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Category | Formula One | ||||||||
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Constructor | Maserati | ||||||||
Designer(s) | Gioacchino Colombo Valerio Colotti | ||||||||
Production | 1954–1958 | ||||||||
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 | ||||||||
Fuel | 50% 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 | ![]() ![]() | ||||||||
Debut | 1954 Argentine Grand Prix, J.M. Fangio, 1st | ||||||||
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Constructors' Championships | 0 (Note that the Constructors' Championship was first awarded in 1958) | ||||||||
Drivers' Championships | 2 | ||||||||
n.b. Unless otherwise stated, all data refer to Formula One World Championship Grands Prix only. |
The Maserati 250F was a racing car made by Maserati of Italy used in '2.5 litre' Formula One racing between January 1954 and November 1960. Twenty-six examples were made.
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 | 250F | 250F T2 |
---|---|---|
Engine: | Front mounted 6-cylinder in-line engine | Front mounted 60° 12 cylinder V engine |
displacement: | 2493 cc | 2491 cc |
Bore x stroke: | 84 x 75 mm | 68.7 x 56 mm |
Max power at rpm: | 270 hp (199 kW) at 8,000 rpm | 310 hp (228 kW) at 9,300 rpm |
Valve control: | 2 overhead camshafts, 2 valves per cylinder | |
Carburetor: | 3 Weber 45DCO3 | 6 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 body | steel 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) |
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]
Juan Manuel Fangio was an Argentine racing driver, who competed in Formula One from 1950 to 1958. Nicknamed "El Chueco" and "El Maestro", Fangio won five Formula One World Drivers' Championship titles and—at the time of his retirement—held the record for most wins (24), pole positions (29), fastest laps (23), and podium finishes (35), among others.
Sir Stirling Craufurd Moss was a British racing driver and broadcaster, who competed in Formula One from 1951 to 1961. Widely regarded as one of the greatest drivers to never win the Formula One World Drivers' Championship, Moss won a record 212 official races across several motorsport disciplines, including 16 Formula One Grands Prix. In endurance racing, Moss won the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1954, as well as the Mille Miglia in 1955 with Mercedes.
Vanwall was a British motor racing team and racing car constructor that was active in Formula One during the 1950s. Founded by Tony Vandervell, the Vanwall name was derived by combining the name of the team owner with that of his Thinwall bearings produced at the Vandervell Products factory at Acton, London. Originally entering modified Ferraris in non-championship races, Vanwall constructed their first cars to race in the 1954 Formula One season. The team achieved their first race win in the 1957 British Grand Prix, with Stirling Moss and Tony Brooks sharing a VW 5, earning the team the distinction of constructing the first British-built car to win a World Championship race. Vanwall won the inaugural Constructors' Championship in Formula One in 1958, in the process allowing Moss and Brooks to finish second and third in the Drivers' Championship standings, each winning three races for Vanwall. Vandervell's failing health meant 1958 would be the last full season; the squad ran cars in a handful of races in the following years, but finished racing in 1961.
The 1954 Belgian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Spa-Francorchamps on 20 June 1954. It was race 3 of 9 in the 1954 World Championship of Drivers. The 36-lap race was won by Maserati driver Juan Manuel Fangio after he started from pole position. Maurice Trintignant finished second for the Ferrari team with Fangio's teammate Stirling Moss in third.
The 1954 German Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Nürburgring on 1 August 1954. It was race 6 of 9 in the 1954 World Championship of Drivers. It was the 17th German Grand Prix since the race was first held in 1926 and the 16th to be held at the Nürburgring complex of circuits. The race was won by 1951 world champion, Argentine driver Juan Manuel Fangio driving a Mercedes-Benz W196. Ferrari 625 drivers Mike Hawthorn and Maurice Trintignant finished second and third for Scuderia Ferrari.
