Maserati 250F

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Maserati 250F
Maserati 250 F, Bj. 1957 (1977-08-14) Sudkehre.jpg
Category Formula One
Constructor Maserati
Designer(s) Gioacchino Colombo
Valerio Colotti
Production1954–1958
Predecessor Maserati A6GCM
Successor Maserati 300S
Technical specifications
Chassis Aluminium tubular ladder frame
Suspension (front)Independent wishbone
Suspension (rear) De Dion tube
Engine Maserati
1954 – 2,493  cc (152.1  cu in), straight 6
1957 – 2,491  cc (152.0  cu in) works cars V12, naturally aspirated,
All models:front engine, longitudinally mounted
Transmission 1954: Maserati 4 speed manual
1956: Stirnsi 5 speed manual
Fuel50% methanol, 35% petrol, 10% acetone, 4% benzol, 1% castor oil
Tyres Pirelli
Competition history
Notable entrants Officine Alfieri Maserati, Owen Racing Organisation, Equipe Moss/Stirling Moss Ltd
Notable drivers Flag of Argentina.svg Juan Manuel Fangio,
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Stirling Moss
Debut 1954 Argentine Grand Prix, J.M. Fangio, 1st
RacesWins Poles F/Laps
468810
Constructors' Championships0 (Note that the Constructors' Championship was first awarded in 1958)
Drivers' Championships2
n.b. Unless otherwise stated, all data refer to
Formula One World Championship Grands Prix only.

Mechanical details

The 250F principally used the SSG, 220 bhp (at 7400rpm) 2,493 cc (152.1 cu in) capacity 84 mm × 75 mm (3.31 in × 2.95 in) Maserati A6 straight-six engine, ribbed 13.4" drum brakes, wishbone independent front suspension, a De Dion tube axle, Borrani 16" & 17" wheels and Pirelli Stella Bianca tyres. It was built by Gioacchino Colombo, Vittorio Bellentani and Alberto Massimino; the tubular work was by Valerio Colotti. A streamlined version with bodywork which partially enclosed the wheels (similar to the 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196 "Typ Monza") was used in the 1956 French Grand Prix. [1]

Technical data 250F250F T2
Engine:  Front mounted 6-cylinder in-line engine Front mounted 60° 12 cylinder V engine
displacement: 2493 cc2491 cc
Bore x stroke: 84 x 75 mm68.7 x 56 mm
Max power at rpm: 270 hp (199 kW) at 8,000 rpm310 hp (228 kW) at 9,300 rpm
Valve control: 2 overhead camshafts, 2 valves per cylinder
Carburetor: 3 Weber 45DCO36 Weber 35IDM
Gearbox: 4/5-speed manual, transaxle
suspension front: Double wishbones, coil springs, hydraulic shock absorbers
suspension rear:  De Dion axle, transverse leaf springs, hydraulic shock absorbers
Brakes: Hydraulic drum brakes
Chassis & body: Fackverk frame with aluminum bodysteel tubular spaceframe
wheelbase: 2,280 mm (90 in)
Dry weight: About 630 kg (1,400 lb)About 650 kg (1,400 lb)
Top speed: 290 km/h (180 mph)305 km/h (190 mph)

Images

Racing history

The 250F first raced in the 1954 Argentine Grand Prix where Juan Manuel Fangio won the first of his two victories before he left for the new Mercedes-Benz team. Fangio won the 1954 Drivers' World Championship, with points gained with both Maserati and Mercedes-Benz; Stirling Moss raced his own privately owned 250F for the full 1954 season. Prince Bira was another driver favouring the 250F.

In 1955 a 5-speed gearbox; SU fuel injection (240 bhp) and Dunlop disc brakes were introduced. Jean Behra drove this in a five-member works team which included Luigi Musso.

In 1956 Stirling Moss won the Monaco and Italian Grands Prix, both in a works car.

In 1956 three 250F T2 cars first appeared for the works drivers. Developed by Giulio Alfieri using lighter steel tubes they sported a slimmer, stiffer body and sometimes the new 315 bhp (235 kW) V12 engine of 2,491  cc (152.0  cu in ) capacity 68.7 mm × 56 mm (2.70 in × 2.20 in), although it offered little or no real advantage over the older straight 6. It was later developed into the 3 litre V12 that won two races powering the Cooper T81 and T86 from 1966 to 1969, [2] the final "Tipo 10" variant of the engine having three valves and two spark plugs per cylinder.

