1953 United States Grand Prix

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Flag of the United States svg.png 1953 United States Grand Prix
Race 9 of 9 in the 1953 Alternate Formula One season
Sebring 1952.svg.png
Date October 25, 1953
Official Name II United States Grand Prix
Location Sebring International Raceway
Sebring, Florida
Course Former Military Airbase
8.36 km (5.2 mi)
Distance 42 laps, 351.12 km (218.4 mi)
Weather Sunny
Pole Position
Driver Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png Reg Parnell Ferrari
Time 3:35.26
Fastest Lap
Driver Flag of Italy svg.png Dorino Serafini Ferrari
Time 3:36.54
Podium
First Flag of Italy svg.png Giuseppe Farina Alfa Romeo
Second Flag of Thailand svg.png B. Bira Aston Martin-Jaguar
Third Flag of Argentina svg.png José Froilán González Aston Martin-Jaguar


The 1953 United States Grand Prix was the ninth and final race of the 1953 Formula One World Championship and was held in Sebring on October 25th 1953. The title decider between Tony Bettenhausen, Consalvo Sanesi and Reg Parnell, all three qualified in the top three grid positions, but ended up retiring from the race, bringing the title fight to an anticlimactic end with Bettenhausen crowned champion. Giuseppe Farina won the race, ahead of B. Bira and José Froilán González.

Background

What a season it had been. JAMR dominated the field through reliability alone while the Gordinis proved to be the faster cars (let down by unreliability). Aston Martin-Jaguar sealed the constructors' title in Italy, but coming into the final race of the season, many places were still to be fought over. The drivers' title once again came down to the wire. Tony Bettenhausen led on 27 points, with five podiums that season, while Consalvo Sanesi was right behind on 26, every point scored in his three victories. Sanesi had won every race he had finished. Reg Parnell was also still in the title race on 24 points with four podiums and consistency, but he would need a podium to even hope to take the crown.

On the contructors' side, second place was also still to be decided as Gordini only had a six-point lead over Ferrari. On the entrants' side, the Gordini-Ferrari fight was repeated while Asso di Fiori would attempt to profit from Phoenix's absence to take fifth place and valuable prize money. All in all, 34 drivers had made the expensive trip to Sebring and would be competing for 32 spots on the grid. Reatherson, Aqua, O.S.C.A., de Filippis, Hampshire, Erne and EMW simply didn't bother to make the trip across the Atlantic Ocean.

Anglo Racing Engineering would enter Peter Collins after Wacker was given the third Gordini for his home race.

Scuderia Ferrari decided to fire Juan Manuel Fangio with immediate effect after the Italian Grand Prix and had replaced him with Jack Brabham, who had already appeared as substitute for the injured Dorino Serafini.

Lance Macklin, without a Reatherson to drive, returned to Balkan Eagle.

For this race, the third Gordini was handed to local driver Fred Wacker.

With André Simon out of a drive after O.S.C.A. decided not to go to Sebring, he promptly stepped back into the Maserati, almost certain of making the race.

Only Harry Schell and Toulo de Graffenried represented Group Ultimate at Sebring, with Schell in the Ultimate and de Graffenried in the 555.

Ecurie Nationale Belge sent the Bentley and Aston to Sebring, driven by Pilette and Gendebien respectively.

As announced, Ambrosiana reverted to two cars for the final race.

With de Filippis not sending her own car to Sebring, she drove for the separate BRUNEL outfit, created solely to make sure she would compete in Sebring.

Asso di Fiori put Dries van der Lof back in the Aston-Jag in a desperate bid to outscore Phoenix.

The Bardahl Oil Company, after missing out on the previous year's race, entered two cars for reigning AAA champion and Indy 500 winner Sam Hanks and Bill Vukovich respectively. They were given special permission from the AAA to take part, as any AAA driver taking part in another race would normally be banned.

Cliff Bergere, polesitter for the 1946 Indy 500, came out of retirement at age 56 to take part in one last race. Best of luck to him.

Race weekend

Qualifying

The top three in the championship would start the race in the top three positions, guaranteeing a titanic struggle for the title in the final race. Equally notably, the works Maserati of Paul Frère made the grid for the very first time that season.

