The 1951 Spanish Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on 28 October 1951 at Pedralbes Circuit. It was the eighth and final race of the 1951 World Championship of Drivers.
This race was determined by tyre choice – Ferrari chose a 16-inch rear wheel, whilst Alfa Romeo settled for the 18 inch, which proved to be the better of the two options. Juan Manuel Fangio led Alberto Ascari by two points before the race. Ascari led the race from José Froilán González, but the Ferraris suffered numerous tread problems. Piero Taruffi threw a tyre tread on lap 6 and was followed on lap 7 by Luigi Villoresi, Ascari on lap 8 and Gonzalez on lap 14. The Ferraris were forced to stop frequently to change tyres and Fangio comfortably won the race and his first drivers' title, after Ascari finished 4th was not able to overhaul Fangio's total. After the race, Alfa Romeo announced that due to lack of finances, they would not be competing in the 1952 season.
Entries No Driver Entrant Constructor Chassis Engine Tyre 2 Alberto Ascari Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari Ferrari 375 Ferrari Type 375 4.5 V12 4 Luigi Villoresi Ferrari Ferrari 375 Ferrari Type 375 4.5 V12 6 José Froilán González Ferrari Ferrari 375 Ferrari Type 375 4.5 V12 8 Piero Taruffi Ferrari Ferrari 375 Ferrari Type 375 4.5 V12 10 Peter Whitehead Peter Whitehead Ferrari Ferrari 375 Ferrari 375 F1 4.5 V12 12 Maurice Trintignant Equipe Gordini Simca-Gordini Simca-Gordini T15 Simca-Gordini 15C 1.5 L4s 14 Robert Manzon Simca-Gordini Simca-Gordini T15 Simca-Gordini 15C 1.5 L4s 16 André Simon Simca-Gordini Simca-Gordini T15 Simca-Gordini 15C 1.5 L4s 18 Prince Bira Prince Bira Maserati-OSCA Maserati 4CLT-48 OSCA V12 20 Nino Farina Alfa Romeo SpA Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo 159M Alfa Romeo 1.5 L8s 22 Juan Manuel Fangio Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo 159M Alfa Romeo 1.5 L8s 24 Felice Bonetto Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo 159M Alfa Romeo 1.5 L8s 26 Toulo de Graffenried Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo 159M Alfa Romeo 1.5 L8s 28 Louis Rosier Ecurie Rosier Talbot-Lago Talbot-Lago T26C-DA Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 30 Louis Chiron Talbot-Lago Talbot-Lago T26C Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 32 Yves Giraud-Cabantous Yves Giraud-Cabantous Talbot-Lago Talbot-Lago T26C Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 34 Philippe Étancelin Philippe Étancelin Talbot-Lago Talbot-Lago T26C-DA Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 36 Johnny Claes Ecurie Belge Talbot-Lago Talbot-Lago T26C-DA Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 38 Georges Grignard Georges Grignard Talbot-Lago Talbot-Lago T26C-DA Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 40 Reg Parnell BRM Ltd. BRM BRM P15 BRM 15 1.5 V16s 44 Paco Godia Scuderia Milano Maserati Maserati 4CLT-48 Maserati 4 CL 1.5 L4s 46 Juan Jover Maserati Maserati 4CLT-48 Maserati 4 CL 1.5 L4s 48 Toni Branca Antonio Branca Maserati Maserati 4CLT-48 Maserati 4 CL 1.5 L4s Sources:
— Peter Whitehead and Reg Parnell both withdrew from the event prior to practice. — Juan Jover qualified in the #46 Maserati, although he did not start the race. Joaquin Palacio had been entered in car #46, but he withdrew prior to practice. — Toni Branca withdrew from the event prior to practice. Chico Landi had also been entered in car #48, but he too withdrew from the Grand Prix before practice.
Championship permutations Three drivers were fighting for the championship going into the race: Fangio on 27 points, Ascari on 25 points and González on 21 points. Championship leader Fangio only needed a second place in order to win his maiden drivers' title.
