12

IV British Grand Prix

14 Jul 1951Silverstone418.410 km (4649 m x 90 Laps)

 Pole Position: José Froilán González, Ferrari 375, 1:43.4 (161.9 km/h) Fastest Lap: Giuseppe Farina, Alfa Romeo 159B, 1:44.0 (160.9 km/h lap 38) Race Results: Pos Car# Driver Car Time Speed 1 12 José Froilán González Ferrari 375 2:42:18.2 154.7 km/h 2 2 Juan Manuel Fangio Alfa Romeo 159B 2:43:09.2 153.9 km/h 3 10 Luigi Villoresi Ferrari 375 -2 Laps 4 4 Felice Bonetto Alfa Romeo 159A -3 Laps 5 6 Reg Parnell BRM 15 -5 Laps 6 3 Consalvo Sanesi Alfa Romeo 159 -6 Laps 7 7 Peter Walker BRM 15 -6 Laps 8 9 Brian Shawe-Taylor ERA C -6 Laps 9 14 Peter Whitehead Ferrari 375 Thin Wall -7 Laps 10 22 Louis Rosier Talbot Lago T26C-DA -7 Laps 11 8 Bob Gerard ERA B -8 Laps 12 18 Duncan Hamilton Talbot Lago T26C -9 Laps 13 25 Johnny Claes Talbot Lago T26C-DA -10 Laps Did Not Finish: 1 Giuseppe Farina Alfa Romeo 159B 75 Clutch 5 Joe Kelly Alta GP 75 Not classified 11 Alberto Ascari Ferrari 375 56 Gearbox 17 Philip Fotheringham-Parker Maserati 4CL 46 Oil leak 15 David Murray Maserati 4CLT/48 45 Engine 23 Louis Chiron Talbot Lago T26C 41 Brakes 16 John James Maserati 4CLT/48 23 Radiator Did Not Appear: 19 Maurice Trintignant Simca Gordini T15 20 Robert Manzon Simca Gordini T15 21 André Simon Simca Gordini T15 24 Philippe Étançelin Talbot Lago T26C-DA Lap Leaders: Car# Driver Car Laps Total 4 Felice Bonetto Alfa Romeo 159A 1 1 12 José Froilán González Ferrari 375 2-9 59 2 Juan Manuel Fangio Alfa Romeo 159B 10-38 30 12 José Froilán González Ferrari 375 39-47 2 Juan Manuel Fangio Alfa Romeo 159B 48 12 José Froilán González Ferrari 375 49-90 Fastest Laps: Pos Car# Driver Car Time Speed Lap 1 1 Giuseppe Farina Alfa Romeo 159B 1:44.0 160.9 38 8 Bob Gerard ERA B 1:53.6 147.3 22 Louis Rosier Talbot Lago T26C-DA 1:53.6 147.3 32 18 Duncan Hamilton Talbot Lago T26C 1:54.0 146.8 25 Johnny Claes Talbot Lago T26C-DA 1:54.8 145.8 47 23 Louis Chiron Talbot Lago T26C 1:58.6 141.1 4 Qualifying Times: Pos Car# Driver Car Time Speed Entrant 1 12 José Froilán González Ferrari 375 1:43.4 161.9 Scuderia Ferrari 2 2 Juan Manuel Fangio Alfa Romeo 159B 1:44.4 160.3 Alfa Romeo SpA 3 1 Giuseppe Farina Alfa Romeo 159B 1:45.0 159.4 Alfa Romeo SpA 4 11 Alberto Ascari Ferrari 375 1:45.4 158.8 Scuderia Ferrari 5 10 Luigi Villoresi Ferrari 375 1:45.8 158.2 Scuderia Ferrari 6 3 Consalvo Sanesi Alfa Romeo 159 1:50.2 151.9 Alfa Romeo SpA 7 4 Felice Bonetto Alfa Romeo 159A 1:52.0 149.4 Alfa Romeo SpA 8 14 Peter Whitehead Ferrari 375 Thin Wall 1:54.6 146.0 G A Vandervell 9 22 Louis Rosier Talbot Lago T26C-DA 1:56.0 144.3 Ecurie Rosier 10 8 Bob Gerard ERA B 1:57.0 143.0 Bob Gerard 11 18 Duncan Hamilton Talbot Lago T26C 1:57.2 142.8 Duncan Hamilton 12 9 Brian Shawe-Taylor ERA C 1:58.2 141.6 Brian Shawe-Taylor 13 23 Louis Chiron Talbot Lago T26C 2:00.2 139.2 Ecurie Rosier 14 25 Johnny Claes Talbot Lago T26C-DA 2:05.8 133.0 Ecurie Belge 15 15 David Murray Maserati 4CLT/48 2:06.0 132.8 Scuderia Ambrosiana 16 17 Philip Fotheringham-Parker Maserati 4CL 2:13.2 125.6 Philip Fotheringham-Parker 17 16 John James Maserati 4CLT/48 2:17.0 122.2 John James 18 5 Joe Kelly Alta GP 2:18.4 120.9 Joe Kelly 19 7 Peter Walker BRM 15 - - British Racing Motors Ltd 20 6 Reg Parnell BRM 15 - - British Racing Motors Ltd Not Present: 19 Maurice Trintignant Simca Gordini T15 - - Equipe Gordini 20 Robert Manzon Simca Gordini T15 - - Equipe Gordini 21 André Simon Simca Gordini T15 - - Equipe Gordini 24 Philippe Étançelin Talbot Lago T26C-DA - - Philippe Étançelin
Starting Grid:
12 José Froilán González
Ferrari 375
1:43.4
2 Juan Manuel Fangio
Alfa Romeo 159B
1:44.4
1 Giuseppe Farina
Alfa Romeo 159B
1:45.0
11 Alberto Ascari
Ferrari 375
1:45.4
10 Luigi Villoresi
Ferrari 375
1:45.8
3 Consalvo Sanesi
Alfa Romeo 159
1:50.2
4 Felice Bonetto
Alfa Romeo 159A
1:52.0
14 Peter Whitehead
Ferrari 375 Thin Wall
1:54.6
22 Louis Rosier
Talbot Lago T26C-DA
1:56.0
8 Bob Gerard
ERA B
1:57.0
18 Duncan Hamilton
Talbot Lago T26C
1:57.2
9 Brian Shawe-Taylor
ERA C
1:58.2
23 Louis Chiron
Talbot Lago T26C
2:00.2
25 Johnny Claes
Talbot Lago T26C-DA
2:05.8
15 David Murray
Maserati 4CLT/48
2:06.0
17 Philip Fotheringham-Parker
Maserati 4CL
2:13.2
16 John James
Maserati 4CLT/48
2:17.0
5 Joe Kelly
Alta GP
2:18.4
7 Peter Walker
BRM 15
No time
6 Reg Parnell
BRM 15
No time
Notes:
  • Weather: Mild, Dry.
    •
    Race Review:

