The 1951 German Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on 29 July 1951 at the Nürburgring Nordschleife. It was race 6 of 8 in the 1951 World Championship of Drivers. The race was won from pole position by Alberto Ascari, ahead of Juan Manuel Fangio and José Froilán González.
Report
As the 1950 German GP was a Formula 2 race, this was the first German Grand Prix held to Formula One regulatuons. It took place without the German Silver Arrows GP cars that had dominated before the war, and still had quicker lap times than 1950s Formula One, as the 1939 record of 9:43.1 would stand until 1957. Auto Union headquarters were in the communist East Germany, and no other German manufactors showed up. Mercedes had raced old cars in Temporada Argentina Formula Libre races in February, decided not to bring back the pre-war Mercedes-Benz W165, and instead studied a new Mercedes-Benz W195. This was cancelled after the German Grand Prix, and the Mercedes-Benz W196 was built to new 1954 rules. One German driver took part, Paul Pietsch, who had led the 1939 German Grand Prix before finishing 3rd.
Alfa Romeo once again fielded four cars, with Paul Pietsch replacing Consalvo Sanesi, joining Fangio, Farina and Bonetto. Following on from their maiden victory at Silverstone, Ferrari also entered four drivers. Piero Taruffi rejoined their lineup, alongside Ascari, Villoresi and British Grand Prix winner José Froilán González. Ferrari continued their good form from the previous event, with Ascari and González the fastest two qualifiers. Fangio and Farina completed the front row, with Villoresi, Taruffi and Pietsch making up the second row.
Nino Farina initially took the lead, but, by the end of the first lap, had been passed by Fangio, Ascari and González. Paul Pietsch was running in fifth, but ended up at the back of the field after going off on the second lap. When Farina was forced to retire due to overheating problems, Fangio was left as the sole Alfa Romeo able to take the fight to the Ferrari drivers. Alberto Ascari took the lead on the fifth lap as a result of Fangio's first pitstop, but Fangio returned to the lead when Ascari took to the pits. As the Alfas required two pitstops, as opposed to just one for the Ferraris, Fangio needed to build a large lead in his second stint if he wanted to retain the lead after his second stop. He was unable to do so, therefore Ascari reclaimed the lead on the fifteenth lap of the race. Due to a misbehaving engine and a gearbox with only 3rd and 4th (4th being the highest gear), Fangio was unable to take advantage of an unexpected tyre change for Ascari, meaning that the Italian took his maiden World Championship race victory by over half a minute from Fangio. González completed the podium, with the remaining points positions going to the other works Ferraris of Villoresi and Taruffi.
Ascari's victory took him to second in the Championship standings, ten points adrift of Fangio, who extended his lead from the previous race. After his second consecutive podium, José Froilán González moved up to third in the standings, level on points with Farina and Villoresi.
Entries
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%;"
|-
! No !! Driver !! Entrant !! Constructor !! Chassis !! Engine !! Tyre
|-
! 71
| data-sort-value="asc"| Alberto Ascari
| rowspan=4| Scuderia Ferrari
| Ferrari
| Ferrari 375
| Ferrari Type 375 4.5 V12
| align="center"|
|-
! 72
| data-sort-value="vil"| Luigi Villoresi
| Ferrari
| Ferrari 375
| Ferrari Type 375 4.5 V12
| align="center"|
|-
! 73
| data-sort-value="tar"| Piero Taruffi
| Ferrari
| Ferrari 375
| Ferrari Type 375 4.5 V12
| align="center"|
