1953 Formula One season

The 1953 Formula One season was the seventh season of the FIA's Formula One racing. It consisted only of several non-championship motor races. As in 1952, all races counting towards the World Championship of Drivers, apart from the Indianapolis 500, were held for cars complying with Formula Two regulations rather than with Formula One, with the Indianapolis 500 held to AAA regulations.

The 4th FIA World Championship of Drivers,[1] which commenced on 18 January and ended on 13 September after nine races,[2] was won by Alberto Ascari,[1] driving for Scuderia Ferrari.[3] Ascari became the first driver to successfully defend his title.

In addition to the non-championship Formula One races and the World Championship Formula Two races, numerous other non-championship Formula Two races were also held during the year.

Teams and drivers edit

EntrantConstructorChassisEngineTyreDriverRounds
Officine Alfieri MaseratiMaseratiA6GCMMaserati A6 2.0 L6P Juan Manuel Fangio1, 3–9
José Froilán González1, 3–6
Felice Bonetto1, 3, 5–9
Oscar Gálvez1
Johnny Claes4
Onofre Marimón4–9
Hermann Lang8
Sergio Mantovani9
Luigi Musso9
Scuderia FerrariFerrari500
553
Ferrari 500 2.0 L4
Ferrari 553 2.0 L4
P Alberto Ascari1, 3–9
Nino Farina1, 3–9
Luigi Villoresi1, 3–9
Mike Hawthorn1, 3–9
Umberto Maglioli9
Piero Carini9
Cooper Car CompanyCooper-Bristol
Cooper-Alta
T20
T23
Special
T24
Bristol BS1 2.0 L6
Alta GP 2.5 L4
D Alan Brown1
John Barber1
Adolfo Schwelm Cruz1
Stirling Moss5, 7, 9
Equipe GordiniGordini
Simca-Gordini
Type 16
Type 15
Gordini 20 2.0 L6
Gordini 1500 1.5 L4
E Robert Manzon1
Harry Schell1, 3–7, 9
Maurice Trintignant1, 3–9
Jean Behra1, 4–8
Carlos Menditeguy1
Pablo Birger1
Roberto Mieres3, 5, 9
Fred Wacker3–4, 8
Ecurie RosierFerrari500Ferrari 500 2.0 L4D Louis Rosier3–7, 9
E8
Enrico PlatéMaseratiA6GCMMaserati A6 2.0 L6P Toulo de Graffenried3
Connaught EngineeringConnaught-Lea-FrancisType ALea-Francis 2.0 L4D Roy Salvadori3, 5–7, 9
Kenneth McAlpine3, 6–7, 9
Stirling Moss3
Birabongse Bhanudej5–7
Jack Fairman9
Ecurie BelgeConnaught-Lea-FrancisType ALea-Francis 2.0 L4E Johnny Claes3, 5, 7, 9
André Pilette4
Ken WhartonCooper-BristolT23Bristol BS1 2.0 L6D Ken Wharton3, 5–6, 8–9
