1955 Formula One Season

The 1955 Formula One season was the sixth season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the 1955 World Championship of Drivers,1974 FIA Yearbook, Grey Section, Previous FIA Championship winners, page 118 which commenced on January 16, 1955 and ended on September 11 after seven races. Juan Manuel Fangio won his second consecutive World Championship title in a season that was curtailed by tragedies.
The season also included a number of non-championship Formula One races.
==Season summary==
 drivers again dominated the championship, with Fangio taking four races, and his new team mate Stirling Moss the British Grand Prix. won at Monaco after all of the Mercedes cars broke down, and driver Alberto Ascari crashed into the harbour. Although Ascari was apparently unscathed, the double World Champion crashed fatally at Monza while testing sportscars four days later.
The disaster at the 24 Hours of Le Mans on 11 June which killed Pierre Levegh and over 80 spectators led to the cancellations of the French, German, Spanish and Swiss Grands Prix. The French round, which was supposed to be held at Reims between the Dutch and British rounds, was cancelled first. Then the German event at the Nürburgring, the Swiss round at Bremgarten and the Spanish round at Pedralbes followed suit. Pedralbes and Bremgarten were then abandoned and never used again for racing; motor racing was banned altogether in Switzerland and since then, the ban remains. These cancellations effectively handed the driver's title to Fangio after he finished 2nd to Moss at the British Grand Prix; although he wasn't actually crowned champion until well after the British Grand Prix, because the German, Swiss and Spanish rounds were cancelled after the British Grand Prix took place.
1955 would be the final season for Mercedes Benz as a constructor until the team's revival in 2010. It would also mark the final win for Mercedes until the 2012 Chinese Grand Prix.
==Season review==
Rnd	Race 	Circuit 	Date 	Pole position 	Fastest lap 	Winning driver 	Constructor 	Tyre	Report
1 	Argentine Grand Prix	Oscar Gálvez 	January 16 	José Froilán González	Juan Manuel Fangio	Juan Manuel Fangio 	 	 	Report
2 	Monaco Grand Prix 	Monaco 	May 22 	Juan Manuel Fangio 	Juan Manuel Fangio	Maurice Trintignant	 	 	Report
3 	Indianapolis 500 	Indianapolis 	May 30 	Jerry Hoyt 	Bill Vukovich 	Bob Sweikert 	Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser	 	Report
4 	Belgian Grand Prix 	Spa-Francorchamps	June 5 	Eugenio Castellotti 	Juan Manuel Fangio	Juan Manuel Fangio 	 	 	Report
5 	Dutch Grand Prix 	Zandvoort 	June 19 	Juan Manuel Fangio 	Roberto Mieres 	Juan Manuel Fangio 	 	 	Report
6 	British Grand Prix 	Aintree 	July 16 	Stirling Moss 	Stirling Moss 	Stirling Moss 	 	 	Report
7 	Italian Grand Prix 	Monza 	September 11	Juan Manuel Fangio 	Stirling Moss 	Juan Manuel Fangio 	 	 	Report
==Cancelled races==
Race 	Circuit 	Date 	Report
French Grand Prix 	Reims 	July 3 	Report
German Grand Prix 	Nürburgring 	July 31 	Report
Swiss Grand Prix 	Circuit Bremgarten	August 21 	Report
Spanish Grand Prix	Pedralbes 	October 23	Report
==Teams and drivers==
The following teams and drivers competed in the 1955 FIA World Championship.