|-
! 74
| data-sort-value="gon"| José Froilán González
| Ferrari
| Ferrari 375
| Ferrari Type 375 4.5 V12
| align="center"|
|-
! 75
| data-sort-value="fan"| Juan Manuel Fangio
| rowspan=4| Alfa Romeo SpA
| Alfa Romeo
| Alfa Romeo 159B
| Alfa Romeo 1.5 L8s
| align="center"|
|-
! 76
| data-sort-value="far"| Nino Farina
| Alfa Romeo
| Alfa Romeo 159B
| Alfa Romeo 1.5 L8s
| align="center"|
|-
! 77
| data-sort-value="bon"| Felice Bonetto
| Alfa Romeo
| Alfa Romeo 159A
| Alfa Romeo 1.5 L8s
| align="center"|
|-
! 78
| data-sort-value="pie"| Paul Pietsch
| Alfa Romeo
| Alfa Romeo 159
| Alfa Romeo 1.5 L8s
| align="center"|
|-
! 79
| data-sort-value="gra"| Toulo de Graffenried
| rowspan=2| Enrico Platé
| Maserati
| Maserati 4CLT-48
| Maserati 4 CL 1.5 L4s
| align="center"|
|-
! 80
| data-sort-value="pie"| Paul Pietsch
| Maserati
| Maserati 4CLT-48
| Maserati 4 CL 1.5 L4s
| align="center"|
|-
! 81
| data-sort-value="tri"| Maurice Trintignant
| rowspan=3| Equipe Gordini
| Simca-Gordini
| Simca-Gordini T15
| Simca-Gordini 15C 1.5 L4s
| align="center"|
|-
! 82
| data-sort-value="man"| Robert Manzon
| Simca-Gordini
| Simca-Gordini T15
| Simca-Gordini 15C 1.5 L4s
| align="center"|
|-
! 83
| data-sort-value="sim"| André Simon
| Simca-Gordini
| Simca-Gordini T15
| Simca-Gordini 15C 1.5 L4s
| align="center"|
|-
! 84
| data-sort-value="ros"| Louis Rosier
| rowspan=2| Ecurie Rosier
| Talbot-Lago
| Talbot-Lago T26C-DA
| Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6
| align="center"|
|-
! 85
| data-sort-value="chi"| Louis Chiron
| Talbot-Lago
| Talbot-Lago T26C
| Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6
| align="center"|
|-
! 86
| data-sort-value="eta"| Philippe Étancelin
| Philippe Étancelin
| Talbot-Lago
| Talbot-Lago T26C-DA
| Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6
| align="center"|
|-
! 87
| data-sort-value="gir"| Yves Giraud-Cabantous
| Yves Giraud-Cabantous
| Talbot-Lago
| Talbot-Lago T26C
| Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6
| align="center"|
|-
! 88
| data-sort-value="ham"| Duncan Hamilton
| Duncan Hamilton
| Talbot-Lago
| Talbot-Lago T26C
| Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6
| align="center"|
|-
! 89
| data-sort-value="mur"| David Murray
| Scuderia Ambrosiana
| Maserati
| Maserati 4CLT-48
| Maserati 4 CL 1.5 L4s
| align="center"|
|-
! 90
| data-sort-value="lev"| Pierre Levegh
| Pierre Levegh
| Talbot-Lago
| Talbot-Lago T26C
| Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6
| align="center"|
|-
! 91
| data-sort-value="fis"| Rudi Fischer
| Ecurie Espadon
| Ferrari
| Ferrari 212
| Ferrari 212 2.5 V12
| align="center"|
|-
! 92
| data-sort-value="bra"| Toni Branca
| Antonio Branca
| Maserati
| Maserati 4CLT-48
| Maserati 4 CL 1.5 L4s
| align="center"|
|-
! 93
| data-sort-value="swa"| Jacques Swaters
| Ecurie Belgique
| Talbot-Lago
| Talbot-Lago T26C
| Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6
| align="center"|
|-
! 94
| data-sort-value="cla"| Johnny Claes
| Ecurie Belge
| Talbot-Lago
| Talbot-Lago T26C-DA
| Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6
| align="center"|
|-
! 95
| data-sort-value="bir"| Prince Bira
| Ecurie Siam
| Maserati
| Maserati 4CLT-48
| Maserati 4 CL 1.5 L4s
| align="center"|
|-
! 96
| data-sort-value="lun"| Erik Lundgren
| Erik Lundgren
| EL-Ford
| EL Special
| Ford V8
| align="center"| ?
|-
! 97
| data-sort-value="lan"| Chico Landi
| Escuderia Bandeirantes
| Maserati
| Maserati 4CLT-48
| Maserati 4 CL 1.5 L4s
| align="center"|
|- style="background-color:#E5E4E2" align="center"
! colspan=7| Sources:
|-
|}
: — Paul Pietsch qualified and raced in a different car, the #78 Alfa Romeo.