In 1957 Juan Manuel Fangio drove to four more championship victories, including his final win at German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring (Aug. 4, 1957), where he overcame a 48-second deficit in 22 laps, passing the race leader, Mike Hawthorn, on the final lap to take the win. In doing so he broke the lap record at the Nürburgring, 10 times.

By the 1958 season, the 250F was totally outclassed by the new rear engined F1 cars. However, the car remained a favourite with the privateers, including Maria Teresa de Filippis, and was used by back markers through the 1960 F1 season, the last for the 2.5 litre formula.

In total, the 250F competed in 46 Formula One championship races with 277 entries, leading to eight wins. Success was not limited to World Championship events with 250F drivers winning many non-championship races around the world.

Stirling Moss later said that the 250F was the best front-engined F1 car he drove. [3]

World Championship wins

YearRaceCircuitDriver
1954 Flag of Argentina.svg Argentine Grand Prix Autódromo 17 de Octubre Flag of Argentina.svg Juan Manuel Fangio
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgian Grand Prix Spa-Francorchamps Flag of Argentina.svg Juan Manuel Fangio
1956 Flag of Monaco.svg Monaco Grand Prix Monte Carlo Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Stirling Moss
Flag of Italy.svg Italian Grand Prix Monza Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Stirling Moss
1957 Flag of Argentina.svg Argentine Grand Prix Autódromo 17 de Octubre Flag of Argentina.svg Juan Manuel Fangio
Flag of Monaco.svg Monaco Grand Prix Monte Carlo Flag of Argentina.svg Juan Manuel Fangio
Flag of France.svg French Grand Prix Rouen-Les-Essarts Flag of Argentina.svg Juan Manuel Fangio
Flag of Germany.svg German Grand Prix Nürburgring Flag of Argentina.svg Juan Manuel Fangio

Non-World Championship wins

YearRaceCircuitDriver
Non-World Championship wins
1954 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg II Curtis Trophy Snetterton Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Roy Salvadori
Flag of Italy.svg XIII Rome Grand Prix Castelfusano Flag of Argentina.svg Onofre Marimón
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg I International Gold Cup Goodwood Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Stirling Moss
Flag of Italy.svg XXIII Pescara Grand Prix Pescara Flag of Italy.svg Luigi Musso
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg VII Goodwood Trophy Goodwood Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Stirling Moss
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg I Daily Telegraph Trophy Goodwood Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Stirling Moss
1955 Flag of France.svg XVI Pau Grand Prix Pau Flag of France.svg Jean Behra
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg I Glover Trophy Goodwood Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Roy Salvadori
Flag of France.svg IV Bordeaux Grand Prix Bordeaux Flag of France.svg Jean Behra
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg VII BRDC International Trophy Goodwood Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peter Collins
Flag of France.svg XVII Albi Grand Prix Albi Flag of France.svg André Simon
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg III Curtis Trophy Snetterton Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Roy Salvadori
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg III London Trophy Crystal Palace Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mike Hawthorn
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg III Daily Record Trophy Charterhall Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Bob Gerard
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg II Daily Telegraph Trophy Aintree Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Roy Salvadori
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg II International Gold Cup Oulton Park Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Stirling Moss
1956 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg IV Glover Trophy Goodwood Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Stirling Moss
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg XI BARC Aintree 200 Aintree Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Stirling Moss
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg I Aintree 100 Aintree Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Horace Gould
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg I Vanwall Trophy Snetterton Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Horace Gould
Flag of France.svg IV Caen Grand Prix Circuit de la Prairie Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Harry Schell
1957 Flag of Argentina.svg XI Buenos Aires Grand Prix Autódromo Oscar Alfredo Gálvez Flag of Argentina.svg Juan Manuel Fangio
Flag of France.svg XVII Pau Grand Prix Pau Flag of France.svg Jean Behra
Flag of Italy.svg V Modena Grand Prix Modena Flag of France.svg Jean Behra
Flag of Morocco.svg VI Grand Prix de Maroc Ain-Diab Circuit Flag of France.svg Jean Behra

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References

Notes

  1. Grand Prix Data Book, David Hayhoe & David Holland, 2006
  2. https://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/4752/Cooper-T81-Maserati.html
  3. bitsmartuk (13 May 2008). "Martin Brundle drives a Maserati 250f". Archived from the original on 2021-12-14. Retrieved 13 April 2018 via YouTube.

Bibliography

  • Hall, Andy (1990). Maserati 250F: A Technical Appraisal. Foulis motoring book series. Sparkford, Somerset, England; Newbury Park, CA, USA: Haynes Publishing. ISBN   0854298037.
  • David McKinney, Maserati 250F,