    Two weeks after the French Grand Prix the teams gathered at Silverstone for the fourth round of the World Championship with Alfa Romeo and Ferrari being joined by the long-awaited BRM team with drivers Reg Parnell and Peter Walker. Giuseppe Farina and Juan Manuel Fangio were joined in the Alfa team by Consalvo Sanesi and Felice Bonetto while Ferrari gave José Froilán González another run alongside Luigi Villoresi and Alberto Ascari although the Argentine had an older chassis and engine than his teammates. It did not seem to make any difference as he was fastest in practice with Fangio, Farina and Ascari alongside him on the front row. Villoresi, Sanesi and Bonetto shared row two. The BRMs failed to make practice but were allowed to start at the back of the grid.

    Bonetto made the best start and was in the lead at the end of the first lap but then González took over with Fangio chasing. On lap 10 Fangio took the lead but the Alfa was no longer the dominant force and González held on in the Ferrari. On lap 39 González went back into the lead but Fangio attacked again and retook the position. Both men stopped soon afterwards and Ascari - who had retired - allowed González to continue. He rejoined in the lead and despite pressure for Fangio he was able to stay ahead to win an historic victory - the first non-Alfa Romeo win in the World Championship. In the end he pulled out a lead of 50secs. Villoresi - the established Ferrari star - was third two laps behind.