HW MotorsHWM-Alta53Alta GP 2.5 L4D Peter Collins3–6
Lance Macklin3–6, 8–9
Paul Frère4, 8
Yves Giraud-Cabantous5, 9
Duncan Hamilton6
Jack Fairman6
Albert Scherrer8
John Fitch9
Emmanuel de GraffenriedMaseratiA6GCMMaserati A6 2.0 L6P Toulo de Graffenried4–9
Georges BergerSimca-GordiniType 15Gordini 1500 1.5 L4E Georges Berger4
Arthur LegatVeritasMeteorVeritas 2.0 L6E Arthur Legat4
Ecurie FrancorchampsFerrari500Ferrari 500 2.0 L4E Jacques Swaters4, 7–8
Charles de Tornaco4
Louis ChironOSCA20OSCA 2000 2.0 L6P Louis Chiron5–6, 8–9
Élie BayolOSCA20OSCA 2000 2.0 L6P Élie Bayol5, 8
Bob GerardCooper-BristolT23Bristol BS1 2.0 L6D Bob Gerard5–6
R.R.C. Walker Racing TeamConnaught-Lea-FrancisType ALea-Francis 2.0 L4D Tony Rolt6
Ecurie EcosseConnaught-Lea-Francis
Cooper-Bristol
Type A
T20
Lea-Francis 2.0 L4
Bristol BS1 2.0 L6
D Ian Stewart6
Jimmy Stewart6
R.J. ChaseCooper-BristolT23Bristol BS1 2.0 L6D Alan Brown6
Atlantic StableCooper-AltaT24Alta GP 2.5 L4D Peter Whitehead6
Tony CrookCooper-BristolT20Bristol BS1 2.0 L6D Tony Crook6
Hans StuckAFM-Bristol6Bristol BS1 2.0 L6D Hans Stuck7, 9
Wolfgang SeidelVeritasRSVeritas 2.0 L6D Wolfgang Seidel7
Willi HeeksVeritasMeteorVeritas 2.0 L6D Willi Heeks7
Theo HelfrichVeritasRSVeritas 2.0 L6D Theo Helfrich7
Oswald KarchVeritasRSVeritas 2.0 L6D Oswald Karch7
Helmut NiedermayrAFM-BMWU8BMW 328 2.0 L6D Theo Fitzau7
Ernst LoofVeritasMeteorVeritas 2.0 L6D Ernst Loof7
Hans HerrmannVeritasMeteorVeritas 2.0 L6D Hans Herrmann7
Erwin BauerVeritasRSVeritas 2.0 L6D Erwin Bauer7
Ecurie EspadonFerrari500
212
Ferrari 500 2.0 L4
Ferrari 166 2.0 V12
P Kurt Adolff7
Peter Hirt8
Max de Terra8
Rennkollektiv EMWEMWR2EMW 6 2.0 L6D Edgar Barth7
Dora GreifzuGreifzu-BMWEigenbauBMW 328 2.0 L6D Rudolf Krause7
Ernst KlodwigHeck-BMWEigenbauBMW 328 2.0 L6D Ernst Klodwig7
Equipe AnglaiseCooper-BristolT23Bristol BS1 2.0 L6D Alan Brown7, 9
Helmut Glöckler7
Rodney NuckeyCooper-BristolT23Bristol BS1 2.0 L6D Rodney Nuckey7
Günther BechemAFM-BMW50–5BMW 328 2.0 L6D Günther Bechem7
Escuderia BandeirantesMaseratiA6GCMMaserati A6 2.0 L6P Chico Landi8
OSCA AutomobiliOSCA20OSCA 2000 2.0 L6P Élie Bayol9
Scuderia MilanoMaseratiA6GCMMaserati A6 2.0 L6P Chico Landi9
Birabongse Bhanudej9

