E, F
Points system	Top-5 finishers: 8-6-4-3-2 Fastest lap: 1 point Best 4 results counted
Drivers' World Championship
Champion	Alberto Ascari 36 points
Runner-Up	Giuseppe Farina 24 points
3rd	Piero Taruffi 22 points

The 1952 Formula One Season was the 3rd FIA World Drivers' Championship, which commenced on May 18, 1952, and ended on September 7 after eight races, was won by Alberto Ascari, driving for Scuderia Ferrari who scored the maximum 36 World Championship points for the season.

In comparison to previous seasons, the 1952 Formula One season consisted of a relatively small number of Formula One races, following the FIA's decision to run the World Drivers' Championship to Formula Two regulations rather than Formula One.

In addition to the Formula One races and the World Championship Formula Two races, numerous other Formula Two races, which did not count towards the Championship, were also held during the year.

Formula One saw the first fatality since its formation. Cameron Earl was killed after his car overturned while he was testing as an English Racing Automobiles team technical consultant.

World Championship season summary

Alfa Romeo, unable to fund a new car, withdrew from racing, leaving Ferrari as the only serious Formula 1 contender. This led organizers to run their races for Formula 2, for 2 litre unsupercharged engines, which meant larger fields and a greater variety of cars, even if the victories all went to Ferrari. Ascari won the six grand prix he entered, missing the Swiss because he was at Indianapolis qualifying. Maserati and Gordini offered little challenge, but Mike Hawthorn's drives in his Cooper would earn him a works Ferrari drive in 1953. Fangio, badly injured in an early season crash, took no part in the championship.

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. In 1952, all World Championship events were run under Formula 2 regulations.

World Championship season review

Round	Event				Report
	Grid		Result

2	Indianapolis 500				Report
	Chet Miller Kurtis Kraft-Novi	1	Troy Ruttman Kuzma-Offenhauser		Fastest Lap
	Bill Vukovich Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser	2	Jim Rathman Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser		Bill Vukovich Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser
	Fred Agabashian Template:Kurtis Kraft-Cummins Diesel	3	Sam Hanks Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser		1:06.60 on Lap 8

5	British Grand Prix				Report
	Nino Farina Ferrari	1	Alberto Ascari Ferrari		Fastest Lap
	Alberto Ascari Ferrari	2	Piero Taruffi Ferrari		Alberto Ascari Ferrari
	Piero Taruffi Ferrari	3	Mike Hawthorn Cooper-Bristol		1:52.0 on Lap 9

6	German Grand Prix				Report
	Alberto Ascari Ferrari	1	Alberto Ascari Ferrari		Fastest Lap
	Nino Farina Ferrari	2	Nino Farina Ferrari		Alberto Ascari Ferrari
	Maurice Trintigant Gordini	3	Rudi Fischer Ferrari		10:05.1 on Lap 5

7	Dutch Grand Prix				Report
	Alberto Ascari Ferrari	1	Alberto Ascari Ferrari		Fastest Lap
	Nino Farina Ferrari	2	Nino Farina Ferrari		Alberto Ascari Ferrari
	Mike Hawthorn Cooper-Bristol	3	Luigi Villoresi Ferrari		1:49.8 on Lap 89

Teams and Drivers

The following teams and drivers competed in the 1952 FIA World Championship.