: — Prince Bira, Erik Lundgren and Chico Landi all withdrew from the event prior to practice.
|}
Race
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;"
! Pos
! No
! Driver
! Constructor
! class="unsortable"|Laps
! class="unsortable"|Time/retired
! Grid
! Points
|-
! 1
| 71
| data-sort-value="asc"| Alberto Ascari
| Ferrari
| 20
| 3:23:03.3
| 1
| 8
|-
! 2
| 75
| data-sort-value="fan"| Juan Manuel Fangio
| Alfa Romeo
| 20
| +30.5
| 3
| 7
|-
! 3
| 74
| data-sort-value="gon"| José Froilán González
| Ferrari
| 20
| +4:39.0
| 2
| 4
|-
! 4
| 72
|data-sort-value="vil"| Luigi Villoresi
| Ferrari
| 20
| +5:50.2
| 5
| 3
|-
! 5
| 73
| data-sort-value="tar"| Piero Taruffi
| Ferrari
| 20
| +7:49.1
| 6
| 2
|-
! 6
| 91
| data-sort-value="fis"| Rudi Fischer
| Ferrari
| 19
| +1 lap
| 8
|
|-
! 7
| 82
| data-sort-value="man"| Robert Manzon
| Simca-Gordini
| 19
| +1 lap
| 9
|
|-
! 8
| 84
|data-sort-value="ros"| Louis Rosier
| Talbot-Lago-Talbot
| 19
| +1 lap
| 15
|
|-
! 9
| 90
|data-sort-value="lev"| Pierre Levegh
| Talbot-Lago-Talbot
| 18
| +2 laps
| 19
|
|-
! 10
| 93
| data-sort-value="swa"| Jacques Swaters
| Talbot-Lago-Talbot
| 18
| +2 laps
| 22
|
|-
! 11
| 94
|data-sort-value="cla"| Johnny Claes
| Talbot-Lago-Talbot
| 17
| +3 laps
| 18
|
|-
! data-sort-value="12"|
| 87
| data-sort-value="gir"| Yves Giraud Cabantous
| Talbot-Lago-Talbot
| 17
| Accident
| 11
|
|-
! data-sort-value="13"|
| 81
| data-sort-value="tri"| Maurice Trintignant
| Simca-Gordini
| 13
| Engine
| 14
|
|-
! data-sort-value="14"|
| 77
| data-sort-value="bon"| Felice Bonetto
| Alfa Romeo
| 12
| Magneto
| 10
|
|-
! data-sort-value="15"|
| 88
| data-sort-value="ham"| Duncan Hamilton
| Talbot-Lago-Talbot
| 12
| Oil pressure
| 20
|
|-
! data-sort-value="16"|
| 78
|data-sort-value="pie"| Paul Pietsch
| Alfa Romeo
| 11
| Accident
| 7
|
|-
! data-sort-value="17"|
| 83
| data-sort-value="sim"| André Simon
| Simca-Gordini
| 11
| Engine
| 12
|
|-
! data-sort-value="18"|
| 76
| data-sort-value="far"| Nino Farina
| Alfa Romeo
| 8
| Overheating
| 4
|
|-
! data-sort-value="19"|
| 86
| data-sort-value="eta"| Philippe Étancelin
| Talbot-Lago-Talbot
| 4
| Gearbox
| 21
|
|-
! data-sort-value="20"|
| 85
| data-sort-value="chi"| Louis Chiron
| Talbot-Lago-Talbot
| 3
| Ignition
| 13
|
|-
! data-sort-value="21"|
| 92
| data-sort-value="bra"| Toni Branca
| Maserati
| 3
| Engine
| 17
|
|-
! data-sort-value="22"|
| 79
| data-sort-value="gra"| Toulo de Graffenried
| Maserati
| 2
| Engine
| 16
|
|-
!colspan="8"|
|}
;Notes
- – Includes 1 point for fastest lap
Championship standings after the race
;Drivers' Championship standings
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
|-
!
! Pos
! Driver
! Points
|-
|align="left"| 10px
|align="center"| 1
| Juan Manuel Fangio
|align="right"| 27 (28)
|-
|align="left"| 10px 4
|align="center"| 2
| Alberto Ascari
|align="right"| 17
|-
|align="left"| 10px 1
|align="center"| 3
| José Froilán González
|align="right"| 15
|-
|align="left"| 10px 2
|align="center"| 4
| Nino Farina
|align="right"| 15
|-
|align="left"| 10px 2
|align="center"| 5
| Luigi Villoresi
|align="right"| 15
|-
!colspan=4|Source:
|}