Calendar edit

RoundGrand PrixCircuitDate
1 Argentine Grand PrixAutódromo Oscar Alfredo Gálvez, Buenos Aires18 January
2 Indianapolis 500Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway30 May[a]
3 Dutch Grand PrixCircuit Zandvoort, Zandvoort7 June
4 Belgian Grand PrixCircuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot20 June
5 French Grand PrixReims-Gueux, Gueux5 July
6 British Grand PrixSilverstone Circuit, Silverstone18 July
7 German Grand PrixNürburgring, Nürburg2 August
8 Swiss Grand PrixCircuit Bremgarten, Bern23 August
9 Italian Grand PrixAutodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza13 September

Calendar changes edit

The Argentine Grand Prix hosted its first World Championship Grand Prix in 1953, the race was held at Autódromo Oscar Alfredo Gálvez on 18 January.

The Dutch Grand Prix was moved from mid August to early June.

The French Grand Prix was moved from Rouen-Les-Essarts to Reims-Gueux.

The Swiss Grand Prix was moved from mid May to late August.

The Spanish Grand Prix was scheduled to be held on 26 October but it was cancelled for monetary reasons.[2]

World Championship season summary edit

Italian Alberto Ascari won the 1953 World Championship of Drivers, his second and last championship title and the last by an Italian driver, as of 2023.
Ferrari won seven of the nine championship races with its Tipo 500 model

Ferrari drivers again dominated the championship, taking seven of the eight Grands Prix. However, Juan Manuel Fangio's challenge in his more fragile Maserati took him to second place in the championship and a win at Monza. Ascari extended his unbeaten run to nine consecutive World Championship Grand Prix wins before his teammate Mike Hawthorn broke the sequence in becoming the first-ever British winner in the French Grand Prix at Reims after a thrilling battle with Fangio.

