1958 French Grand Prix

The 1958 French Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Reims on 6 July 1958. It was race 6 of 11 in the 1958 World Championship of Drivers and race 5 of 10 in the 1958 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers.

1958 French Grand Prix
← Previous race Next race →
Reims-Gueux layout
Race details
Date	6 July 1958
Official name	XLIV Grand Prix de l'ACF
Location	Reims circuit, Reims, France
Course	Temporary road course
Course length	8.302 km (5.159 miles)
Distance	50 laps, 415.1 km (257.95 miles)
Pole position
Driver	Mike Hawthorn	Ferrari
Time	2:21.7
Fastest lap
Driver	Mike Hawthorn	Ferrari
Time	2:24.9
Podium
First	Mike Hawthorn	Ferrari
Second	Stirling Moss	Vanwall
Third	Wolfgang von Trips	Ferrari
Lap leaders

The race was won by Mike Hawthorn driving a Ferrari 246 F1; it was his first Formula One victory since the 1954 Spanish Grand Prix and would prove to be his last. It was also the last Formula One race for five-time World Champion Juan Manuel Fangio. On the final lap, Hawthorn eased up to let Fangio, running fifth at the time, finish on the lead lap of his last race. This turned out to be a blessing, as Peter Collins crashed on the final lap, allowing Fangio to secure fourth.

The race was marred by Ferrari driver Luigi Musso's fatal accident at the Courbe du Calvaire. His car hurtled off course and crashed into a ditch. Musso was thrown out of the car, was critically injured and died later that day at a hospital near the track.

Of the 21 starters, six died in racing cars within the next three years. Musso died in the race itself, while Peter Collins died in that year's German Grand Prix, Lewis-Evans at the Moroccan Grand Prix, Jean Behra in a support race for the 1959 German Grand Prix, Harry Schell in practice for the 1960 BRDC International Trophy, and Wolfgang von Trips and a dozen spectators died at the 1961 Italian Grand Prix.

Classification

Qualifying

Pos	No	Driver	Constructor	Time	Gap
1	4	Mike Hawthorn	Ferrari	2:21.7	—
2	2	Luigi Musso	Ferrari	2:22.4	+0.7
3	16	Harry Schell	BRM	2:23.1	+1.4
4	42	Peter Collins	Ferrari	2:23.3	+1.6
5	10	Tony Brooks	Vanwall	2:23.4	+1.7
6	8	Stirling Moss	Vanwall	2:23.7	+2.0
7	18	Maurice Trintignant	BRM	2:23.7	+2.0
8	34	Juan Manuel Fangio	Maserati	2:24.0	+2.3
9	14	Jean Behra	BRM	2:24.2	+2.5
10	12	Stuart Lewis-Evans	Vanwall	2:25.3	+3.6
11	40	Paco Godia	Maserati	2:27.1	+5.4
12	22	Jack Brabham	Cooper-Climax	2:27.3	+5.6
13	36	Phil Hill	Maserati	2:29.5	+7.8
14	20	Roy Salvadori	Cooper-Climax	2:30.0	+8.3
15	32	Gerino Gerini	Maserati	2:30.7	+9.0
16	38	Jo Bonnier	Maserati	2:30.9	+9.2
17	28	Carroll Shelby	Maserati	2:32.0	+10.3
18	30	Troy Ruttman	Maserati	2:36.0	+14.3
19	24	Graham Hill	Lotus-Climax	2:40.9	+19.2
20	26	Cliff Allison	Lotus-Climax	2:49.7	+28.0
21	6	Wolfgang von Trips	Ferrari
Source:

Race

Pos	No	Driver	Constructor	Laps	Time/Retired	Grid	Points
1	4	Mike Hawthorn	Ferrari	50	2:03:21.3	1	91
2	8	Stirling Moss	Vanwall	50	+ 24.6	6	6
3	6	Wolfgang von Trips	Ferrari	50	+ 59.7	21	4
4	34	Juan Manuel Fangio	Maserati	50	+ 2:30.6	8	3
5	42	Peter Collins	Ferrari	50	+ 5:24.9 (crashed)	4	2
6	22	Jack Brabham	Cooper-Climax	49	+ 1 Lap	12
7	36	Phil Hill	Maserati	49	+ 1 Lap	13
8	38	Jo Bonnier	Maserati	48	+ 2 Laps	16
9	32	Gerino Gerini	Maserati	47	+ 3 Laps	15
10	30	Troy Ruttman	Maserati	45	+ 5 Laps	18
11	20	Roy Salvadori	Cooper-Climax	37	+ 13 Laps	14
Ret	16	Harry Schell	BRM	41	Overheating	3
Ret	14	Jean Behra	BRM	41	Fuel Pump	9
Ret	12	Stuart Lewis-Evans Tony Brooks	Vanwall	35	Engine	10
Ret	24	Graham Hill	Lotus-Climax	33	Overheating	19
Ret	40	Paco Godia	Maserati	28	Accident	11
Ret	18	Maurice Trintignant	BRM	23	Fuel Pump	7
Ret	10	Tony Brooks	Vanwall	16	Engine	5
Ret	2	Luigi Musso	Ferrari	9	Fatal Accident	2
Ret	28	Carroll Shelby	Maserati	9	Engine	17
Ret	26	Cliff Allison	Lotus-Climax	6	Engine	20
Source:

Notes

• ^1 – Includes 1 point for fastest lap

Additional information

This was the debut World Championship Formula One race for future world champion Phil Hill.

Championship standings after the race

Drivers' Championship standings

	Pos	Driver	Points
	1	Stirling Moss	23
	2	Mike Hawthorn	23
	3	Luigi Musso	12
	4	Harry Schell	10
	5	Maurice Trintignant	8
Source:

Constructors' Championship standings

	Pos	Constructor	Points
	1	Ferrari	28
1	2	Vanwall	22
1	3	Cooper-Climax	19
	4	BRM	10
1	5	Maserati	6
Source:

• Notes: Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.