1956 Formula One season

The 1956 Formula One season was the tenth season of FIA's Formula One motor racing. It featured the seventh World Championship of Drivers ^[1] as well as numerous non-championship races. The championship series commenced on 22 January 1956 and ended on 2 September after eight races. Juan Manuel Fangio won his third consecutive title, the fourth of his career. Until the 2006 season this was the last season during which no British constructor won any championship race.

Season summary

Fangio joined Ferrari after Mercedes-Benz, with whom he had won the 1954 and 1955 titles, withdrew from the sport. Ferrari acquired the folded Lancia team's D50 cars and put together a strong team containing Fangio, Eugenio Castellotti, Luigi Musso and Peter Collins. Fangio won the opening race after commandeering Musso's car after his own car had broken down. Collins and Fangio's teammate at Mercedes, Stirling Moss – now driving for Maserati provided the biggest challenge to his title defence, each winning two races. In an open season the British Connaughts, Vanwalls and BRMs also showed some signs of promise.

Going into the final race of the season, Fangio had an eight-point lead over Collins and the consistent Jean Behra, driving for Maserati. The only way he could lose the title would be to score no points with Collins winning and setting fastest lap. (Because a driver could only count their best 5 scores, Behra could not win the title.) Fangio retired, and with Musso unwilling to share his car with Fangio, Collins had a great chance of winning his first title. Collins, in a remarkable act of sportsmanship, instead chose to hand his car over to Fangio to allow the Argentine to finish second in the race and win his third title in a row.

Season review

The following races counted towards the 1956 World Championship of Drivers:

Rnd	Race	Circuit	Date	Pole position	Fastest lap	Winning driver	Constructor	Tyre	Report
1	Argentine Grand Prix	Buenos Aires	22 January	Juan Manuel Fangio	Juan Manuel Fangio	Luigi Musso Juan Manuel Fangio	Ferrari	E	Report
2	Monaco Grand Prix	Monaco	13 May	Juan Manuel Fangio	Juan Manuel Fangio	Stirling Moss	Maserati	P	Report
3	Indianapolis 500	Indianapolis	30 May	Pat Flaherty	Paul Russo	Pat Flaherty	Watson-Offenhauser	F	Report
4	Belgian Grand Prix	Spa-Francorchamps	3 June	Juan Manuel Fangio	Stirling Moss	Peter Collins	Ferrari	E	Report
5	French Grand Prix	Reims	1 July	Juan Manuel Fangio	Juan Manuel Fangio	Peter Collins	Ferrari	E	Report
6	British Grand Prix	Silverstone	14 July	Stirling Moss	Stirling Moss	Juan Manuel Fangio	Ferrari	E	Report
7	German Grand Prix	Nürburgring	5 August	Juan Manuel Fangio	Juan Manuel Fangio	Juan Manuel Fangio	Ferrari	E	Report
8	Italian Grand Prix	Monza	2 September	Juan Manuel Fangio	Stirling Moss	Stirling Moss	Maserati	P	Report

The Suez crisis was a contributing factor in Formula One in 1956. The Dutch and Spanish Grands Prix were affected by this crisis, and the oil prices were too high for the teams and drivers, so the two races that were originally supposed to be held at Zandvoort and Pedralbes were cancelled.^[2] The Indianapolis 500 was USAC-sanctioned so not run to Formula One specifications, and also counted towards the 1956 USAC Championship title.

Teams and drivers

Pat Flaherty won the Indianapolis 500 driving the John Zink Special and placed fifth in the championship

The following teams and drivers competed in the 1956 FIA World Championship.

