Monoposto

Nº 4

Mike Hawthorn

1958 World Champion

Scuderia Ferrari

Overview

John Michael Hawthorn, born in Mexborough, Yorkshire, on 10 April 1929, won the 1958 World Drivers' Championship with Ferrari, the first British champion.1 Known for racing in a bow tie, he was called le Papillon by the French.1

He retired straight after winning the title. He died three months later, on 22 January 1959, in a road accident on the Guildford bypass.1

1958

One win, 1 point clear of Stirling Moss

Only a driver's best results counted in 1958. He scored 49 points in all, and 42 counted.

One win, one point

He won only the French Grand Prix, against four wins for Stirling Moss, and beat him by a point.1 Moss helped decide it: he spoke up for Hawthorn after a disqualification in Portugal, and the decision was reversed.1

At the Moroccan finale Phil Hill slowed and waved him through to second, which gave him enough points.1

Every Grand Prix finish, 1958

Numeral size follows the result. Round 1 at left.

Image plates

5 photographs, in season order

Helmet

He raced in a green helmet with a white rain shield and a large clear visor, which he sometimes swapped for goggles.4 He wore a bow tie to race, and the French called him Le Papillon, the Butterfly.1

A drawing of his 1958 design.

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

Ferrari 246

He won the title in the Ferrari 246.1

A Ferrari 246 F1 at the 2017 Silverstone Classic.

davehamster · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
1958
Ferrari 246

Road to the title

  1. 1952Formula One debut at the Belgian Grand Prix, finishing fourth.1
  2. 1953First win, at the French Grand Prix at Reims.1
  3. 1955Won the 24 Hours of Le Mans for Jaguar with Ivor Bueb.1
  4. 1958World Drivers' Champion, then retired.1

Records

  • Title won with a single race win, against four for the runner-up1

Sources