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1953 Formula One season

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Alberto Ascari won his second consecutive Drivers' Championship.

The 1953 Formula One season was the seventh season of the FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the 4th World Championship of Drivers,[1] which was contested over nine races between 18 January and 13 September 1953.[2] The season also included several non-championship races and a separate East German Championship.

As in 1952, all races counting towards the Formula One championship, except the Indianapolis 500, were held for cars complying with Formula Two regulations. A couple of non-championship races were still run under Formula One regulations.

The World Drivers' Championship was won by Alberto Ascari driving for Scuderia Ferrari.[3][4] Ascari became the first driver since the inception of the championship in 1950 to successfully defend his title. It would be his last title, as well as the last for any Italian driver, as of 2024.

For the first time, a championship event was included outside of Europe (with expection of the Indianapolis 500): the 1953 Argentine Grand Prix. It was marred by an accident involving 1950 champion Nino Farina, who crashed into an unprotected crowd, killing nine spectators.

Teams and drivers[edit]

The following teams and drivers competed in the 1953 FIA World Championship of Drivers. The list does not include those who only contested the Indianapolis 500.

Entrant Constructor Chassis Engine Tyre Driver Rounds
Italy Officine Alfieri Maserati Maserati A6GCM Maserati A6 2.0 L6 P Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio 1, 3–9
Argentina José Froilán González 1, 3–6
Italy Felice Bonetto 1, 3, 5–9
Argentina Oscar Gálvez 1
Belgium Johnny Claes 4
Argentina Onofre Marimón 4–9
West Germany Hermann Lang 8
Italy Sergio Mantovani 9
Italy Luigi Musso 9
Italy Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari 500
553
Ferrari 500 2.0 L4
Ferrari 553 2.0 L4
P Italy Alberto Ascari 1, 3–9
Italy Nino Farina 1, 3–9
Italy Luigi Villoresi 1, 3–9
United Kingdom Mike Hawthorn 1, 3–9
Italy Umberto Maglioli 9
Italy Piero Carini 9
United Kingdom Cooper Car Company Cooper-Bristol
Cooper-Alta
T20
T23
Special
T24
Bristol BS1 2.0 L6
Alta GP 2.5 L4
D United Kingdom Alan Brown 1
United Kingdom John Barber 1
Argentina Adolfo Schwelm Cruz 1
United Kingdom Stirling Moss 5, 7, 9
France Equipe Gordini Gordini
Simca-Gordini
Type 16
Type 15
Gordini 20 2.0 L6
Gordini 1500 1.5 L4
E France Robert Manzon 1
United States Harry Schell 1, 3–7, 9
France Maurice Trintignant 1, 3–9
France Jean Behra 1, 4–8
Argentina Carlos Menditeguy 1
Argentina Pablo Birger 1
Argentina Roberto Mieres 3, 5, 9
United States Fred Wacker 3–4, 8
France Ecurie Rosier Ferrari 500 Ferrari 500 2.0 L4 D France Louis Rosier 3–7, 9
E 8
Switzerland Enrico Platé Maserati A6GCM Maserati A6 2.0 L6 P Switzerland Toulo de Graffenried 3
United Kingdom Connaught Engineering Connaught-Lea-Francis Type A Lea-Francis 2.0 L4 D United Kingdom Roy Salvadori 3, 5–7, 9
United Kingdom Kenneth McAlpine 3, 6–7, 9
United Kingdom Stirling Moss 3
Thailand Birabongse Bhanudej 5–7
United Kingdom Jack Fairman 9
Belgium Ecurie Belge Connaught-Lea-Francis Type A Lea-Francis 2.0 L4 E Belgium Johnny Claes 3, 5, 7, 9
Belgium André Pilette 4
United Kingdom Ken Wharton Cooper-Bristol T23 Bristol BS1 2.0 L6 D United Kingdom Ken Wharton 3, 5–6, 8–9
