Formula One 1954 Season

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Formula One 1954 Season


Regulations:

Engine: 500 cc (supercharged), 2000 cc (normally aspirated)
Weight: No Limit
Points: 1st: 8, 2nd: 6, 3rd: 4, 4th: 3, 5th: 2, Fastest Lap: 1
Notes: The Indy 500 was included in the World Championship

1954 Mercedes-Benz GP cockpit
1954 Mercedes-Benz GP cockpit.

Mercedes Secret Weapon



NO war secret was more zealously guarded than the details of the radically different Mercedes-Benz which the company planned to re-enter international Formula I during 1954. The firm's top engineers had worked on it for two years without giving out any hint of the project. When designs were finalised they smilingly handed out photos of their creation, but said not a word about it - not even to deny or confirm various rumours. "Wait till she's had her first race," they said. The event chosen for the car's debut was the French Grand Prix at Rheims on July 4. There the lid came off the secret with a bang.

Driven by Argentinian Juan Fangio and German Karl Kling, the silver-painted Mercedes-Benz streamliners left their rivals for dead. They leapt ahead from the start and every lap saw them drawing farther away from the Alfa Romeos, Ferraris, Maserati’s, and Jaguars that had dominated international racing since World War 2. The race started at midnight in rainy, windy weather, with squalls that reduced visibility to danger point. Daylight brought little relief; every now and then a heavy downpour would blot out the racers. Of 47 starters, 22 failed to stay the distance.

But the two German cars kept lapping the 5-mile circuit at ever-increasing speed. As the morning wore on, their drivers, now sure of success, put on a show of skill for the spectators, drawing close together and circling the course side by side. When the flag fell at noon, winner Fangio crossed the line only a quarter of a second in front of team-mate Kling. In 12 hours he had covered the fantastic distance of 1390.52 miles at an average speed of 115.96 m.p.h. Considering the weather and the toughness of the circuit, which included four fast curves, and two hairpin bends that normally had to be taken at 30 m.p.h., it was an incredible achievement.

As the two silver bullets returned to the pits they were mobbed by crestfallen drivers and mechanics from the defeated cars. Here the secrets of Mercedes-Benz' surprise packet were revealed at last. It has an eight-cylinder in-line engine, mounted at an angle to allow a low bonnet. Bore was 76 mm., stroke 68.8 mm., capacity 2496 c.c. Direct fuel injection was used, with pump and nozzles by Bosch; ignition was by Bosch magneto, with two spark plugs per cylinder. Twin exhaust pipes were fitted. The car had a single-disc dry clutch and a five-speed transmission to the rear axle. Front-wheel suspension was independent; rear suspension was by swing axle with lowered pivot. Springing was by torsion bars.

The four-wheel brakes had turbo-cooled drums of light metal and were fitted at the chassis, separately from the wheels. The 16-inch diameter wire-spoke wheels could take tyres of varying sizes, depending on the requirements of the race. The streamlined body was of light alloy and had air-scoops to cool the brakes, the rear tyres, and the driver's cockpit.
1954 Grand Prix Calendar
Date
Grand Prix Circuit
Pole Position
Winner
January 17th, 1954
Argentina
Argentine GP Buenos Aires
Nino Farina Juan Manuel Fangio
May 31st, 1954
United States
Indianapolis 500 Indianapolis
Jack McGrath Bill Vukovich
June 20th, 1954
Belgium
Belgian GP Spa-Francorchamps
Juan Manuel Fangio Juan Manuel Fangio
July 4th, 1954
France
ACF GP Reims Juan Manuel Fangio Juan Manuel Fangio
July 17th, 1954
Great Britain
British GP Silverstone Juan Manuel Fangio José Froilan González
August 1st, 1954
Germany
German GP Nürburgring
Juan Manuel Fangio Juan Manuel Fangio
August 22nd, 1954
Switzerland
Swiss GP Bremgarten
Juan Manuel Fangio Juan Manuel Fangio
September 5th, 1954
Italy
Italian GP Monza Juan Manuel Fangio Juan Manuel Fangio
October 24th, 1954
Spain
Spanish GP Pedralbes Alberto Ascari Mike Hawthorn
 
1954 F1 Drivers
Championship
Position
Driver
Points
C
Juan Manuel Fangio
42
2
José Froilan González
25.1
3
Mike Hawthorn
24.6
4
Maurice Trintignant
17
5
Karl Kling
12
6
Bill Vukovich
8
7
Hans Herrmann
8
8
Nino Farina
6
1954 F1 Constructors
Championship
Position
Manufacturer
Points
C
Mercedes / Mercedes
36
2
Ferrari / Ferrari
34
3
Maserati / Maserati
29
4
Gordini / Gordini
4
5
No Constructor
-
6
No Constructor
-
7
No Constructor
-
8
No Constructor
-
1954 Mercedes Benz GP Winner
1954 Rheims GP Mercedes Benz "Streng Geheim" - the Top Secret weapon that left others behind.
Side view of the 1954 Mercedes GP car
Side view of the Mercedes GP car.
1954 Mercedes GP Engine Bay
1954 Mercedes GP Engine Bay.
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