Race

The start was fairly uneventful and every driver got away cleanly. Nello Pagani's Maserati engine failed halfway through the first lap, ending his race very early indeed. On lap 3, Sanesi and Trintignant passed Bettenhausen, who was already obviously having a bad day. On the next lap, the Frenchman took second place from Sanesi. Then, Olivier Gendebien, in his first race start, skidded on oil at the Esses and retired in a violent shunt out of 28th position. He was taken to the hospital as a precaution.

Consalvo Sanesi's engine then started to smoke, although he didn't seem to notice it. Bettenhausen made his way through on lap 5 and the Gordini engine finally decided to give up altogether four laps later. In the meantime, Trintignant decided not to slow down to let Bettenhausen through and instead took the race lead, demoting Parnell to second place. Bettenhausen had a lot of ground behind him but failed to keep the gap open very long. By lap 12, he had been passed by Bira, Gonzalez and Farina, leaving Reg Parnell provisionally World Champion. Robert Manzon and Fred Wacker both retired during that time, on laps 13 and 7 and due to an oil leak and a gearbox failure respectively. Gordini were left with yet another triple retirement. Johnny Claes also threw his Leader into the straw on the following lap, followed by de Filippis and Stirling Moss, both with blown engines. Stan Jones promptly threw his Maserati off the road as well.

On lap 18, Parnell made a move on Trintignant and took the lead once more. For fifth place, Bettenhausen passed Gonzalez, but had to relinquish his spot a few laps later, only to pass Bira on the following lap. Peter Collins anonymously retired on lap 22 with a suspension failure before the championship was ultimately decided. On lap 22, while lapping Paul Frère, Parnell ran wide and into the straw bales, spinning out of control and ending his race. With the two other contenders knocked out, Tony Bettenhausen had won the World Championship. And he promptly decided he didn't need to care anymore. In two laps, he was passed by Brabham, Whitehead, Serafini and de Graffenried.

On lap 29, the order was changed once more when Maurice Trintignant, the race leader, span on oil and into the retaining wall. He was followed by Bill Vukovich, whose Jaguar engine exploded after an otherwise promising race for the inexperienced driver. On the next lap, down in seventh place, Tony Bettenhausen figured that with nothing left to play for, he might as well just stop the car after a few victory laps, and he did just that, pulling up into the pits and stepping out of his car to enjoy a glass of World Champion-level champagne. He'd earned it.

But the race was still going on, and it was a really good one. While Bettenhausen had finished his champagne and was now celebrating with the spectators, Giuseppe Farina was left in a comfortable lead and in a position to take his first victory in over two years. Gonzalez was leading Bira and Brabham for second place by a small margin while the battle for fifth place was raging between Serafini, Rubirosa, Whitehead, Schell and de Graffenried. Brabham soon let go of the JAMRs and fell into the other pack, turning it into a fight for fourth place. On lap 35, Bira had taken second place while Porfirio Rubirosa was closing in on Gonzalez.

With three laps remaining, Dries van der Lof and Paul Frère both retired with gearbox failures while the battle for fourth ended up with Jack Brabham taking his first points for Ferrari with Whitehead just behind. Rubirosa once again came close to scoring, but alas, no cigar. Giuseppe Farina took his and Alfa Romeo's first victory since the 1951 British Grand Prix. Tony Bettenhausen took the first World Championship for an American driver.