United Kingdom HW Motors HWM-Alta 53 Alta GP 2.5 L4 D United Kingdom Peter Collins 3–6
United Kingdom Lance Macklin 3–6, 8–9
Belgium Paul Frère 4, 8
France Yves Giraud-Cabantous 5, 9
United Kingdom Duncan Hamilton 6
United Kingdom Jack Fairman 6
Switzerland Albert Scherrer 8
United States John Fitch 9
Switzerland Emmanuel de Graffenried Maserati A6GCM Maserati A6 2.0 L6 P Switzerland Toulo de Graffenried 4–9
Belgium Georges Berger Simca-Gordini Type 15 Gordini 1500 1.5 L4 E Belgium Georges Berger 4
Belgium Arthur Legat Veritas Meteor Veritas 2.0 L6 E Belgium Arthur Legat 4
Belgium Ecurie Francorchamps Ferrari 500 Ferrari 500 2.0 L4 E Belgium Jacques Swaters 4, 7–8
Belgium Charles de Tornaco 4
Monaco Louis Chiron OSCA 20 OSCA 2000 2.0 L6 P Monaco Louis Chiron 5–6, 8–9
France Élie Bayol OSCA 20 OSCA 2000 2.0 L6 P France Élie Bayol 5, 8
United Kingdom Bob Gerard Cooper-Bristol T23 Bristol BS1 2.0 L6 D United Kingdom Bob Gerard 5–6
United Kingdom R.R.C. Walker Racing Team Connaught-Lea-Francis Type A Lea-Francis 2.0 L4 D United Kingdom Tony Rolt 6
United Kingdom Ecurie Ecosse Connaught-Lea-Francis
Cooper-Bristol
Type A
T20
Lea-Francis 2.0 L4
Bristol BS1 2.0 L6
D United Kingdom Ian Stewart 6
United Kingdom Jimmy Stewart 6
United Kingdom R.J. Chase Cooper-Bristol T23 Bristol BS1 2.0 L6 D United Kingdom Alan Brown 6
United Kingdom Atlantic Stable Cooper-Alta T24 Alta GP 2.5 L4 D United Kingdom Peter Whitehead 6
United Kingdom Tony Crook Cooper-Bristol T20 Bristol BS1 2.0 L6 D United Kingdom Tony Crook 6
West Germany Hans Stuck AFM-Bristol 6 Bristol BS1 2.0 L6 D West Germany Hans Stuck 7, 9
West Germany Wolfgang Seidel Veritas RS Veritas 2.0 L6 D West Germany Wolfgang Seidel 7
West Germany Willi Heeks Veritas Meteor Veritas 2.0 L6 D West Germany Willi Heeks 7
West Germany Theo Helfrich Veritas RS Veritas 2.0 L6 D West Germany Theo Helfrich 7
West Germany Oswald Karch Veritas RS Veritas 2.0 L6 D West Germany Oswald Karch 7
West Germany Helmut Niedermayr AFM-BMW U8 BMW 328 2.0 L6 D East Germany Theo Fitzau 7
West Germany Ernst Loof Veritas Meteor Veritas 2.0 L6 D West Germany Ernst Loof 7
West Germany Hans Herrmann Veritas Meteor Veritas 2.0 L6 D West Germany Hans Herrmann 7
West Germany Erwin Bauer Veritas RS Veritas 2.0 L6 D West Germany Erwin Bauer 7
Switzerland Ecurie Espadon Ferrari 500
212
Ferrari 500 2.0 L4
Ferrari 166 2.0 V12
P West Germany Kurt Adolff 7
Switzerland Peter Hirt 8
Switzerland Max de Terra 8
East Germany Rennkollektiv EMW EMW R2 EMW 6 2.0 L6 D East Germany Edgar Barth 7
East Germany Dora Greifzu Greifzu-BMW Eigenbau BMW 328 2.0 L6 D East Germany Rudolf Krause 7
East Germany Ernst Klodwig Heck-BMW Eigenbau BMW 328 2.0 L6 D East Germany Ernst Klodwig 7
United Kingdom Equipe Anglaise Cooper-Bristol T23 Bristol BS1 2.0 L6 D United Kingdom Alan Brown 7, 9
West Germany Helmut Glöckler 7
United Kingdom Rodney Nuckey Cooper-Bristol T23 Bristol BS1 2.0 L6 D United Kingdom Rodney Nuckey 7
West Germany Günther Bechem AFM-BMW 50–5 BMW 328 2.0 L6 D West Germany Günther Bechem 7
Brazil Escuderia Bandeirantes Maserati A6GCM Maserati A6 2.0 L6 P Brazil Chico Landi 8
Italy OSCA Automobili OSCA 20 OSCA 2000 2.0 L6 P France Élie Bayol 9
Italy Scuderia Milano Maserati A6GCM Maserati A6 2.0 L6 P Brazil Chico Landi 9
Thailand Birabongse Bhanudej 9

Team and driver changes[edit]

Juan Manuel Fangio (leaning on car) was hired by Maserati. Teammate José Froilán González is seen sitting in the car.

