1954 French Grand Prix
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Results from the 1954 Formula One French Grand Prix held at Reims on July 4, 1954
[edit] Race report
The long-awaited Mercedes W196 with its straight-8 fuel-injection engine made its debut with Fangio transferring from Maserati to join an otherwise all-German line-up of Hans Herrmann, Karl Kling and pre-war driver Herrmann Lang. It was a dominant return with Fangio recording a practice lap of 124.31 mph. He and Kling led away and continued to race side by side around the Rheims track. The Ferrari drivers simply couldn't cope with the pace. Ascari (driving a Maserati as the Lancia section of Ferrari was not yet ready for racing) lasted only 1 lap, Gonzalez retired after 12. Mike Hawthorn's car blew up spectacularly. Hans Herrmann set fastest lap before retiring, but Fangio and Kling continued their duel until the last lap when team orders were put in force and Fangio led Kling over the line by a mere 0.1 seconds-half a car length. Only seven cars finished the gruelling race.
[edit] Classification
| Pos | No | Nat | Driver | Constructor | Laps | Time/Retired | Grid | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18 |  |
Juan Manuel Fangio | Mercedes | 61 | 2:42' 47.9 | 1 | 8 |
| 2 | 20 |  |
Karl Kling | Mercedes | 61 | + 0.1 | 2 | 6 |
| 3 | 34 |  |
Robert Manzon | Ferrari | 60 | + 1 Lap | 12 | 4 |
| 4 | 46 |  |
Prince Bira | Maserati | 60 | + 1 Lap | 6 | 3 |
| 5 | 14 |  |
Luigi Villoresi | Maserati | 58 | + 3 Laps | 14 | 2 |
| 6 | 24 | |
Jean Behra | Gordini | 56 | + 5 Laps | 17 | |
| Ret | 28 | .svg/22px-Flag_of_Belgium_(civil).svg.png){kind=small} |
Paul Frere | Gordini | 50 | Axle | 19 | |
| Ret | 4 | |
Maurice Trintignant | Ferrari | 36 | Engine | 9 | |
| Ret | 36 | |
Louis Rosier | Ferrari | 27 | Engine | 13 | |
| Ret | 12 | |
Onofre Marimon | Maserati | 27 | Gearbox | 5 | |
| Ret | 16 | |
Roberto Mieres | Maserati | 24 | Engine | 11 | |
| Ret | 42 |  |
Ken Wharton | Maserati | 19 | Transmission | 16 | |
| Ret | 48 |  |
Harry Schell | Maserati | 19 | Fuel Pump | 21 | |
| Ret | 22 | |
Hans Herrmann | Mercedes | 16 | Engine | 7 | 1 |
| Ret | 44 | |
Roy Salvadori | Maserati | 15 | Half Shaft | 10 | |
| Ret | 2 | |
José Froilán González | Ferrari | 13 | Engine | 4 | |
| Ret | 32 | |
Lance Macklin | HWM-Alta | 10 | Engine | 15 | |
| Ret | 30 | |
Georges Berger | Gordini | 9 | Engine | 20 | |
| Ret | 6 | |
Mike Hawthorn | Ferrari | 9 | Engine | 8 | |
| Ret | 26 | |
Jacques Pollet | Gordini | 8 | Engine | 18 | |
| Ret | 10 | |
Alberto Ascari | Maserati | 1 | Transmission | 3 | |
| DNS | 40 | |
Sergio Mantovani | Maserati | Did Not Start |
[edit] Notes
- Pole position: Juan Manuel Fangio - 2' 29.4
- Fastest Lap: Hans Herrmann - 2' 32.9
- F1 Debut: Karl Kling, Mercedes-Benz and Continental tyre.
- Debut win for Mercedes-Benz and Continental in Formula One.
| Previous race: 1954 Belgian Grand Prix |
FIA Formula One World Championship 1954 season |
Next race: 1954 British Grand Prix |
| Previous race: 1953 French Grand Prix |
French Grand Prix | Next race: 1956 French Grand Prix |