Entrant	Constructor	Chassis	Engine	Tyre	Driver	Rounds
Officine Alfieri Maserati	Maserati	250F	Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6	P	Stirling Moss	1–2, 4–8
					Jean Behra	1–2, 4–8
					Carlos Menditeguy	1
					Luigi Piotti	1
					Chico Landi	1
					Gerino Gerini	1
					José Froilán González	1
					Cesare Perdisa	2, 4–7
					Paco Godia	4–8
					Piero Taruffi	5
					Umberto Maglioli	7–8
					Luigi Villoresi	8
					Jo Bonnier	8
Owen Racing Organisation	Maserati BRM	250F P25	Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 BRM P25 2.5 L4	P D	Mike Hawthorn	1–2, 6
					Tony Brooks	2, 6
					Ron Flockhart	6
Alberto Uria	Maserati	A6GCM	Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6	P	Alberto Uria	1
Alberto Uria	Maserati	A6GCM	Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6	P	Óscar González	1
Scuderia Ferrari	Ferrari	D50 555	Ferrari DS50 2.5 V8 Ferrari 555 2.5 L4	E P	Juan Manuel Fangio	1–2, 4–8
					Eugenio Castellotti	1–2, 4–8
					Luigi Musso	1–2, 7–8
					Peter Collins	1–2, 4–8
					Olivier Gendebien	1, 5
					Paul Frère	4
					André Pilette	4
					Alfonso de Portago	5–8
					Wolfgang von Trips	8
Equipe Gordini	Gordini	T16 T32	Gordini 23 2.5 L6 Gordini 25 2.5 L8	E	Robert Manzon	2, 5–8
					Élie Bayol	2
					André Pilette	2, 5, 7
					Hermano da Silva Ramos	2, 5–6, 8
					André Milhoux	7
					André Simon	8
Ecurie Rosier	Maserati	250F	Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6	P	Louis Rosier	2, 4–7
Vandervell Products	Vanwall	VW 2	Vanwall 254 2.5 L4	P	Maurice Trintignant	2, 4, 6, 8
					Harry Schell	2, 4–6, 8
					Mike Hawthorn	5
					Colin Chapman	5
					José Froilán González	6
					Piero Taruffi	8
Gould's Garage (Bristol) H.H. Gould	Maserati	250F	Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6	D	Horace Gould	2, 4, 6–7
Giorgio Scarlatti	Ferrari	500	Ferrari 500 2.0 L4	P	Giorgio Scarlatti	2
Scuderia Centro Sud	Maserati Ferrari	250F 500	Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 Ferrari 500 2.0 L4	P	Luigi Villoresi	4
					Harry Schell	7
					Giorgio Scarlatti	7
					Toulo de Graffenried	8
Piero Scotti	Connaught-Alta	B	Alta GP 2.5 L4	P	Piero Scotti	4
Automobiles Bugatti	Bugatti	T251	Bugatti 2.5 L8	E	Maurice Trintignant	5
Luigi Piotti	Maserati	250F	Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6	P	Luigi Villoresi	5–7
Luigi Piotti	Maserati	250F	Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6	P	Luigi Piotti	7–8
André Simon	Maserati	250F	Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6	P	André Simon	5
Scuderia Guastalla	Maserati	250F	Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6	P	Umberto Maglioli	6
Scuderia Guastalla	Maserati	250F	Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6	P	Gerino Gerini	8
Connaught Engineering	Connaught-Alta	B	Alta GP 2.5 L4	P A	Archie Scott-Brown	6, 8
					Desmond Titterington	6
					Jack Fairman	6, 8
					Les Leston	8
					Ron Flockhart	8
Bob Gerard	Cooper-Bristol	T23	Bristol BS1 2.0 L6	D	Bob Gerard	6
Gilby Engineering	Maserati	250F	Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6	D	Roy Salvadori	6–8
Bruce Halford	Maserati	250F	Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6	D	Bruce Halford	6–8
Jack Brabham	Maserati	250F	Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6	D	Jack Brabham	6
Emeryson Cars	Emeryson-Alta	56	Alta GP 2.5 L4	D	Paul Emery	6
Ottorino Volonterio	Maserati	A6GCM	Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6	P	Ottorino Volonterio	7

The above list does not include competitors in the 1956 Indianapolis 500.

1956 Drivers' Championship – final standings

Championship points were awarded at each race on an 8–6–4–3–2 basis to the first five finishers, with an additional point awarded to the driver setting the fastest lap of the race. Points for shared drives were divided equally between the drivers, regardless of who had driven more laps. Only the best five round results were counted.