Mid-season changes[edit]

Louis Chiron (left) returned to F1 driving for OSCA.

Calendar[edit]

Round Grand Prix Circuit Date
1 Argentina Argentine Grand Prix Autódromo Oscar Alfredo Gálvez, Buenos Aires 18 January
2 United States Indianapolis 500 Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway 30 May[a]
3 Netherlands Dutch Grand Prix Circuit Zandvoort, Zandvoort 7 June
4 Belgium Belgian Grand Prix Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot 20 June
5 France French Grand Prix Reims-Gueux, Gueux 5 July
6 United Kingdom British Grand Prix Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone 18 July
7 West Germany German Grand Prix Nürburgring, Nürburg 2 August
8 Switzerland Swiss Grand Prix Circuit Bremgarten, Bern 23 August
9 Italy Italian Grand Prix Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza 13 September

Calendar changes[edit]

Championship report[edit]

Rounds 1 to 3[edit]

Maserati drivers Juan Manuel Fangio (left) and José Froilán González (right) during a test before the 1953 Argentine Grand Prix

The 1953 season started in Argentina, the first championship Formula One Grand Prix outside of Europe (with the exception of the Indianapolis 500). Alberto Ascari and Ferrari had dominated 1952, but Juan Manuel Fangio, the 1951 champion returning after a year away, at the new Maserati works team were expected to put up a good fight. Ascari qualified on pole position, ahead of Fangio and Ferrari teammates Luigi Villoresi and Nino Farina. The race attracted so many spectators that they were able to break through the security parameter and sit by the track. Only the fear of a riot resisted the organisers from cancelling the race. Ascari held the lead at the start, ahead of Fangio, as the lines of people grew thicker. On lap 21, one of the Adolfo Schwelm Cruz's Cooper lost a wheel, which bounced into the crowd, and eleven laps later, Farina spun off, crushing bodies until his Ferrari came to a halt. At least nine people were killed, which became ten when a panic ensued, a little boy ran unto the track and he was hit by the Cooper of Alan Brown. The race continued, Fangio retired with a broken transmission and Ascari finished a lap ahead of Villoresi and Maserati's José Froilán González.[7][8][9]

The Indianapolis 500 was included in the Formula One championship, but no F1 drivers attended. Bill Vukovich won the race for the second year in a row.

Alberto Ascari (Ferrari) won the Dutch Grand Prix.

The Dutch Grand Prix, being the first round of the year in Europe, attracted no less than twenty entrants, and Maserati brought upgraded cars. Still, the starting grid looked almost the same as in Argentina: Ascari, with Fangio and Farina next to him, and Villoresi and González on the second row. At the start, Ascari took the lead, while his teammates converged on Fangio, squeezing him almost to a standstill. The three prancing horses led away unchallenged. Both González and Fangio retired with a broken rear axle. Villoresi retired when his injection failed. Ascari and Farina finished 1-2, while González managed to get third after taking over the car from a teammate.[10]

In the Drivers' Championship, Alberto Ascari (Ferrari) was leading with 17 points. Bill Vukovich was second with 9, but he would not enter any other races. Luigi Villoresi (Ferrari) was third with 7 points.

Rounds 4 to 7[edit]

The Maseratis were favourites going into the Belgian Grand Prix because of their high top speed. Juan Manuel Fangio delivered and set pole position, ahead of championship leader Alberto Ascari and teammate José Froilán González. Ascari's Ferrari teammates Nino Farina and Luigi Villoresi occupied the second row. González took the lead at the start and the two Maseratis streaked away, until they retired with mechanical issues two laps from eachother. Farina retired as well, leaving Ascari and Villoresi to finish 1-2, ahead of Onofre Marimón on his debut for Maserati.[11]

Ascari continued his dominance with a pole position for the French Grand Prix, ahead of Maserati's Felice Bonetto (teammate González set the qualifying time, but it was in Bonetto's car) and Villoresi. Fangio and González stood on the second row, but the latter took the lead at the start. Farina had a good start, while Bonetto spun, so González was now under threat from a group of four Ferraris. But the Argentinian streaked away and it was Fangio who started pressuring the group from behind. At half-distance, González pitted to refuel, which explained his good pace. A tight group was formed of seven red cars, all fighting for the lead. The Ferraris were better through the corners, but the Maseratis had a higher top speed, and with two laps to go, Mike Hawthorn and Fangio were side-by-side over the line. Hawthorn managed to inch in front and won, ahead of Fangio and González.[12]

