1952 Formula One season
The 1952 Formula One season was the sixth season of FIA Formula One motor racing. In comparison to previous seasons, the 1952 season consisted of a relatively small number of Formula One races, following the decision to run all the Grand Prix events counting towards the World Championship of Drivers to Formula Two regulations rather than Formula One. The Indianapolis 500 was still run to AAA regulations as in previous seasons.
The 3rd FIA World Championship of Drivers, which began on 18 May and ended on 7 September after eight races, was won by Alberto Ascari, driving for Scuderia Ferrari.
In addition to the Formula One races and the World Championship Formula Two races, numerous other Formula Two races, which did not count towards the Championship, were held during the year.
World Championship season summary
, unable to fund a new car, withdrew from racing, while BRM had been preparing two V16-powered cars for the season but withdrew them before an April race at Valentino Park, Turin, whilst attempting to enlist Juan Manuel Fangio as teammate to Stirling Moss, leaving Ferrari as the only serious Formula One contender. This led World Championship organizers to run their races for Formula Two, utilising 2-litre naturally aspirated engines, which meant larger fields and a greater variety of cars, even if the victories all went to Ferrari. Ascari won the six Grands Prix he entered, missing the Swiss race because he was at Indianapolis qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 – the first European to do so in the World Championship era. Maserati and Gordini offered little challenge, but Mike Hawthorn's drives in his Cooper would earn him a works Ferrari drive in 1953. Reigning champion Fangio, badly injured in an early season crash at Monza, took no part in the championship, but was to go on to drive for BRM.World Championship season review
The 1952 World Championship of Drivers was contested over an eight race series.| Rnd | Race | Circuit | Date | Pole position | Fastest lap | Winning driver | Constructor | Tyre | Report |
| 1 |  Swiss Grand Prix | Bremgarten | 18 May |  Giuseppe Farina | Piero Taruffi | Piero Taruffi | Ferrari | Report | |
| 2 |  Indianapolis 500 | Indianapolis | 30 May | Fred Agabashian | Bill Vukovich | Troy Ruttman | Kuzma-Offenhauser | Report | |
| 3 |  Belgian Grand Prix | Spa-Francorchamps | 22 June | Alberto Ascari | Alberto Ascari | Alberto Ascari | Ferrari | Report | |
| 4 |  French Grand Prix | Rouen-Les-Essarts | 6 July | Alberto Ascari | Alberto Ascari | Alberto Ascari | Ferrari | Report | |
| 5 |  British Grand Prix | Silverstone | 19 July | Giuseppe Farina | Alberto Ascari | Alberto Ascari | Ferrari | Report | |
| 6 |  German Grand Prix | Nürburgring | 3 August | Alberto Ascari | Alberto Ascari | Alberto Ascari | Ferrari | Report | |
| 7 |  Dutch Grand Prix | Zandvoort | 17 August | Alberto Ascari | Alberto Ascari | Alberto Ascari | Ferrari | Report | |
| 8 | Italian Grand Prix | Monza | 7 September | Alberto Ascari | Alberto Ascari José Froilán González | Alberto Ascari | Ferrari | Report |
All 1952 World Championship Grand Prix events were restricted to Formula Two cars and the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, which also counted towards the 1952 AAA Championship, was contested by AAA National Championship cars. The Spanish Grand Prix was scheduled to be held on October 26 at the Pedralbes Circuit in Barcelona, but was cancelled.