1952 Driver line-ups

Entrant	Constructor	Chassis	Engine	Tyre	Driver
Scuderia Ferrari	Ferrari	Ferrari 500	Ferrari 2.0 L4	P	Giuseppe Farina
					Piero Taruffi
					André Simon
					Alberto Ascari
					Luigi Villoresi
Equipe Gordini	Gordini	Gordini 16	Gordini 2.0 L6	E	Robert Manzon
					Jean Behra
					B. Bira
					Maurice Trintignant
Hersham & Walton Motors	HWM	HWM 52	Alta 2.0 L4	D	Lance Macklin
					Peter Collins
					George Abecassis
					Stirling Moss
					Roger Laurent
					Yves Giraud-Cabantous
					Duncan Hamilton
					Johnny Claes
					Dries van der Lof
		HWM 51/52			Paul Frère
Escuderia Bandeirantes	Maserati	Maserati A6GCM	Maserati 2.0 L6	P	Philippe Étancelin
					Gino Bianco
					Eitel Cantoni
					Chico Landi
					Jan Flinterman
Ecurie Espadon	Ferrari	Ferrari 500	Ferrari 2.0 L4	P	Rudi Fischer
		Ferrari 212	Ferrari 2.0 V12
					Peter Hirt
					Rudolf Schoeller
Ecurie Richmond	Cooper	Cooper T20	Bristol 2.0 L6	D	Alan Brown
					Eric Brandon
Connaught Engineering	Connaught	Connaught Type A	Lea Francis 2.0 L4	D	Kenneth McAlpine
					Dennis Poore
					Ken Downing
					Eric Thompson
					Stirling Moss
Enrico Platé	Maserati	Maserati 4CLT/48 Platé	Maserati Platé 2.0 L4	P	Toulo de Graffenried
					Harry Schell
LD Hawthorn	Cooper	Cooper T20	Bristol 2.0 L6	D	Mike Hawthorn
Equipe Simca-Gordini	Simca-Gordini	Simca-Gordini 15	Gordini 1.5 L4	E	B. Bira
					Maurice Trintignant
		Simca-Gordini 16S	Gordini 2.0 L6		Johnny Claes
Ecurie Rosier	Ferrari	Ferrari 500	Ferrari 2.0 L4	D	Louis Rosier
Officine Alfieri Maserati	Maserati	Maserati A6GCM	Maserati 2.0 L6	P	Felice Bonetto
					Franco Rol
					José Froilán González
Peter Whitehead	Ferrari	Ferrari 125/F2	Ferrari 2.0 V12	D	Peter Whitehead
	Alta	Alta F2	Alta 2.0 L4
					Graham Whitehead
English Racing Automobiles	ERA	ERA G Type	Bristol 2.0 L6	D	Stirling Moss
Ecurie Belge	Simca-Gordini	Simca-Gordini 15	Gordini 1.5 L4	E	Johnny Claes
					Paul Frère
Scuderia Franera	Frazer-Nash	Frazer-Nash FN48	Bristol 2.0 L6	D	Ken Wharton
Ecurie Francorchamps	Ferrari	Ferrari 500	Ferrari 2.0 L4	E	Charles de Tornaco
					Roger Laurent
Tony Gaze	HWM	HWM 52	Alta 2.0 L4	D	Tony Gaze
Scuderia Marzotto	Ferrari	Ferrari 166/F2	Ferrari 2.0 V12	P	Piero Carini
					Franco Comotti
Toni Ulmen	Veritas	Veritas-Meteor	Veritas 2.0 L6	D	Toni Ulmen
Ecurie Ecosse	Cooper	Cooper T20	Bristol 2.0 L6	D	David Murray
					Ken Wharton
AHM Bryde	Cooper	Cooper T20	Bristol 2.0 L6	D	Mike Hawthorn
					Reg Parnell
WS Aston	Aston	Aston NB41	Butterworth 2.0 F4	D	Bill Aston
					Robin Montgomerie-Charrington
Alex von Falkenhausen Motorenbau	AFM	AFM	Kuchen 2.0 V8	E	Hans Stuck
G Caprara	Ferrari	Ferrari 500	Ferrari 2.0 L4	D	Roy Salvadori
Ken Downing	Connaught	Connaught Type A	Lea Francis 2.0 L4	D	Ken Downing
Tony Crook	Frazer-Nash	Frazer-Nash 421	BMW 2.0 L6	D	Tony Crook
Élie Bayol	OSCA	OSCA 20	OSCA 2.0 L6	P	Élie Bayol
Arthur Legat	Veritas	Veritas Meteor	Veritas 2.0 L6	E	Arthur Legat
Robert O' Brien	Simca-Gordini	Simca-Gordini 15	Gordini 1.5 L4	E	Robert O' Brien
Alfred Dattner	Simca-Gordini	Simca-Gordini 11	Gordini 1.5 L4	E	Max de Terra
Marcel Balsa	BMW	BMW Special	BMW 2.0 L6	?	Marcel Balsa
Fritz Riess	Veritas	Veritas RS	Veritas 2.0 L6	?	Fritz Riess
Theo Helfrich	Veritas	Veritas RS	Veritas 2.0 L6	?	Theo Helfrich
Willi Heeks	AFM	AFM 8	BMW 2.0 L6	?	Willi Heeks
Helmut Niedermayr	AFM	AFM 6	BMW 2.0 L6	?	Helmut Niedermayr
Adolf Brudes	Veritas	Veritas RS	Veritas 2.0 L6	?	Adolf Brudes
Motor-Presse-Verlag	Veritas	Veritas Meteor	Veritas 2.0 L6	?	Paul Pietsch
Hans Klenk	Veritas	Veritas RS	Veritas 2.0 L6	?	Hans Klenk
Josef Peters	Veritas	Veritas RS	Veritas 2.0 L6	?	Josef Peters
Günther Bechem	BMW	BMW Special	BMW 2.0 L6	?	Günther Bechem
Ernst Klodwig	Heck	Heck	BMW 2.0 L6	?	Ernst Klodwig
Rudolf Krause	Greifzu	Greifzu	BMW 2.0 L6	?	Rudolf Krause

