By Score More
The 1954 Formula One season was a historic season in the history of the sport. It was the fifth season of the World Championship of Drivers, and the first season in which a World Championship for Constructors was awarded.
The season saw the return of Mercedes-Benz to Formula One, after an absence of 15 years, and the debut of a young Argentine driver named Juan Manuel Fangio, who would go on to become one of the greatest drivers in the history of the sport.
The season began on May 16, 1954, with the Monaco Grand Prix, and ended on October 24, 1954, with the Spanish Grand Prix. The championship was contested over a total of nine races, with the best six results of each driver counting towards the final championship standings.
Mercedes-Benz dominated the season, with Fangio winning the championship and his teammate, Karl Kling, finishing in second place. Fangio won the championship with a total of 42 points, while Kling finished with 22 points. The third-placed driver, Ferrari’s Mike Hawthorn, finished with 16 points.
Fangio won four races during the season, including the German Grand Prix, which was held on the fearsome Nürburgring circuit. The race was held in heavy rain, and Fangio put in a stunning performance, lapping the entire field and winning by over a minute.
The season also saw the tragic death of the reigning world champion, Alberto Ascari. Ascari was testing a Ferrari sports car at Monza when he crashed into the harbor at the Parabolica corner. He was killed instantly.
Despite the tragedy, the season was a great success for Formula One. The return of Mercedes-Benz brought a new level of excitement to the sport, and the emergence of Fangio as a superstar ensured that the season would be remembered for years to come.
In conclusion, the 1954 Formula One season was a pivotal moment in the history of the sport. It marked the return of one of the greatest manufacturers in the history of motor racing, and the emergence of one of the greatest drivers in the history of the sport. It was a season of triumph and tragedy, and it will always be remembered as one of the most exciting and memorable seasons in the history of Formula One.
Here is the final classification for the 1954 Formula One World Championship:
- Juan Manuel Fangio – Mercedes-Benz – 42 points
- Karl Kling – Mercedes-Benz – 22 points
- Mike Hawthorn – Ferrari – 16 points
- José Froilán González – Ferrari – 13 points
- Maurice Trintignant – Ferrari – 10 points
- Luigi Musso – Maserati – 9 points
- Stirling Moss – Maserati – 8 points
- Jean Behra – Gordini – 6 points
- Sergio Mantovani – Maserati – 4 points
- André Simon – Maserati – 3 points
- Robert Manzon – Gordini – 3 points
- Jacques Pollet – Gordini – 2 points
- Louis Rosier – Ferrari – 2 points
- Prince Bira – Maserati – 1 point
- Umberto Maglioli – Maserati – 1 point
Note that only the best six results out of the nine races counted towards the final championship standings.