The 1956 French Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on 1 July 1956 at Reims. It was race 5 of 8 in the 1956 World Championship of Drivers.
Bugatti made a one-off appearance in this race with their Type 251, a Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout driven by Maurice Trintignant. The car proved to be uncompetitive and he retired after 18 laps.
This race was also notable for being the only Formula One World Championship entry as a driver for Team Lotus founder Colin Chapman.
Classification
Qualifying
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+
!Pos
!No
!Driver
!Constructor
!Time
!Gap
|-
!1
| 10
| Juan Manuel Fangio
| Ferrari
| 2:23.3
| align="center" |—
|-
!2
| 12
| Eugenio Castellotti
| Ferrari
| 2:24.6
| +1.3
|-
!3
| 14
| Peter Collins
| Ferrari
| 2:25.6
| +2.3
|-
!4
| 22
| Harry Schell
| Vanwall
| 2:26.1
| +2.8
|-
!5
| 26
| Colin Chapman
| Vanwall
| 2:26.8
| +3.5
|-
!6
| 24
| Mike Hawthorn
| Vanwall
| 2:27.0
| +3.7
|-
!7
| 4
| Jean Behra
| Maserati
| 2:27.8
| +4.5
|-
!8
| 2
| Stirling Moss
| Maserati
| 2:29.9
| +6.6
|-
!9
| 16
| Alfonso de Portago
| Ferrari
| 2:30.9
| +7.6
|-
!10
| 38
| Luigi Villoresi
| Maserati
| 2:33.3
| +10.0
|-
!11
| 44
| Olivier Gendebien
| Ferrari
| 2:34.5
| +11.2
|-
!12
| 36
| Louis Rosier
| Maserati
| 2:35.3
| +12.0
|-
!13
| 8
| Piero Taruffi
| Maserati
| 2:35.6
| +12.3
|-
!14
| 32
| Hermano da Silva Ramos
| Gordini
| 2:35.9
| +12.6
|-
!15
| 30
| Robert Manzon
| Gordini
| 2:36.0
| +12.7
|-
!16
| 6
| Cesare Perdisa
| Maserati
| 2:36.4
| +13.1
|-
!17
| 40
| Paco Godia
| Maserati
| 2:40.0
| +16.7
|-
!18
| 28
| Maurice Trintignant
| Bugatti
| 2:41.9
| +18.6
|-
!19
| 34
| André Pilette
| Gordini
| 2:46.8
| +23.5
|-
!20
| 42
| André Simon
| Maserati
| 2:47.9
| +24.6
|-
! colspan="6" | Source:
|}
Race
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
|-
! Pos !! No !! Driver !! Constructor !! Laps !! Time/Retired !! Grid !! Points
|-
! 1
| 14
| Peter Collins
| Ferrari
| 61
| 2:34:23.4
| 3
| 8
|-
! 2
| 12
| Eugenio Castellotti
| Ferrari
| 61
| +0.3
| 2
| 6
|-
! 3
| 4
| Jean Behra
| Maserati
| 61
| +1:29.9
| 7
| 4
|-
! 4
| 10
| Juan Manuel Fangio
| Ferrari
| 61
| +1:35.1
| 1
| 4
|-
! 5
| 6
| Cesare Perdisa<br /> Stirling Moss
| Maserati
| 59
| +2 Laps
| 13
| 1<br />1
|-
! 6
| 36
| Louis Rosier
| Maserati
| 58
| +3 Laps
| 12
|
|-
! 7
| 40
| Paco Godia
| Maserati
| 57
| +4 Laps
| 17
|
|-
! 8
| 32
| Hermano da Silva Ramos
| Gordini
| 57
| +4 Laps
| 14
|
|-
! 9
| 30
| Robert Manzon
| Gordini
| 56
| +5 Laps
| 15
|
|-
! 10
| 24
| Mike Hawthorn<br /> Harry Schell
| Vanwall
| 56
| +5 Laps
| 6
|
|-
! 11
| 34
| André Pilette
| Gordini
| 55
| +6 Laps
| 19
|
|-
!
| 42
| André Simon
| Maserati
| 41
| Engine
| 20
|
|-
!
| 8
| Piero Taruffi
| Maserati
| 40
| Engine
| 16
|
|-
!
| 44
| Olivier Gendebien
| Ferrari
| 38
| Clutch
| 11
|
|-
!
| 38
| Luigi Villoresi
| Maserati
| 23
| Brakes
| 10
|
|-
!
| 16
| Alfonso de Portago
| Ferrari
| 20
| Gearbox
| 9
|
|-
!
| 28
| Maurice Trintignant
| Bugatti
| 18
| Throttle
| 18
|
|-
!
| 2
| Stirling Moss
| Maserati
| 12
| Gearbox
| 8
|
|-
!
| 22
| Harry Schell
| Vanwall
| 5
| Engine
| 4
|
|-
!
| 26
| Colin Chapman
| Vanwall
|
| Accident/driver injured
| 5
|
|-
!colspan="8"|
|}
;Notes
- – Includes 1 point for fastest lap
Shared drives
- Car #6: Cesare Perdisa (20 laps) and Stirling Moss (39 laps). They shared the 2 points for fifth place.
- Car #24: Mike Hawthorn (10 laps) and Harry Schell (46 laps).
Championship standings after the race
;Drivers' Championship standings
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
|-
!
! Pos
! Driver
! Points
|-
|align="left"| 10px
|align="center"| 1
| Peter Collins
|align="left"| 19
|-
|align="left"| 10px 1
|align="center"| 2
| Jean Behra
|align="left"| 14
|-
|align="left"| 10px 1
|align="center"| 3
| Juan Manuel Fangio
|align="left"| 13
|-
|align="left"| 10px 2
|align="center"| 4
| Stirling Moss
|align="left"| 12
|-
|align="left"| 10px
|align="center"| 5
| Pat Flaherty
|align="left"| 8
|-
!colspan=4|Source:
|}