1952 Drivers Championship final standings

Pos.	Driver									Pts.
1st	Alberto Ascari		Ret	1stP	1stP	1st	1stP	1stP	1stP	36 (53.5)
2nd	Nino Farina	Ret RetP‡		2nd	2nd	6thP	2nd	2nd	4th	24 (27)
3rd	Piero Taruffi	1st		Ret	3rd	2nd	4th		7th	22
4th	Rudi Fischer	2nd			11th‡	13th	3rd		Ret	10
5th	Mike Hawthorn			4th	Ret	3rd		4th	Ret	10
6th	Robert Manzon	Ret		3rd	4th	Ret	Ret	5th	14th	9
7th	Troy Ruttman		1st							8
8	Luigi Villoresi							3rd	3rd	8
9	José Froilán González								2nd	6.5
10	Jim Rathmann		2nd							6
11	Jean Behra	3rd		Ret	7th		5th	Ret	Ret	6
12	Sam Hanks		3rd							4
13	Ken Wharton	4th		Ret				Ret	9th	3
14	Dennis Poore					4th			12th	3
15	Duane Carter		4th							3
16	Alan Brown	5th		6th		22nd			15th	2
17	Maurice Trintignant				5th	Ret	Ret	6th	Ret	2
18	Paul Frère			5th			Ret	Ret		2
19	Felice Bonetto						Ret		5th	2
20	Art Cross		5th							2
21	Eric Thompson					5th				2
22	Bill Vukovich		17th							1
23	Roger Laurent			12th			6th			0
24	Toulo de Graffenried	6th			Ret‡	19th			DNQ	0
25	Peter Collins	Ret		Ret	6th	Ret			DNQ	0
26	André Simon	Ret‡							6th	0
27	Jimmy Bryan		6th							0
28	Peter Hirt	7th			11th‡					0
29	Charles de Tornaco			7th				Ret	DNQ	0
30	Duncan Hamilton					Ret		7th		0
31	Jimmy Reece		7th							0
32	Reg Parnell					7th				0
33	Fritz Riess						7th			0
34	Lance Macklin	WD		11th	9th	15th		8th	DNQ	0
35	Eric Brandon	8th		9th		20th			13th	0
36	Chico Landi							9th‡	8th	0
37	Johnny Claes			8th	Ret	14th	10th		DNQ	0
38	Toni Ulmen	Ret					8th			0
39	George Connor		8th							0
40	Philippe Étancelin				8th					0
41	Roy Salvadori					8th				0
42	Ken Downing					9th		Ret		0
43	Cliff Griffith		9th							0
44	Helmut Niedermayr						9th			0
45	Jan Flinterman							9th‡		0
46	Prince Bira	Ret		10th	Ret	11th				0
47	Louis Rosier	Ret		Ret	Ret				10th	0
48	Peter Whitehead				Ret	10th			DNQ	0
49	Johnnie Parsons		10th							0
50	Yves Giraud Cabantous				10th					0
51	Eitel Cantoni					Ret	Ret		11th	0
52	Jack McGrath		11th							0
53	Hans Klenk						11th			0
54	Jim Rigsby		12th							0
55	Franco Comotti				12th					0
56	Graham Whitehead					12th				0
57	Ernst Klodwig						12th			0
58	Joe James		13th							0
59	Bill Schindler		14th							0
60	Robert O'Brien			14th						0
61	Tony Gaze			15th		Ret	Ret		DNQ	0
62	George Fonder		15th							0
63	Kenneth McAlpine					16th			Ret	0
64	Eddie Johnson		16th							0
65	Harry Schell	Ret			Ret‡	17th				0
66	Gino Bianco					18th	Ret	Ret	Ret	0
67	Chuck Stevenson		18th							0
68	Henry Banks		19th							0
69	Manny Ayulo		20th							0
70	Johnny McDowell		21st							0
71	Tony Crook					21st				0
—	Stirling Moss	WD		Ret		Ret		Ret	Ret	0
—	Piero Carini				Ret		Ret			0
—	Bill Aston					DNS	Ret		DNQ	0
—	Hans Stuck	Ret							DNQ	0
—	George Abecassis	Ret								0
—	Max de Terra	Ret								0
—	Spider Webb		Ret							0
—	Rodger Ward		Ret							0
—	Tony Bettenhausen		Ret							0
—	Duke Nalon		Ret							0
—	Fred Agabashian		RetP							0
—	Bob Sweikert		Ret							0
—	Gene Hartley		Ret							0
—	Bob Scott		Ret							0
—	Chet Miller		Ret							0
—	Bobby Ball		Ret							0
—	Andy Linden		Ret							0
—	Robin Montgomerie-Charrington			Ret						0
—	David Murray					Ret				0
—	Willi Heeks						Ret			0
—	Adolf Brudes						Ret			0
—	Marcel Balsa						Ret			0
—	Günther Bechem						Ret			0
—	Rudolf Krause						Ret			0
—	Rudolf Schoeller						Ret			0
—	Paul Pietsch						Ret			0
—	Theo Helfrich						Ret			0
—	Josef Peters						Ret			0
—	Dries van der Lof							Ret		0
—	Franco Rol								Ret	0
—	Élie Bayol								Ret	0
—	Alberto Crespo								DNQ	0
—	Piero Dusio								DNQ	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