Entrant 	Constructor	Chassis 	Engine 	Tyre	Driver 	Rounds
Daimler Benz AG 	 	W196 	M196 2.5 L8 	 	Juan Manuel Fangio 	1–2, 4–7
Daimler Benz AG 	 	W196 	M196 2.5 L8 	 	Karl Kling 	1, 4–7
Daimler Benz AG 	 	W196 	M196 2.5 L8 	 	Stirling Moss 	1–2, 4–7
Daimler Benz AG 	 	W196 	M196 2.5 L8 	 	Hans Herrmann 	1
Daimler Benz AG 	 	W196 	M196 2.5 L8 	 	André Simon 	2
Daimler Benz AG 	 	W196 	M196 2.5 L8 	 	Piero Taruffi 	6–7
Scuderia Ferrari 	 	625555D50	555 2.5 L4 DS50 2.5 V8	 	Giuseppe Farina 	1–2, 4, 7
Scuderia Ferrari 	 	625555D50	555 2.5 L4 DS50 2.5 V8	 	Umberto Maglioli 	1, 7
Scuderia Ferrari 	 	625555D50	555 2.5 L4 DS50 2.5 V8	 	José Froilán González 	1
Scuderia Ferrari 	 	625555D50	555 2.5 L4 DS50 2.5 V8	 	Maurice Trintignant 	1–2, 4–7
Scuderia Ferrari 	 	625555D50	555 2.5 L4 DS50 2.5 V8	 	Harry Schell 	2
Scuderia Ferrari 	 	625555D50	555 2.5 L4 DS50 2.5 V8	 	Piero Taruffi 	2
Scuderia Ferrari 	 	625555D50	555 2.5 L4 DS50 2.5 V8	 	Paul Frère 	2, 4
Scuderia Ferrari 	 	625555D50	555 2.5 L4 DS50 2.5 V8	 	Mike Hawthorn 	5–7
Scuderia Ferrari 	 	625555D50	555 2.5 L4 DS50 2.5 V8	 	Eugenio Castellotti 	5–7
Scuderia Ferrari 	 	625555D50	555 2.5 L4 DS50 2.5 V8	 	Luigi Villoresi 	7
Officine Alfieri Maserati	 	250F 	250F1 2.5 L6 	 	Jean Behra 	1–2, 4–7
Officine Alfieri Maserati	 	250F 	250F1 2.5 L6 	 	Roberto Mieres 	1–2, 4–7
Officine Alfieri Maserati	 	250F 	250F1 2.5 L6 	 	Sergio Mantovani 	1
Officine Alfieri Maserati	 	250F 	250F1 2.5 L6 	 	Luigi Musso 	1–2, 4–7
Officine Alfieri Maserati	 	250F 	250F1 2.5 L6 	 	Carlos Menditeguy 	1, 7
Officine Alfieri Maserati	 	250F 	250F1 2.5 L6 	 	Clemar Bucci 	1
Officine Alfieri Maserati	 	250F 	250F1 2.5 L6 	 	Harry Schell 	1
Officine Alfieri Maserati	 	250F 	250F1 2.5 L6 	 	Cesare Perdisa 	2, 4
Officine Alfieri Maserati	 	250F 	250F1 2.5 L6 	 	André Simon 	6
Officine Alfieri Maserati	 	250F 	250F1 2.5 L6 	 	Peter Collins 	7
Officine Alfieri Maserati	 	250F 	250F1 2.5 L6 	 	Horace Gould 	7
Alberto Uria 	 	A6GCM 	250F1 2.5 L6 	 	Alberto Uria 	1
Scuderia Lancia 	 	D50 	DS50 2.5 V8 	 	Alberto Ascari 	1–2
Scuderia Lancia 	 	D50 	DS50 2.5 V8 	 	Luigi Villoresi 	1–2
Scuderia Lancia 	 	D50 	DS50 2.5 V8 	 	Eugenio Castellotti 	1–2, 4
Scuderia Lancia 	 	D50 	DS50 2.5 V8 	 	Louis Chiron 	2
Equipe Gordini 	 	T16 	23 2.5 L6 	 	Élie Bayol 	1–2