Pos.	Driver	ARG	MON	500	BEL	FRA	GBR	GER	ITA	Pts.
1	Juan Manuel Fangio	1† / Ret	2† / 4†		Ret	4	1	1	(2)† / 8†	30 (33)
2	Stirling Moss	Ret	1		3† / Ret	5† / Ret	(Ret)	2	1	27 (28)
3	Peter Collins	Ret	2†		1	1	2† / Ret	Ret† / Ret	2†	25
4	Jean Behra	2	3		7	3	3	3	Ret† / Ret	22
5	Pat Flaherty			1						8
6	Eugenio Castellotti	Ret	4† / Ret		Ret	2	10†	Ret† / Ret	8† / Ret	7.5
7	Sam Hanks			2						6
=	Paul Frère				2					6
9	Paco Godia				Ret	7	8	4	4	6
10	Jack Fairman						4		5	5
11	Luigi Musso	1†	Ret					Ret†	Ret	4
=	Mike Hawthorn	3				10†	Ret			4
=	Ron Flockhart						Ret		3	4
=	Don Freeland			3						4
15	Alfonso de Portago					Ret	2† / 10†	Ret†	Ret	3
=	Cesare Perdisa		7		3†	5†	7	DNS		3
=	Harry Schell		Ret		4	10† / Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	3
=	Johnnie Parsons			4						3
19	Louis Rosier		Ret		8	6	Ret	5		2
=	Luigi Villoresi				5	Ret	6	Ret	Ret†	2
=	Hermano da Silva Ramos		5			8	Ret		Ret	2
=	Horace Gould		8		Ret		5	Ret		2
=	Olivier Gendebien	5				Ret				2
=	Dick Rathmann			5						2
25	Gerino Gerini	4†							10	1.5
=	Chico Landi	4†								1.5
27	Paul Russo			Ret						1
—	André Pilette		6†		6	11		DNS		0
—	Luigi Piotti	Ret						DNS	6	0
—	Bob Sweikert			6						0
—	Óscar González	6†								0
—	Alberto Uria	6†								0
—	Élie Bayol		6†							0
—	Bob Veith			7						0
—	Toulo de Graffenried								7	0
—	Rodger Ward			8						0
—	Robert Manzon		Ret			9	9	Ret	Ret	0
—	André Simon					Ret			9	0
—	Jimmy Reece			9						0
—	Cliff Griffith			10						0
—	Roy Salvadori						Ret	Ret	11	0
—	Gene Hartley			11						0
—	Bob Gerard						11			0
—	Fred Agabashian			12						0
—	Bob Christie			13						0
—	Al Keller			14						0
—	Eddie Johnson			15						0
—	Billy Garrett			16						0
—	Duke Dinsmore			17						0
—	Pat O'Connor			18						0
—	Jimmy Bryan			19						0
—	Ottorino Volonterio							NC		0
—	Maurice Trintignant		Ret		Ret	Ret	Ret		Ret	0
—	Umberto Maglioli						Ret	Ret	Ret†	0
—	Bruce Halford						Ret	DSQ	Ret	0
—	José Froilán González	Ret					Ret			0
—	Piero Taruffi					Ret			Ret	0
—	Giorgio Scarlatti		DNQ					Ret		0
—	Carlos Menditeguy	Ret								0
—	Jim Rathmann			Ret						0
—	Johnnie Tolan			Ret						0
—	Tony Bettenhausen			Ret						0
—	Jimmy Daywalt			Ret						0
—	Jack Turner			Ret						0
—	Keith Andrews			Ret						0
—	Andy Linden			Ret						0
—	Al Herman			Ret						0
—	Ray Crawford			Ret						0
—	Johnny Boyd			Ret						0
—	Troy Ruttman			Ret						0
—	Johnny Thomson			Ret						0
—	Piero Scotti				Ret					0
—	Desmond Titterington						Ret			0
—	Tony Brooks						Ret			0
—	Archie Scott-Brown						Ret			0
—	Paul Emery						Ret			0
—	Jack Brabham						Ret			0
—	André Milhoux							Ret		0
—	Les Leston								Ret	0
—	Ed Elisian			Ret†						0
—	Eddie Russo			Ret†						0
—	Jo Bonnier								Ret†	0
—	Colin Chapman					DNS				0
—	Wolfgang von Trips								DNS	0
Pos.	Driver	ARG	MON	500	BEL	FRA	GBR	GER	ITA	Pts.

Key
Colour	Result
Gold	Winner
Silver	Second place
Bronze	Third place
Green	Other points position
Blue	Other classified position
Blue	Not classified, finished (NC)
Purple	Not classified, retired (Ret)
Red	Did not qualify (DNQ)
Red	Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
Black	Disqualified (DSQ)
White	Did not start (DNS)
White	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 indicate fastest lap (1 point awarded – point shared equally between drivers sharing fastest lap)
Bold indicates pole position
† Position shared between more drivers of the same car
Only the best 5 results counted towards the Championship. Numbers without parentheses are Championship points; numbers in parentheses are total points scored.

Non-championship race results

The following non-championship races for Formula One cars were also held in 1956:

Race Name	Circuit	Date	Winning driver	Constructor	Report
IV Glover Trophy	Goodwood	2 April	Stirling Moss	Maserati	Report
VI Gran Premio di Siracusa	Syracuse	15 April	Juan Manuel Fangio	Lancia-Ferrari	Report
XI BARC Aintree 200	Aintree	21 April	Stirling Moss	Maserati	Report
VIII BRDC International Trophy	Silverstone	5 May	Stirling Moss	Vanwall	Report
IX Gran Premio di Napoli	Posillipo	6 May	Robert Manzon	Gordini	Report
I Aintree 100	Aintree	24 June	Horace Gould	Maserati	Report
I Vanwall Trophy	Snetterton	22 July	Roy Salvadori	Maserati	Report
IV Grand Prix de Caen	Caen	26 August	Harry Schell	Maserati	Report
II Sussex Trophy	Goodwood	8 September	Roy Salvadori	Cooper-Climax	Report
I BRSCC Formula 1 Race	Brands Hatch	14 October	Archie Scott Brown	Connaught-Alta	Report

Notes and references

^ FIA Yearbook, 1974, page 119
^ "Grand Prix Cancelled". Autosport. Retrieved 23 January 2016.

External links

[1] FIA Yearbook, 1974, page 119

[2] "Grand Prix Cancelled". Autosport. Retrieved 23 January 2016.

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