The 1955 Monaco Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Monaco on 22 May 1955. It was race 2 of 7 in the 1955 World Championship of Drivers and was given an honorary name, Grand Prix d'Europe. The 100-lap race was won by Ferrari driver Maurice Trintignant after he started from ninth position. Eugenio Castellotti finished second for the Lancia team and Maserati drivers Jean Behra and Cesare Perdisa came in third.
The 1958 Argentine Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on 19 January 1958 at Autodromo Municipal Ciudad de Buenos Aires Circuit. It was race 1 of 11 in the 1958 World Championship of Drivers and race 1 of 10 in the 1958 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers. The race was the sixth Argentine Grand Prix. It was held on the #2 variation of the circuit. The race was held over 80 laps of the four kilometre circuit for a total race distance of 313 kilometres.
The 1957 Formula One season was the 11th season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the 8th World Championship of Drivers which was contested over eight races between 13 January and 8 September 1957. The season also included nine non-championship races for Formula One cars.
The 1956 Formula One season was the tenth season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the seventh World Championship of Drivers, which was contested over eight races between 22 January and 2 September 1956. The season also included nine non-championship races for Formula One cars.
The 1955 Formula One season was the ninth season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the sixth World Championship of Drivers, which was contested over seven races between 16 January and 11 September 1955. The season also included several non-championship races for Formula One cars.
The 1954 Formula One season was the eighth season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the fifth World Championship of Drivers, which was contested over nine races between 17 January and 24 October 1954. The season also included several non-championship races for Formula One cars.
The 1951 Formula One season was the fifth season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the second World Championship of Drivers, which was contested over eight races between 27 May and 28 October 1951. The season also included several non-championship races for Formula One cars.
The Coppa Acerbo was an automobile race held in Italy, named after Tito Acerbo, the brother of Giacomo Acerbo, a prominent fascist politician. Following Italy's defeat in World War II, and the consequent demise of fascism, the race was renamed the Circuito di Pescara, and in some years was also referred to as the Pescara Grand Prix and 12 Hours of Pescara. The race was run between 1924 and 1961 and over the years was held to a variety of vehicle class regulations and durations. In 1957 the Pescara Grand Prix formed a round of the Formula One World Championship, a race which still holds the record as having the longest circuit length ever used for a Championship event.
Luigi Musso was an Italian racing driver, who competed in Formula One from 1953 to 1958. Musso won the 1956 Argentine Grand Prix with Ferrari.
Ottorino Volonterio was a racing driver from Switzerland.
Hans Herrmann is a retired Formula One and sports car racing driver from Stuttgart, Germany.
The Mercedes-Benz W196 was a Formula One racing car produced by Mercedes-Benz for the 1954 and 1955 F1 seasons. Successor to the W194, in the hands of Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss it won 9 of 12 races entered and captured the only two world championships in which it competed.
The Ferrari 500 was a Formula 2 racing car designed by Aurelio Lampredi and used by Ferrari in 1952 and 1953, when the World Championship was run to F2 regulations.
Throughout its history, the Italian auto manufacturer Maserati has participated in various forms of motorsport including Formula One, sportscar racing and touring car racing, both as a works team and through private entrants. Maserati currently competes in Formula E in partnership with the Monaco Sports Group (MSG) as Maserati MSG Racing.
Maserati made four naturally-aspirated, V12 racing engines, designed for Formula One, between 1951 and 1969. The first was an experimental O.S.C.A. engine, in accordance with the 4.5 L engine regulations imposed by the FIA for 1951. Their second engine was 250 F1 V12, in accordance with the 2.5 L engine regulations set by the FIA. Their last two V12 engines were customer engines supplied to Cooper, between 1966 and 1969. The Tipo 9 / F1 and Tipo 10 /F1, which were both manufactured to the FIA's 3.0 L engine regulations for 1966. One sports car, a modified version of the Maserati 350S, also used V12 engine, with a 3.5 L (210 cu in) displacement, and produced 335 hp (250 kW).