Classification

Entry list

No Driver Entrant Chassis Engine
2 Flag of Belgium svg.png Johnny Claes Flag of China svg.png Leader Leader LF153 Mercedes UM153 4.5 V10
4 Flag of Italy svg.png Giuseppe Farina Flag of Italy svg.png Alfa Romeo SpA Alfa Romeo AR160 Alfa Romeo ARV8 1.5 V8
6 Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png Stirling Moss Alfa Romeo AR160 Alfa Romeo ARV8 1.5 V8
8 Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png Peter Whitehead Alfa Romeo AR160 Alfa Romeo ARV8 1.5 V8
10 Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png Reg Parnell Flag of Italy svg.png Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari 555 Ferrari 555 2.5 L4
12 Flag of Italy svg.png Dorino Serafini Ferrari 555 Ferrari 555 2.5 L4
14 Flag of Australia svg.png Jack Brabham Ferrari 555 Ferrari 555 2.5 L4
16 Flag of France svg.png Aldo Gordini Flag of Bulgaria (1948-1967) svg.png Balkan Eagle Alfa Romeo AR160 Maserati 200F 2.0 L6
18 Flag of Switzerland svg.png Rudi Fischer Alfa Romeo AR160 Maserati 200F 2.0 L6
20 Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png Lance Macklin Alfa Romeo AR160 Maserati 200F 2.0 L6
22 Flag of France svg.png Robert Manzon Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png/Flag of France svg.png Alexander Racing Team-Gordini Gordini G-953 Gordini ART-004 3.0 V6
24 Flag of Italy svg.png Consalvo Sanesi Gordini G-953 Gordini ART-004 3.0 V6
26 Flag of Belgium svg.png Paul Frère Flag of Italy svg.png Officine Alfieri Maserati Maserati AM53 Maserati 200F 2.0 L6
28 Flag of France svg.png André Simon Maserati AM53 Maserati 200F 2.0 L6
30 Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png Duncan Hamilton Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png Royal Racing Automobile Company Maserati AM53 Maserati 200F 2.0 L6
32 Flag of France svg.png Maurice Trintignant Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png Jaguar - Aston Martin Racing Aston Martin AM-04 Jaguar JFE-2 4.5 V12
34 Flag of Argentina svg.png José Froilán González Aston Martin AM-04 Jaguar JFE-2 4.5 V12
36 Flag of the United States svg.png Tony Bettenhausen Aston Martin AM-04 Jaguar JFE-2 4.5 V12
38 Flag of Italy svg.png Nello Pagani Flag of Australia svg.png Redman Racing Team Maserati AM53 Maserati 200F 2.0 L6
40 Flag of Australia svg.png Stan Jones Maserati AM53 Maserati 200F 2.0 L6
42 Flag of Italy svg.png Giovanni Bracco Flag of Italy svg.png Scuderia Ambrosiana Ambrosiana A-002 Alfa Romeo ARV8 1.5 V8
44 Flag of the Dominican Republic svg.png Porfirio Rubirosa Ambrosiana A-002 Alfa Romeo ARV8 1.5 V8
46 Flag of Italy svg.png Maria Teresa de Filippis Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png BRUNEL Bentley Speed 3 Bentley 163-1 3.0 V16
48 Flag of Thailand svg.png B. Bira Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png Jaguar - Aston Martin Racing Aston Martin AM-04 Jaguar JFE-2 4.5 V12
50 Flag of the Netherlands svg.png Dries van der Lof Flag of Italy svg.png Asso di Fiori Aston Martin AM-04 Jaguar JFE-2 4.5 V12
52 Flag of the United States svg.png Fred Wacker Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png/Flag of France svg.png Alexander Racing Team-Gordini Gordini G-953 Gordini ART-004 3.0 V6
54 Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png Peter Collins Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png Anglo Racing Engineering Leader LF153 Jaguar JFE-2 4.5 V12
56 Flag of the United States svg.png Bill Vukovich Flag of the United States svg.png Bardahl Oil Company O.S.C.A. 53 Jaguar JFE-2 4.5 V12
58 Flag of the United States svg.png Sam Hanks O.S.C.A. 53 Jaguar JFE-2 4.5 V12
60 Flag of Belgium svg.png André Pilette Flag of Belgium svg.png Ecurie Nationale Belge Bentley Speed 3 Bentley 163-1 3.0 V16
62 Flag of the United States svg.png Harry Schell Flag of Germany svg.png Team Ultimate Ultimate 002 O.S.C.A. 3000V8 3.0 V8
64 Flag of Switzerland svg.png Toulo de Graffenried Flag of the United States svg.png Ferrari America Ferrari 555 Ferrari 555 2.5 L4
66 Flag of Belgium svg.png Olivier Gendebien Flag of Belgium svg.png Ecurie Nationale Belge Aston Martin AM-04 Jaguar JFE-2 4.5 V12
68 Flag of the United States svg.png Cliff Bergere Flag of the United States svg.png Cliff Bergere Mercedes-Benz WM-1 Mercedes UM153 4.5 V10