The championship would have been won by either of the top three drivers in the following manner:
Fangio would have won if: Juan Manuel Fangio Alberto Ascari José Froilán González2nd or better Any position Any position3rd3rd or lower4th5th 4th or lowerlower than 5th + FLlower than 5th w/o FL2nd or lower + FL
Ascari would have won if: Alberto Ascari Juan Manuel Fangio José Froilán González1stAny position Any position2nd3rd or lower
González would have won if: José Froilán González Juan Manuel Fangio Alberto Ascari1st + FLlower than 5th w/o FL3rd or lower
Classification
Qualifying Pos No Driver Constructor Time Gap 1 2 Alberto Ascari Ferrari 2:10.59 – 2 22 Juan Manuel Fangio Alfa Romeo 2:12.27 + 1.68 3 6 José Froilán González Ferrari 2:14.01 + 3.42 4 20 Nino Farina Alfa Romeo 2:14.94 + 4.35 5 4 Luigi Villoresi Ferrari 2:16.38 + 5.79 6 26 Toulo de Graffenried Alfa Romeo 2:16.40 + 5.81 7 8 Piero Taruffi Ferrari 2:16.80 + 6.21 8 24 Felice Bonetto Alfa Romeo 2:21.80 + 11.21 9 14 Robert Manzon Simca-Gordini 2:23.81 + 13.22 10 16 André Simon Simca-Gordini 2:24.60 + 14.01 11 12 Maurice Trintignant Simca-Gordini 2:25.25 + 14.66 12 30 Louis Chiron Talbot-Lago-Talbot 2:30.32 + 19.73 13 34 Philippe Étancelin Talbot-Lago-Talbot 2:31.00 + 20.41 14 32 Yves Giraud-Cabantous Talbot-Lago-Talbot 2:32.18 + 21.59 15 36 Johnny Claes Talbot-Lago-Talbot 2:34.46 + 23.87 16 38 Georges Grignard Talbot-Lago-Talbot 2:35.58 + 24.99 17 44 Paco Godia Maserati 2:37.45 + 26.86 18 46 Juan Jover Maserati 2:41.99 + 31.40 19 18 Prince Bira Maserati-OSCA 2:45.99 + 35.40 20 28 Louis Rosier Talbot-Lago-Talbot 2:46.78 + 36.19
Race Pos No Driver Constructor Laps Time/retired Grid Points 1 22 Juan Manuel Fangio Alfa Romeo 70 2:46:54.10 2 9 2 6 José Froilán González Ferrari 70 +54.28 3 6 3 20 Nino Farina Alfa Romeo 70 +1:45.54 4 4 4 2 Alberto Ascari Ferrari 68 +2 laps 1 3 5 24 Felice Bonetto Alfa Romeo 68 +2 laps 8 2 6 26 Toulo de Graffenried Alfa Romeo 66 +4 laps 6 7 28 Louis Rosier Talbot-Lago-Talbot 64 +6 laps 20 8 34 Philippe Étancelin Talbot-Lago-Talbot 63 +7 laps 13 9 14 Robert Manzon Simca-Gordini 63 +7 laps 9 10 44 Paco Godia Maserati 60 +10 laps 17 4 Luigi Villoresi Ferrari 48 Ignition 5 16 André Simon Simca-Gordini 48 Engine 10 36 Johnny Claes Talbot-Lago-Talbot 37 Accident 15 8 Piero Taruffi Ferrari 30 Wheel 7 12 Maurice Trintignant Simca-Gordini 25 Engine 11 38 Georges Grignard Talbot-Lago-Talbot 23 Engine 16 32 Yves Giraud-Cabantous Talbot-Lago-Talbot 7 Accident 14 30 Louis Chiron Talbot-Lago-Talbot 4 Ignition 12 18 Prince Bira Maserati-OSCA 1 Engine 19 46 Juan Jover Maserati 0 Engine 18 Notes – Includes 1 point for fastest lap
Final Championship standings Bold text indicates the World Champion. Drivers' Championship standings Pos Driver Points 1 Juan Manuel Fangio 31 (37) 2 Alberto Ascari 25 (28) 3 José Froilán González 24 (27) 4 Nino Farina 19 (22) 5 Luigi Villoresi 15 (18)Source:
References