Equipe Gordini 	 	T16 	23 2.5 L6 	 	Pablo Birger 	1
Equipe Gordini 	 	T16 	23 2.5 L6 	 	Jesús Iglesias 	1
Equipe Gordini 	 	T16 	23 2.5 L6 	 	Robert Manzon 	2, 5–6
Equipe Gordini 	 	T16 	23 2.5 L6 	 	Jacques Pollet 	2, 5, 7
Equipe Gordini 	 	T16 	23 2.5 L6 	 	Hernando da Silva Ramos	5–7
Equipe Gordini 	 	T16 	23 2.5 L6 	 	Mike Sparken 	6
Equipe Gordini 	 	T16 	23 2.5 L6 	 	Jean Lucas 	7
Ecurie Rosier 	 	250F 	250F1 2.5 L6 	 	Louis Rosier 	2, 4–5
Vandervell Products 	 	VW 55 	254 2.5 L4 	 	Mike Hawthorn 	2, 4
Vandervell Products 	 	VW 55 	254 2.5 L4 	 	Ken Wharton 	6–7
Vandervell Products 	 	VW 55 	254 2.5 L4 	 	Harry Schell 	6–7
Stirling Moss Ltd 	 	250F 	250F1 2.5 L6 	 	Lance Macklin 	2, 6
Stirling Moss Ltd 	 	250F 	250F1 2.5 L6 	 	Johnny Claes 	4
Stirling Moss Ltd 	 	250F 	250F1 2.5 L6 	 	Peter Walker 	5
Stirling Moss Ltd 	 	250F 	250F1 2.5 L6 	 	John Fitch 	7
E.N. Whiteaway 	 	53 	GP 2.5 L4 	 	Ted Whiteaway 	2
Equipe Nationale Belge 	 	625500 	625 2.5 L4 	 	Johnny Claes 	5
Gould's Garage (Bristol) 	 	250F 	250F1 2.5 L6 	 	Horace Gould 	5–6
Connaught Engineering 	 	B 	GP 2.5 L4 	 	Kenneth McAlpine 	6
Connaught Engineering 	 	B 	GP 2.5 L4 	 	Jack Fairman 	6
Connaught Engineering 	 	B 	GP 2.5 L4 	 	Tony Rolt 	6
Connaught Engineering 	 	B 	GP 2.5 L4 	 	Peter Walker 	6
Connaught Engineering 	 	B 	GP 2.5 L4 	 	Leslie Marr 	6
Cooper Car Company 	 	T40 	BS1 2.0 L6 	 	Jack Brabham 	6
Owen Racing Organisation 	 	250F 	250F1 2.5 L6 	 	Peter Collins 	6
Gilby Engineering 	 	250F 	250F1 2.5 L6 	 	Roy Salvadori 	6
Scuderia Volpini 	 	F1 	4CLT 2.5 L4 	 	Luigi Piotti 	7
==1955 Drivers Championship final standings==
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%; text-align:center;"	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Pos.	Driver 	ARG 	MON 	500	BEL 	NED	GBR 	ITA	Pts.
1 	Juan Manuel Fangio 	1 	Ret 	 	1 	1 	2 	1 	40 (41)
2 	Stirling Moss 	4† / Ret 	9 	 	2 	2 	1 	Ret	23
3 	Eugenio Castellotti 	Ret† 	2 	 	Ret 	5 	6† / Ret	3 	12
4 	Maurice Trintignant 	2† / 3† / Ret 	1 	 	6 	Ret	Ret 	8 	11 1/3
5 	Nino Farina 	2† / 3† 	4 	 	3 	 	 	DNS	10 1/3
6 	Piero Taruffi 	 	8† 	 	 	 	4 	2 	9
7 	Bob Sweikert 	 	 	1 	 	 	 	 	8
8 	Roberto Mieres 	5 	Ret 	 	5† 	4 	Ret 	7 	7
9 	Jean Behra 	6† / Ret† / Ret	3† / Ret†	 	5† / Ret	6 	Ret 	4 	6
10 	Luigi Musso 	7† / Ret† 	Ret 	 	7 	3 	5 	Ret	6
11 	Karl Kling 	4† / Ret 	 	 	Ret 	Ret	3 	Ret	5