At the British Grand Prix, the front row was divided between the two Italian teams: Ascari scored pole, ahead of González, Hawthorn and Fangio. Fangio tried to take the lead at the start, but drifted wide and Ascari went back through. Hawthorn spun off and returned to the pits for a check-up. González was in second place, before officials suspected his Maserati from losing oil and ordered him to pit. Ascari increased his lead over now-second Fangio, before rain and hail fell and the circuit flooded. A couple of drivers spun, but Ascari finished his faultless race to win, a minute ahead of Fangio and two laps ahead of Farina. Ascari and González set the same fastest lap (measured in whole seconds), so they both gained an extra half a point.[13]

In the Drivers' Championship, Alberto Ascari (Ferrari) was leading with 33.5 points, ahead of Mike Hawthorn (Ferrari) with 16 and José Froilán González (Maserati) with 13.5.

Rounds 7 to 9[edit]

Championship leader Alberto Ascari qualified on pole position for the German Grand Prix, ahead of Juan Manuel Fangio, Nino Farina and Mike Hawthorn. Fangio took the lead at the start, but Ascari was back in front after half a lap. He looked set to score his fourth win of the year, until he suddenly appeared in the pits with just three wheels. Farina took the lead, while Ascari fell back to ninth place. On lap 10, he took over the car from teammate Luigi Villoresi, suddenly bringing the championship leader back to fourth place. He set the fastest lap since Hermann Lang in 1939 but then retired with a blown engine. Farina held on to the lead and won the race, ahead of Fangio and Hawthorn.[14]

At this point, the Spanish Grand Prix was still scheduled for 26 October, so there were three races left to go. Farina, Fangio and Hawthorn could theoretically prevent Ascari from becoming champion, but they had to win all remaining races, while setting the fastest lap in at least two of them. At the Swiss Grand Prix, Fangio scored pole position, ahead of Ascari and Farina, while Hawthorn started seventh. Ascari passed Fangio on the opening lap, while Farina fell back. On lap 10, Fangio switched cars with teammate Felice Bonetto, since the Italian's seemed to be running better, but then Fangio had to pit again with a flat tyre, and on lap 28, dramatically retired with a blown engine. This let the recovering Farina into second place, which became the lead when Ascari's carburetor failed and he spent 11 minutes in the pits. He rejoined in third, but such was his pace, that he passed both Hawthorn and Farina and then won over a minute ahead of Farina. Mike Hawthorn finished third to make it an all-Ferrari podium. Hermann Lang finished fifth in his first Grand Prix since 1939.[15]

The starting grid for the Italian Grand Prix

With his win in Switzerland, Ascari had big enough of a lead to secure his second consecutive title. This became even clearer when the Spanish Grand Prix was cancelled and only one race was left in the season, the Italian Grand Prix. Ascari showed no signs of slowing down and reached a record total of six pole positions in a season. He started ahead of Fangio and Farina. Fourth-placed Onofre Marimón made a good start to pass both champions ahead of him, to slot in behind the now-double champion. Like in Reims, the four leaders formed a group that lapped the rest of the field and never separated more than a car length or two from each other. Just over half-distance, Marimón pitted with a damaged radiator, so it was now a three-horse race. On the very last corner, Ascari spun off into the grass, Farina went off the track to avoid him and, although the latter continued over the finish line, it let Fangio claim his first win since 1951. Farina was second and, although Ascari retired just 200 yards from the finish, he was classified behind all cars still running, so Villoresi took third.[16]

In the Drivers' Championship, Alberto Ascari (Ferrari) scored 34.5 points to clinch his second consecutive title, ahead of Juan Manuel Fangio (Maserati) with 28 and Nino Farina (Ferrari) with 26.