Teams and drivers
The following teams and drivers competed in the 1952 FIA World Championship of Drivers. The list does not include those that contested only the Indianapolis 500 event.| Entrant | Constructor | Chassis | Engine | Tyre | Driver | Rounds |
| AFM | AFM-Küchen | AFM | Küchen 2.0 V8 | Hans Stuck | 1 | |
| Toni Ulmen | Veritas | Meteor | Veritas 2.0 L6 | Toni Ulmen | 1, 6 | |
| Equipe Gordini | Gordini | 16 16S 15 | Gordini 20 2.0 L6 Gordini 1500 1.5 L4 | Jean Behra | 1, 3–4, 6–8 | |
| Equipe Gordini | Gordini | 16 16S 15 | Gordini 20 2.0 L6 Gordini 1500 1.5 L4 | Robert Manzon | 1, 3–8 | |
| Equipe Gordini | Gordini | 16 16S 15 | Gordini 20 2.0 L6 Gordini 1500 1.5 L4 |  Birabongse Bhanudej | 1, 3–5 | |
| Equipe Gordini | Gordini | 16 16S 15 | Gordini 20 2.0 L6 Gordini 1500 1.5 L4 | Johnny Claes | 3 | |
| Equipe Gordini | Gordini | 16 16S 15 | Gordini 20 2.0 L6 Gordini 1500 1.5 L4 | Maurice Trintignant | 4–8 | |
| Ecurie Rosier | Ferrari | 500 166/F2 | Ferrari 500 2.0 L4 Ferrari 166 2.0 V12 | Louis Rosier | 1, 3–4, 8 | |
| Ecurie Rosier | Ferrari | 500 166/F2 | Ferrari 500 2.0 L4 Ferrari 166 2.0 V12 | Maurice Trintignant | 1 | |
| HW Motors | HWM-Alta | 52 51/52 | Alta F2 2.0 L4 | George Abecassis | 1 | |
| HW Motors | HWM-Alta | 52 51/52 | Alta F2 2.0 L4 | Peter Collins | 1, 3–6, 8 | |
| HW Motors | HWM-Alta | 52 51/52 | Alta F2 2.0 L4 | Lance Macklin | 1, 3–5, 7–8 | |
| HW Motors | HWM-Alta | 52 51/52 | Alta F2 2.0 L4 | Stirling Moss | 1 | |
| HW Motors | HWM-Alta | 52 51/52 | Alta F2 2.0 L4 | Paul Frère | 3, 6 | |
| HW Motors | HWM-Alta | 52 51/52 | Alta F2 2.0 L4 | Roger Laurent | 3 | |
| HW Motors | HWM-Alta | 52 51/52 | Alta F2 2.0 L4 | Yves Giraud-Cabantous | 4 | |
| HW Motors | HWM-Alta | 52 51/52 | Alta F2 2.0 L4 | Duncan Hamilton | 5, 7 | |
| HW Motors | HWM-Alta | 52 51/52 | Alta F2 2.0 L4 | Johnny Claes | 6 | |
| HW Motors | HWM-Alta | 52 51/52 | Alta F2 2.0 L4 | Dries van der Lof | 7 | |
| Scuderia Franera | Frazer-Nash-Bristol | FN48 | Bristol BS1 2.0 L6 | Ken Wharton | 1, 3, 7–8 | |
| Ecurie Richmond | Cooper-Bristol | T20 | Bristol BS1 2.0 L6 | Eric Brandon | 1, 3, 5, 8 | |
| Ecurie Richmond | Cooper-Bristol | T20 | Bristol BS1 2.0 L6 | Alan Brown | 1, 3, 5, 8 | |
| Scuderia Ferrari | Ferrari | 500 375S* | Ferrari 500 2.0 L4 Ferrari 375 4.5 V12* | Giuseppe Farina | 1, 3–8 | |
| Scuderia Ferrari | Ferrari | 500 375S* | Ferrari 500 2.0 L4 Ferrari 375 4.5 V12* | Piero Taruffi | 1, 3–6, 8 | |
| Scuderia Ferrari | Ferrari | 500 375S* | Ferrari 500 2.0 L4 Ferrari 375 4.5 V12* | Andre Simon | 1, 8 | |
| Scuderia Ferrari | Ferrari | 500 375S* | Ferrari 500 2.0 L4 Ferrari 375 4.5 V12* | Alberto Ascari | 2–8 | |
| Scuderia Ferrari | Ferrari | 500 375S* | Ferrari 500 2.0 L4 Ferrari 375 4.5 V12* | Luigi Villoresi | 7–8 | |
