1959 Formula One season

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The 1959 Formula One season was the 13th season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the 1959 World Championship of Drivers and the 1959 International Cup for F1 Manufacturers, contested concurrently over a nine-race series [1] which commenced on 10 May and ended on 12 December. The season also included several non-championship Formula One races.

Jack Brabham won the World Championship of Drivers [1] in a sport still reeling from the death of several drivers, including reigning champion Mike Hawthorn. The International Cup for F1 Manufacturers was awarded to CooperClimax.[1]

Championship teams and drivers[edit]

The following teams and drivers competed in the 1959 FIA World Championship.

Entrant Constructor Chassis Engine Tyre Driver Rounds
West Germany Dr Ing F. Porsche KG Behra-Porsche-Porsche RSK Porsche 547/3 1.5 F4 D Italy Maria Teresa de Filippis 1
Porsche 718 RSK
718/2
West Germany Wolfgang von Trips 1, 6
Belgium Equipe Nationale Belge Cooper-Climax T51 Climax FPF 1.5 L4 D Belgium Lucien Bianchi 1
Belgium Alain de Changy 1
France Jean Lucienbonnet Cooper-Climax T45 Climax FPF 1.5 L4 D France Jean Lucienbonnet 1
United Kingdom Owen Racing Organisation BRM P25 BRM P25 2.5 L4 D United States Harry Schell 1, 3–8
Sweden Jo Bonnier 1, 3–8
United Kingdom Ron Flockhart 1, 4–5, 7–8
United Kingdom Cooper Car Company Cooper-Climax T51 Climax FPF 2.5 L4 D New Zealand Bruce McLaren 1, 4–9
Australia Jack Brabham 1, 3–9
United States Masten Gregory 1, 3–7
Italy Giorgio Scarlatti 8
United Kingdom R.R.C. Walker Racing Team Cooper-Climax T51 Climax FPF 2.5 L4 D United Kingdom Stirling Moss 1, 3, 6–9
France Maurice Trintignant 1, 3–9
United Kingdom British Racing Partnership BRM P25 BRM P25 2.5 L4 D United Kingdom Stirling Moss 4–5
West Germany Hans Herrmann 6
Cooper-Climax T51 Climax FPF 1.5 L4 United Kingdom Ivor Bueb 1
Cooper-Borgward Borgward 1500 RS 1.5 L4 5
United Kingdom Chris Bristow 5
United Kingdom High Efficiency Motors Cooper-Maserati T45 Maserati 250S 2.5 L4 D United Kingdom Roy Salvadori 1, 4, 9
United Kingdom Jack Fairman 8
Cooper-Climax T45 Climax FPF 2.5 L4 5
United Kingdom Team Lotus Lotus-Climax 16 Climax FPF 2.5 L4 D United Kingdom Graham Hill 1, 3–8
United States Pete Lovely 1
United Kingdom Innes Ireland 3–4, 6–9
United Kingdom Alan Stacey 5, 9
United Kingdom John Fisher Lotus-Climax 16 Climax FPF 1.5 L4 D United Kingdom Bruce Halford 1
Italy Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari 246
156
Ferrari 155 2.4 V6
Ferrari D156 1.5 V6
D France Jean Behra 1, 3–4
United States Phil Hill 1, 3–4, 6–9
United Kingdom Tony Brooks
United Kingdom Cliff Allison 1, 3, 6, 8–9
Belgium Olivier Gendebien 4, 8
United States Dan Gurney 4, 6–8
West Germany Wolfgang von Trips 9
Italy Scuderia Ugolini Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 D Italy Giorgio Scarlatti 1, 4