Results and standings[edit]

Grands Prix[edit]

Round Grand Prix Pole position Fastest lap Winning driver Winning constructor Tyre Report
1 Argentina Argentine Grand Prix Italy Alberto Ascari Italy Alberto Ascari Italy Alberto Ascari Italy Ferrari P Report
2 United States Indianapolis 500 United States Bill Vukovich United States Bill Vukovich United States Bill Vukovich United States Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser F Report
3 Netherlands Dutch Grand Prix Italy Alberto Ascari Italy Luigi Villoresi Italy Alberto Ascari Italy Ferrari P Report
4 Belgium Belgian Grand Prix Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio Argentina José Froilán González Italy Alberto Ascari Italy Ferrari P Report
5 France French Grand Prix Italy Alberto Ascari Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio United Kingdom Mike Hawthorn Italy Ferrari P Report
6 United Kingdom British Grand Prix Italy Alberto Ascari Italy Alberto Ascari
Argentina José Froilán González
Italy Alberto Ascari Italy Ferrari P Report
7 West Germany German Grand Prix Italy Alberto Ascari Italy Alberto Ascari Italy Giuseppe Farina Italy Ferrari P Report
8 Switzerland Swiss Grand Prix Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio Italy Alberto Ascari Italy Alberto Ascari Italy Ferrari P Report
9 Italy Italian Grand Prix Italy Alberto Ascari Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio Italy Maserati P Report

World Championship of Drivers standings[edit]

Championship points were awarded to the first five finishers in each race on an 8–6–4–3–2 basis. Points for shared drives were divided equally between the drivers, regardless of the number of laps driven by each. One point was also awarded for the fastest lap in each race. The point was shared equally between drivers sharing the fastest lap. Only the best four results from the nine races counted towards a driver's total points in the World Championship. In the points column, numbers without parentheses are retained championship points, and numbers within parentheses are total points scored.