| Enrico Platé | Maserati-Platé | 4CLT/48 | Platé 2.0 L4 | Toulo de Graffenried | 1, 4–5, 8 | |
| Enrico Platé | Maserati-Platé | 4CLT/48 | Platé 2.0 L4 | Harry Schell | 1, 4–5 | |
| Enrico Platé | Maserati-Platé | 4CLT/48 | Platé 2.0 L4 | Alberto Crespo | 8 | |
| Ecurie Espadon | Ferrari | 500 212 | Ferrari 500 2.0 L4 Ferrari 166 2.0 V12 | Rudi Fischer | 1, 4–6, 8 | |
| Ecurie Espadon | Ferrari | 500 212 | Ferrari 500 2.0 L4 Ferrari 166 2.0 V12 | Peter Hirt | 1, 4–5 | |
| Ecurie Espadon | Ferrari | 500 212 | Ferrari 500 2.0 L4 Ferrari 166 2.0 V12 | Rudolf Schoeller | 6 | |
| Ecurie Espadon | Ferrari | 500 212 | Ferrari 500 2.0 L4 Ferrari 166 2.0 V12 | Hans Stuck | 8 | |
| Alfred Dattner | Simca-Gordini | 11 | Gordini 1500 1.5 L4 | Max de Terra | 1 | |
| Leslie D. Hawthorn | Cooper-Bristol | T20 | Bristol BS1 2.0 L6 | Mike Hawthorn | 3, 5, 7–8 | |
| English Racing Automobiles Ltd | ERA-Bristol | G | Bristol BS1 2.0 L6 | Stirling Moss | 3, 5, 7 | |
| Ecurie Francorchamps | Ferrari | 500 | Ferrari 500 2.0 L4 | Charles de Tornaco | 3, 7–8 | |
| Ecurie Francorchamps | Ferrari | 500 | Ferrari 500 2.0 L4 | Roger Laurent | 6 | |
| Arthur Legat | Veritas | Meteor | Veritas 2.0 L6 | Arthur Legat | 3 | |
| Robin Montgomerie-Charrington | Aston-Butterworth | NB42 | Butterworth 2.0 F4 | Robin Montgomerie-Charrington | 3 | |
 Tony Gaze | HWM-Alta | 52 | Alta F2 2.0 L4 | Tony Gaze | 3, 5–6, 8 | |
| Robert O' Brien | Simca-Gordini | 15 | Gordini 1500 1.5 L4 | Robert O' Brien | 3 | |
| Peter Whitehead | Alta Ferrari | F2 125/F2 | Alta F2 2.0 L4 Ferrari 166 2.0 V12 | Peter Whitehead | 4–5, 8 | |
| Peter Whitehead | Alta Ferrari | F2 125/F2 | Alta F2 2.0 L4 Ferrari 166 2.0 V12 | Graham Whitehead | 5 | |
 Escuderia Bandeirantes | Maserati | A6GCM | Maserati A6 2.0 L6 | Philippe Étancelin | 4 | |
| Escuderia Bandeirantes | Maserati | A6GCM | Maserati A6 2.0 L6 | Gino Bianco | 5–8 | |
| Escuderia Bandeirantes | Maserati | A6GCM | Maserati A6 2.0 L6 |  Eitel Cantoni | 5–6, 8 | |
| Escuderia Bandeirantes | Maserati | A6GCM | Maserati A6 2.0 L6 | Chico Landi | 7–8 | |
| Escuderia Bandeirantes | Maserati | A6GCM | Maserati A6 2.0 L6 | Jan Flinterman | 7 | |
| Ecurie Belge | Simca-Gordini | 15 | Gordini 1500 1.5 L4 | Johnny Claes | 4–5 | |
| Ecurie Belge | Simca-Gordini | 15 | Gordini 1500 1.5 L4 | Paul Frère | 7 | |
| Scuderia Marzotto | Ferrari | 166/F2 | Ferrari 166 2.0 V12 | Franco Comotti | 4 | |
| Scuderia Marzotto | Ferrari | 166/F2 | Ferrari 166 2.0 V12 | Piero Carini | 4, 6 | |
| Archie Bryde AHM Bryde | Cooper-Bristol | T20 | Bristol BS1 2.0 L6 | Mike Hawthorn | 4 | |
| Archie Bryde AHM Bryde | Cooper-Bristol | T20 | Bristol BS1 2.0 L6 | Reg Parnell | 5 | |
| W.S. Aston | Aston-Butterworth | NB41 | Butterworth 2.0 F4 | Bill Aston | 5–6, 8 | |