12 	Jimmy Davies 	 	 	3 	 	 	 	 	4
13 	Tony Bettenhausen 	 	 	2† 	 	 	 	 	3
14 	Paul Russo 	 	 	2† 	 	 	 	 	3
15 	Paul Frère 	 	8† 	 	4 	 	 	 	3
16 	Johnny Thomson 	 	 	4 	 	 	 	 	3
17 	José Froilán González 	2† 	 	 	 	 	 	 	2
18 	Cesare Perdisa 	 	3† / Ret†	 	8 	 	 	 	2
19 	Luigi Villoresi 	Ret† / Ret 	5 	 	 	 	 	DNS	2
20 	Carlos Menditeguy 	Ret† / Ret 	 	 	 	 	 	5 	2
21 	Umberto Maglioli 	3† 	 	 	 	 	 	6 	1 1/3
22 	Hans Herrmann 	4† 	DNQ 	 	 	 	 	 	1
23 	Walt Faulkner 	 	 	5† 	 	 	 	 	1
24 	Bill Homeier 	 	 	5† 	 	 	 	 	1
25 	Bill Vukovich 	 	 	Ret	 	 	 	 	1
— 	Mike Hawthorn 	 	Ret 	 	Ret 	7 	6† 	10 	0
— 	Harry Schell 	6† / 7† / Ret† 	Ret 	 	DNS 	 	9† / Ret	Ret	0
— 	Louis Chiron 	 	6 	 	 	 	 	 	0
— 	Andy Linden 	 	 	6 	 	 	 	 	0
— 	Jacques Pollet 	 	7 	 	 	10 	 	Ret	0
— 	Al Herman 	 	 	7 	 	 	 	 	0
— 	Mike Sparken 	 	 	 	 	 	7 	 	0
— 	Sergio Mantovani 	7† / Ret† 	 	 	 	 	 	 	0
— 	Hernando da Silva Ramos	 	 	 	 	8 	Ret 	Ret	0
— 	Lance Macklin 	 	DNQ 	 	 	 	8 	 	0
— 	Pat O'Connor 	 	 	8 	 	 	 	 	0
— 	Louis Rosier 	 	Ret 	 	9 	9 	 	 	0
— 	Ken Wharton 	 	 	 	 	 	9† 	Ret	0
— 	Jimmy Daywalt 	 	 	9 	 	 	 	 	0
— 	John Fitch 	 	 	 	 	 	 	9 	0
— 	Pat Flaherty 	 	 	10 	 	 	 	 	0
— 	Duane Carter 	 	 	11 	 	 	 	 	0
— 	Johnny Claes 	 	 	 	DNS 	11 	 	 	0
— 	Chuck Weyant 	 	 	12 	 	 	 	 	0
— 	Eddie Johnson 	 	 	13 	 	 	 	 	0
— 	Jim Rathmann 	 	 	14 	 	 	 	 	0
— 	Robert Manzon 	 	Ret 	 	 	Ret	Ret 	 	0
— 	Horace Gould 	 	 	 	 	Ret	Ret 	Ret	0
— 	Alberto Ascari 	Ret 	Ret 	 	 	 	 	 	0
— 	Élie Bayol 	Ret 	Ret 	 	 	 	 	 	0
— 	André Simon 	 	Ret 	 	 	 	Ret 	 	0
— 	Peter Collins 	 	 	 	 	 	Ret 	Ret	0
— 	Peter Walker 	 	 	 	 	Ret	Ret† 	 	0
— 	Jesus Iglesias 	Ret 	 	 	 	 	 	 	0
— 	Pablo Birger 	Ret 	 	 	 	 	 	 	0
— 	Alberto Uria 	Ret 	 	 	 	 	 	 	0
— 	Don Freeland 	 	 	Ret	 	 	 	 	0
— 	Cal Niday 	 	 	Ret	 	 	 	 	0
— 	Art Cross 	 	 	Ret	 	 	 	 	0
— 	Shorty Templeman 	 	 	Ret	 	 	 	 	0
— 	Sam Hanks 	 	 	Ret	 	 	 	 	0
— 	Keith Andrews 	 	 	Ret	 	 	 	 	0
— 	Johnnie Parsons 	 	 	Ret	 	 	 	 	0
— 	Eddie Russo 	 	 	Ret	 	 	 	 	0
— 	Ray Crawford 	 	 	Ret	 	 	 	 	0
— 	Jimmy Bryan 	 	 	Ret	 	 	 	 	0
— 	Jack McGrath 	 	 	Ret	 	 	 	 	0
— 	Al Keller 	 	 	Ret	 	 	 	 	0
— 	Johnny Boyd 	 	 	Ret	 	 	 	 	0
— 	Ed Elisian 	 	 	Ret	 	 	 	 	0
— 	Rodger Ward 	 	 	Ret	 	 	 	 	0
— 	Jerry Hoyt 	 	 	Ret	 	 	 	 	0
