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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
1 Switzerland Swiss Grand Prix Report
Italy [[Nino Farina]]
Ferrari
1 Italy [[Piero Taruffi]]
Ferrari
Fastest Lap
Italy [[Piero Taruffi]]
Ferrari
2 Switzerland [[Rudi Fischer]]
Ferrari
Italy [[Piero Taruffi]]
Ferrari
France [[Robert Manzon]]
Gordini
3 France [[Jean Behra]]
Gordini
2:49.1 on Lap 46
2 United States Indianapolis 500 Report
United States [[Chet Miller]]
Kurtis Kraft-Novi
1 United States [[Troy Ruttman]]
Kuzma-Offenhauser
Fastest Lap
United States [[Bill Vukovich]]
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser
2 United States [[Jim Rathman]]
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser
United States [[Bill Vukovich]]
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser
United States [[Fred Agabashian]]
Kurtis Kraft-Cummins
3 United States [[Sam Hanks]]
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser
1:06.60 on Lap 8
3 Belgium Belgian Grand Prix Report
Italy [[Alberto Ascari]]
Ferrari
1 Italy [[Alberto Ascari]]
Ferrari
Fastest Lap
Italy [[Nino Farina]]
Ferrari
2 Italy [[Nino Farina]]
Ferrari
Italy [[Alberto Ascari]]
Ferrari
Italy [[Piero Taruffi]]
Ferrari
3 France [[Robert Manzon]]
Gordini
4:54.0 on Lap 2
4 France French Grand Prix Report
Italy [[Alberto Ascari]]
Ferrari
1 Italy [[Alberto Ascari]]
Ferrari
Fastest Lap
Italy [[Nino Farina]]
Ferrari
2 Italy [[Nino Farina]]
Ferrari
Italy [[Alberto Ascari]]
Ferrari
Italy [[Piero Taruffi]]
Ferrari
3 Italy [[Piero Taruffi]]
Ferrari
2:17.3 on Lap 28
5 United Kingdom British Grand Prix Report
Italy [[Nino Farina]]
Ferrari
1 Italy [[Alberto Ascari]]
Ferrari
Fastest Lap
Italy [[Alberto Ascari]]
Ferrari
2 Italy [[Piero Taruffi]]
Ferrari
Italy [[Alberto Ascari]]
Ferrari
Italy [[Piero Taruffi]]
Ferrari
3 United Kingdom [[Mike Hawthorn]]
Cooper-Bristol
1:52.0 on Lap 9
6 Germany German Grand Prix Report
Italy [[Alberto Ascari]]
Ferrari
1 Italy [[Alberto Ascari]]
Ferrari
Fastest Lap
Italy [[Nino Farina]]
Ferrari
2 Italy [[Nino Farina]]
Ferrari
Italy [[Alberto Ascari]]
Ferrari
France [[Maurice Trintigant]]
Gordini
3 Switzerland [[Rudi Fischer]]
Ferrari
10:05.1 on Lap 5
7 Netherlands Dutch Grand Prix Report
Italy [[Alberto Ascari]]
Ferrari
1 Italy [[Alberto Ascari]]
Ferrari
Fastest Lap
Italy [[Nino Farina]]
Ferrari
2 Italy [[Nino Farina]]
Ferrari
Italy [[Alberto Ascari]]
Ferrari
United Kingdom [[Mike Hawthorn]]
Cooper-Bristol
3 Italy [[Luigi Villoresi]]
Ferrari
1:49.8 on Lap 89
8 Italy Italian Grand Prix Report
Italy [[Alberto Ascari]]
Ferrari
1 Italy [[Alberto Ascari]]
Ferrari
Fastest Lap
Italy [[Luigi Villoresi]]
Ferrari
2 Argentina [[José Froilán González]]
Maserati
Italy [[Alberto Ascari
Argentina José Froilán González]]
Ferrari, Maserati
Italy [[Nino Farina]]
Ferrari
3 Italy [[Luigi Villoresi]]
Ferrari
2:06.1 on Lap 56, 57,60

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

1952 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 the Netherlands Flag of Italy Pts.