Qualifying

Pos No Driver Constructor Time Gap
1 10 Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png Reg Parnell Ferrari 3:35.26 -
2 36 Flag of the United States svg.png Tony Bettenhausen Aston Martin-Jaguar 3:35.54 + 0.28
3 24 Flag of Italy svg.png Consalvo Sanesi Gordini 3:36.29 + 1.03
4 32 Flag of France svg.png Maurice Trintignant Aston Martin-Jaguar 3:37.58 + 2.32
5 48 Flag of Thailand svg.png B. Bira Aston Martin-Jaguar 3:38.25 + 2.99
6 34 Flag of Argentina svg.png José Froilán González Aston Martin-Jaguar 3:38.27 + 3.01
7 4 Flag of Italy svg.png Giuseppe Farina Alfa Romeo 3:38.30 + 3.04
8 12 Flag of Italy svg.png Dorino Serafini Ferrari 3:38.38 + 3.12
9 22 Flag of France svg.png Robert Manzon Gordini 3:39.69 + 4.43
10 44 Flag of the Dominican Republic svg.png Porfirio Rubirosa Ambrosiana-Alfa Romeo 3:40.73 + 5.47
11 52 Flag of the United States svg.png Fred Wacker Gordini 3:41.16 + 5.90
12 42 Flag of Italy svg.png Giovanni Bracco Ambrosiana-Alfa Romeo 3:41.67 + 6.41
13 8 Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png Peter Whitehead Alfa Romeo 3:41.93 + 6.67
14 6 Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png Stirling Moss Alfa Romeo 3:42.21 + 6.95
15 14 Flag of Australia svg.png Jack Brabham Ferrari 3:42.49 + 7.23
16 62 Flag of the United States svg.png Harry Schell Ultimate-O.S.C.A. 3:42.99 + 7.73
17 64 Flag of Switzerland svg.png Toulo de Graffenried Ferrari 3:43.85 + 8.59
18 50 Flag of the Netherlands svg.png Dries van der Lof Aston Martin-Jaguar 3:44.17 + 8.91
19 38 Flag of Italy svg.png Nello Pagani Maserati 3:47.44 + 12.18
20 16 Flag of France svg.png Aldo Gordini Alfa Romeo-Maserati 3:48.46 + 13.20
21 18 Flag of Switzerland svg.png Rudi Fischer Alfa Romeo-Maserati 3:49.47 + 14.21
22 40 Flag of Australia svg.png Stan Jones Maserati 3:50.26 + 15.00
23 20 Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png Lance Macklin Alfa Romeo-Maserati 3:50.29 + 15.03
24 2 Flag of Belgium svg.png Johnny Claes Leader-Mercedes 3:50.76 + 15.50
25 54 Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png Peter Collins Leader-Jaguar 3:51.94 + 16.68
26 60 Flag of Belgium svg.png André Pilette Bentley 3:53.54 + 18.28
27 46 Flag of Italy svg.png Maria Teresa de Filippis Bentley 3:53.88 + 18.62
28 66 Flag of Belgium svg.png Olivier Gendebien Aston Martin-Jaguar 3:54.03 + 18.77
29 26 Flag of Belgium svg.png Paul Frère Maserati 3:54.18 + 18.92
30 56 Flag of the United States svg.png Bill Vukovich O.S.C.A.-Jaguar 3:54.81 + 19.55
31 30 Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png Duncan Hamilton Maserati 3:55.06 + 19.80
32 68 Flag of the United States svg.png Cliff Bergere Mercedes 3:55.88 + 20.62
33 58 Flag of the United States svg.png Sam Hanks O.S.C.A.-Jaguar 3:56.74 + 21.48
34 28 Flag of France svg.png André Simon Maserati 3:58.40 + 23.14