Formula One/Two Grand Prix races, which did not count towards the World Championship, also held in 1952.

Race Name	Circuit	Date	Winning driver	Constructor	Report
XI Grande Prémio da Cidade de Rio de Janeiro	Gávea	January 20	José Froilán González	Ferrari	Report
II Gran Premio di Siracusa	Syracuse	March 16	Alberto Ascari	Ferrari	Report
VI Gran Premio del Valentino	Valentino Park	April 6	Luigi Villoresi	Ferrari	Report
IV Richmond Trophy	Goodwood	April 14	José Froilán González	Ferrari	Report
IV Lavant Cup	Goodwood	April 14	Mike Hawthorn	Cooper-Bristol	Report
XIII Grand Prix de Pau	Pau	April 14	Alberto Ascari	Ferrari	Report
I Ibsley Grand Prix	Ringwood	April 19	Mike Hawthorn	Cooper-Bristol	Report
X Grand Prix de Marseille	Marseille	April 27	Alberto Ascari	Ferrari	Report
IV BRDC International Trophy	Silverstone	May 10	Lance Macklin	HWM-Alta	Report
XIV Eläintarhanajot	Eläintarharata	May 11	Roger Laurent	Talbot-Lago	Report
V Gran Premio di Napoli	Posillipo	May 11	Giuseppe Farina	Ferrari	Report
XVI Internationales ADAC Eifelrennen	Nürburgring	May 25	Rudi Fischer	Ferrari	Report
VI Grand Prix de Paris	Montlhéry	May 25	Piero Taruffi	Ferrari	Report
XIV Grand Prix de l'Albigeois	Albi	June 1	Louis Rosier	Ferrari	Report
XXII Grand Prix des Frontières	Chimay	June 1	Paul Frère	HWM-Alta	Report
VI Ulster Trophy	Dundrod	June 7	Piero Taruffi	Ferrari	Report
V Gran Premio dell'Autodromo di Monza	Monza	June 8	Giuseppe Farina	Ferrari	Report
IV Aix les Bains Circuit du Lac	Aix-les-Bains	June 8	Jean Behra	Gordini	Report
I West Essex CC Race	Boreham	June 21	Reg Parnell	Cooper-Bristol	Report
XX Grand Prix de la Marne	Reims	June 29	Jean Behra	Gordini	Report
II Grand Prix de Sables d'Olonne	Sables	July 13	Luigi Villoresi	Ferrari	Report
I Grand Prix de Caen	Caen	July 27	Maurice Trintignant	Gordini	Report
II Daily Mail Trophy	Boreham	August 2	Luigi Villoresi	Ferrari	Report
XVI Grand Prix de Comminges	Comminges	August 10	André Simon	Ferrari	Report
I National Trophy	Turnberry	August 23	Mike Hawthorn	Connaught	Report
XI Grand Prix de la Baule	La Baule	August 24	Alberto Ascari	Ferrari	Report
III Gran Premio di Modena	Modena	September 14	Luigi Villoresi	Ferrari	Report
IV Circuit de Cadours	Cadours	September 14	Louis Rosier	Ferrari	Report
V Madgwick Cup	Goodwood	September 27	Ken Downing	Connaught	Report
VIII Internationales Avusrennen	AVUS	September 28	Rudi Fischer	Ferrari	Report
Joe Fry Memorial Trophy	Castle Combe	October 4	Roy Salvadori	Ferrari	Report
I Newcastle Journal Trophy	Charterhall	October 11	Dennis Poore	Connaught	Report
XII Grande Prémio da Cidade de Rio de Janeiro	Gávea	December 14	Henrique Casini	Ferrari	Report

See Also

• List of fatal accidents

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