| Connaught Engineering | Connaught-Lea Francis | A | Lea Francis 2.0 L4 | Kenneth McAlpine | 5, 8 | |
| Connaught Engineering | Connaught-Lea Francis | A | Lea Francis 2.0 L4 | Ken Downing | 5 | |
| Connaught Engineering | Connaught-Lea Francis | A | Lea Francis 2.0 L4 | Eric Thompson | 5 | |
| Connaught Engineering | Connaught-Lea Francis | A | Lea Francis 2.0 L4 | Dennis Poore | 5, 8 | |
| Connaught Engineering | Connaught-Lea Francis | A | Lea Francis 2.0 L4 | Stirling Moss | 8 | |
| Ecurie Ecosse | Cooper-Bristol | T20 | Bristol BS1 2.0 L6 | David Murray | 5 | |
| G. Caprara | Ferrari | 500 | Ferrari 500 2.0 L4 | Roy Salvadori | 5 | |
| Tony Crook | Frazer-Nash-BMW | 421 | BMW 328 2.0 L6 | Tony Crook | 5 | |
| Marcel Balsa | Balsa-BMW | Spécial | BMW 328 2.0 L6 | Marcel Balsa | 6 | |
| Fritz Riess | Veritas | RS | Veritas 2.0 L6 | ? | Fritz Riess | 6 |
| Theo Helfrich | Veritas | RS | Veritas 2.0 L6 | ? | Theo Helfrich | 6 |
| Willi Heeks | AFM-BMW | 8 | BMW 328 2.0 L6 | ? | Willi Heeks | 6 |
| Helmut Niedermayr | AFM-BMW | 6 | BMW 328 2.0 L6 | ? | Helmut Niedermayr | 6 |
| Adolf Brudes | Veritas | RS | Veritas 2.0 L6 | ? | Adolf Brudes | 6 |
| Motor Presse Verlag | Veritas | Meteor | Veritas 2.0 L6 | ? | Paul Pietsch | 6 |
| Hans Klenk | Veritas | Meteor | Veritas 2.0 L6 | ? | Hans Klenk | 6 |
| Josef Peters | Veritas | RS | Veritas 2.0 L6 | ? | Josef Peters | 6 |
| Bernhard Nacke | Nacke-BMW | Eigenbau | BMW 328 2.0 L6 | ? | Günther Bechem | 6 |
| Ludwig Fischer | AFM-BMW | 8 | BMW 328 2.0 L6 | ? | Ludwig Fischer | 6 |
| Willi Krakau | AFM-BMW | 6 | BMW 328 2.0 L6 | ? | Willi Krakau | 6 |
| Willi Krakau | Krakau-BMW | Eigenbau | BMW 328 2.0 L6 | ? | Harry Merkel | 6 |
 Ernst Klodwig | Heck-BMW | Eigenbau | BMW 328 2.0 L6 | ? | Ernst Klodwig | 6 |
| Rudolf Krause | Reif-BMW | Eigenbau | BMW 328 2.0 L6 | ? | Rudolf Krause | 6 |
| Ken Downing | Connaught-Lea Francis | A | Lea Francis 2.0 L4 | Ken Downing | 7 | |
| Officine Alfieri Maserati | Maserati | A6GCM | Maserati A6 2.0 L6 | Felice Bonetto | 6, 8 | |
| Officine Alfieri Maserati | Maserati | A6GCM | Maserati A6 2.0 L6 | Franco Rol | 8 | |
| Officine Alfieri Maserati | Maserati | A6GCM | Maserati A6 2.0 L6 | José Froilán González | 8 | |
| Élie Bayol | OSCA | 20 | OSCA 2000 2.0 L6 | Élie Bayol | 8 | |
| Piero Dusio | Cisitalia-BPM | D46 | BPM 2.0 L4 | Piero Dusio | 8 | |
| Vicomtesse de Walckiers | Simca-Gordini | 15 | Gordini 1500 1.5 L4 | Johnny Claes | 8 |
1952 Drivers' Championship – final standings
Points were awarded to top five finishers in each race on an 8–6–4–3–2 basis. One point was awarded for fastest lap. Points for shared drives were divided equally between the drivers, regardless of who had driven more laps. Only the best four of eight scores counted towards the World Championship.
East German Championship |
XIV 
II 
VIII