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| Juan Manuel Fangio |
1954 Drivers Championship
1. Juan Manuel Fangio - 42
2. Stirling Moss - 25,14
3. Eugenio Castellotti - 24,64
(Constructors title not introduced until 1958)
1954 saw the end of the Formula Two era and the introduction of a 2.5-litre limit on engine size. It was already known that Mercedes-Benz would return to Grand Prix. The renowned marque signed Fangio, and it was obvious they would pose a serious threat. Ascari responded, deciding that he needed a stronger team behind him in spite of having spent five successful years with Ferrari; Lancia was also developing a new car, and Ascari put his faith in that. Neither the Mercedes nor the Lancia was ready for the season opener...
"Fangio's home soil victory"
This was in Argentina. It was initially dry, and Gonzalez and Farina's Ferraris dominated. When it began raining Fangio took control and went on to win. After the race, the Ferrari team lodged a protest, claiming more than the permitted three mechanics had worked on Fangio's car during a pit stop. This was thrown out.
The new Mercedes was not quite ready and Fangio had needed to borrow a Maserati to compete in Argentina; he had to do likewise in Belgium. He won there, too, despite having to drive in the latter part with a collapsed suspension. Ferrari's Maurice Trintignant came second and Stirling Moss was third. He had begun the new season with no competitive British car available. The patriotic Moss had resisted moving to a foreign team, though he had seen Hawthorn rise by joining Ferrari. The situation became urgent, and Moss bought a Maserati 250F.
"Mercedes are back"
The Mercedes made its appearance in the next race at Reims. It was a dazzling beginning for the streamlined W196: Fangio and his team-mate, Karl Kling, ran away with it, finishing a lap ahead of Ferrari's Robert Manzon. The third Mercedes driver, Hans Herrmann, returned the fastest lap.
The jubilant German camp came down to earth at Silverstone, however, where flaws in the car's roadholding were exposed. The streamlined bodywork concealed the front wheels and the drivers, Fangio included, found cornering difficult. Fangio's Mercedes was battered by the finish, but he did hold on to fourth place. Gonzalez and Hawthorn came home first and second, making it an enjoyable day for Ferrari at last.
"Tragedy at Nurburgring"
For the German Grand Prix at the Nurburgring the Mercedes team produced an unstreamlined version of the W196. Fangio won, despite being deeply upset by the death of Marimon in practice. Gonzalez, also a close friend of Marimon, was so distraught that he handed over his car to Hawthorn, who finished second.
Fangio was a convincing winner again in the Swiss Grand Prix at Bremgarten. He reverted to the streamlined car at Monza, and even on the fast Italian track the cornering proved suspect. Both Gonzalez and Ascari, who was driving a Ferrari, vied with Fangio for the lead, but Moss stole the show. He had been so impressive in his Maserati that he was given a works car to drive, and was leading the race with nine laps to go when his oil-tank ruptured. He restarted, but his engine gave out short of the line — and he pushed the car to the finish. It earned him only tenth place; Fangio won, but later declared it a moral victory for Moss.
"Title for Fangio"
The final race of the season was at Barcelona, where the Lancia V-8 made its appearance. Both Villoresi and Ascari lasted only a few laps, although Ascari did record the fastest one. Fangio also had trouble after paper was sucked into the Mercedes' air intake. Hawthorn went on to his second Grand Prix victory, and edged out his Ferrari team-mate Gonzalez for the second spot in the Drivers championship, but the crown was Fangio's.