Netherlands Carel Godin de Beaufort 4
Monaco Monte Carlo Auto Sport Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 D Monaco André Testut 1
United Kingdom David Brown Corporation Aston Martin DBR4 Aston Martin RB6 2.5 L6 A United Kingdom Roy Salvadori 3, 5, 7–8
United States Carroll Shelby 3, 5, 7–8
Netherlands Ecurie Maarsbergen Porsche 718 RSK Porsche 547/3 1.5 F4 D Netherlands Carel Godin de Beaufort 3
Italy Scuderia Centro Sud Cooper-Maserati T51 Maserati 250S 2.5 L4 D United Kingdom Ian Burgess 4–6, 8
United Kingdom Colin Davis 4, 8
West Germany Hans Herrmann 5
Portugal Mario Araujo de Cabral 7
Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 Uruguay Asdrúbal Fontes Bayardo 4
Brazil Fritz d'Orey 4–5
United Kingdom Vandervell Products Vanwall VW 59 Vanwall 254 2.5 L4 D United Kingdom Tony Brooks 5
United Kingdom J.B. Naylor JBW-Maserati 59 Maserati 250S 2.5 L4 D United Kingdom Brian Naylor 5
United Kingdom Ace Garage – Rotherham Cooper-Climax T51 Climax FPF 1.5 L4 D United Kingdom Trevor Taylor 5
United Kingdom Alan Brown Equipe Cooper-Climax T45 Climax FPF 1.5 L4 D United Kingdom Mike Taylor 5
United Kingdom Peter Ashdown 5
United Kingdom Gilby Engineering Cooper-Climax T43 Climax FPF 1.5 L4 D United Kingdom Keith Greene 5
United Kingdom United Racing Stable Cooper-Climax T51 Climax FPF 1.5 L4 D United Kingdom Bill Moss 5
United Kingdom R.H.H. Parnell Cooper-Climax T51
T45
Climax FPF 1.5 L4 D United Kingdom Henry Taylor 5
United Kingdom Tim Parnell 5
United Kingdom David Fry Fry-Climax F2 Climax FPF 1.5 L4 D United Kingdom Mike Parkes 5
United Kingdom Dennis Taylor Lotus-Climax 12 Climax FPF 1.5 L4 D United Kingdom Dennis Taylor 5
United Kingdom Dorchester Service Station Lotus-Climax 16 Climax FPF 1.5 L4 D United Kingdom David Piper 5
France Jean Behra Behra-Porsche-Porsche RSK Porsche 547/3 1.5 F4 D France Jean Behra 6
Switzerland Ottorino Volonterio Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 D Italy Giulio Cabianca 8
United States Leader Cards Inc. Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser Midget Offenhauser 1.7 L4 F United States Rodger Ward 9
Italy OSCA Automobili Cooper-OSCA T43 OSCA 2.0 L4 D Argentina Alejandro de Tomaso 9
United States Camoradi USA Tec-Mec-Maserati F415 Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 D Brazil Fritz d'Orey 9
United Kingdom Taylor-Crawley Racing Team Cooper-Climax T45 Climax FPF 2.5 L4 D United States George Constantine 9
United States Blanchard Automobile Co. Porsche 718 RSK Porsche 547/3 1.5 F4 G United States Harry Blanchard 9
United Kingdom Connaught Cars-Paul Emery Connaught-Alta C Alta GP 2.5 L4 D United States Bob Said 9
France Ecurie Bleue Cooper-Climax T51 Climax FPF 2.5 L4 D United States Harry Schell 9
United States Phil Cade Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 D United States Phil Cade 9