In 1953, all but one of the races counting towards the World Championship of Drivers were run under Formula 2 regulations, while the remaining one, the Indianapolis 500, was run under AAA Championship Car regulations. The 1953 championship was the first genuinely global World Championship of Drivers, with a championship event staged outside of Europe or the United States for the first time. That race, the 1953 Argentine Grand Prix, was marred by an accident involving the Ferrari of Giuseppe Farina, which crashed into an unprotected crowd, killing nine spectators.

Results and standings edit

Grands Prix edit

RoundGrand PrixPole positionFastest lapWinning driverWinning constructorTyreReport
1 Argentine Grand Prix Alberto Ascari Alberto Ascari Alberto Ascari FerrariPReport
2 Indianapolis 500 Bill Vukovich Bill Vukovich Bill Vukovich Kurtis Kraft-OffenhauserFReport
3 Dutch Grand Prix Alberto Ascari Luigi Villoresi Alberto Ascari FerrariPReport
4 Belgian Grand Prix Juan Manuel Fangio José Froilán González Alberto Ascari FerrariPReport
5 French Grand Prix Alberto Ascari Juan Manuel Fangio Mike Hawthorn FerrariPReport
6 British Grand Prix Alberto Ascari Alberto Ascari
José Froilán González
Alberto Ascari FerrariPReport
7 German Grand Prix Alberto Ascari Alberto Ascari Giuseppe Farina FerrariPReport
8 Swiss Grand Prix Juan Manuel Fangio Alberto Ascari Alberto Ascari FerrariPReport
9 Italian Grand Prix Alberto Ascari Juan Manuel Fangio Juan Manuel Fangio MaseratiPReport

World Championship of Drivers standings edit

Championship points were awarded to the first five finishers in each race on an 8–6–4–3–2 basis. Points for shared drives were divided equally between the drivers, regardless of the number of laps driven by each. One point was also awarded for the fastest lap in each race. The point was shared equally between drivers sharing the fastest lap. Only the best four results from the nine races counted towards a driver's total points in the World Championship. In the points column, numbers without parentheses are retained championship points, and numbers within parentheses are total points scored.

Pos.DriverARG
500
NED
BEL
FRA
GBR
GER
SUI
ITA
Pts.
1 Alberto Ascari1PF1P(1)(4)P1PF*8P†/ (RetF)†1FRetP34.5 (46.5)
2 Juan Manuel FangioRetRetRetP/ Ret†2F22(4P†) / Ret†1F28 (29.5)
3 Nino FarinaRet2Ret(5)(3)12226 (32)
4 Mike Hawthorn4(4)61(5)33(4)19 (27)
5 Luigi Villoresi2RetF26Ret8† / Ret†6317
6 José Froilán González33†(RetF)34F*13.5 (14.5)
7 Bill Vukovich1PF9
8 Toulo de Graffenried547Ret5RetRet7
9 Felice BonettoRet3†Ret644† / Ret†Ret6.5
10 Art Cross26
11 Onofre Marimón39RetRetRetRet4
12 Maurice Trintignant7†65RetRetRetRet54
13 Sam Hanks3†2
14 Duane Carter3†2
15 Óscar Alfredo Gálvez52
16 Jack McGrath52
17 Hermann Lang52
18 Fred Agabashian4†1.5
19 Paul Russo4†1.5
Stirling Moss9Ret6130
Jean Behra6Ret10RetRetRet0
Roberto MieresRetRet60
Jimmy Daywalt60
Harry Schell7†Ret7RetRetRet90
Louis Rosier7881010Ret160
Ken WhartonRetRet87NC0
Birabongse BhanudejRet7Ret110
Jacques SwatersDNS7Ret0
Jim Rathmann70
Sergio Mantovani7†0
Luigi Musso7†0
Peter Collins8Ret13Ret0
John Barber80
Ernie McCoy80
Max de Terra80
Umberto Maglioli80
Alan Brown9RetRet120
Fred WackerDNS9DNS0
Tony Bettenhausen90
Peter Whitehead90
Hans Herrmann90
Albert Scherrer90
Louis Chiron15DNSDNS100
Paul Frère10Ret0
Jimmy Davies100
Duke Nalon110
André Pilette110
Bob Gerard11Ret0
Rodney Nuckey110
Johnny ClaesNCRet†12RetRet0
Carl Scarborough120
Theo Helfrich120
Kenneth McAlpineRetRet13NC0
Manny Ayulo130
Yves Giraud-Cabantous14150
Hans StuckRet140
Jimmy Bryan140
Rudolf Krause140
Bill Holland150
Ernst Klodwig150
Rodger Ward160
Wolfgang Seidel160
Walt Faulkner170
Jack FairmanRetNC0
Lance MacklinRetRetRetRetRetRet0
Roy SalvadoriRetRetRetRetRet0
Élie BayolRetDNSRet0
Chico LandiRetRet0
Robert ManzonRet0
Carlos MenditeguyRet0
Pablo BirgerRet0
Adolfo Schwelm CruzRet0
Marshall TeagueRet0
Spider WebbRet0
Bob SweikertRet0
Mike NazarukRet0
Pat FlahertyRet0
Jerry HoytRet0
Johnnie ParsonsRet0
Don FreelandRet0
Gene HartleyRet0
Chuck StevensonRet0
Cal NidayRet0
Bob ScottRet0
Andy LindenRet0
Johnny ThomsonRet0
Georges BergerRet0
Arthur LegatRet0
Jimmy StewartRet0
Tony RoltRet0
Ian StewartRet0
Duncan HamiltonRet0
Tony CrookRet0
Edgar BarthRet0
Oswald KarchRet0
Willi HeeksRet0
Theo FitzauRet0
Kurt AdolffRet0
Günther BechemRet0
Ernst LoofRet0
Erwin BauerRet0
Peter HirtRet0
Piero CariniRet0
John FitchRet0
Charles de TornacoDNS0
Helmut GlöcklerDNS0
Pos.DriverARG
500
NED
BEL
FRA
GBR
GER
SUI
ITA
Pts.
Key
ColourResult
GoldWinner
SilverSecond place
BronzeThird place
GreenOther points position
BlueOther classified position
Not classified, finished (NC)
PurpleNot classified, retired (Ret)
RedDid not qualify (DNQ)
BlackDisqualified (DSQ)
WhiteDid not start (DNS)
Race cancelled (C)
BlankDid not practice (DNP)
Excluded (EX)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Withdrawn (WD)
Did not enter (empty cell)
AnnotationMeaning
PPole position
FFastest lap