Pos. Driver ARG
Argentina
500
United States
NED
Netherlands
BEL
Belgium
FRA
France
GBR
United Kingdom
GER
West Germany
SUI
Switzerland
ITA
Italy
Pts.
1 Italy Alberto Ascari 1PF 1P (1) (4)P 1PF* 8P†/ (RetF)† 1F RetP 34.5 (46.5)
2 Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio Ret Ret RetP/ Ret† 2F 2 2 (4P†) / Ret† 1F 28 (29.5)
3 Italy Nino Farina Ret 2 Ret (5) (3) 1 2 2 26 (32)
4 United Kingdom Mike Hawthorn 4 (4) 6 1 (5) 3 3 (4) 19 (27)
5 Italy Luigi Villoresi 2 RetF 2 6 Ret 8† / Ret† 6 3 17
6 Argentina José Froilán González 3 3† (RetF) 3 4F* 13.5 (14.5)
7 United States Bill Vukovich 1PF 9
8 Switzerland Toulo de Graffenried 5 4 7 Ret 5 Ret Ret 7
9 Italy Felice Bonetto Ret 3† Ret 6 4 4† / Ret† Ret 6.5
10 United States Art Cross 2 6
11 Argentina Onofre Marimón 3 9 Ret Ret Ret Ret 4
12 France Maurice Trintignant 7† 6 5 Ret Ret Ret Ret 5 4
13 United States Sam Hanks 3† 2
14 United States Duane Carter 3† 2
15 Argentina Óscar Alfredo Gálvez 5 2
16 United States Jack McGrath 5 2
17 West Germany Hermann Lang 5 2
18 United States Fred Agabashian 4† 1.5
19 United States Paul Russo 4† 1.5
United Kingdom Stirling Moss 9 Ret 6 13 0
France Jean Behra 6 Ret 10 Ret Ret Ret 0
Argentina Roberto Mieres Ret Ret 6 0
United States Jimmy Daywalt 6 0
United States Harry Schell 7† Ret 7 Ret Ret Ret 9 0
France Louis Rosier 7 8 8 10 10 Ret 16 0
United Kingdom Ken Wharton Ret Ret 8 7 NC 0
Thailand Birabongse Bhanudej Ret 7 Ret 11 0
Belgium Jacques Swaters DNS 7 Ret 0
United States Jim Rathmann 7 0
Italy Sergio Mantovani 7† 0
Italy Luigi Musso 7† 0
United Kingdom Peter Collins 8 Ret 13 Ret 0
United Kingdom John Barber 8 0
United States Ernie McCoy 8 0
Switzerland Max de Terra 8 0
Italy Umberto Maglioli 8 0
United Kingdom Alan Brown 9 Ret Ret 12 0
United States Fred Wacker DNS 9 DNS 0
United States Tony Bettenhausen 9 0
United Kingdom Peter Whitehead 9 0
West Germany Hans Herrmann 9 0
Switzerland Albert Scherrer 9 0
Monaco Louis Chiron 15 DNS DNS 10 0
Belgium Paul Frère 10 Ret 0
United States Jimmy Davies 10 0
United States Duke Nalon 11 0
Belgium André Pilette 11 0
United Kingdom Bob Gerard 11 Ret 0
United Kingdom Rodney Nuckey 11 0
Belgium Johnny Claes NC Ret† 12 Ret Ret 0
United States Carl Scarborough 12 0
West Germany Theo Helfrich 12 0
United Kingdom Kenneth McAlpine Ret Ret 13 NC 0
United States Manny Ayulo 13 0
France Yves Giraud-Cabantous 14 15 0
West Germany Hans Stuck Ret 14 0
United States Jimmy Bryan 14 0
East Germany Rudolf Krause 14 0
United States Bill Holland 15 0
East Germany Ernst Klodwig 15 0
United States Rodger Ward 16 0
West Germany Wolfgang Seidel 16 0
United States Walt Faulkner 17 0
United Kingdom Jack Fairman Ret NC 0
United Kingdom Lance Macklin Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 0
United Kingdom Roy Salvadori Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 0
France Élie Bayol Ret DNS Ret 0
Brazil Chico Landi Ret Ret 0
France Robert Manzon Ret 0
Argentina Carlos Menditeguy Ret 0
Argentina Pablo Birger Ret 0
Argentina Adolfo Schwelm Cruz Ret 0
United States Marshall Teague Ret 0
United States Spider Webb Ret 0
United States Bob Sweikert Ret 0
United States Mike Nazaruk Ret 0
United States Pat Flaherty Ret 0
United States Jerry Hoyt Ret 0
United States Johnnie Parsons Ret 0
United States Don Freeland Ret 0
United States Gene Hartley Ret 0
United States Chuck Stevenson Ret 0
United States Cal Niday Ret 0
United States Bob Scott Ret 0
United States Andy Linden Ret 0
United States Johnny Thomson Ret 0
Belgium Georges Berger Ret 0
Belgium Arthur Legat Ret 0
United Kingdom Jimmy Stewart Ret 0
United Kingdom Tony Rolt Ret 0
United Kingdom Ian Stewart Ret 0
United Kingdom Duncan Hamilton Ret 0
United Kingdom Tony Crook Ret 0
East Germany Edgar Barth Ret 0
West Germany Oswald Karch Ret 0
West Germany Willi Heeks Ret 0
East Germany Theo Fitzau Ret 0
West Germany Kurt Adolff Ret 0
West Germany Günther Bechem Ret 0
West Germany Ernst Loof Ret 0
West Germany Erwin Bauer Ret 0
Switzerland Peter Hirt Ret 0
Italy Piero Carini Ret 0
United States John Fitch Ret 0
Belgium Charles de Tornaco DNS 0
West Germany Helmut Glöckler DNS 0
Pos. Driver ARG
Argentina
500
United States
NED
Netherlands
BEL
Belgium
FRA
France
GBR
United Kingdom
GER
West Germany
SUI
Switzerland
ITA
Italy
Pts.
Key
Colour Result
Gold Winner
Silver Second place
Bronze Third place
Green Other points position
Blue Other classified position
Not classified, finished (NC)
Purple Not classified, retired (Ret)
Red Did not qualify (DNQ)
Black Disqualified (DSQ)
White Did not start (DNS)
Race cancelled (C)
Blank Did not practice (DNP)
Excluded (EX)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Withdrawn (WD)
Did not enter (empty cell)
Annotation Meaning
P Pole position
F Fastest lap


  • † Position shared between more drivers of the same car
  • * Point for fastest lap shared between different drivers.
  • ‡ Several cars were shared in this race. See the race page for details.

Non-championship races[edit]

The following Formula One/Formula Two/Formula Libre races, which did not count towards the World Championship of Drivers, were held in 1953.

