1959 German Grand Prix

The 1959 German Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at the Automobil-Verkehrs- und Übungs-Straße in West Berlin on 2 August 1959. It was race 6 of 9 in the 1959 World Championship of Drivers and race 5 of 8 in the 1959 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers. It was the 21st German Grand Prix and was only the second time the race was not held at the Nürburgring. AVUS had previously held the original German Grand Prix in 1926. The race was held over two 30 lap heats of the eight kilometre circuit for a total race distance of 498 kilometres.

1959 German Grand Prix
Race details
Date 2 August 1959
Official name XXI Grosser Preis von Deutschland
Location AVUS
West Berlin
Course Public road/Permanent racing facility
Course length 8.300 km (5.157 mi)
Distance 2x30 laps, 498.00 km (309.42 mi)
Weather Dry and dull.
Pole position
Driver Ferrari
Time 2:05.9
Fastest lap
Driver Tony Brooks Ferrari
Time 2:04.5
Podium
First Ferrari
Second Ferrari
Third Ferrari

In a unique Formula One race format, first, second and third were all claimed by the same team, Scuderia Ferrari. British driver Tony Brooks was declared the winner ahead of American team mates Dan Gurney and Phil Hill. All three drove Ferrari Dino 246s.

Race report

The simplistic track consisted of a very fast straight down either side of a dual carriageway, punctuated at one end by a hairpin and at the other by a steep banking.

Also uniquely in Formula One World Championship history, the race was divided into two heats. In the first, Tony Brooks and Dan Gurney took the lead. Masten Gregory in the Cooper-Climax battled hard with them, passing first one Ferrari then the other as the lead changed hands until a big end bolt broke. It was a Ferrari 1-2-3 with Phil Hill taking the final podium place. In the second heat, once again the Ferraris had a duel at the front, this time with Bruce McLaren until he suffered transfer gear problems. On aggregate placings, it was an all-Ferrari podium in the order Brooks, Gurney, Hill. Maurice Trintignant was fourth from Jo Bonnier and Ian Burgess. This was the fastest Formula One race recorded at this time, with an average speed of 143.3 miles per hour. Hans Herrmann crashed his BRM P25 five laps into the second heat. In the approach to the southern turn he struck hay bales and rolled his car, but was thrown clear and sent sliding down the track. While the car was destroyed, Herrmann escaped unscathed. Because of this incredible luck Herrmann got his nickname 'Hans im Glück'.

Former Ferrari driver Frenchman Jean Behra was due to race his Behra-Porsche Special in the Grand Prix but Behra was killed the day before racing a Porsche RSK in the Formula 2 support race at the same venue.

The results show evidence of the inconsistency with which rules were applied in this era. According to Formula One rules of the day, those drivers who retired before the end of the Grand Prix should only be classified if they pushed the car over the line after the finish. This rule was not applied to Harry Schell, who retired some 11 laps before the end. However, the rule was applied in other races, such as the 1960 Belgian Grand Prix. The rules were later clarified in 1966.[1]

Brooks win allowed him to close to within four points of championship leader, Australian Cooper racer Jack Brabham.

Classification

Qualifying

Pos No Driver Constructor Time Gap
1 4 Tony Brooks Ferrari 2:05.9
2 7 Stirling Moss Cooper-Climax 2:06.8 +0.9
3 6 Dan Gurney Ferrari 2:07.2 +1.3
4 1 Jack Brabham Cooper-Climax 2:07.4 +1.5
5 3 Masten Gregory Cooper-Climax 2:07.5 +1.6
6 5 Phil Hill Ferrari 2:07.6 +1.7
7 9 Jo Bonnier BRM 2:10.3 +4.4
8 10 Harry Schell BRM 2:10.3 +4.4
9 2 Bruce McLaren Cooper-Climax 2:10.4 +4.5
10 16 Graham Hill Lotus-Climax 2:10.8 +4.9
11 11 Hans Herrmann BRM 2:11.4 +5.5
12 8 Maurice Trintignant Cooper-Climax 2:12.7 +6.8
13 15 Innes Ireland Lotus-Climax 2:14.6 +8.7
14 17 Cliff Allison1 Ferrari 2:05.8
15 18 Ian Burgess Cooper-Maserati 2:18.9 +13.0
DNS 12 Jean Behra Behra-Porsche-Porsche
DNS 14 Wolfgang von Trips Porsche
Source:[2]
^1 — Cliff Allison and Ian Burgess were listed as reserve drivers for the race. They were only allowed to start the race after Porsche withdrew following Jean Behra's fatal accident. They started from the back of the grid.

Race

Pos No Driver Constructor Laps Time/Retired Grid Points
1 4 Tony Brooks Ferrari 60 2:09:31.6 1 91
2 6 Dan Gurney Ferrari 60 + 2.9 3 6
3 5 Phil Hill Ferrari 60 + 1:04.8 6 4
4 8 Maurice Trintignant Cooper-Climax 59 + 1 Lap 12 3
5 9 Jo Bonnier BRM 58 + 2 Laps 7 2
6 18 Ian Burgess Cooper-Maserati 56 + 4 Laps 15  
7 10 Harry Schell BRM 49 + 11 Laps 8  
Ret 2 Bruce McLaren Cooper-Climax 36 Transmission 9  
Ret 11 Hans Herrmann BRM 36 Accident 11  
Ret 3 Masten Gregory Cooper-Climax 23 Engine 5  
Ret 1 Jack Brabham Cooper-Climax 15 Transmission 4  
Ret 16 Graham Hill Lotus-Climax 10 Gearbox 10  
Ret 15 Innes Ireland Lotus-Climax 7 Differential 13  
Ret 17 Cliff Allison Ferrari 2 Clutch 14  
Ret 7 Stirling Moss Cooper-Climax 1 Transmission 2  
DNS 12 Jean Behra Behra-Porsche-Porsche Fatal accident in support race
DNS 14 Wolfgang von Trips Porsche Withdrew
Source:[3]
Notes
  • ^1 – Includes 1 point for fastest lap

Championship standings after the race

  • Notes: Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.

References

  1. Hayhoe, David & Holland, David (2006). Grand Prix Data Book (4th edition). Haynes, Sparkford, UK. ISBN 1-84425-223-X
  2. "1959 German GP". www.chicanef1.com. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  3. "1959 German Grand Prix". formula1.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  4. "Germany 1959 - Championship • STATS F1". www.statsf1.com. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
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