Juan Manuel Fangio

1950s Racing Drivers

Juan Manuel Fangio is rated as one of the greatest racing drivers ever. The Argentinean, affectionately nicknamed “El Chueco” – knock-kneed - found fame and fortune in the Formula One series which was launched in 1950.

Fangio dominated the 50s, winning the World Championship on no less than five occasions. His percentage of wins in Formula One was 46.6 per cent and has not been bettered to this day.

Fangio came second in the 1950 Driver’s Championship, but was to win it a year later driving for Alfa Romeo. In 1952 he suffered the first major accident of his career sustaining, among other injuries, a broken neck.

Such was Fangio’s bravery that after recovering in Argentina he was up and ready to the enter 1953 Formula One series. Now part of the Maserati team, he came second in the championship that year. However, the next three years were a period of tremendous success as he won the 1954, 1955, 1956 and 1957 World Drivers Championships.

During the 1954 push for the championship Fangio switched from Maserati to Mercedes, driving six of the eight Grand Prix for the German team. He remained with Mercedes for the 1955 season but drove for Ferrari during his 1956 title win. By the time he won the 1957 championship the Argentinean had re-joined Maserati.

That victory in 57 was to be Fangio’s final Formula One title as he was soon retire from racing. The German Grand Prix at the Nurburgring was to see an epic battle between Fangio, John Collins and Mike Hawthorn.  Collins and Hawthorn stormed ahead of the Argentinean while he was in a pit stop. But Fangio was able to make up lost ground, which at one stage stood at 45 seconds, breaking the lap record on the way.

During the 1958 Grand Prix season Fangio was to pull the plug on his racing career and retire while still world champion. It came after a below-par fourth place finish in the French Grand Prix. Such was the respect for Fangio by his fellow drivers, that Mike Hawthorn, who was to end the season as World Champion, held back and allowed “El Maestro” to cross the line ahead of him.

During his illustrious Grand Prix career Fangio held several records. His record of five World Drivers Championships stood for 46 years. His record of driving for four different teams is yet to be broken. And his record four victories in the Grand Prix of his home nation – Argentina – also remains unbroken.

Over thirty years after his retirement Fangio was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame. He died in 1995 at the age of 84.

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