Note: The above list does not reflect competitors in the 1959 Indianapolis 500.

Championship summary[edit]

Jack Brabham (pictured in 1966) won his first of three drivers' championships, driving a Cooper-Climax

Juan Manuel Fangio and Mike Hawthorn's retirement meant that for the very first time, no world champion was on the grid. Cooper's revolutionary mid-engined cars, powered by the compact Coventry-Climax 2.5 litre engine, won five races with Jack Brabham, Stirling Moss and Bruce McLaren. BRM also landed its maiden victory in the hands of Jo Bonnier. Aston Martin appeared with a car that was outdated and overweight in the face of Cooper's rear mid-engined revolution.

The German Grand Prix was held for the second time on the very high speed AVUS circuit, where Ferrari's Jean Behra was killed during an unrelated sports car race at the wheel of a Porsche.

Ferrari's Tony Brooks took the fight to the Coopers, and going into the final race, he, Moss, or Brabham could win the title. Moss retired from the race, the inaugural United States Grand Prix, giving Brabham the lead. Brabham ran out of fuel on the last lap but pushed his car across the line to finish fourth. With Brooks unable to do better than third, Brabham became the first Australian World Champion, while Cooper won the International Cup for F1 Manufacturers.

Championship calendar[edit]

Round Grand Prix Circuit Date
1 Monaco Monaco Grand Prix Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo 10 May
2 United States Indianapolis 500 Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway 30 May[a]
3 Netherlands Dutch Grand Prix Circuit Zandvoort, Zandvoort 31 May
4 France French Grand Prix Reims-Gueux, Gueux 5 July
5 United Kingdom British Grand Prix Aintree Motor Racing Circuit, Merseyside 18 July
6 West Germany German Grand Prix AVUS, Berlin 2 August
7 Portugal Portuguese Grand Prix Monsanto Park Circuit, Lisbon 23 August
8 Italy Italian Grand Prix Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza 13 September
9 United States United States Grand Prix Sebring International Raceway, Highlands County 12 December

Calendar changes[edit]

The British Grand Prix was moved from Silverstone to Aintree, in keeping with the event-sharing arrangement between the two circuits.

The German Grand Prix was moved from the Nürburgring to AVUS.

The Portuguese Grand Prix was moved from Circuito da Boavista to Monsanto Park Circuit.

The United States Grand Prix hosted its first World Championship Grand Prix in 1959, the race was held at Sebring International Raceway on 12 December.

The Argentine Grand Prix was originally scheduled for 25 January but was cancelled because of heroes such as Juan Manuel Fangio and Jose Froilan Gonzalez having retired, plus there was no local interest in the race.

The Belgian Grand Prix was originally scheduled for 14 June, but it was cancelled due to a dispute over start money.

The Moroccan Grand Prix was originally scheduled for 1 October but it was cancelled because of monetary reasons.

Results and standings[edit]

Championship races[edit]

Round Grand Prix Pole position Fastest lap Winning driver Winning constructor Tyre Report
1 Monaco Monaco Grand Prix United Kingdom Stirling Moss Australia Jack Brabham Australia Jack Brabham United Kingdom Cooper-Climax D Report
2 United States Indianapolis 500 United States Johnny Thomson United States Johnny Thomson United States Rodger Ward United States Watson-Offenhauser F Report
3 Netherlands Dutch Grand Prix Sweden Jo Bonnier United Kingdom Stirling Moss Sweden Jo Bonnier United Kingdom BRM D Report
4 France French Grand Prix United Kingdom Tony Brooks United Kingdom Stirling Moss United Kingdom Tony Brooks Italy Ferrari D Report
5 United Kingdom British Grand Prix Australia Jack Brabham United Kingdom Stirling Moss
New Zealand Bruce McLaren
Australia Jack Brabham United Kingdom Cooper-Climax D Report
6 West Germany German Grand Prix United Kingdom Tony Brooks United Kingdom Tony Brooks United Kingdom Tony Brooks Italy Ferrari D Report
7 Portugal Portuguese Grand Prix United Kingdom Stirling Moss United Kingdom Stirling Moss United Kingdom Stirling Moss United Kingdom Cooper-Climax D Report
8 Italy Italian Grand Prix United Kingdom Stirling Moss United States Phil Hill United Kingdom Stirling Moss United Kingdom Cooper-Climax D Report
9 United States United States Grand Prix United Kingdom Stirling Moss France Maurice Trintignant New Zealand Bruce McLaren United Kingdom Cooper-Climax D Report

World Drivers' Championship standings[edit]

Points were awarded on an 8–6–4–3–2 basis to the first five finishers at each Grand Prix, with an additional point going to the driver who set the fastest lap. Only the best five results contributed to the World Championship.