Race name Circuit Date Formula Winning driver Constructor Report
Argentina VII Gran Premio Ciudad de Buenos Aires Autódromo Oscar y Juan Gálvez 1 February Formula Libre Italy Giuseppe Farina Italy Ferrari Report
Italy III Gran Premio di Siracusa Syracuse 22 March Formula Two Switzerland Toulo de Graffenried Italy Maserati Report
France XIV Pau Grand Prix Pau 6 April Formula Two Italy Alberto Ascari Italy Ferrari Report
United Kingdom V Lavant Cup Goodwood 6 April Formula Two Switzerland Toulo de Graffenried Italy Maserati Report
United Kingdom II Aston Martin Owners Club Formula 2 Race Snetterton 18 April Formula Two United Kingdom Eric Thompson United Kingdom Connaught-Lea Francis Report
France III Grand Prix de Bordeaux Bordeaux 3 May Formula Two Italy Alberto Ascari Italy Ferrari Report
United Kingdom V BRDC International Trophy Silverstone 9 May Formula Two United Kingdom Mike Hawthorn Italy Ferrari Report
Finland XV Eläintarhanajot Eläintarharata 10 May Formula One United Kingdom Rodney Nuckey United Kingdom Cooper-Bristol Report
Italy VI Gran Premio di Napoli Posillipo 10 May Formula Two Italy Giuseppe Farina Italy Ferrari Report
United Kingdom VII Ulster Trophy Dundrod 16 May Formula Two United Kingdom Mike Hawthorn Italy Ferrari Report
United Kingdom I Winfield JC Formula 2 Race Charterhall 23 May Formula Two United Kingdom Ken Wharton United Kingdom Cooper-Bristol Report
Belgium XXIII Grand Prix des Frontières Chimay 24 May Formula Two France Maurice Trintignant France Gordini Report
United Kingdom III Coronation Trophy Crystal Palace 25 May Formula Two United Kingdom Tony Rolt United Kingdom Connaught-Lea Francis Report
United Kingdom I Snetterton Coronation Trophy Snetterton 30 May Formula Two United Kingdom Tony Rolt United Kingdom Connaught-Lea Francis Report
West Germany XVII Internationales ADAC Eifelrennen Nürburgring 31 May Formula Two Switzerland Toulo de Graffenried Italy Maserati Report
France XV Grand Prix de l'Albigeois Albi (Les Planques) 31 May Formula Two France Louis Rosier Italy Ferrari Report
France I Coupe de Printemps Montlhéry 31 May Formula Two France Marcel Balsa West Germany BMW Report
United Kingdom II West Essex CC Race Snetterton 27 June Formula Two United Kingdom Kenneth McAlpine United Kingdom Connaught-Lea Francis Report
United Kingdom I Midlands MECC Race Silverstone 27 June Formula Two United Kingdom Tony Crook United Kingdom Cooper-Alta Report
France III Grand Prix de Rouen-les-Essarts Rouen-Les-Essarts 28 June Formula One Italy Giuseppe Farina Italy Ferrari Report
United Kingdom I Crystal Palace Trophy Crystal Palace 11 July Formula Two United Kingdom Tony Rolt United Kingdom Connaught-Lea Francis Report
West Germany IX Internationales Avusrennen AVUS 12 July Formula Two Belgium Jacques Swaters Italy Ferrari Report
United Kingdom II United States Air Force Trophy Snetterton 25 July Formula Two United Kingdom Tony Rolt United Kingdom Connaught-Lea Francis Report
France V Circuit du Lac Aix-les-Bains 26 July Formula Two France Élie Bayol Italy OSCA Report
United Kingdom I Bristol MC & LCC Race Thruxton 3 August Formula Two United Kingdom Tony Rolt United Kingdom Connaught-Lea Francis Report
United Kingdom I Mid-Cheshire MC Race Oulton Park 8 August Formula Two United Kingdom Tony Rolt United Kingdom Connaught-Lea Francis Report
France III Grand Prix de Sables d'Olonne Les Sables-d'Olonne 9 August Formula Two France Louis Rosier Italy Ferrari Report
United Kingdom II Newcastle Journal Trophy Charterhall 15 August Formula Two United Kingdom Ken Wharton United Kingdom Cooper-Bristol Report
France V Circuit de Cadours Cadours 30 August Formula Two France Maurice Trintignant France Gordini Report
United Kingdom I RedeX Trophy Snetterton 12 September Formula Two United Kingdom Eric Thompson United Kingdom Connaught-Lea Francis Report
Sweden III Skarpnäcksloppet Skarpnäck 13 September Formula One Sweden Erik Lundgren United States Ford Report
United Kingdom I London Trophy Crystal Palace 19 September Formula Two United Kingdom Stirling Moss United Kingdom Cooper-Alta Report
Italy IV Gran Premio di Modena Modena 20 September Formula Two Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio Italy Maserati Report
United Kingdom VI Madgwick Cup Goodwood 26 September Formula Two United Kingdom Roy Salvadori United Kingdom Connaught-Lea Francis Report
United Kingdom II Joe Fry Memorial Trophy Castle Combe 3 October Formula Two United Kingdom Bob Gerard United Kingdom Cooper-Bristol Report
United Kingdom I Curtis Trophy Snetterton 17 October Formula Two United Kingdom Bob Gerard United Kingdom Cooper-Bristol Report