  • † Position shared between more drivers of the same car
  • * Point for fastest lap shared between different drivers.
  • ‡ Several cars were shared in this race. See the race page for details.

Non-championship races edit

The following Formula One/Formula Two/Formula Libre races, which did not count towards the World Championship of Drivers, were held in 1953.

Race nameCircuitDateFormulaWinning driverConstructorReport
VII Gran Premio Ciudad de Buenos AiresAutódromo Oscar y Juan Gálvez1 FebruaryFormula Libre Giuseppe Farina FerrariReport
III Gran Premio di SiracusaSyracuse22 MarchFormula Two Toulo de Graffenried MaseratiReport
XIV Pau Grand PrixPau6 AprilFormula Two Alberto Ascari FerrariReport
V Lavant CupGoodwood6 AprilFormula Two Toulo de Graffenried MaseratiReport
II Aston Martin Owners Club Formula 2 RaceSnetterton18 AprilFormula Two Eric Thompson Connaught-Lea FrancisReport
III Grand Prix de BordeauxBordeaux3 MayFormula Two Alberto Ascari FerrariReport
V BRDC International TrophySilverstone9 MayFormula Two Mike Hawthorn FerrariReport
XV EläintarhanajotEläintarharata10 MayFormula One Rodney Nuckey Cooper-BristolReport
VI Gran Premio di NapoliPosillipo10 MayFormula Two Giuseppe Farina FerrariReport
VII Ulster TrophyDundrod16 MayFormula Two Mike Hawthorn FerrariReport
I Winfield JC Formula 2 RaceCharterhall23 MayFormula Two Ken Wharton Cooper-BristolReport
XXIII Grand Prix des FrontièresChimay24 MayFormula Two Maurice Trintignant GordiniReport
III Coronation TrophyCrystal Palace25 MayFormula Two Tony Rolt Connaught-Lea FrancisReport
I Snetterton Coronation TrophySnetterton30 MayFormula Two Tony Rolt Connaught-Lea FrancisReport
XVII Internationales ADAC EifelrennenNürburgring31 MayFormula Two Toulo de Graffenried MaseratiReport
XV Grand Prix de l'AlbigeoisAlbi (Les Planques)31 MayFormula Two Louis Rosier FerrariReport
I Coupe de PrintempsMontlhéry31 MayFormula Two Marcel Balsa BMWReport
II West Essex CC RaceSnetterton27 JuneFormula Two Kenneth McAlpine Connaught-Lea FrancisReport
I Midlands MECC RaceSilverstone27 JuneFormula Two Tony Crook Cooper-AltaReport
III Grand Prix de Rouen-les-EssartsRouen-Les-Essarts28 JuneFormula One Giuseppe Farina FerrariReport
I Crystal Palace TrophyCrystal Palace11 JulyFormula Two Tony Rolt Connaught-Lea FrancisReport
IX Internationales AvusrennenAVUS12 JulyFormula Two Jacques Swaters FerrariReport
II United States Air Force TrophySnetterton25 JulyFormula Two Tony Rolt Connaught-Lea FrancisReport
V Circuit du LacAix-les-Bains26 JulyFormula Two Élie Bayol OSCAReport
I Bristol MC & LCC RaceThruxton3 AugustFormula Two Tony Rolt Connaught-Lea FrancisReport
I Mid-Cheshire MC RaceOulton Park8 AugustFormula Two Tony Rolt Connaught-Lea FrancisReport
III Grand Prix de Sables d'OlonneLes Sables-d'Olonne9 AugustFormula Two Louis Rosier FerrariReport
II Newcastle Journal TrophyCharterhall15 AugustFormula Two Ken Wharton Cooper-BristolReport
V Circuit de CadoursCadours30 AugustFormula Two Maurice Trintignant GordiniReport
I RedeX TrophySnetterton12 SeptemberFormula Two Eric Thompson Connaught-Lea FrancisReport
III SkarpnäcksloppetSkarpnäck13 SeptemberFormula One Erik Lundgren FordReport
I London TrophyCrystal Palace19 SeptemberFormula Two Stirling Moss Cooper-AltaReport
IV Gran Premio di ModenaModena20 SeptemberFormula Two Juan Manuel Fangio MaseratiReport
VI Madgwick CupGoodwood26 SeptemberFormula Two Roy Salvadori Connaught-Lea FrancisReport
II Joe Fry Memorial TrophyCastle Combe3 OctoberFormula Two Bob Gerard Cooper-BristolReport
I Curtis TrophySnetterton17 OctoberFormula Two Bob Gerard Cooper-BristolReport

East German races edit

Race nameCircuitDateWinning driverConstructorReport
I Strassen-Rennen Karl-Marx-StadtKarl-Marx-Stadt3 May Rudolf Krause BMW-ReifReport
I Paul Greifzu GedachtnisrennenDessau7 June Edgar Barth EMWReport
IV Strassen-rennen Halle-Saale-SchleifeHalle-Saale-Schleife5 July Edgar Barth EMWReport
I Dresden AutobahnspinneDresden-Hellerau26 July Edgar Barth EMWReport
V SachsenringrennenSachsenring6 September Edgar Barth EMW-BMWReport
II Bernau AutobahnschleifeBernau27 September Arthur Rosenhammer EMWReport

The Bernau race was not part of the East German Championship.

East German Championship edit

The table below shows the points awarded for each race. Only East German drivers were eligible for points.

PlaceDriverEntrantCarKARDESHALDRESACTotal
1 Edgar BarthEMW RennkollektivEMW 52/53-BMW 328666624
2 Rudolf KrauseGreifzu-SühlGreifzu-BMW 328644418
3 Karl WeberBSG MotorWerkmeister-BMW 3284329
4 Ernst KlodwigBSG MotorLodwig-Heck-BMW 328235
5 Kurt StraubelBSG MotorEigenbau-BMW 32844
6 Paul ThielEMW RennkollektivEMW 52/53-BMW 32833
= Heinz MelkusBSGN SedlitzARO-Veritas-Alfa Romeo33
8 Bobby KohlrauchGreifzu-SühlGreifzu-BMW 32822

Notes edit

  1. ^ The Indianapolis 500 also counted towards the 1953 AAA Championship Car season, and was run for AAA Championship cars, but was not run to Formula One regulations.

References edit

  1. ^ a b World Championship of Drivers, 1974 FIA Yearbook, Grey section, pages 118 & 119
  2. ^ a b Mike Lang, Grand Prix! Volume 1: 1950 to 1965, pages 53 to 66
  3. ^ Steve Small, The Guinness Complete Grand Prix Who's Who, 1994, page 37