Pos. Driver MON
Monaco
500
United States
NED
Netherlands
FRA
France
GBR
United Kingdom
GER
West Germany
POR
Portugal
ITA
Italy
USA
United States
Pts.[b]
1 Australia Jack Brabham 1 2 3 1 Ret Ret 3 (4) 31 (34)
2 United Kingdom Tony Brooks 2 Ret 1 Ret 1 9 Ret 3 27
3 United Kingdom Stirling Moss Ret Ret DSQ 2 Ret 1 1 Ret 25.5
4 United States Phil Hill 4 6 2 3 Ret 2 Ret 20
5 France Maurice Trintignant 3 8 11 5 4 4 9 2 19
6 New Zealand Bruce McLaren 5 5 3 Ret Ret Ret 1 16.5
7 United States Dan Gurney Ret 2 3 4 13
8 Sweden Jo Bonnier Ret 1 Ret Ret 5 Ret 8 10
9 United States Masten Gregory Ret 3 Ret 7 Ret 2 10
10 United States Rodger Ward 1 Ret 8
11 United States Jim Rathmann 2 6
12 United States Johnny Thomson 3 5
13 United States Harry Schell Ret Ret 7 4 7 5 7 Ret 5
14 United Kingdom Innes Ireland 4 Ret Ret Ret Ret 5 5
15 Belgium Olivier Gendebien 4 6 3
16 United States Tony Bettenhausen 4 3
17 United Kingdom Cliff Allison Ret 9 Ret 5 Ret 2
18 France Jean Behra Ret 5 Ret DNS 2
19 United States Paul Goldsmith 5 2
United Kingdom Roy Salvadori 6 Ret Ret 6 6 Ret Ret 0
United Kingdom Ron Flockhart Ret 6 Ret 7 13 0
United Kingdom Ian Burgess Ret Ret 6 14 0
West Germany Wolfgang von Trips Ret DNS 6 0
United States Johnny Boyd 6 0
United Kingdom Graham Hill Ret 7 Ret 9 Ret Ret Ret 0
United States Duane Carter 7 0
United States Harry Blanchard 7 0
United States Carroll Shelby Ret Ret 8 10 0
Italy Giorgio Scarlatti DNQ 8 12 0
United Kingdom Alan Stacey 8 Ret 0
United States Eddie Johnson 8 0
Netherlands Carel Godin de Beaufort 10 9 0
United States Paul Russo 9 0
Brazil Fritz d'Orey 10 Ret Ret 0
United States A. J. Foyt 10 0
United Kingdom Chris Bristow 10 0
Portugal Mario de Araujo Cabral 10 0
United Kingdom Colin Davis Ret 11 0
United States Gene Hartley 11 0
United Kingdom Henry Taylor 11 0
United States Bob Veith 12 0
United Kingdom Peter Ashdown 12 0
United States Al Herman 13 0
United Kingdom Ivor Bueb DNQ 13 0
United States Jimmy Daywalt 14 0
United States Chuck Arnold 15 0
Italy Giulio Cabianca 15 0
United States Jim McWithey 16 0
West Germany Hans Herrmann Ret Ret 0
United Kingdom Jack Fairman Ret Ret 0
United Kingdom Bruce Halford Ret 0
United States Eddie Sachs Ret 0
United States Al Keller Ret 0
United States Pat Flaherty Ret 0
United States Dick Rathmann Ret 0
United States Bill Cheesbourg Ret 0
United States Don Freeland Ret 0
United States Ray Crawford Ret 0
United States Don Branson Ret 0
United States Bob Christie Ret 0
United States Bobby Grim Ret 0
United States Jack Turner Ret 0
United States Chuck Weyant Ret 0
United States Jud Larson Ret 0
United States Mike Magill Ret 0
United States Red Amick Ret 0
United States Len Sutton Ret 0
United States Jimmy Bryan Ret 0
United Kingdom Brian Naylor Ret 0
United Kingdom David Piper Ret 0
United Kingdom Mike Taylor Ret 0
Argentina Alejandro de Tomaso Ret 0
United States George Constantine Ret 0
United States Bob Said Ret 0
Belgium Alain de Changy DNQ 0
Belgium Lucien Bianchi DNQ 0
Italy Maria Teresa de Filippis DNQ 0
United States Pete Lovely DNQ 0
France Jean Lucienbonnet DNQ 0
Monaco André Testut DNQ 0
United Kingdom Bill Moss DNQ 0
United Kingdom Keith Greene DNQ 0
United Kingdom Mike Parkes DNQ 0
United Kingdom Trevor Taylor DNQ 0
United Kingdom Dennis Taylor DNQ 0
United Kingdom Tim Parnell DNQ 0
Uruguay Asdrúbal Fontes Bayardo DNS 0
United States Phil Cade DNS 0
Pos. Driver MON
Monaco
500
United States
NED
Netherlands
FRA
France
GBR
United Kingdom
GER
West Germany
POR
Portugal
ITA
Italy
USA
United States
Pts.
Key
Colour Result
Gold Winner
Silver Second place
Bronze Third place
Green Other points position
Blue Other classified position
Not classified, finished (NC)
Purple Not classified, retired (Ret)
Red Did not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
Black Disqualified (DSQ)
White Did not start (DNS)
Race cancelled (C)
Blank Did not practice (DNP)
Excluded (EX)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Withdrawn (WD)
Did not enter (cell empty)
Text formatting Meaning
Bold Pole position
Italics Fastest lap
  • Italics indicates the fastest lap (One point awarded – point shared equally between drivers sharing fastest lap)
  • Bold indicates pole position