East German races[edit]

Race name Circuit Date Winning driver Constructor Report
East Germany I Strassen-Rennen Karl-Marx-Stadt Karl-Marx-Stadt 3 May East Germany Rudolf Krause West Germany BMW-Reif Report
East Germany I Paul Greifzu Gedachtnisrennen Dessau 7 June East Germany Edgar Barth East Germany EMW Report
East Germany IV Strassen-rennen Halle-Saale-Schleife Halle-Saale-Schleife 5 July East Germany Edgar Barth East Germany EMW Report
East Germany I Dresden Autobahnspinne Dresden-Hellerau 26 July East Germany Edgar Barth East Germany EMW Report
East Germany V Sachsenringrennen Sachsenring 6 September East Germany Edgar Barth East Germany EMW-BMW Report
East Germany II Bernau Autobahnschleife Bernau 27 September East Germany Arthur Rosenhammer East Germany EMW Report

The Bernau race was not part of the East German Championship.

East German Championship[edit]

The table below shows the points awarded for each race. Only East German drivers were eligible for points.

Place Driver Entrant Car KAR DES HAL DRE SAC Total
1 East Germany Edgar Barth EMW Rennkollektiv EMW 52/53-BMW 328 6 6 6 6 24
2 East Germany Rudolf Krause Greifzu-Sühl Greifzu-BMW 328 6 4 4 4 18
3 East Germany Karl Weber BSG Motor Werkmeister-BMW 328 4 3 2 9
4 East Germany Ernst Klodwig BSG Motor Lodwig-Heck-BMW 328 2 3 5
5 East Germany Kurt Straubel BSG Motor Eigenbau-BMW 328 4 4
6 East Germany Paul Thiel EMW Rennkollektiv EMW 52/53-BMW 328 3 3
= East Germany Heinz Melkus BSGN Sedlitz ARO-Veritas-Alfa Romeo 3 3
8 East Germany Bobby Kohlrauch Greifzu-Sühl Greifzu-BMW 328 2 2

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ The Indianapolis 500 also counted towards the 1953 AAA Championship Car season, and was run for AAA Championship cars, but was not run to Formula One regulations.

References[edit]

  1. ^ World Championship of Drivers, 1974 FIA Yearbook, Grey section, pages 118 & 119
  2. ^ a b Mike Lang, Grand Prix! Volume 1: 1950 to 1965, pages 53 to 66
  3. ^ "1953 Driver Standings". Formula1. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  4. ^ Steve Small, The Guinness Complete Grand Prix Who's Who, 1994, page 37
  5. ^ admin (26 July 1953). "G.P. OF PORTUGAL (SPORTS)". Motorsport Magazine. Archived from the original on 30 September 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  6. ^ "Circuito de Lisboa". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  7. ^ Martin Williamson (18 January 1953). "Ascari dominates a day tinged with tragedy". ESPN. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  8. ^ Keith Collantine (18 January 2013). "How Peron's grand prix ended in carnage". RaceFans. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  9. ^ "1953 Argentine Grand Prix - RACE RESULT". Formula1. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  10. ^ Denis Jenkinson (7 June 1953). "1953 Dutch Grand Prix". Motorsport Magazine. Archived from the original on 9 June 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  11. ^ Denis Jenkinson (21 June 1953). "Grand Prix de Belgique". Motorsport Magazine. Archived from the original on 27 June 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  12. ^ Motor Sport (5 July 1953). "1953 French Grand Prix: Hawthorn wins 'Race of the Age'". Motorsport Magazine. Archived from the original on 31 March 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  13. ^ admin (18 July 1953). "1953 British Grand Prix race report - Ascari holds off Maserati". Motorsport Magazine. Archived from the original on 10 September 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  14. ^ admin (2 August 1953). "XVITH Grosser Preis Von Deutschalnd". Motorsport Magazine. Archived from the original on 23 May 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  15. ^ admin (23 August 1953). "Grosser Preis Der Schweiz". Motorsport Magazine. Archived from the original on 19 May 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  16. ^ admin (13 September 1953). "1953 Italian Grand Prix". Motorsport Magazine. Archived from the original on 1 June 2023. Retrieved 14 June 2024.