1st Italy Alberto Ascari Ret 1stP 1stP 1st 1stP 1stP 1stP
[1]
36 (53.5)
2nd Italy Nino Farina Ret
RetP
2nd 2nd 6thP 2nd 2nd 4th 24 (27)
3rd Italy Piero Taruffi 1st Ret 3rd 2nd 4th 7th 22
4th Switzerland Rudi Fischer 2nd 11th 13th 3rd Ret 10
5th United Kingdom Mike Hawthorn 4th Ret 3rd 4th Ret 10
6th France Robert Manzon Ret 3rd 4th Ret Ret 5th 14th 9
7th United States Troy Ruttman 1st 8
8 Italy Luigi Villoresi 3rd 3rd 8
9 Argentina José Froilán González 2nd
[1]
6.5
10 United States Jim Rathmann 2nd 6
11 France Jean Behra 3rd Ret 7th 5th Ret Ret 6
12 United States Sam Hanks 3rd 4
13 United Kingdom Ken Wharton 4th Ret Ret 9th 3
14 United Kingdom Dennis Poore 4th 12th 3
15 United States Duane Carter 4th 3
16 United Kingdom Alan Brown 5th 6th 22nd 15th 2
17 France Maurice Trintignant 5th Ret Ret 6th Ret 2
18 Belgium Paul Frère 5th Ret Ret 2
19 Italy Felice Bonetto Ret 5th 2
20 United States Art Cross 5th 2
21 United Kingdom Eric Thompson 5th 2
22 United States Bill Vukovich 17th 1
23 Belgium Roger Laurent 12th 6th 0
24 Switzerland Toulo de Graffenried 6th Ret 19th DNQ 0
25 United Kingdom Peter Collins Ret Ret 6th Ret DNQ 0
26 France André Simon Ret 6th 0
27 United States Jimmy Bryan 6th 0
28 Switzerland Peter Hirt 7th 11th 0
29 Belgium Charles de Tornaco 7th Ret DNQ 0
30 United Kingdom Duncan Hamilton Ret 7th 0
31 United States Jimmy Reece 7th 0
32 United Kingdom Reg Parnell 7th 0
33 Germany Fritz Riess 7th 0
34 United Kingdom Lance Macklin WD 11th 9th 15th 8th DNQ 0
35 United Kingdom Eric Brandon 8th 9th 20th 13th 0
36 Brazil Chico Landi 9th 8th 0
37 Belgium Johnny Claes 8th Ret 14th 10th DNQ 0
38 Germany Toni Ulmen Ret 8th 0
39 United States George Connor 8th 0
40 France Philippe Étancelin 8th 0
41 United Kingdom Roy Salvadori 8th 0
42 United Kingdom Ken Downing 9th Ret 0
43 United States Cliff Griffith 9th 0
44 Germany Helmut Niedermayr 9th 0
45 Netherlands Jan Flinterman 9th 0
46 Thailand Prince Bira Ret 10th Ret 11th 0
47 France Louis Rosier Ret Ret Ret 10th 0
48 United Kingdom Peter Whitehead Ret 10th DNQ 0
49 United States Johnnie Parsons 10th 0
50 France Yves Giraud Cabantous 10th 0
51 Uruguay Eitel Cantoni Ret Ret 11th 0
52 United States Jack McGrath 11th 0
53 Germany Hans Klenk 11th 0
54 United States Jim Rigsby 12th 0
55 Italy Franco Comotti 12th 0
56 United Kingdom Graham Whitehead 12th 0
57 East Germany Ernst Klodwig 12th 0
58 United States Joe James 13th 0
59 United States Bill Schindler 14th 0
60 United States Robert O'Brien 14th 0
61 Australia Tony Gaze 15th Ret Ret DNQ 0
62 United States George Fonder 15th 0
63 United Kingdom Kenneth McAlpine 16th Ret 0
64 United States Eddie Johnson 16th 0
65 United States Harry Schell Ret Ret 17th 0
66 Brazil Gino Bianco 18th Ret Ret Ret 0
67 United States Chuck Stevenson 18th 0
68 United States Henry Banks 19th 0
69 United States Manny Ayulo 20th 0
70 United States Johnny McDowell 21st 0
71 United Kingdom Tony Crook 21st 0
United Kingdom Stirling Moss WD Ret Ret Ret Ret 0
Italy Piero Carini Ret Ret 0
United Kingdom Bill Aston DNS Ret DNQ 0
West Germany Hans Stuck Ret DNQ 0
United Kingdom George Abecassis Ret 0
Switzerland Max de Terra Ret 0
United States Spider Webb Ret 0
United States Rodger Ward Ret 0
United States Tony Bettenhausen Ret 0
United States Duke Nalon Ret 0
United States Fred Agabashian RetP 0
United States Bob Sweikert Ret 0
United States Gene Hartley Ret 0
United States Bob Scott Ret 0
United States Chet Miller Ret 0
United States Bobby Ball Ret 0
United States Andy Linden Ret 0
United Kingdom Robin Montgomerie-Charrington Ret 0
United Kingdom David Murray Ret 0
West Germany Willi Heeks Ret 0
West Germany Adolf Brudes Ret 0
France Marcel Balsa Ret 0
West Germany Günther Bechem Ret 0
West Germany Rudolf Krause Ret 0
Switzerland Rudolf Schoeller Ret 0
West Germany Paul Pietsch Ret 0
West Germany Theo Helfrich Ret 0
West Germany Josef Peters Ret 0
Netherlands Dries van der Lof Ret 0