— 	Jimmy Reece 	 	 	Ret	 	 	 	 	0
— 	Fred Agabashian 	 	 	Ret	 	 	 	 	0
— 	Kenneth McAlpine 	 	 	 	 	 	Ret 	 	0
— 	Jack Brabham 	 	 	 	 	 	Ret 	 	0
— 	Roy Salvadori 	 	 	 	 	 	Ret 	 	0
— 	Leslie Marr 	 	 	 	 	 	Ret 	 	0
— 	Jean Lucas 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Ret	0
— 	Clemar Bucci 	Ret† 	 	 	 	 	 	 	0
— 	Tony Rolt 	 	 	 	 	 	Ret† 	 	0
— 	Ted Whiteaway 	 	DNQ 	 	 	 	 	 	0
— 	Jack Fairman 	 	 	 	 	 	DNS 	 	0
— 	Luigi Piotti 	 	 	 	 	 	 	DNS	0
Pos.	Driver 	ARG 	MON 	500	BEL 	NED	GBR 	ITA	Pts.
* Italics indicate fastest lap (1 point awarded – point shared equally between drivers sharing fastest lap)
* Bold indicates pole position
* † = Car driven by more than one driver
* Championship points were awarded on an 8-6-4-3-2 basis for the first five places at each race. One point was awarded for fastest race lap at each race.
* 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==
Other Formula One races also held in 1955, which did not count towards the World Championship.
Race Name 	Circuit 	Date 	Winning driver 	Constructor	Report
Gran Premio Ciudad de Buenos Aires	Buenos Aires 	January 30 	Juan Manuel Fangio	 	Report
VII Gran Premio del Valentino 	Valentino Park	March 27 	Alberto Ascari 	 	Report
XVI Pau Grand Prix 	Pau 	April 11 	Jean Behra 	 	Report
III Glover Trophy 	Goodwood 	April 11 	Roy Salvadori 	 	Report
IV Grand Prix de Bordeaux 	Bordeaux 	April 25 	Jean Behra 	 	Report
VII BRDC International Trophy 	Silverstone 	May 7 	Peter Collins 	 	Report
VIII Gran Premio di Napoli 	Posillipo 	May 8 	Alberto Ascari 	 	Report
XVII Grand Prix d'Albi 	Albi 	May 29 	André Simon 	 	Report
III Curtis Trophy 	Snetteron 	May 29 	Roy Salvadori 	 	Report
III Cornwall MRC Formula 1 Race 	Davidstow 	May 30 	Leslie Marr 	 	Report
III London Trophy 	Crystal Palace	July 30 	Mike Hawthorn 	 	Report
III Daily Record Trophy 	Charterhall 	August 6 	Bob Gerard 	 	Report
III RedeX Trophy 	Snetterton 	August 13 	Harry Schell 	Vanwall 	Report
II Daily Telegraph Trophy 	Aintree 	September 3 	Roy Salvadori 	 	Report
II International Gold Cup 	Oulton Park 	September 24	Stirling Moss 	 	Report
I Avon Trophy 	Castle Combe 	October 1 	Harry Schell 	 	Report
V Gran Premio di Siracusa 	Syracuse 	October 23 	Tony Brooks 	 	Report
==Notes==
==See Also==
*List of fatal accidents
Category:Formula One Seasons