International Cup for F1 Manufacturers standings[edit]

Points were awarded on an 8–6–4–3–2 basis to the first five finishers at each round (excluding the Indianapolis 500). However, a manufacturer only received points for its highest-placed car in each round, and only the best five results from the eight races were retained.

Pos. Manufacturer MON
Monaco
NED
Netherlands
FRA
France
GBR
United Kingdom
GER
West Germany
POR
Portugal
ITA
Italy
USA
United States
Pts.[b]
1 United Kingdom Cooper-Climax 1 (2) (3) 1 (4) 1 1 1 40 (53)
2 Italy Ferrari 2 (5) 1 1 3 2 (3) 32 (38)
3 United Kingdom BRM Ret 1 6 2 5 5 7 18
4 United Kingdom Lotus-Climax Ret 4 Ret 8 Ret Ret Ret 5 5
United Kingdom Cooper-Maserati 6 Ret Ret 6 10 11 Ret 0
United Kingdom Aston Martin Ret 6 6 10 0
West Germany Porsche Ret 10 DNS 7 0
Italy Maserati DNQ 8 Ret WD WD 15 DNS 0
United Kingdom Cooper-Borgward 10 0
United Kingdom JBW-Maserati Ret 0
United Kingdom Vanwall Ret 0
United States Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser Ret 0
United Kingdom Cooper-OSCA Ret 0
Italy Tec-Mec-Maserati Ret 0
United Kingdom Connaught-Alta WD Ret 0
France Behra-Porsche-Porsche DNQ DNS 0
United Kingdom Fry-Climax DNQ 0
Pos. Manufacturer MON
Monaco
NED
Netherlands
FRA
France
GBR
United Kingdom
GER
West Germany
POR
Portugal
ITA
Italy
USA
United States
Pts.
  • Bold results counted to championship totals.

Non-championship races[edit]

Five Formula One races which did not count towards the World Championship were held in 1959.

Race Name Circuit Date Winning driver Constructor Report
United Kingdom VII Glover Trophy Goodwood 30 March United Kingdom Stirling Moss United Kingdom Cooper-Climax Report
United Kingdom XIV BARC Aintree 200 Aintree 18 April France Jean Behra Italy Ferrari Report
United Kingdom XI BRDC International Trophy Silverstone 2 May Australia Jack Brabham United Kingdom Cooper-Climax Report
United Kingdom VI International Gold Cup Oulton Park 26 September United Kingdom Stirling Moss United Kingdom Cooper-Climax Report
United Kingdom IV Silver City Trophy Snetterton 10 October United Kingdom Ron Flockhart United Kingdom BRM Report

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ The Indianapolis 500 also counted towards the 1959 USAC National Championship Trail, and was run for USAC Championship cars, but did not count towards the International Cup for F1 Manufacturers.
  2. ^ a b Only the best 5 results counted towards the championship. Numbers without parentheses are championship points; numbers in parentheses are total points scored.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c World Championship of Drivers and International Cup for F1 Manufacturers, 1974 FIA Yearbook, Grey section, pages 118 to 121