Race

Pos No Driver Constructor Laps Time/Retired Grid Pts
1 4 Flag of Italy svg.png Giuseppe Farina Alfa Romeo 42 2:34:10.92 7 8
2 48 Flag of Thailand svg.png B. Bira Aston Martin-Jaguar 42 + 2:35.42 5 6
3 34 Flag of Argentina svg.png José Froilán González Aston Martin-Jaguar 41 + 1 lap 6 4
4 14 Flag of Australia svg.png Jack Brabham Ferrari 41 + 1 lap 15 3
5 8 Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png Peter Whitehead Alfa Romeo 41 + 1 lap 13 2
6 44 Flag of the Dominican Republic svg.png Porfirio Rubirosa Ambrosiana-Alfa Romeo 41 + 1 lap 10
7 12 Flag of Italy svg.png Dorino Serafini Ferrari 41 + 1 lap 8 1
8 62 Flag of the United States svg.png Harry Schell Ultimate-O.S.C.A. 41 + 1 lap 16
9 64 Flag of Switzerland svg.png Toulo de Graffenried Ferrari 40 + 2 laps 17
10 42 Flag of Italy svg.png Giovanni Bracco Ambrosiana-Alfa Romeo 40 + 2 laps 12
11 16 Flag of France svg.png Aldo Gordini Alfa Romeo-Maserati 40 + 2 laps 20
12 18 Flag of Switzerland svg.png Rudi Fischer Alfa Romeo-Maserati 40 + 2 laps 21
13 50 Flag of the Netherlands svg.png Dries van der Lof Aston Martin-Jaguar 38 Gearbox 18
14 60 Flag of Belgium svg.png André Pilette Bentley 38 + 4 laps 26
15 20 Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png Lance Macklin Alfa Romeo-Maserati 38 + 4 laps 23
16 30 Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png Duncan Hamilton Maserati 36 + 6 laps 31
17 68 Flag of the United States svg.png Cliff Bergere Mercedes 36 + 6 laps 32
Ret 26 Flag of Belgium svg.png Paul Frère Maserati 34 Gearbox 29
Ret 36 Flag of the United States svg.png Tony Bettenhausen Aston Martin-Jaguar 30 Celebration 2
Ret 32 Flag of France svg.png Maurice Trintignant Aston Martin-Jaguar 28 Accident 4
Ret 56 Flag of the United States svg.png Bill Vukovich O.S.C.A.-Jaguar 27 Engine 30
Ret 10 Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png Reg Parnell Ferrari 22 Accident 1
Ret 54 Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png Peter Collins Leader-Jaguar 20 Suspension 25
Ret 40 Flag of Australia svg.png Stan Jones Maserati 16 Spin 22
Ret 6 Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png Stirling Moss Alfa Romeo 15 Engine 14
Ret 46 Flag of Italy svg.png Maria Teresa de Filippis Bentley 13 Engine 27
Ret 22 Flag of France svg.png Robert Manzon Gordini 12 Oil leak 9
Ret 2 Flag of Belgium svg.png Johnny Claes Leader-Mercedes 12 Accident 24
Ret 24 Flag of Italy svg.png Consalvo Sanesi Gordini 8 Engine 3
Ret 52 Flag of the United States svg.png Fred Wacker Gordini 6 Gearbox 11
Ret 66 Flag of Belgium svg.png Olivier Gendebien Aston Martin-Jaguar 4 Accident 28
Ret 38 Flag of Italy svg.png Nello Pagani Maserati 0 Engine 19
DNQ 58 Flag of the United States svg.png Sam Hanks O.S.C.A.-Jaguar
DNQ 28 Flag of France svg.png André Simon Maserati

Notes

Drivers

Entrants

Lap leaders

Records broken

Drivers

  • Youngest World Champion: Tony Bettenhausen (37 years, 1 month, 13 days)
  • Most total career starts: Dorino Serafini and B. Bira (31)

Championship standings

Pos Driver Points
1 Flag of the United States svg.png Tony Bettenhausen 27
2 Flag of Italy svg.png Consalvo Sanesi 26
3 Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png Reg Parnell 24
4 Flag of Thailand svg.png B. Bira 23
5 Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png Peter Whitehead 19
Pos Constructor Points
1 Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png Aston Martin-Jaguar 50
2 Flag of France svg.png Gordini 35
3 Flag of Italy svg.png Ferrari 32
4 Flag of Italy svg.png Alfa Romeo 32
5 Flag of Spain 1945-1977 svg.png Phoenix-Mercedes 10
Pos Driver Points
1 Flag of the United Kingdom svg.png Jaguar - Aston Martin Racing 50
2 Flag of France svg.png Alexander Racing Team-Gordini 35
3 Flag of Italy svg.png Scuderia Ferrari 32
4 Flag of Italy svg.png Alfa Romeo SpA 32
5 Flag of Spain 1945-1977 svg.png Phoenix Racing Organisation 10
  • Only the top five positions are listed.
Previous race:
1953 Italian Grand Prix
Alternate Formula 1 World Championship
1953 Season
Next race:
1954 Monaco Grand Prix
Previous race:
1952 United States Grand Prix
United States Grand Prix Next race:
1954 United States Grand Prix