Italy Franco Rol Ret 0
France Élie Bayol Ret 0
Argentina Alberto Crespo DNQ 0
Italy 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
Brazil XI Grande Prémio da Cidade de Rio de Janeiro Gávea January 20 Argentina José Froilán González Italy Ferrari Report
Italy II Gran Premio di Siracusa Syracuse March 16 Italy Alberto Ascari Italy Ferrari Report
Italy VI Gran Premio del Valentino Valentino Park April 6 Italy Luigi Villoresi Italy Ferrari Report
United Kingdom IV Richmond Trophy Goodwood April 14 Argentina José Froilán González Italy Ferrari Report
United Kingdom IV Lavant Cup Goodwood April 14 United Kingdom Mike Hawthorn United Kingdom Cooper-Bristol Report
France XIII Grand Prix de Pau Pau April 14 Italy Alberto Ascari Italy Ferrari Report
United Kingdom I Ibsley Grand Prix Ringwood April 19 United Kingdom Mike Hawthorn United Kingdom Cooper-Bristol Report
France X Grand Prix de Marseille Marseille April 27 Italy Alberto Ascari Italy Ferrari Report
United Kingdom IV BRDC International Trophy Silverstone May 10 United Kingdom Lance Macklin United Kingdom HWM-Alta Report
Finland XIV Eläintarhanajot Eläintarharata May 11 Belgium Roger Laurent France Talbot-Lago Report
Italy V Gran Premio di Napoli Posillipo May 11 Italy Giuseppe Farina Italy Ferrari Report
Germany XVI Internationales ADAC Eifelrennen Nürburgring May 25 Switzerland Rudi Fischer Italy Ferrari Report
France VI Grand Prix de Paris Montlhéry May 25 Italy Piero Taruffi Italy Ferrari Report
France XIV Grand Prix de l'Albigeois Albi June 1 France Louis Rosier Italy Ferrari Report
Belgium XXII Grand Prix des Frontières Chimay June 1 Belgium Paul Frère United Kingdom HWM-Alta Report
United Kingdom VI Ulster Trophy Dundrod June 7 Italy Piero Taruffi Italy Ferrari Report
Italy V Gran Premio dell'Autodromo di Monza Monza June 8 Italy Giuseppe Farina Italy Ferrari Report
France IV Aix les Bains Circuit du Lac Aix-les-Bains June 8 France Jean Behra France Gordini Report
United Kingdom I West Essex CC Race Boreham June 21 United Kingdom Reg Parnell United Kingdom Cooper-Bristol Report
France XX Grand Prix de la Marne Reims June 29 France Jean Behra France Gordini Report
France II Grand Prix de Sables d'Olonne Sables July 13 Italy Luigi Villoresi Italy Ferrari Report
France I Grand Prix de Caen Caen July 27 France Maurice Trintignant France Gordini Report
United Kingdom II Daily Mail Trophy Boreham August 2 Italy Luigi Villoresi Italy Ferrari Report
France XVI Grand Prix de Comminges Comminges August 10 France André Simon Italy Ferrari Report
United Kingdom I National Trophy Turnberry August 23 United Kingdom Mike Hawthorn United Kingdom Connaught Report
France XI Grand Prix de la Baule La Baule August 24 Italy Alberto Ascari Italy Ferrari Report
Italy III Gran Premio di Modena Modena September 14 Italy Luigi Villoresi Italy Ferrari Report
France IV Circuit de Cadours Cadours September 14 France Louis Rosier Italy Ferrari Report
United Kingdom V Madgwick Cup Goodwood September 27 United Kingdom Ken Downing United Kingdom Connaught Report
Germany VIII Internationales Avusrennen AVUS September 28 Switzerland Rudi Fischer Italy Ferrari Report
United Kingdom Joe Fry Memorial Trophy Castle Combe October 4 United Kingdom Roy Salvadori Italy Ferrari Report
United Kingdom I Newcastle Journal Trophy Charterhall October 11 United Kingdom Dennis Poore United Kingdom Connaught Report
Brazil XII Grande Prémio da Cidade de Rio de Janeiro Gávea December 14 Brazil Henrique Casini Italy Ferrari Report

See Also[]

V T E Formula One Seasons
195019511952195319541955195619571958195919601961196219631964196519661967196819691970197119721973197419751976197719781979198019811982198319841985198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
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  1. 1.0 1.1 Multiple drivers set equally fastest laps and shared the bonus point.
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