Monoposto

Nº 2

Juan Manuel Fangio

1951, 1954–57 World Champion

Overview

Juan Manuel Fangio, born in Balcarce, Argentina, on 24 June 1911 and known as el Maestro, won five World Drivers' Championships in the 1950s, a record that stood for 46 years.1 He is the only driver to win titles with four different teams.1

He left school at about 13 to work in a mechanics' workshop, and won 24 of his 52 entries, still the highest win rate in the sport's history.1 He died in Buenos Aires on 17 July 1995.1

1951

Three wins, 6 points clear of Alberto Ascari

Only a driver's best results counted in 1951. He scored 37 points in all, and 31 counted.

With Alfa Romeo

He won in Switzerland, France and Spain, and took the title at the Spanish finale, six points ahead of Alberto Ascari.1

Every Grand Prix finish, 1951

Numeral size follows the result. Round 1 at left.

1954

Six wins, about 17 points clear of José Froilán González

Only a driver's best results counted in 1954. He scored about 57 points in all, and 42 counted.

Maserati, then Mercedes

He started the season with Maserati and switched when Mercedes-Benz arrived mid-season.1 In the W196 he won the French, German, Swiss and Italian Grands Prix.1

Every Grand Prix finish, 1954

Numeral size follows the result. Round 1 at left.

1955

Four wins, 17 points clear of Stirling Moss

Only a driver's best results counted in 1955. He scored 41 points in all, and 40 counted.

A year cut short

He won the Argentine Grand Prix in extreme heat despite severe burns to his leg.1 The Le Mans disaster led to several races being cancelled, and second in Britain and a win in Italy secured the title.1

Every Grand Prix finish, 1955

Numeral size follows the result. Round 1 at left.

1956

Three wins, 3 points clear of Stirling Moss

Only a driver's best results counted in 1956. He scored 33 points in all, and 30 counted.

Collins's car

With Ferrari he won in Argentina, Britain and Germany.1 At the Italian finale, teammate Peter Collins, who could himself have won the title, handed Fangio his car.1 They shared second place, and it gave Fangio the championship.1

Every Grand Prix finish, 1956

Numeral size follows the result. Round 1 at left.

1957

Four wins, 15 points clear of Stirling Moss

Only a driver's best results counted in 1957. He scored 46 points in all, and 40 counted.

The Nürburgring

Back at Maserati, he won in Argentina, Monaco and France.1 At the German Grand Prix a slow stop dropped him behind Collins and Mike Hawthorn. He set a run of fastest laps, passed them both and won by just over three seconds, securing his fifth title.1

Every Grand Prix finish, 1957

Numeral size follows the result. Round 1 at left.

Image plates

5 photographs, in season order

Helmet

Many drivers wore goggles and cloth helmets until 1952, when helmets became compulsory. The first were pie-shaped paper-mâché crash hats.1

A drawing of his 1951 design.

Auge=mit · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Background removed

Five title seasons, four teams

He won in the Alfa Romeo 159, then a Maserati and the Mercedes W196 in 1954, the W196 again in 1955, a Ferrari in 1956, and a Maserati in 1957.1

A Mercedes W196 at the Mercedes-Benz Museum.

Valder137 · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
1951
Alfa Romeo 159
1954
Maserati 250F, Mercedes W196
1955
Mercedes W196
1956
Ferrari D50
1957
Maserati 250F

Road to the title

  1. 1936Began racing in Argentina in a rebuilt Ford Model A.1
  2. 1940–41Argentine national champion.1
  3. 1950World Championship debut, and first win at Monaco.1
  4. 1951–57Won five titles.1
  5. 1958Kidnapped for 29 hours in Havana before the Cuban Grand Prix, by gunmen linked to Castro's movement.1

Records

  • Highest win rate in Formula One, 46.15%1
  • Highest pole rate in Formula One, 55.77%1
  • Only driver to win titles with four different teams1
  • Five titles, a record that stood for 46 years1

Sources