1953 Formula 1 Season
Ascari Won Formula One Title in Ferrari 500
Hawthorn Wins First GP at Reims
The 1953 French Grand Prix was held on the very fast Reims circuit, where slipstreaming was crucial. Pole position went to Alberto Ascari but the race belonged to his young Ferrari team-mate, Mike Hawthorn, who emerged from a thrilling battled to win his first Grand Prix. In the 2002 book, “Formula 1, The Autobiography”, published by Weidenfeld and Nicolson and edited by Gerald Donaldson, there is a quote from Hawthorn regarding the race;
“The slightest misjudgement could have meant disaster for everybody, but even so we usually managed a quick grin at each other when we passed – all except Farina, who sat scowling with concentration.”
Jose Froilan Gonzalez had led initially, but his Maserati was lightly fuelled. The race was decided at the final corner, with Hawthorn beating Juan-Manuel Fangio to the line by one second. In third was Gonzalez with pole-sitter Ascari fourth.
Ascari Victorious in British GP
Ascari re-asserted himself as the undisputed number one at Ferrari with victory in the next race, the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Fangio was the only driver to finish on the same lap, a minute behind the flying Italian. Farina completed the podium while Gonzalez finished fourth, losing oil from his Maserati.
Farina and Ferrari Win at the Nurburgring
Gonzalez was absent from the German Grand Prix weekend, recovering from injuries he sustained in a sports car race in Portugal. His place was taken by Emmanuel de Graffenried, who had been performing impressively in a private Maserati.
Ascari took pole but his race was ruined when a wheel came off his car, necessitating a slow drive to the pits and an eventual eighth place finish. Fangio and Hawthorn raced hard for the lead, but Farina passed both of them. Fangio finished second, over a minute behind the Ferrari driver. Hawthorn was third and Felice Bonetto fourth.
Ascari Takes Victory and F1 Title at Berne
Maserati entered an extra car for the Swiss Grand Prix at Berne, driven by the pre-war ace Hermann Lang. Fangio claimed pole but the most impressive performance in qualifying came from Maurice Trintignant, who was fourth quickest in a little Gordini. Farina failed to get off the line at the start and had to claw his way back towards the front. Ascari led before having to pit with a misfire. He then proceeded to pass his team-mates Hawthorn and Farina to win the race and secure his second title.
Fangio and Maserati Defeat Ferrari in Italian GP
The 1953 season ended in September with the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. Ascari started from pole and the race developed into a battle between his Ferrari, the similar car of Farina’s and Fangio’s Maserati. Entering the final corner on the last lap Ascari spun while trying to avoid a slow Connaught. Farina had to go off track to avoid his team-mate, while Fangio slipped through the confusion to finally record a win for Maserati.
Ascari became Formula 1’s first double champion in 1953, but Italian dominance was soon to be challenged. Formula 1 regulations were reinstated for 1954, and that year saw the arrival of the all conquering Mercedes-Benz team.
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